Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Republicans Hold Up Defense Bill To Shove Religion Down Taxpayer's Throat

Taxpayers may find it hard to believe that the must-pass $500 billion defense budget could be held hostage to a mischievous amendment empowering evangelical chaplains to speak in the name of Jesus at nonreligious military gatherings. But that is the case in Congress, where hard-right Republicans have held up passage of the defense bill in an attempt to license zealot chaplains to violate policies of religious tolerance at secular ceremonies.

Despite the firm opposition of the Pentagon and ecumenical chaplain groups, House Republicans have been defending this egregious pro-evangelical thumb on the scale in negotiations with the Senate.

We expect the Senate, mindful of the nation's multidenominational legions fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, to reject the fine-print travesty. At its heart is religious intolerance - not respect of chaplains' consciences - and a naked attempt to elevate evangelical beliefs to primacy in the ranks. These very abuses caused a scandal at the Air Force Academy two years ago after cadets complained that ranking officers tolerated evangelical chaplains' proselytizing and discriminating on campus. (New York Times Editorial)

13 Comments:

A Jewish chaplain should crash one of those evangelical hootinannies and loudly proclaim that however holy he was, Jesus (Yeshu'a) was a mortal man and a pious Jew. (See Geza Vermes' book, "The Changing Faces of Jesus", and Paula Fredriksen's "Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews".) That ought to go over like a turd in the punchbowl!

Sauce for the (Christian propa)gander, me thinks.
posted by Yevrey, at 9/21/2006 2:08 PM

Actually in 'progressive' Christian circles, the emerging paradigm is that Jesus was enlightened or inspired by God, much like the Buddha was, but not literally the son of God. Apparently that was an expression back then that was used for any holy man. It can also be read metaphorically, even though He was also called Lamb of God, he obviously wasnt a sheep. The moniker Son of God could (should?) be taken in that same light. It works for those of us who have difficulty believing that God literally walked the earth in human form. Before orthodox Christians start screaming, this is an ALTERNATIVE viewpoint. One, of course, is free to believe what one wants. But the bottom line is, the military has no business pushing any religion.
posted by Anonymous, at 9/21/2006 5:01 PM

The crux of the Christian faith is that Jesus was not only the son of God, but a part of God. Many years ago, after my Jewish father had converted to Christianity, i asked him about the Jews for Christ groups. He said that it was impossible. Jews don't believe that Christ is the Messiah. If they are of such a belief they are christian. THerefore, "Christians" who do not believe that Christ was the son of God are not technically Christian. However, I would so much rather relate to a person who follows the teachings of Jesus, than a man who claimed to be christian, yet judged and condemned other men and women. So, in these Progressive Christian circles of which you speak...Excellent. It doesn't matter, one's faith. It's our bond with humanity that counts.
posted by jekelhyde, at 9/21/2006 8:58 PM

Betcha right now these same chaplains could speak about Mohammed, Buddha or Confucius all they want at "nonreligious gatherings" and no one would bat an eyelash.

Funny thing about Buddha and Confucius...seems like there are several Chinese scholars who have come to the conclusion that Christianity and ethics resulting from it are the reason for western nations having such a high standard of living.
posted by Anonymous, at 9/22/2006 2:07 PM

well, no war has ever been fought in the name of Buddha.
posted by jekelhyde, at 9/22/2006 2:40 PM

I'm sure the west's high standard of living was based on a miriad of complex factors; not just religion. And, although Jesus TAUGHT compassion and justice and helping the poor and marginalized, the conduct of the church as an institution has often been anything but--we still see this today in fundamentalists that continue to vote for a party that takes from the poor and gives to the mega-rich.
Also, read a book called the Parallel Sayings of Jesus and the Buddha. Not only did they teach pretty much the same things; the wording and parables used are astoundingly similar.
posted by Anonymous, at 9/23/2006 10:50 AM

Although, historically, I'm not certain, but i would imagine that they were both taught from the same ancient text. Sadly, though, more followers of Buddha adhere to his teachings than do the Followers of Jesus.
posted by jekelhyde, at 9/24/2006 12:01 PM

情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣用品,情趣,情趣,情趣,情趣,情人歡愉用品,情惑用品性哥,情人用品性哥,情趣用品,AIO交友愛情館,情人歡愉用品,美女視訊,情色交友,情人用品性哥,視訊交友,辣妹視訊,美女交友,性愛,嘟嘟成人網,按摩棒,震動按摩棒,微調按摩棒,情趣按摩棒,逼真按摩棒,G點,跳蛋,跳蛋,跳蛋,性感內衣,飛機杯,充氣娃娃,情趣娃娃,角色扮演,性感睡衣,後庭區,SM,潤滑液,情趣禮物,威而柔,香水,精油,芳香精油,自慰,自慰套,性感吊帶襪,情趣用品加盟,情人節禮物,情人節,吊帶襪,辣妹視訊,美女交友,情色交友,成人交友,視訊聊天室,美女視訊,視訊美女,情色視訊,免費視訊聊天,視訊交友,視訊聊天,AIO交友愛情館,嘟嘟成人網,成人貼圖,成人網站,AIO交友愛情館,情色,情色貼圖,情色文學,情色交友,色情聊天室,色情小說,七夕情人節,色情,A片,A片下載,免費A片,免費A片下載,情色視訊,情色電影,色情網站,辣妹視訊,視訊聊天室,情色視訊,免費視訊聊天,視訊聊天,美女視訊,視訊美女,美女交友,美女,情色交友,成人交友,自拍,本土自拍,情人視訊網,視訊交友90739,生日禮物,情色論壇,正妹牆,正妹,成人網站,A片,免費A片,A片下載,免費A片下載,AV女優,成人影片
posted by Anonymous, at 10/05/2008 2:02 AM

