Senator (Alabama) says storms are punishment from God

[quaoar]

Sadly, this idiot is from a small college town called Montevallo in central Alabama. The university there is an oasis of progressive thought in an otherwise rock-solid Republican county.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/112790008991370.xml&coll=2

THOMAS SPENCER
News staff writer

Hurricane Katrina and other storms that battered the Gulf Coast were God's judgment of sin, according to state Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo.

"New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness," Erwin wrote this week in a column he distributes to news outlets. "It is the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgment of God."

< snip >

"Warnings year after year by godly evangelists and preachers went unheeded. So why were we surprised when finally the hand of judgment fell?" Erwin wrote. "Sadly, innocents suffered along with the guilty. Sin always brings suffering to good people as well as the bad."

William Willimon, bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, suggested another response from Christians to the disaster: "I have no idea what sort of senator or politician Mr. Erwin is, but he's sure no theologian," Willimon said. "I'm certainly against gambling and its hold on state government in Mississippi, but I expect there is as much sin, of possibly a different order, in Montevallo as on the Gulf Coast. If God punished all of us for our sin, who could stand?

[davidinalameda]

1. crawl back under your rock

why even report this crap in the news

[Auntie Bush]

77. I thank Mom for reporting this stuff. The world needs to KNOW how

sick these Fundie's really are. It's important for people to realize just how harmful it is to mix politics and religion.

[dretceterini]

2. How do

fundamentalist wacckos like this actually get eleceted?

[phatkatt]

23. Ever lived in Alabama?

I've lived here for the last 28 years.

I saw a "Roy Moore for President" bumper sticker on a beat-up pickup truck the other day.

[raccoon]

3. What a dip. I get so annoyed with this sort of stupidity.

Senator, a hurricane is a result of natural forces and it would've happened even if nobody lived in LA or MS.

If God had a hit list of "Cities to be Destroyed Because of Their Wickedness," don't you think Las Vegas would be at the top of the list?

Or would Washington, DC?

[quaoar]

8. Sen. Erwin better watch his tongue

Or God might send a tornado to take out the homes of those who pass judgment on others.

[Art_from_Ark]

68. Speaking of tornadoes,

they have done quite a bit of damage to churches in his state

http://www.tornadoproject.com/past/pastts98.htm

How does the good senator explain THAT?

[BamaBecky]

90. There ya Go! They do not THINK in these parts!

I live right in the heart of Dixie. It bothers me to no end.
Bama

[nashville_brook]

110. there's a culture of Authority and distrust of independent thinking

but it's been cultivated. makes good "slaves." this isn't so much an appeal to ignorance as it is a mechanism of control.

edit: "slaves" in the philosophic sense.

[Sabriel]

54. Wouldn't the Chicken Ranch be top of the list?

I guess it's hard to aim a hurricane at a spot in a desert. Bummer....

[Carni]

62. No kidding...that was the first thing that popped into my mind EOM

[truthisfreedom]

4. how quaint. now sit down and let the adults take care of things, senator.

we don't need MORE madness. we need less.

[ozymandius]

5. Brother Pat is still waiting for that hurricane to hit Amsterdam.

But God apparently thinks sin there is okey dokey. :eyes:

[MADem]

104. And they don't have levee issues there, either nt

[mainer]

6. so how come God only punishes the south?

Why is God so mad at Bush country? What about blue state New England, this den of iniquity?

Could it be that God is mad at ... Bush voters?

[meow2u3]

14. These idiots will say, "Wait until the winter"

I wouldn't put it past them if they allege blizzards and ice storms are punishment from God for sin.

[Roland99]

36. And why does the South (which is predominantly "Red") allow this "sin"?

[Polethebear]

50. Good One.........

I'm sorry,ya'll

This is still very prevalant here but we are not all way. A lot but......not all.

[Charles19]

52. Better watch out red states!!!!

paybacks a bitch

[proReality]

7. He's wrong...

Those storms are created and controlled by aliens, who are trying to show this administration for what it really is.

