I Remember Mike Warnke

I was scanning the web for some info on scandals involving religious figures when I came across the blog Unreasonable Faith, specifically the "Pillars Of Faith" series.  The series is a brief overview of 29 (and counting) religious leaders and the scandals that reveal their true colors and motivations.  Decent stuff.  It serves the purpose to catch you up on people like John Hagee and Benny Hinn, who you may otherwise not know about.

While I was scanning the list, I was thrilled to see that Mike Warnke was profiled.  Warnke was at one time the most successful Christian comedian ever, selling millions of recordings and books.  He found success when he wrote "The Satan Seller" about his "history" as a "Satanic high priest," and his conversion to Christianity.  I didn't think of it when I was a kid, but I now find it very interesting how a guy who claimed to have sacrificed babies and raped women didn't peak the interest of legal authorities enough to warrant an investigation. 

I used to have a couple of his cassette tapes when I was in elementary school.  He was on Oprah, he was considered an "expert" on issues involving Satanic ritual, he spoke out against Halloween, and he possessed one of the most righteous fupas you'll ever see on a guy.  He was effectively the spark plug that ignited the "Satanism" scare of the 70s through the 90s.  He fanned the flames of Christian paranoia and evangelical obsession with "Satanism" that peaked with the conviction of the "West Memphis 3" and is still smoldering red-hot today.  more after the jump...

Cardinals To Meet, Discuss Rampant Sexual Abuse

Pope Been-a-dick XVI has summoned Cardinals from all around the globe to meet next week to discuss the clerical sex abuse scandal, among other things.  The meeting comes as awareness of the scandal has peaked over the past few years, with abuse survivors marching and protesting at the Vatican last week.  When the Pope was previously Cardinal Ratzinger, he had numerous opportunities to act on abusive clergy, which he time and again failed to do citing "what's best for the church," but he now promises action. 

He took no action on a priest who molested over 200 deaf boys over  20+ year span, even though Cardinals wrote directly to him requesting action.  Ratzinger failed to act on their request, but did grant the aging offending priest his request when he asked to be allowed to "live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood."

He also failed to defrock an Oakland priest in the 1980s, even though the Oakland diocese recommended that the man be defrocked.  Oakland's Bishop even warned that a scandal would certainly arise out of inaction, while acting quickly to defrock the priest would certainly avoid a scandal. 

Heterosexism: Calling A Spade A Spade...

I've always had problems with the term "Pro Life."  It implies a much bigger spectrum of "pro" than it really covers.  For a group of people who see things in such a black and white way, pro lifers seem to accept a very grey idea of what defines being "pro life."  Are they against abortion?  Yes, of course.  Are they against euthanasia?  Absolutely.  But that's pretty much the extent of it.  If you don't believe me, ask a pro-lifer.  They don't protest against the death penalty.  They don't protest against war.  Considering yourself "Pro Life" when you're really only anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia is like considering yourself a rabbit because you eat carrots and ejaculate quickly.  This is why I choose to refer to "pro lifers" as anti-abortion, or anti-euthanasia.  They haven't earned the title of pro life, they've merely convinced everyone to call them that.     

I think it's only fair to apply that reasoning to other political and ethical stances, descriptions, and movements.  An example of this would be to limit the use of the term "homophobic" to those who are truly afraid of homosexuals.  I'm definitely not suggesting that people lighten up on criticism of the anti-gay, but I am saying that we should take the time to call things what they are.

Andrew Belonsky on Change.org suggests that we use words like "heterocentric," and "heterosexist" to replace the overused "homophobia" and "anti-gay."  But while "pro life" may be too broad of a description for those who oppose abortion, "homophobic" may not be a broad enough description for those opposed to homosexuality.  Belonsky explains:
more after the jump

The Christian Right in Context

Richard T. Hughes, a professor of religion and author of Christian America and the Kingdom of God, has put together a comprehensive four-part series on the Huffington Post entitled The Christian Right in Context. Part 1, which was posted yesterday, is the most clear and concise telling of the revisionist history the Christian right has been blasting for a third of a century. He even sheds light on how the founding fathers felt about Muslims: In light of the current hostility toward Muslims and the many recent attempts to ban their mosques and restrict their religious freedom, the Founders' stance on Islam is instructive. Jefferson, for example, argued that America should extend complete freedom of religion not just to Christians but to the "Mahamdan," the Jew, and the "pagan" as well. And following passage in Virginia of his Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom (1786), he reaffirmed the bill's intent: "To comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan." This guy seems to be peddling the straight dope. Has anyone read the book yet? I intend to shortly.

