Go read the three columns submitted to Truthdig by Sunsara Taylor on her experiences attending the three day Christian evangelical youth movement known as BattleCry:
If you’ve been waiting to get alarmed until the Christian fascist movement started filling stadiums with young people and hyping them up to do battle in “God’s army,” wait no longer.
In recent weeks, BattleCry, a Christian fundamentalist youth movement, has attracted more than 25,000 people to mega-rally rock concerts in San Francisco and Detroit, and this weekend it plans to fill Wachovia Stadium in Philadelphia.
The leaders of BattleCry claim that their religion and values are under attack, but amid spectacular light shows, Hummers, Navy SEALs and military imagery on stage, it is BattleCry that has declared war on everyone else. Its leader, Ron Luce, insists: “This is war. And Jesus invites us to get into the action, telling us that the violent—the ‘forceful’ ones—will lay hold of the kingdom.”
Here’s page 2 and page 3 and I highly suggest you read them all. It’ll probably scare the shit out of you.
There is a definite attempt taking place by the Christian Evangelicals to get ‘em while their young and get them ready to literally shed blood in the fight to turn America into a theocracy. This is where we’re going to see the next round of domestic terrorism come forth and our President is fully behind the effort all the way:
This was the letter that opened the event. Its author was George W. Bush. Yes, the president of the United States sent a letter of support, greeting, prayer and encouragement to the BattleCry event held at Wachovia Spectrum Stadium in Philadelphia on May 12. Immediately afterward, a preacher took the microphone and led the crowd in prayer. Among other things, he asked the attendees to “Thank God for giving us George Bush.”
On his cue, about 17,000 youths from upward of 2,000 churches across America and Canada directed their thanks heavenward in unison.
Throughout the three and a half hours of BattleCry’s first session, I thought of only one analogy that fit the experience: This must have been what it felt like to watch the Hitler Youth, filled with self-righteous pride, proclaim the supremacy of their beliefs and their willingness to shed blood for them.
You’d like to think this kind of shit can’t happen in America, but there’s no reason it can’t. Who’s to say that someday this country will be the one all the other countries are banding together to defeat? If these people have their way that day may come sooner than later.
Original link found via Pharyngula.
Zilch: I believe the standard prize is an imaginary tank of gas for your imaginary Mercedes
So which American Beauty character seems most likely to be sitting there typing Megiddo’s comments? (It would seem he hasn’t seen the movie, or at least declines to speculate as to which character is him)
You know, DoF- Kevin Spacey’s daughter’s boyfriend’s father. I can’t remember his name- the latent/homophobic ex-Marine. I’ll take the imaginary batteries for my imaginary electric car, if you please.
Les, I could say that you were arrogant for sounding like you know without a doubt that there is no God. We can all be called arrogant, but it really doesnt mean anything. You dont think there is more evil today? You need wake up and come back from your happy place that you were at all your life.
Zilch – batteries? Good idea!
(…backs slowly away from the space between Megidodo and Les…)
Megiddo spews forth with…
No, actually, you can’t because I’ve never claimed to know without a doubt that there is no God. You’ve once again demonstrated your arrogance by presuming to know what I’ve said.
Buy a dictionary, the meaning is clearly defined. I realize that would require you to educate yourself, which is a sin in your religion, but if you want to be taken seriously you’re going to have to risk it. Otherwise you’re just another in a long line of laughingstocks.
More likely you need to get your nose out from between the pages of your Bible and start looking at reality as opposed to the fevered delusions you seem to have been suffering from.
Now now, Les. We don’t know how arrogant, ignorant, hubristic, and bigoted Megiddo was before he became a Christian. Maybe Christianity actually mellowed him out…
By not meaning anything, I meant that calling me arrogant is futile because you refuse to look in the mirror and realize that deep down you are searching for something and until you open your heart, you will never find true happiness and will die bitter. You need to get your nose in the Bible and start putting 2 and 2 together. You can have all the ducation in the world, if your heart is closed to God, everything else doesnt mean a thing. And you are ASSUMING I am not educated, something you accuse me of doing. We all assume things from time to time, but I am not assuming anything. I used to be like you and it sucked. I feel for you. I am just glad that I woke up at 22.
