The frog of conservatism
Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2008
In churches and revolutionary movements, schism has historically begun with controversy over heretical ideas or the infliction of dogma upon the masses. In today's political environment, unlike four years previous, the schism is now firmly in the sector of the religious right.
With he-goat ministers, who think they do God's service by butting everything in line with their march which doesn't fit or fails to get out of the way of, scorn and hate are rained upon the itinerate who dare to think outside the strict doctrinal lines established by the present day buffoons masquerading as holy men. With the manufacturing of a steady steam of finished fools the likes of Robertson, Floyd, the remnants of Falwell and the local hate-monger, Jay Cole, continue to play loose with the truth and consistently blind the sightless souls of their flock to their real agenda.
In streams of ridicule those who haven't confused G. O. D with G. O. P. are skewered upon the stake of a vengeful lance and admonished to sacrifice principle, and the Gospels, for the narrow straightjacket of worship of the wealthy. No longer, we are told, should a minister live in poverty to bring the Word to the far reaches of mankind. It is now the minister, living in a gated community with the investment portfolio who should command our allegiance. Failing to distinguish genuine religious feeling from transitory emotion, faction divides us, aroused by fantasies to gratify wealth, and implored to make amends to the altar of currency lest we fail to gain admittance to Nirvana.
Today's sorry cast of ministers preaches to the converted that the limiting of human rights to the few is the bounty for the many. Lest we doubt their affluence, and words, the steady drumbeat of conservative Christianity is foisted upon the easily duped and their educations limited by the church. Instead of preaching "good news for the poor"the mantra is the poor should worship the rich. Instead of urging the wealthy to give up their riches for a ticket to Heaven the shrill wind suggests widening needle eyes and breeding smaller camels. Instead of those without sin as the only designated stone casters we have the boulders of hate heaved to the skies by the unworthy.
Conservatives have eyes, yet they don't see. Conservatives preach love as they practice hate. Seldom is heard, or read, where conservatives voice concerns or write words to alleviate suffering of the little children, and the economically disadvantaged. Instead, the din is raised against the ACLU and those brothers who love their brothers and the sisters who love their sisters. The constant cry about the Bible's removal from the schoolhouse neglects to mention the many prayers offered to Him on the cusp of an Algebra test by many a teenager. We will soon be told that we should have a "dread of complexion"because a Black Democrat is the nominee of a major party and the unwillingness of the conservative god of money to be aggrieved by a tax rate hike on the Waltons, the Buffets and the ministers themselves to the relief of children's whose lives are in need of justice. The frog of conservatism is in need of a touch from the spear of angel Ithuriel and the unmasking of Satan at Eve's feet.
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