<wink wink>

[jahyarain]

9. i never thought i'd say this but

i agree witht the christian (not Erwin, but Willimon), "If God punished all of us for our sin, who could stand?". truer words have never been spoken. oh, and there is no such thing as a "godly evangelist". they simply don't exist.

[Initech]

10. Wow, this sounds eerily out of the Phelps camp!

[Brooklyn Michael]

11. Actually, he might be right....

After all, would it be that surprising if the vengeful God of the Bible took a look at what BushCo has done to his/her earth, the perversions of faith perpetrated in his/her name, and every other bit of underhanded sleaze, lies and dis(ass)embling and thought "Oh, I'm gonna smite these @#$%^&'s but GOOD!"

[Carni]

63. I think it's the French reaping revenge over the freedom fries thing

Or maybe it's the original people we f'd over (the native Americans)

I assume you all have seen poltergeist?

(kidding/ sort of)

[Patchuli]

76. Tecumseh's Curse

of the White Man Invader...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecumseh's_curse

The chief who presented Cindy Sheehan with the warrior's shawl, (Dennis Banks) invoked Tecumseh when he spoke at Camp Casey.

[0007]

12. Who in the living fuck votes these clowns in office?

[quaoar]

15. I don't live in his district

But I do a lot of work there. People there are good, honest, church-going people who come out to volunteer on the weekends to build Habitat houses, etc. They have also taken in many Katrina evacuees. They are the kind of people you would want as your neighbors.

They are also well educated and have money, which means that while they are conservative, they have a low tolerance for politicians who make ignorant remarks like this. They don't like being made laughing stocks (this story was Page 1 in the Birmingham News) by assholes like Erwin. Erwin would be well advised to keep his mouth shut or he may have a primary opponent next year.

[jahyarain]

16. my dad is from Alabama

i can tell you from first-hand experience (and to all my brothers and sisters in ALA, i Love you, but) i've not met anyone from the state that was anything above completely fucked in the head. confederate flags and bibles. and trailers of course.

[quaoar]

17. We love you, too

But that's just an ignorant remark.

[jahyarain]

27. very true

i've not met EVERYONE in the state so that was judging all by the experiences i've had with a few. sorry. plus, i live in TN so i really can't say much. again, sorry. that was something a bigot would say.

[Alamom]

89. Thank you. My Democratic Family thanks you , all of my

Democratic friends and every other person in Alabama who does not vote for this scum.

[Polethebear]

51. Hi I'm from Boaz

nice to meet you...

I am not the way you describe,trust me!!!

[jahyarain]

111. Hi! there's a new confederate flag going up everyday in my sad little town

so by the rationale of my original post, that would make me just like them. i've been having a small redneck problem lately and posted before thinking it through (not the first time, probably not the last). my dad's bunch are from Sugar and Sand Mountains if that tells you anything. again, sorry to any and all i offended. Peace

[Polethebear]

115. No Worries......

Just wantted to let you know that not everybody is like that.

[BamaBecky]

91. Come on Down...I'll introduce you to some!

Hey I'm serious as a heart attack!
Bama

[meow2u3]

13. He's half right

The hurricanes are a punishment from God, but not for the reasons he alleges. They're really punishment for greed and social injustices. Too bad poor people have to suffer and die for such greed; they'll get their reward in Heaven, God willing.

[Lindacooks]

49. Actually, I think they're punishment for messing with the environment.

Whether or not there is a god or mother nature, we're only getting what's coming to us.

[AntiFascist]

114. I think Bush is being punished ultimately...

Offshore oil rigs being damaged and dislodged, 25% of American oil refining capacity being targeted and at risk, major oil pipelines through New Orleans being disrupted, the National Guard unable to respond because they are fighting for our offshore oil interests.... how much more poetic justice does he need before he sees the light?

[Bob3]

18. So in order to punish drinkers and gamblers god drowned old people

destroyed all of New Orleans (except the French Quarter where the drinking, gambling, and whoring was concentrated in the city) and trashed Trent Lott's house? Frankly I like to believe that the supreme being has if nothing else, a better sense of aim.