I did, and realized that it was a fairy tale. But then, I know how to add…
Megiddo again spews forth…
Now you presume to know how I’ll die. You know little to nothing about me and yet you make claim after claim as though you’ve known me for years. It’s sad, really, how predictable you’re becoming.
I’m willing to bet you I’ve spent more time studying the Bible than you have. You may be surprised to know that I read the Bible on a regular basis. I have one handy at all times either in physical book form or electronic reference.
Again, don’t presume to tell me what I need to do unless you actually have a clue what I’ve done. You know nothing and you repeatedly demonstrate that fact by making such claims.
No need to assume, you’ve demonstrated your lack of education on the topics at hand remarkably well already. You seem well educated in the nonsense that is Biblical scripture, but being well educated in historical fiction doesn’t do much to help you in the real world.
Yes you are. You’re assuming I’ve not spent enough time reading the Bible, that I’m bitter, that I only want to accept Evolution because it allows me to “act like an animal” and so on. You’ve made almost nothing but assumptions since you showed up here. The fact that you claim otherwise again demonstrates what an idiot you are.
Again, I’m willing to bet you were never anything like me. I am me and I don’t have any complaints about my life. You’ve not woken up, you’ve fallen into a delusion that allows you to think you have a clue when you don’t really know anything at all.
Oscar Wilde: Truth, in the matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived.
And, that’s that.
Aw, heck, what’s the use. It’s like shooting fish in a barrel.
But it’s more fun than shooting monkeys in a barrel…
List of cognitive biases
Just sayin’.
No. There is no such thing as “evil.”
In fact, it seems to me that a majority of the unfortunate aspects of human nature arise from blind religious conviction such as yours, Meg.
Ha! You know what’s “true” and what isn’t? I wouldn’t trust you to be able to tell my two dogs apart (and they’re two different breeds). Anyone who attempts to seriously view the real world through biblical lenses is already at a loss when it comes to matters of truth.
And I no longer think that you’re merely arrogant—I’m also beginning to suspect that you’re fairly unstable.
A bigot is a conservative who is winning a debate with a liberal. Trust me I was in no frenzy about your gay boyfriend. I came to the site because I like to irritate liberals and other people who chastize the Christian faith. You people are seriously demented and in need of some serious help. Your attitudes and lifestyles are just absolutely atrocious and you will be able to see each other hell if you keep it up.
I believe that is the very definition of a troll. I believe Sadie wins the prize for being the first to call this one…
Make that extremely unstable!
Seeing as Megiddo has admitted to being a troll I see no reason not to ban him outright. If he has no intent to contribute anything but harassment I see no need to waste the database space on him.
Yep, now we get into the Ann-Coulter-style attacks on liberalism! Meg, here’s a question for you to answer. Not surprising, really; Coulter’s a troll of the more prominent variety. It shouldn’t be a surprise we’re starting to see similar traits in Meg.
In that light, Meg, what is a liberal? Concrete definition, please. Seriously, I want to see how you answer this.
There’s no point, Arc. You might as well try to engage a nettle-bush in conversation. And, what Les said.
Heheh, too late, it appears. I go out to grab some ice cream and Meg’s all banned and such
.
Not banned just yet, but very much on the verge.
So Meg’s really gone? That’s too bad, in a sense. I was starting to really have fun with the asshole!
Anyway, here’s my tribute to the late, insane Megiddo:
We had joy, we had fun,
We had seasons in the sun
But the trolls and web space
Like our patience have all gone.
*Apologies to Terry Jacks.
Goodnight, Meg, wherever you are. Don’t pass up the chance for some hot anal lovin’. Just ask John—it’s great stuff.
It appears I spoke too soon. Ah, well, when Meg is finally banned, my above post will apply.