南京麦瑞货架制造有限公司是国内专业从事仓储货架及仓储设备集研发、生产、销售、安装于一体的大规模企业之一。汇集国内仓储设备制造业众多技术精英 ...南京北春货架制造有限公司为您量身订做各类仓储货架及货架配套设备,满足您的存储要求,合理使用空间.为客户提供一体化的货架解决方案仓储规划、制造、安装及售后服务等 ...托盘是静态货物转变成动态货物的载体,一般用于装卸搬运、仓储保管以及运输,南京麦瑞，拥有十年的托盘制造经验。主要生产钢托盘,木托盘,以及网格托盘等特种托盘。南京麦瑞塑料托盘制造有限公司是专业生产塑料托盘企业是中国塑料托盘知名品牌,南京麦瑞牌塑料托盘是南京市名牌产品,是中国塑料托盘协会会员是中国物流与采购联合会会员 ...Google排名专家提供专业的Google左侧排名技术服务，可以为您获得好的Google排名，如果您需要Google左侧排名技术服务，请联系Google排名专家，我们为您提供稳定的Google ...
posted by SEO, at 8/14/2009 9:28 PM

提供google排名产品，包括google排名服务，众多的google排名信息、google排名咨询，尽在google排名网。
角钢货架，万能角钢货架，南京货架
 轻型货架，北京货架，托盘包装
 中型货架，中量型货架，置物柜
 重型货架，重型仓储货架，上海货架
 托盘货架，上海货架厂，小推车
 横梁货架，横梁式货架，塑胶托盘
 阁楼货架，阁楼式货架，货位式货架
 密集架，深圳货架厂，推车
 悬臂货架，悬臂式货架，广州货架厂
 贯通货架，贯通式货架，卡板
 通廊式货架，深圳货架，苏州货架
 驶入式货架，广州货架，浙江货架
 流利条，天津货架，沈阳货架
 江苏货架，无锡货架，天津木托盘
 杭州货架，宁波货架，熏蒸木托盘
 济南货架，青岛货架，蜂窝纸托盘
 重庆货架，广东货架，食品托盘
 货架公司，成都货架，塑料卡板
 货架厂，货架设计，货架设备
 仓储货架，货架厂家，货架网
 移动货架，移动式货架，货架制造
 货架加工，货架配件，生产货架
 服装货架，货架制作，销售货架
 货架价格，货架图片，展示货架
 仓库货架，库房货架，精品货架
 图书货架，音像货架，百变货架
 物流货架，商场货架，线棒货架
 东莞货架，设备货架，不锈钢货架
 抽屉式货架，重力式货架，立体货架
 模具架，钢平台，档案密集架
 超市货架，收银台，超市设备
 线棒，仓储物流设备，园林垃圾桶
 塑料垃圾桶，上海物流设备，药品柜
 分类垃圾桶，物流设备有限公司，陪护椅
 垃圾桶，物流设备公司，医用消毒柜
posted by 度, at 8/19/2009 10:42 PM

Ugg Amelie Suede
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Crochet
UGG Classic Mini
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
Ugg Gypsy Sandal
Ugg Halendi Sandal
UGG Hammond Slipper
UGG Infant's Erin Baby
UGG Layback Slipper
UGG Locarno
Ugg Matala Sandal
Ugg Napoule Sandal
UGG New style
UGG Nightfall
Ugg Persephone Sandal
Ugg Skimmer
UGG Sundance
Ugg Tasmina
UGG Ultra Short
UGG Ultra Tall
UGG Women's Coquette
UGG Women's Knightsbridg
UGG Women's Mayfaire
posted by peggy, at 12/14/2009 9:28 PM

ugg shoes
ugg boots
ugg
ugg sale
fake ugg
ugg store
ugg discount
men's ugg
womens ugg
buy ugg boots
ugg cardy
replica ugg
cheap ugg
ugg classic
Ugg Amelie Suede
UGG Bailey Button
UGG Classic Cardy
UGG Classic Crochet
UGG Classic Mini
UGG Classic Short
UGG Classic Tall
Ugg Gypsy Sandal
Ugg Halendi Sandal
UGG Hammond Slipper
UGG Infant's Erin Baby
UGG Layback Slipper
UGG Locarno
Ugg Matala Sandal
Ugg Napoule Sandal
UGG New style
UGG Nightfall
Ugg Persephone Sandal
Ugg Skimmer
UGG Sundance
Ugg Tasmina
UGG Ultra Short
UGG Ultra Tall
UGG Women's Coquette
UGG Women's Knightsbridg
UGG Women's Mayfaire
posted by 力, at 12/21/2009 10:36 PM