I'm sorry, but fuck the big churches, no matter what oil they're selling.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

And any other "faith based" organizations that want to influence entire populaces to assure their belief system is number one and to gain power.

Watching the rise of the popularity of ID (Ignorant Development?) and the fundamentalist rebirth. I can only think of some sort of reverse Renaissance period about to happen.

This crap has been going on since the dark ages with the sale of the first Papal Bull and while the rest of the civilized world seems to be grounded in some sort of reality, the U.S. and much of the Middle East seems to be determined to get into a race of who can be more stupid.

Over two centuries ago, some really bright guys figured out that religion has no place in politics, now we have idiots telling us that the country can't survive without their particular brand of religion.

Opiate of the masses? Damn right, it's keeping a lot of the masses as stupid as if they just shot a line of heroin.

[Ron Green]

1. Don't forget: The Enlightenment was temporary.

[ladjf]

11. The "Endarkment" has returned.

[Mountainman]

2. Personally I feel that I am in control of my belief system so it doesn't

matter much what the rest of the population believes. No church can force me to accept their teachings. I was baptized Catholic but I have long ago rejected what I was taught in Catholic grade school and high school where religion is concerned.

I have developed my own personal philosophy and I may amend it from time to time as more information comes to me but no outside force can stop me from having my own personal thoughts and beliefs.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. A lot of us feel that way... But there are people in power today that

want to "educate" the populace that they know better and that the idea of free thought in spiritual matters is nearly verboten... Hell, is verboten. I'm waiting for the reincarnation of Torquamada at this point.

[niallmac]

6. if someone holds up 4 fingers and tells you there are 5 run like hell n/t

[ladjf]

12. That's fine. You are free to believe whatever you wish. However,

the religion crooks are in the process of stealing your Country and your personal rights. At some point, when you realize what is happening, I predict that you will become a bit more concerned about what they are up to.

[Splatter Phoenix]

15. Well...

They can drag you out into the street and shoot you, unfortunately...which kind of reduces your belief to the "moot" status...

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. It is a revival and we have had them

every so often in the US... we will snap out of this one too

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. I don't think we have ever had one here that has reached the

President and his entourage before. Plus, the Delays, Roves and Frists waiting in the corridors salivating at the monumental stupidity of such a large portion of the populace...

It bothers me.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Agreed. I think the most shocking thing is that they keep coming back,

even in this day and age.

[Kurovski]

8. I'm with Nadine on this one.

Churches, temples, mosques, etc, are important to the many different cultures here in America.

They're not going anywhere. They are excellent community resources.

We have a small number of nutjobbers, opportunists and some seriously ill folks who have seized the podium with the backing of our current corrupt government.

Remember that all religions but the most rabidly violent sects spoke out in an organized fashion prior to the Bush war.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

9. Including Robertson and his ilk?

[Kurovski]

13. No, the nuts who work hand in hand with BushCo

had no part in the organization that spoke out as one, nor were they among the churches that spoke separately against the war.

The press covered this, but I don't recall TEEVEE carrying much about it.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

16. Yeas, but it appears as if the inmates are taking over the asylum...

I live in the SE and I see it on every corner.

[DemGirl7]

17. Yeah, it's an revivial, but it's been going on for too long...

It reminds me of a Documentary that I watched over the weekend, called "George W. Bush and the Rise of the Religious Right in America" These evil jerks have built up their empires starting in the 1950's, They really went mainstream in the 1970's and they seem to be getting stronger and stronger ever since, especially with the rise of the republicans. Yeah, once in awhile we get good news such as the Christian Coalition going down hill , but there is always some other fundie organization waiting in the wings, which just provides for us another obstacle to defeat. They have almost full control of a political party, which just happens to have full control of the gov't, and plus they have a ton of zombie-like followers who give them a ton money which helps them run TV channels, which some liberal organizations that oppose their every move, don't have.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

18. Google Mega Churches... These things are turning into small cities

with their own economies that are larger than some third world countries. I guess some humans enjoy a pack mentality.

[ladjf]

10. Fascism and Religion go hand in hand. Big churches have the

same greedy and power hungry mindset as the large multinational corporations. Each intends to dominate within their spheres of interest. If I were religious, I would be terribly offended that my religion was being used to exploit the very people religion is supposed to protect.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I think you need an Exorcism. The Devil is in you n/t