Les, you have the patience of a saint. I would have booted the little prick’s ass long ago.
Meg, if you’re still around, go fuck yourself.
Just for kicks, I googled the word “megiddo” and came up with this site. Here’s a quote from the opening page:
I doubt that our rationality-challenged troll belongs to this particular organization, but I still found it (mildly) amusing.
I’m willing to bet that L4T accidentally lured Meg over here via the RaptureReady message boards. I kind of wish L4T would come along by, actually. Sometimes we need a good example of a Christian who is not a total prick.
Actually, most Christians, like most people of every other distinction, are OK. It’s just that certain types of loudmouthism draw a disproportionate amount of attention.
I knew that name rang a bell somewhere. ‘Megiddo’ connotes ‘brave defenders against impossible odds’.
It is a place and a fortress where several ancient battles took place, and the Megiddo Church describes itself as “a place of troops for soldiers to renew who are engaged in spiritual warfare”.
They have a ‘zine that circulates 15,000, so it is indeed possible this twit feels himself connected to the offshoot ‘Christedelphian’ cult.
That thought occured to me, too.
If so, thanks bunches L4T.
Megiddo is a place in Israel. Thats where the word Armageddon comes from. Megiddo is the place where all the worlds armies will gather for one last final fight. It overlooks the Jezreel valley. Its huge. Napoleon said when he was atop Megiddo that “all the worlds armies could gather here.”
My mistake, all the worlds armies wont be there. Only the four major ones. King of the North, King of the South, King of the west, king of the east.
The king of the south and the king of the north will both be destroyed by God because they will try to invade Israel. Later it will be the king of the east versus the king of the west. The king of the north is Russia, king of the south is the Arab countries like Iran who try and help Russia. The king of the east is china and the king of the west is the EU and the United States primarily. The antichrist will be the head of the king of the west.
Oh, please, Meg, tell us more. Oh, wait, no, that’s not what I meant. Let’s see… Oh, please, Meg, why don’t you go tell a tree because you crossed the line into boring the shit out of us the instant you admitted to being a troll.
Though I do believe nowiser caught on to how boring you are earlier than the rest of us.
By the way, David Hasselhof is the antichrist. Debate that all you want.
Wow, Megiddo, that is so very fascinating. I do wish you’d go on…go on…go…Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Meg – You really are a strange little fucker, aren’t you?
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…emphasis on “fucker”…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
So this massive final battle metardo is talking about will only happen when the Iranians magically turn into Arabs!? Well good thing that is never going to happen…
My mistake, in the Bible says it will be mostly Persia to join Russia along with some other nations. Persia is modern day Iran. I
Meg, “Persia” is modern-day Rugistan, better known as East St. Louis. When the angel Gabriel plays the “East St. Louis Toodle-Loo”, David Hasselhof will come in on a talking black car and institute a thousand years of really bad television. This may already have happened and we are perhaps living in that era now.
Game over, you ran out of tokens. Now eat your pizza, drink your coke, get a sugar headache and leave, and throw up in the car on the way home.
Meg, baby. I’d hazard a guess and think you just got told.
You’re a poet, DoF! I kowtow in your general direction!
That battlecry movment scares the crap out of me. I mean recruting christian youth to fight a stupid cultural war. Christianity scares the living piss out of me. I see stupid people. They are going to rule the world if rational openminded wise people dont stand up and stop the stupidity. Right now I need to go and depressurize before explode into a fit of rage!!!!!!!!!!!
So a racist who isn’t winning the argument is not a bigot?
Don’t ban him Les, he is funny.
I thought everyone who grew up in the 70s knew this. All it proves is he watched the Omen, and read Revelations.
Hey Meggy- why are Christians allowed to eat pork?
Now, I know that most of the commentors on this site don’t depend on the bible for the weight of their arguments, but I thought it might be interesting to some that this Luce character apparently isn’t reading his. His statement – “This is war. And Jesus invites us to get into the action, telling us that the violent—the ‘forceful’ ones—will lay hold of the kingdom.