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Ideology of Radical Christian Right Fascists »
Posted by: populist 2 years, 6 months agoA review of the book "American Fascists" by Chris Hedges. In it he notes that televangelists like Robertson, Benny Hill & others "rule their fiefdoms as despotic potentates" which some adherents might think isn't God's way of doing things. They travel in kingly luxury on private jets and have amassed huge personal fortunes
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Comments: 68
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zplan
June 5, 2007, 10:45 p.m.Having so much money from donations and business interests, in an economy based on consumption, with so much credit card debt[ and other debt]. Some one somewhere is in need.
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Charlson
June 6, 2007, 10:35 a.m.James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Benny Hill, the Crouchs, Dr. James Kennedy and the late Jerry Falwell are all christian charlatans. They don't even come close to upholding the teachings of Jesus. And the saying that "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" is so applicable with these dirt bags.
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crespi
June 6, 2007, 11:31 a.m.*grim chuckle* heh
I think that's Benny Hinn, but "Benny Hill" is very applicable for the farce aspect of these spiritual snake-oil salesmen.
Too bad the violence born from all the frothing anti-gay, anti-environmentalist, anti-education, Neocon, racist, sexist, anti-life hate preached by these un-American creeps isn't humorous...
Great Moments In Christianity-
Thanks to Dr. Dobson, if you go to Heaven, Ted Bundy is going to be sitting next to you...
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cushi
June 6, 2007, 11:53 a.m.Have any of the individuals mentioned actually said they hate those people and/or things mentioned in this article? I am a Christian with deep faith in Biblical teachings and I am sure there are many others like me who do not have a message of hate toward our fellow man. I will say this about homosexuality, however. My belief, based on the scriptures, is that it is a sin. However, I do not agree with people who like to give that sin greater weight than, say, fornication or adultery. the Bible says sin is sin. Obviously, sin has varying degrees of seriousness and consequences, but the scriptures point out that none of us are perfect and all of us have fallen short of the greatness God intended for us. No group can be singled out for persecution or praise because we're all in the same boat and we all need Jesus, period.
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Dionys
June 6, 2007, 12:11 p.m.All of the individuals mentioned in the article have said things along the lines of what was mentioned in the article. I believe it was Fallwell who said that God willed 9/11 because New York is so full of homosexuals, abortionists and various other sundry sins. I believe he also said the same thing about the Tsunami - only targeted Islam in addition.
That said, I want to be clear as you are in reminding people that this is a small representation of Christians in America. My (Catholic) church welcomes everyone. Homosexuals serve in the parish in various positions and while they are not "in your face" like some groups, they aren't (and shouldn't be ashamed) of who they are as God made them. We also run a yearly festival to promote environmentalism as we believe that as stewards of the earth we are here to protect it from harm (rather than use it into oblivion as the Christofascists believe). I could mention many other examples.
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Dionys
June 6, 2007, 12:19 p.m.To address your comment regarding the Bible and homosexuality, I'd suggest you read more closely and consider what you're saying. The only thing mentioned in the Bible about Homosexuality is in Leviticus. The Sodom and Gomorrah story refrences inhospitality as the sin, not homosexuality.
If you take Leviticus (which I'll point out is a *Jewish* text, predating Christ) to regard homosexuality as a sin, then you must also take the other parts of Leviticus and hold them to the same level. So you shouldn't wear clothing made from two types of textiles (Leviticus 19:19). You shouldn't sow two different types of seeds in your field (19:19) - so no grass seed mixtures on your lawn. Et cetera.
Consider Christ's actions in the Gospels as your guide if you are truly to be a "little Christ." He embraced the unclean. He reached out to the poor, the hungry, the marginalized of society and regularly engaged with those rejected by the status quo.
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smeejay
June 6, 2007, 4:12 p.m.i couldn't agree more, except that benny hill, who starred in his self titled " The Benny Hill Show" for over 25 years is not Benny Hinn. as pointed out above though, while the "comedy" of Benny Hinn's hocus-pocus faith(?)healing is just as side splittingly funny as Benny Hill's, the harm these people do to the feeble minded is irreparable.
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ritalyn
June 6, 2007, 5:21 p.m.Socialists always have a sick and twisted view of morality and religion due to absolute self-absorption. It's a shame the rest of us have to listen to their psychotic babbling, however.
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crghss
June 6, 2007, 5:24 p.m.Hey Populist, it's Benny Hinn not Benny Hill. When you spew your crap on your website at least get the names right.
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kenroh
June 6, 2007, 6:08 p.m.Dionys, You should check your bible to see if the book of "Romans" has been removed. It's the New Testament addressing the subject of homosexuality makes it very clear what applied in the Old Testament still applies today.
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1-2-Oscar
June 6, 2007, 6:39 p.m.Evidently neither author Stephen Lendman nor Netscape contributor populist are aware that Pat Robertson inherited many millions from his father, the late Sen. A. Willis Robertson. The younger Robertson used some of that money to found his communications empire.
