A century ago Mark Twain popularized the saying, "There are three kinds of falsehoods: lies, damned lies, and statistics."
As far as LGBTs are concerned – and often persons of non-Christian faiths – these categories are a sinister trinity of invective that fundygelicals, Southern Baptists, Right Wing "Plutocrats" (as in Walt Disney's Pluto and Goofy dimwits) use to denigrate us and others.
Their strategy is the bigger the lie that's told, the more likely it is to be believed by those who don't bother to think. (Bumper sticker: "The Bible says it. I believe it. Up yours!")
One has to be cautious of media surveys. Goes without saying. Yet, perhaps there's a mustard grain of truth in this item appearing last week in The Denver Post, attributed to Electa Draper, whoever she may be. I quote with just a modicum of relish.
"One in four Americans said they couldn't think of a single positive societal contribution made by Christians in recent years, according to a nationwide survey released Monday. Also, one in 10 adults said they couldn't think of a recent positive contribution because Christians hadn't made one, the Barna Group reported."
In all fairness to born-againers, let's be charitable. Just maybe the Barna Group – but surely not The Denver Post – has its own bias in presenting its findings. (Is it a lie? A damn lie? Or just a statistic, loaded or not? Gentle PG reader, you be the judge.)
What's encouraging of late (at least to a cynic like myself) is that several internet blogs are exposing the egregious and shocking abuse of religious power and authority that a number ministers, priests, fundygelical politicians are engaging in. And, one might emphatically add, punished for. Jail bait. Jail time.
Yea, verily! There's no turning the other cheek these days, especially if the cheek that's being turned is somebody elses, and that somebody else happens to be under age. In some instances not only is the dirt blogged local and national, it's worldwide in scope. Here's recent local. Court trial this month.
In Warren, MI, former Antioch Baptist pastor and Antioch Baptist Academy principal Christopher Settlemoir, 27, is likely repenting in Macomb County Jail, charged with two first and two second degree counts for sexual misconduct with underage male teens.
In jail since June, his bond is $1 million. Married last year, he has a daughter several months old. (His 2009 blogspot – "My Final Thoughts" – features a scrapbook of pictures, including an uncharacteristically angry First Lady Michelle Obama, immediately followed by that of a grimacing chimpanzee. The juxtaposition obviously intended as a vicious political satire.)
Settlemoir's fall from grace is one of dozens among daily news clips, TV excerpts, live reportage items and follow through presented for viewing on the aptly named – I'm not making this up – http://www.religiousdouchebags.com.
Past douchebags include: Janet Porter Prays for a Christian Government; Pastor Uses Hearse for Molestation; Priest to Face Abuse Trial in Windsor; "Wanted" Posters for Abortion Providers; Sharron Angle Tells Hispanic Kids They Look Asian; Pastor Arrested On Theft Charges, and Where In The Constitution Is Separation of Church And State? ("Plutocrat", let's-nobody-wank-off-any-more, Christine O'Donnell)
For those curiosity seekers intent on monitoring what's going on worldwide with the Roman Catholic Church and its mostly questionable handling of the hundreds of priests accused of abuse of underage youths, http://www.bishopaccountabiity.org is a major resource with collected articles in five languages.
Subtitled, Abuse Tracker, and carefully monitored since 2002 by Kathy Shaw, a retired newspaper religion reporter, her highly professional blog is described as, "A digest of links to media coverage of clergy abuse." Samples: Did Catholic Church Deliberately Withhold Priest Sexual Abuse Data?; Priest Abuse Victims Protest at Vatican.
Bumper suggestion. Does God know what – or who – your pastor's blogging?