And how then do you explain the tornados that smashed their way through Alabama in the wake of rita?

God save us from these sick punishment freaks.

[ernstbass]

19. Funny that the French Quarter was spared

How does he explain that the home of the strip joints was left intact?

[0007]

21. God loves the stripper, the crossroaders, the rounders and the

peek freaks. That's the only way I can explain it! :shrug:

[DinahMoeHum]

26. Well, Jesus did say that the "tax collectors and prostitutes. . .

would enter the Kingdom of G*d before..." the rest.

Matthew 21:31 (American Standard Bible)


http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2021:31&version=49

O8)

[ShockediSay]

35. Gospel of Salvation was for the sinners; not the self righteous.

This jerkwater Sen Erwin's got his Bible all wrong.

Jesus also said: "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not,
and ye shall not be condemned...." Luke 6:37 kjv
> meaning those who pass judgment on others are going to be judged/condemned to hell. Well, my bet is there will be a lot of politicians there.

Meanwhile, the Bible also said the end time will be filled with false prophets, false gospels, and minions of Satan.

[Carni]

64. Isn't it though?

Odd that the French quarter has stood for over two hundred years in all it's glory, isn't it?

I guess God loves a good time.

[Judi Lynn]

20. Is Senator Hank Erwin really holier than us? Time will tell.

Senate votes to maintain AIDS medication for 200

Associated Press - April 13, 2005
Phillip Rawls, Associated Press Writer

The Alabama Senate approved funding Wednesday that is necessary to keep 200 low-income people from losing their AIDS medication, but a senator said the medicine should come with a warning that the recipients should pursue a more godly lifestyle.
"We need to send a message we cannot continue to fund a disease that comes as a result of a lifestyle choice. We need to appeal to change the lifestyle, to embrace a lifestyle that is godly and holy," Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo, told the Senate.
(snip/...)

http://www.aegis.com/news/ap/2005/AP050421.html

[saigon68]

22. WHAT A FREAKY ASS CLOWN

[Bob3]

33. As a rule of thumb anybody this holier than thou

has got to be very very dirty - and in this case I'd suspect something on the level of trips to Asia to molest small children. Honestly I'm willing to bet money that this guy has got something hidden in his closet that would make your jaw drop. It's the way with these folks they project their own self loathing and judgment onto the outside world.

Spiritual people - such as Mother Theresa or the Dalia Lama don't waste their time on this kind of shit. They have better things to do with their time than to try and make miserable people feel worse.

[rosesaylavee]

85. It's gotta be the hair. Nice do.

[xxqqqzme]

24. Hey, yoohoo...dumbass

the French Quarter was NOT flooded.



Besides, the White House is still standing as well as congress...where's a good lightening strike when U need it?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

25. What sins did the starving

children in the Sudan commit? His comments are absurd and when people point that out, some claim we are persecuting Christians! Sheesh!!!!

[DaveColorado]

28. My uncle works there for a nasa contractor

He says instead of MLK day, they celebrate Jefferson Davis Day.

The money is good, but both he and his wife hate the ass backwards climate there.

I know there are good people there too though.

[quaoar]

38. MLK Day is indeed celebrated here

And state employees get Jefferson Davis' birthday off, but as far as I know nobody else does.

[AndyTiedye]

29. He May Have a Point, But He's Looking at the Wrong "Sins"

The "sinful" parts of NOLA were pretty much left unscathed.

The casinos in MS are to be rebuilt on dry land, because the state is dependent on the revenue they deliver. Punishment? I think not.

The oil rigs in the Gulf and many of the associated port facilities have been severely damaged, and those who use too much of the black gold are certainly feeling like they're being punished about now. A convincing argument is being made that these storms may in fact be "punishment" for our excessive use of energy which causes global warming. It is well-established that it is the overly-warm Gulf that has been turning these storms into the monsters they became.

[Ilsa]

31. How about the sin of invading another country and killing its innocent

civilians? God is making us spend money on rebuilding the southern US so we won't have money to kill people in Iraq. Okay, it's astretch, but why not argue it that way?