West Vagina: Two Guys, A Gal, And A Knife...And A Fucked Up Conclusion...

Almost heaven, West Virginia.  Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River.  Life is old there, older than the trees...Where none smell worse than Melissa Lee's.  

On October 22, Melissa Lee Williams barged into her estranged husband's door and ordered him and his friend to "eat my pussy."  The husband declined, because he'd been there, done that, and increased his chances of throat cancer before, but his buddy was all like "fukin' rite," and agreed to give it a go.  Melissa Lee proceeded to drop trou, and as the man approached “he became overwhelmed by horrible vaginal odor emitting from Melissa Williams" and therefore “declined to proceed any further.”  That's right, those words in quotes are from the official police report.  Also in the police report is what happens next:  Mel Mel totally loses it, pulls out her knife, and exclaims "somebody is going to eat my pussy or I'm going to cut your fucking throat."  The cops came, took her away, and she had to post $3,000 bond and is awaiting trial.  What a psycho, right?  
More after the jump

Olberman Suspension Good For NBC?

NBC suspended Keith Olberman without pay today for contributing to 3 Democratic campaigns with his personal money.  NBC has a policy where anchors have to inform the network of any money they intend to donate.  While Olberman may have a point that the network is overracting, I think it's a smart move by NBC to set the precident that they hold their anchors to a higher standard than FOX.  Personally, I avoid both of them most of the time, but I think this could be great for the public perception of NBC, even if people initially attack them for denying Olberman his right to spend his money how he wants.   

In contrast, I wonder how much money Fox folks have donated to campaigns during this election?  According to this article, more than 30 Fox newsers have raised money or contributed to campaigns in 600 instances this midterm.  All Republicans.

So like I said, this could go down as a victory for NBC.  Their popular guy contributes to a campaign and he gets suspended, while Fox seems to hold themselves to a lower standard.  But will Olberman help people to see it this way? 

Mega Church Pastor Jim Swilley After Coming Out...

Bishop Jim Swilley, founder and pastor of the Church In The Now in Conyers, Georgia recently came out of the closet this week, famously declaring that "being gay isn't a choice."  This is one of those times when we all get excited that a person of faith finally acknowledges something that the rest of us have known for some time.  That being said, Swilley is a savvy veteran of the mega church industry, and he realizes the challenges that lay ahead.  On his blog this week, Swilley took time to thank all of the people that continue to support him, and advertise a little about his church.

Whether or not you agree with it, the reality is that these massive mega churches need a lot of money to sustain what they've built, and they count on the contributions of their thousands of members to pay for everything.  One of the big risks that Swilley has made by coming out is the reality that he could be risking his congregation, and therefore his 43 acre "worship center" that looks a lot more like a roadside attraction than it does a church.  At a time when much attention is focused his way, Swilley is opportunistic enough to post an 18 paragraph summary of his church, their mission, their future aspirations, and an explanation that the church needs to grow in numbers in order maintain what they've built.  He also takes the time to thank atheists and agnostics for their "beautiful messages of support," which is nice.  He says the experience has led him to see God's love like he never has before.  

I'm wishing Swilley the best, but I remain critical and skeptical of mega churches and their true aspirations.  Though Bishop Swilley claims to have always preached an accepting message, I maintain that the message of secular humanists is supremely accepting.  Every time a church preaches an accepting message, they're considered enlightened, but as I said earlier they're usually a few steps behind the rest of us.  Don't forget that they still believe that we're going to hell, as that is an uncompromising position amongst Christians, however accepting they may be.  

Maybe the overwhelming feeling of "God's love" that Bishop Swilley is experiencing is really a genuine love and empathy that humans are capable of?  Maybe these sentiments he's experiencing are nothing more than the accepting attitudes and encouragement of good people?