But I don't suppose that knowledge would have changed a word written by either of those two gentlemen. Their purpose is NOT to accurately inform.
The misidentification of evangelist Benny Hinn with comedian Benny Hill is typical of the close research these clowns do. Anyone who believes ANYTHING from this source is a fool.
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WCFIELDS
June 6, 2007, 6:42 p.m.That's one frightening picture of Chuckles the clown adorning this fine piece of journalism.
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militantveg
June 6, 2007, 6:42 p.m.Paul attacked fornication AND homosexuality: "This is God's will--your sanctification, that you keep yourselves from sexual immorality, that each of you learn how to take his own wife in purity and honor, not in lustful passion like the gentiles who have no knowledge of God." (I Thess. 4:3-5)
Christians must not associate with the sexually immoral. (I Cor. 5:9-12, 6:15,18). Paul condemned homosexuality (Rom. 1:24-27) and incest (I Cor. 5:1). He taught that fornicators, idolaters, adulterers and robbers will not inherit the kingdom of God. (I Cor. 6:9-10)
Christians must train themselves for godliness, practice self-control, lead upright, godly lives (Gal. 5:23; I Tim. 4:7; II Tim. 1:7; Titus 2:11-12). They must ALWAYS pray constantly. (I Thess. 5:17)
My problem isn't with Christians unable to follow Paul, but with the hypocrisy of saying "I believe," and ignoring what Paul taught when it suits them. Why not just be secular, like everyone else?
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JohnBryansFontaine
June 6, 2007, 7:18 p.m.B&N REVIEW:
John Bryans Fontaine, a believer in Viable Liberalism, 02/27/2007
Customer Rating for this product is 4 out of 5
A Brillant Expose, marred by P.C. Stalinism
Having finished finished Hedges' book 'American Fascists', I would agree that Dominionists do present a real threat to our country's Freedom and Democracy, However, Hedges would appear to deny these individuals their rights of free speech under the First Amendment. While Hedges accurately views the Dominionists as proto-Nazis/Fascists, he never once mentions the vast differences between the Weimar Republic and present-day America. According to the book, all that would take the US to turn into a Theocracy is another 9/11. All through 'American Fascism', ( other than an incessant drum-beat for gay-rights issues ), is the P.C. Stalinist impulse to suppress those who Mr. Hedges is so opposed to.
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hoppy
June 6, 2007, 7:26 p.m.Well,stop giving to their mansions, Hummers, private jets,Turkish baths in Hawawi,and all in the name of "god"
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Vehre
June 6, 2007, 7:53 p.m.Why is it that not subscribing to secular humanism is a mark of "fascism" to the author of this article? Is the failing of these religionists that they believe in God or that they are not lefties?
Why the war on religious believers these days? What happened to freedom of conscience?
Some of you should read your own comments, full of gross and unsupportable generalizations, dissembling, and name-calling, and then ask yourselves where the groups you hate so thoroughly learned intolerance for the opinions of others.
I have no sympathy for the preachers bashed in this article, they are perfect examples of who Christ meant when He said, "They draw near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." But when you equate all religious people with these characters, you invite demonization in reponse.
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mcgrievysr
June 6, 2007, 8:09 p.m.Most of the televangelists mentioned in the article are "Doctors" of theology who graduated from the Rev. Jim Bob Smith School of Fundraising or, worse yet, from Regent. Their interpretation of scripture is fast and loose and makes no sense to educated people. All of that being said, I am not interested in hearing from any religious figure who abandons, "And the meek shall inherit the earth", or,"And the greatest of these is love". These people are seriously dangerous. Of course, I'm in deep doodoo if the Good Lord is not merciful.:-)
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scott4261
June 6, 2007, 8:28 p.m.One thing that should be clear to everyone: these dominionists do NOT represent mainstream Christianity. But people like them and their followers are very quick to judge my faith (I am an Episcopalian) as not really being Christian at all ....never mind that we don't park our brains at the door...never mind that we take very seriously Jesus' teachings of taking care of the least among us, treating others as we wish to be treated...in short, loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Doesn't that sound like followers of Christ?
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SultanME
June 6, 2007, 9 p.m.'Giving' means giving for nothing, what Christians do is Give in return for converting to Christianity, thats not giving, thats getting MORE than you give.
Just another peice of Hypocrisy.
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elel
June 6, 2007, 9:29 p.m.Those "preachers" and people like them scare me, anything of the "fundamental" nature in religion scares me too. Seriously, I've heard some of these "teachings" "preachings" "lectures" "brainmushings" what ever you want to call them, and excuse me, but they are no better than a Hitler, a Stalin or any other despotic ruler of bygone years. Lets really hope they never get the powers they are craving. Religion is fine if you care to follow it, but KEEP IT OUT OF Government!
Another thing, this is not about persecuting the religious, I think it is more about protecting those of us that do not care to be of a "religion" or believe religion should not be a factor in government, other than to protect it.
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