[coda]

30. A CAT 5 destroying Las Vegas would be a better indicator, Hank.

"New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness."

No, what they've always been known for, is being on the receiving end of massive hurricanes.

[FVZA_Colonel]

32. And a man like this became an elected politician?

Honestly, it sounds like the sort of bullshit you'd hear out of the Good Reverend Fred Phelps.

[indepat]

34. Has the good Senator considered this might be punishment from a just

God for governmental iniquities rather than individual iniquities?

[Bridget Burke]

37. A minister wrote to the Houston Chronicle

As a Christian and a clergyman, I was deeply distressed by the words reported by the Chronicle that were said by preachers at Second Baptist Church and Windsor Village United Methodist Church in the wake of Hurricane Rita .

Preachers at those churches spoke of how "the hurricane was supposed to hit Houston, but it turned toward casinos" and how the gambling industries were condemned because, "I don't know, but I think it may be cleansing time."

God does not send hurricanes to "cleanse" Houston or New Orleans or Biloxi or any place. Jesus cleanses our sins in the waters of baptism, thus there is no need for cleansing by storm surge, torrential rain, tsunami or tornado.

To tell people that God punishes one area of the country with natural disasters while sparing another based on a comparison of sins is contrary to the good news of the forgiveness of sins, once and for all, proclaimed by the Christian faith.

THE REV. JEFF W. FISHER Houston

www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/editorial/3372611

Who's the real Christian?

[fasttense]

39. So why doesn't god attack Las Vegas?

What a strange god to punish the innocent as well as the wicked. Can't he tell the difference?

[Catfight]

40. Erin is punishment by god. nt

[fleabert]

41. that is a fine shattered glass house he has there! nt

[blackhorse]

42. DU Poster dissents; says Alabama senator is punishment from God

What a FJO ...

[roseBudd]

43. I guess that explains why Las Vegas gets hit so much, wait LV doesn't

Does God not know about Las Vegas? Maybe James Dodson should tell him.

[Vinca]

44. Ah, Mr. Erwin, here's another way of looking at it.

How about God's payback for slaughtering innocent Iraqis? Hmm?

[Lochloosa]

45. And ya'll complain about my Florida

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Vogon_Glory]

46. Maybe It Actually IS For The Sins of Sodom

"Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom, she and her daughters had pride, surfeit of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did abominable things before Me; therefore I removed them" Ezikiel ch 16, vs. 49-50.

I note that so much of the territory devastated by Katrina and Rita are strongholds for ex-Dixiecrat Republican reactionaries. Maybe the right wingie-dingie Fundamentalist G*d is punishing them--but not for the sins of the flesh.

[LanternWaste]

47. Gambling is a tax on being ignorant

And the mid-west drought in the twenties was God's wrath at people for being poor. The worst winter in Europe during the 20th century was God's wrath at American's for fighting Nazi's. Tornado alley is God's wrath at people who live in.... tornado alley. The Andrea Gail off Mass. was God's wrath at fishermen.

Re: gambling (be it at Vegas or simply getting a lotto ticket), I stand with my grand father on this one: "Gambling is a tax on being ignorant"

[IndianaGreen]

48. Seems like GWAD is punishing Republican states

Florida, texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, etc.

This Congressman should repent of his GOP sins or else he will burn in Hell.

As you can see above, two can play the stupid religion game.

[lastliberalintexas]

108. DEMOCRATIC areas of red states

I wouldn't go there if I were you.

[springhill]

53. Sadly, many people think like this........

My brother-in-law thinks aids is part of Gods plan.

[Sabriel]

55. When's He going to take out Washington?

Talk about sin and wickedness! It's a hotbed of it.

