Easter Irony

I just came across this cartoon on the Internet:

Let me explain why I think this cartoon is ironic. Most of the fundogelicals I know are conservative in both religion and politics. When they wear their political hats, they invariably tell me that, unlike “nanny state” liberals, conservatives believe in “personal responsibility.” They oppose the Affordable Care Act because they believe it undermines personal responsibility to adequately care for oneself and one’s family. They oppose gun safety laws because, in addition to allegedly infringing on their right to own firearms, such laws – they say – are symptomatic of big, intrusive “nanny state” government. People who own firearms can take care of themselves, their weapons, and their homes and families just fine without any stinking government telling them how to do so, thank you very much. Mind you, many of these people who don’t want government to regulate what types of weapons and accessories can be owned and used by citizens, and don’t want government regulating their health care options any more than it does now, have no difficulty expecting the government to regulate citizens’ most intimate reproductive and marital options. Government that does those things is not too big at all.

What I find immensely ironic is that these people (the ones I know, anyway) who allegedly embrace “personal responsibility” in all things political, have absolutely no difficulty fleeing personal responsibility when it comes to their religious lives. They’ve sinned and deserve to burn in hell? Fine – surely they’ll admit their guilt and accept their just desserts, right?

Uhh, not quite. Their religion not only encourages these “personal responsibility” proponents not to accept their punishments like adults, it actually requires them to push their guilt onto someone else – ideally someone who was perfect and therefore didn’t have to atone for his own sins – and let him serve a sentence in their place. They have absolutely no difficulty accepting the idea that their “salvation” comes at the expense of an innocent man, an idea that I find abhorrent. The irony astonishes me. Godless liberal that I am, if it happens that I am wrong about the existence of any gods, I will accept responsibility for my error and endure whatever consequences that may entail. As far as I’m concerned, that is the only morally acceptable option available.

– the chaplain

 

Freaky Friday Finds

Here are some of the freaky things I found on the Internet recently.

My first entry comes from the Department of Woo:

Just. Gag. Me. Now. With. Lots. Of. Saccharine.

My second entry comes from another desk at the Department of Woo (it’s a very large department):

The only sound thing about theology is that theologians are often good at making noise. Loud, rude noise.

And my final entry comes from the Department of Prudish Busybodies (which is nearly as large as the woo department):

Prudence’s response was much more temperate and prudent than mine would have been. That’s probably why she’s Prudence and I’m not.

That’s enough freakiness for one day. I’m going to enjoy my weekend now.

– the chaplain

 

You Can’t Make Up This Shit!

My New Year’s resolution is to get filthy rich this year by writing a book about a former evangelical preacher who got caught in a drug-and-gay-sex scandal, then was “cured” of his homosexual tendencies, then decided he’s actually bisexual, then decided to swap wives with one of the most bizarre characters in Hollywood.

What’s that you say? The storyline is too far-fetched? No one will buy it as remotely plausible? You may be right.

Besides, that’s story’s already been written by someone else:

The next step will be for Ted and Gary to hook up. Gayle and Steffanie will do likewise and then all of them will move to a state where they can be civilly united and live happily ever after.

– the chaplain

 

Rick Perry Loves the Sinner…You Know the Rest

Rick Perry made his pro-marriage anti-gay position clear, again, in a recent conversation with an Iowa voter.

Perry’s anti-gay marriage position is not new. Nor is the the fact that he goes beyond opposing gay marriage, specifically, and believes that homosexuality, generally, is a “sin” and that homosexuals are “sinners.” But the beneficent Governor Perry loves them anyway.

As long as they’ll shut up, stay in their closets, and continue being treated as second-class citizens.

Perry’s statement that he supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman contradicts his stated position that gay marriage is a decision that should be left up to states. That’s no surprise; coherence is not Perry’s strong suit.

Also unsurprising is the old canard that the USA was founded on “Judeo-Christian” values. As a good religious-right-winger pandering to other good religious-right-wingers, Perry can’t possibly acknowledge that the founding fathers stressed Enlightenment principles at least as much as (and probably more than) Judeo-Christian ones. Oh, no. Such honesty doesn’t fit into wingnut Christian Nation ideology. Furthermore, does anyone other than me find it infuriating to hear wingnuts cite “Judeo-Christian” values when what they really want to say is “Christian” – or better yet, “conservative Christian” or “fundogelical Christian” – values? The only times fundogelicals give lip service to solidarity with Judaism are

a) when they’re spouting their Christian Nation nonsense, and

b) when they’re working to realize their sick eschatological visions.

If I were Jewish, I’d want to hit someone – preferably a fundy – every time I heard anyone utter the phrase “Judeo-Christian.”

Honestly, when I look at the field of Republican presidential candidates in this race, I want to scream, cry, or vomit. Or maybe do all three in no particular order, or even simultaneously. I sincerely hope that Iowa caucus voters will reject Perry soundly on January 3 and send him back to Texas with his good old right-wing Judeo-Christian tail tucked securely between his legs.

– the chaplain

 

An Entertaining Proposition

Th lack of commentary and innuendo in this One News Now post is atypical for that publication. It seems the editors decided to leave those tasks to the comment writers, who are taking up the task with gusto.

I think it would be fun if some of us joined the “conversation” over there. Since it’s likely that many of our comments won’t see the light of day, cross-post your comments or screenshots here. I promise not to delete them. Of course, you can still play here even if you don’t play over there. All I ask is that you play with someone, somewhere and let us know how it turns out.

– the chaplain