Faith or Fear? Tilting at Windmills That Don't Really Exist

While Rick Santorum was campaigning recently, he was introduced at a campaign event/rally by fundamental Baptist preacher Dennis Terry...





I'm having trouble finding anything accurate in what Terry had to say. Anything at all. It's as if fundamentalist Christianity has invented a whole new, alternate reality to live in, a world where they're being persecuted relentlessly and a theocratic nation is our only hope.


Let's look at the litany of fallacies in Terry's introduction...


(Some paraphrased - his assertions in bold)


America was founded as a Christian nation - Not even slightly true. America was founded (predominantly BY Christians although not entirely) as a nation which favored no particular belief system, hence religious freedom. In this country, as long as you behave lawfully, you're completely free to worship Batman as a diety if you so choose.


We worship one God and His name is Jesus - Technically, Jesus is the name of the SON of God, the Messiah.


I'm tired of people telling me that I can't say those words - No one's told him anything like that. Even fundamentalist nutjobs have 1st Amendment protection.


As Christians we can't voice our beliefs - Bullshit. 1st Amendment, pal.


Telling us we can't pray in public - Jesus actually taught against public prayer in Matthew 6:5-6, but far be it from me to suggest that he listen to Jesus.


If you don't like America and the way we do things, GET OUT! - Seems anti-American. The idea that people who immigrate here are required to assimilate to a certain "American" culture, rather than be free to follow their own culture, is anti-American. Nothing in the Constitution, or in any law or piece of legislation, mandates that new Americans immediately love baseball, apple pie, drive Ford pick-ups, and become born-again fundamentalist Christians.


All of the above was in just the first minute of his speech.


We don't worship Buddha - He's speaking waaaaay out of turn on behalf of ALL Americans. Some Americans do worship Buddha.


We don't worship Mohammad. We don't worship Allah - Some Americans do.


We worship God - Some Americans worship the Christian God. Some others don't.


I believe the church is to be the conscience of the nation, state, and local communities - He's free to believe that, but seeing as how nothing in the biblical canon (even his beloved KJV 1611) commands anything like this, perhaps he shouldn't project his personal beliefs onto all of the church body AND nation and judge everyone else by them.


Sexual perversion normalized - While probably half his church is addicted to porn.


Telling our children they cannot pray in public schools... - Nothing, short of unconsciousness, can stop anyone, children or otherwise, from praying to whomever, whenever and wherever, they choose. No one, outside of them and their God, has to know anything about their prayer life.


...and in open, public places - Jesus tells your children that in Matthew 6:5-6.


Somebody's gotta take a stand and say "God forgive us!" - For obeying Jesus????????????


Tearing down and attacking traditional marriage - If someone's gay marriage in ANY way tears down, attacks, or threatens your straight marriage, your marriage was and is a joke.


Christians are the key to revival, the economy, jobs, if we'll put God back in America, our pulpits, our homes, our statehouse, and in Washington - What a weak, puny, powerless version of God this man projects. A God that we essentially boss around.


Anyone who would listen to this guy is easily emotionally led around by the nose, wrapping up their faith with an American flag. Even Santorum stands and applauds.


His speech reminds me of someone else...





I hope the fundamentalist cultural warriors will someday rejoin the rest of us in reality before people end up getting hurt by their "patriotism".