[Arkana]

56. I swear I heard "Dueling Banjos" start playing in the background.

[Solly Mack]

57. He needs to go rapture himself

[DuaneBidoux]

58. Yea' for putting an unelected phony in office.

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Strawman]

60. I hope bozos like this guy keep on talking

In times like these, the importance of having sane, rational people in charge becomes very clear. The "religious" right is a fading star. The circus tent is coming down. Show's over. Government is legitimate and necessary and governing is a serious adult task. We can't afford to indulge this foolishness any longer. Time for all these clowns to pile back into their little car and exit the center ring.

[Carni]

61. Anyone want to give me a crash course in voodoo?

Because this ASSHOLE needs to go down-- SOON!

[iamjoy]

69. Nooo...Katrina Was Punishment From Damballa

because the people of NOLA turned away from Voodoo.
The French Quarter was largely spared because they still have some remnants of it there.

Quick, get me a gator head, some beads and incense. How can I make a powerful gris gris to ward off the hurricanes?

:hide:

[Carni]

102. Can you just aim one at Crawford? (yeah yeah I know it's inland lol) eom

[Polethebear]

75. Don't talk like that....

That stuff can come back at YOU ten fold.:)

[Tight_rope]

65. Ignorance is a diesease...and this guy has a bad case of it!...n/t

[MelissaB]

66. How many times in one week do I have to be embarassed? 1st Jeff Sessions

now this? :banghead: I don't even know who this guy is, but I'm sick of this shit. :grr:

[struggle4progress]

67. Based on the theory that Sodom was destroyed by a hurricane? eom

[4nic8em]

70. "How interesting..."

I have recently read a particular quote from Iraq's terrorist leader almost word for word regarding Hurricanes being God's punishment...never realized until just now how like-minded these two religious leaders think.

[WCGreen]

71. Man, this kind of wacko isn't native to Alabama....

we have a lot of them their critters up north on O Hi O

[goforit]

72. I guess the repuglicans are living right!!!

[quaoar]

73. Maybe God DID send Katrina to punish New Orleans

Maybe God had finally had enough of watching the Saints lose.

[stepnw1f]

74. And The Easter Bunny...

has ears.

[Shallah Kali]

78. GOP's God can't shoot straight. Also when was Nevada leveled?

If not it is long over due for smiting with it's legal prostitution and gambling. BTW I am fuzzy on the details but didn't the Red Sox win their first world series in 80+ years AFTER gay marriage was legalized there? Any helfire and brimstone hit Mass. that I haven't noticed in the news?

[gtar100]

79. If that's true, then God is a Terrorist!!

These so-called sins they are asserting are indiscriminately hurting and killing many who have nothing to do with these so-called acts against their god. The outcome is no different than any terrorist attack.

These people who make this argument are deficient in both brain and heart. The true curse of God upon our people is that we have to hear this kind of crap coming out in plain English and see with our own eyes that otherwise "ordinary" people actually believe it.

Truth is, at least as far as I can see it, is that when a people live out of balance with nature, bad stuff is going to happen as a result. No condemnation, just cause and effect. Tragedy still. But where did we really go wrong and what can we do about it to not let it happen again?

[moondust]

80. How does he know it wasn't Satan?

God wouldn't punish the children, would he? Nope! Must be Satan!

[mom cat]

81. And a lot of "good Christian folks" got washed away too. Maybe we

should look at global warming and how it fuels more intense storms. I don't believe that it is "mother nature's revenge"...just the logical consequences of collective stupidity and arrogant contempt for natural laws. It is like trying to defy gravity. It only works for so long. We humans have created this disaster and blaming it on a three letter word or waiting for that three letter word to fix everything are both the height of stupidity and reflect the magical thinking found in cases of arrested development. Such fantasy is cute in children but quite dangerous in adults.

[AntiFascist]

116. Unfortunately, increasing levels of carbon monoxide only make it worse n/t

[ladylibertee]

82. "storms are punishment from God ? " So, I guess what's going on

with Tom de Lay must be as well hmmmm? GAWD DONT LIKE UGLY !

[Oakland]

83. Maybe

he is right, but the sin is really being a Bush supporter. Note the irony. It helps support both evolution (gulf states will sink back into the sea from whence they came) and intelligent design (god doesn't like Republicans either).

