Civil Commotion

I’ve insisted for years now that Southern Baptists don’t actually believe in marriage, that what they believe in is animal husbandry — a cosmic grant of permission for sex in order to grow their ridiculous cult. People who have long association with the Baptists, without catching the sickness, know what I mean; perhaps the rest will grasp how decadent the Southern Baptists actually are by reading this list of 10 Worldly Myths About Sex in Marriage.

• Myth 1. Being “in the mood” is a prerequisite for sex. The only prerequisite for sex in the Bible is marriage. The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 refers to sex within marriage as a “duty” (opheil?n in Greek) that husbands and wives should provide for their spouses. The ESV translates opheil?n as “conjugal rights.” The concept of “being in the mood” is foreign to Scripture. Do your duty husbands and wives and have sex with your spouses when you are in the mood and when you aren’t.

It goes downhill from there. And, I say again: That evangelicals have the highest divorce rate in America is a direct consequence of the degrading nonsense that their preachers peddle about marriage.

It’s 2018, and countless Americans believe the earth is flat, evolution is a myth, the Moon landing was faked, the Holocaust didn’t happen, and 9/11 was an inside job. Still others believe that Donald Trump is the greatest president ever to sit in the oval office. I have long since stopped arguing with the supporters of the Orange-Haired Toddler. No amount of rational discussion will change their minds about Trump. That most of the President’s supporters also happen to be Evangelicals is telling — a double-dose of delusion.

Bruce Gerencser

The parallels between Trump’s actions and the firings that brought Watergate – and Nixon’s ultimate resignation – to a head are uncanny. Having lived through that era and watched many of the hearings, I continue to believe that Trump is guilty of something, be it collusion with Russia and/or obstruction of justice. Something stinks to high heaven.

Michael Hamar

The New York Times is reporting that The Donald tried to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, but backed down when his own legal team revolted.

President Trump ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, according to four people told of the matter, but ultimately backed down after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than carry out the directive.

I’m sure that many progressive-minded Civil Commotion readers are going to find this post annoying, but I wish there were more Republicans like John Kasich. I can think of a lot of his positions that I disagree with, but he thinks, is decent-minded, and when he’s wrong he is at least well-intended. What is more, he isn’t crazy and, unlike a lot of Republicans nowadays, there is no reason to believe his policies are animated by subterranean malice.

I mean, Kasich was a first-generation #NeverTrump-er, and refused to debase himself by attending the GOP National Convention held in his own state and applauding the odious, corrupt, and probably-treasonous Buffoon-in-Chief. So I respect the man, even if I often disagree with him.

What do you know? The nihilist vandals who now comprise the Republican Party in Ohio won’t have anything to do with him.

From a national political perspective, Ohio governor John Kasich remains a pretty big deal: a #NeverTrumper who has not touched his forehead to the ground in submission to the 45th president, and who is frequently touted as a potential primary challenger to Trump in 2020.

Be that as it may, Kasich is being treated like a leper by the leading Republican candidates to succeed him as governor, including his lieutenant governor.

It’s a good indicator of how sick and destructive the Republican Party really is these days. The irony is that John Kasich is one of that handful of conservatives who could probably help save the party from its resolute death-march.

Apparently, there has been a sharp uptick in demands for exorcisms in Ireland.

An Irish priest and exorcist is asking the country’s bishops for more support after noticing a dramatic increase in demonic activity in the country.

In a recent interview with The Irish Catholic, Fr. Pat Collins said he has been overwhelmed with the number of requests for exorcisms from the faithful in Ireland. In an open letter, he has urged the Irish bishops to train more priests to deal with the demand.