Interesting links and notes on updates to my main website.



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When I saw this on SanityCheck earlier today, I really wanted to make sure it was for real. One of the important principles of reporting that a lot of television people in particular seem to simply ignore is that you should either report your direct personal experience, or if you're reporting on some other event, get independent confirmation. So I watched the archived feed of the 700 Club from yesterday myself. And I can confirm that it is just as reported. At around 48 minutes into the broadcast, Falwell starts into his rant and Pat Robertson completely agrees with him. Here is a report: Falwell blames gays, liberal groups for terrorist attacks. What an asshole. Him and Pat Robertson too.

And this woman too. This article I don't have to verify, because it's the author's very own words that indict her: This Is War

We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren't punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That's war. And this is war.

link from Kill Your TV - life during wartime (in DC).

I believe the above three people have a belief system which is as perverse and as distant from Christianity as the twisted beliefs of some terrorists are distant from Islam.

Now I don't know much about the truth about this next topic, I have seen people on TV accuse and deny back and forth on it, so it's up to you to think about it: Osama Bin Laden: How the U.S.
Helped Midwife a Terrorist.

Finally, ok look, I'm no expert on religion. I have my own theories. I believe it is up to people to do good and stop evil, not to depend on divine intervention for reward or punishment. All I know is, one of the most powerful and difficult pronouncements of Jesus Christ was Love Your Enemies. I don't recall him saying anything about carpet-bombing them.

From Bible, King James version:

Matt.5

[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
[10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
[12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

[21] Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
[22] But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

[43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
[44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
[47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Luke.6

[27] But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
[28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
[29] And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
[30] Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
[31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
[32] For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
[33] And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
[34] And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
[35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
[36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
[37] Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
[38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. posted by Richard at 16:29 / permalink (post) | permalink (numeric)