[rosesaylavee]

84. Whatever happened to 'judge not, lest ye yourself be judged?" Oh, wait,

fundies aren't into actual quotes attributed to Jesus. I forgot. What was I thinking.

[ladylibertee]

86. rock-solid Republican county????/ Well, that explains it.Gawd

don't like ugly.The Republicans need to repent for acting like they are christians.They preach against abortion at the same time, sending young men and women to die in Iraq.They want to stop "fornication" and porn, yet do nothing to stop all the priests from raping innocent boys.Gawd don't like UGLY!

[demnan]

87. He who is without sin

throw the first stone.

[Skittles]

88. yes - old people and babies must suffer because people gamble

sick f***

[leesa]

92. Well, He must be punishing all those Fundie Christians then, because

I'll bet most of those affected were Fundie Christian. Also, why did the French Quarter survive?

[Pacifist Patriot]

94. Oh come on now!

A little factoid like that shouldn't get in anyone's way. Goodness knows if you're going to be a smug self-righteous santimonious ass you can't let stuff like that enter what little brain matter you possess.

[quaoar]

95. Actually, I suspect there is also an anti-Catholic element at work

New Orleans is predominantly Catholic, a fact that has never set well with fundamentalist Christians in the South. So watching the city drown is, for them, sort of like watching the house of your neighbor -- the one who was always throwing wild parties and leaving trash everywhere -- burn down.

[Pacifist Patriot]

93. If that kind of behavior brings the judgment of God....

Most of the Republicans in office would have been swept out to sea by now.

What a small-minded idiot.

[Eurobabe]

96. get fucking real

and get out of office.

[Fleshdancer]

97. So much stupidity in this world

"Hurricane Katrina and other storms that battered the Gulf Coast were God's judgment of sin, according to state Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo."

Well on the bright side, his God completely forgot about Las Vegas...and DC for that matter.

[nolabels]

98. Earth to fundies, earth to fundies........Breaking news.....

This is the act of a hurricane (exacerbated with global warming effecting the gulf water temperatures)

DEAL WITH IT.

[SillyGoose]

99. I saw this loon on Scarborough last night.

Scarborough actually did a pretty good job showcasing Erwin's insanity. When Scarborough questioned him about why God would cause innocent babies to suffer for the behavior of all these sinners, this nut said sin affects other people, too. Scarborough also mentioned that the French Quarter didn't get destroyed and what did he think of that - he said something about that's a message to do the right thing in the future. He's certifiable.

:crazy:

[quaoar]

100. Yep, better make sure your neighbors aren't fornicating

Or you could end up as collateral damage from God's wrath.

[saigon68]

101. KICK

[dback]

103. Yes. The Texas storm was a judgement on Tom DeLay.

If we're going to play this game...

[lastliberalintexas]

109. Well, since Sugarland was spared

and Dem Jefferson County was hit hard, I doubt we want to play that game. This man is just an idiot, simple as that.

[BR_Parkway]

105. I agree! Sadly many innocents got caught when he punished the

oilmen and Trent Lott

[WhiteTara]

106. Got to say he's right. The chemical pollution is the wage

of the corporations sins. We are fouling our world at such a great rate that we are bound to kill ourselves and every other living thing on the planet. And if death is the wages of sin, we as a species are going to die.

[Stand and Fight]

107. Bookmarking this for once I get home. n/t

[whosinpower]

112. MY GOD IS STRONGER THAN YOUR GOD

Maybe ALLAH sent the hurricanes in retribution for the Iraq War?????????????????????????????? And conveniently targeted them directly to where domestic oil and gas is concentrated the most....

Since we are so quick to get God into the mix............

[madmom]

113. If this were true...

why was the French Quarter (the epicenter of all the sin and wickedness)barely touched?

[struggle4progress]

117. Yawn. Yet another Republican blasphemer. eom

[antiblazer]

118. By that logic, then Rita is punishing RED areas

Rita is God's punishment to Texas for voting Bush in 2004.

Look, all red areas were affected by Rita.

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/TX/P/00/map.html