Civil Commotion

We all knew this would happen, right?

Fearing that Republicans will ultimately nominate an establishment presidential candidate like Jeb Bush, leaders of the nation’s Christian right have mounted an ambitious effort to coalesce their support behind a single social-conservative contender months before the first primary votes are cast.

In secret straw polls and exclusive meetings from Iowa to California, the leaders are weighing the relative appeal and liabilities of potential standard-bearers like Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and the former governors Rick Perry, of Texas, and Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas.

It was during the Terri Schiavo grotesquerie that I realized how sick the Republicans had actually become, and Jeb Bush played no small part in that. I like his support for immigration reform, however, and his support for Common Core, so I wouldn’t say the Schiavo fiasco rules him off the table.

But … Cruz? Jindal? Perry? Huckabee? Could they possibly be serious?

We can be Americans best if we are not Americans first.

Russell Moore

This is a reprise, of course, of the Southern Baptist teaching about marriage: Your Invisible Friend must always come first. Have I mentioned lately that the Southern Baptists are growing more cultish by the day?

Moral reasoning entered the world as reflection about the behaviors necessary for the tribe to flourish, in the days when people actually did live in tribes. But, now, we belong to many tribes — the immediate family comprised of spouse and children, the company tribe, the national tribe — and on close inspection, most ethical conflicts have their roots in the question, Which tribe’s interests has first claim in this situation? The Southern Baptist answer — We, the people of the Invisible Wizard! Always! — is predictable, but childish. Life is more complicated than that.

Southern Baptist Conventioneers attempt to come to grips with the fact of decline.

Southern Baptists are reaching less lost people and having less babies. This means fewer and fewer people are growing up in the SBC system. With fewer people in the system, fewer people feel a natural loyalty to the SBC. This means SBC institutions like state conventions will need to do a better job casting a compelling vision if they want to attract and keep pastors on board. Loyalty to the SBC is rare.

But they are, of course, doomed; the Christian narrative is incontestably false, and reality always has the last word.

Christianity entered the world as a sect within Judaism and, when the sect was kicked-out following the failure of the Jewish Rebellion, survived that trauma by recourse to the techniques of the cult, by demanding unconditional loyalty to the group — and that, unhappily, is when the canonical gospels were written. The cultish outlook is embedded deeply in Christianity, and that is what they are returning to as the decline quickens.

Though the sane and educated world is aghast at the thought of Ted Cruz occupying the White House, and repelled by the blatant pandering of his choice of Liberty University as the venue for making his campaign announcement, A.J. Castellitto thinks things are looking up.

An open letter exposing Ted Cruz

[ … ]

I had come to fully understand the harsh realities of our day and how the current administration is finishing the work that had begun decades ago. We no longer will resemble the free society we once were. Our children will struggle, they will be monitored, and their care and possibly even their food will be rationed. They will work for the government, be supported by the government, and be indebted to the government; and they will not have the freedom to speak out against the government – no matter how repressive it becomes.

I’d come to accept it. There sure isn’t much I can do about it. I just know it wasn’t suppose to be this way. This is not what our forefathers envisioned. In fact, this is exactly what many of our former generations fought against. They spilled their blood so that freedom would be preserved. And now a select few are arrogantly and maliciously taking it all away. Even the freedom to uphold and honor the Judeo-Christian God of our founders is under assault. Nevertheless, I’ve become resigned to the fact that the country I love is swiftly becoming no more.

And here you come, Senator Cruz, with your bold words and integrity. You withstand contempt and disdain even from within your own party.

Senator Cruz, I blame YOU for restoring honesty and sincerity back into the relationship between representative and constituent.

You are the culprit; and regardless of the final outcome, I just want to say……

Thank You!

The Nation inventories Cruz’ lies here: Ted Cruz’s Biggest Liability Is Probably His Constant Lying.

A Jehovah’s Witness woman who lost a lot of blood while delivering a baby died after refusing a transfusion. Naturally, her idiot co-religionists are celebrating her faith without pausing to wonder about the well-being of the baby who will grow up without a mother, or the left-behind father who must now raise her single-handedly.

• “Thoughts and prayers go out #seeyouin paradise we will see our loved ones again.”

• “I just thought her story was amazing and she was so faithful and loyal. She was so encouraging. Like the brother said in her talk she will continue to move people and look… Just being posted on here she has!!”

• “What an awesome organization to be a part of.”

• “I love JEHOVAHs organization so much! It’s so amazing that everyone is sharing love to the family and some are even sharing their personal stories. It feels like a bunch of friends talking and getting to know each other. This is amazing!”

• “It will soon be over! We have eternity to spend with family and friends.”

• “Truly a sad story but faith strengthening. Thank you for sharing.”

• “I will meet her in paradise, and she will meet the baby girl.”

Faith — belief without evidence, or even in spite of evidence — is moral error, and the preachers who peddle it are a plague.