File under, "Broadcast Pollution"

So, on the way back from NakaKon yesterday, I went through the Ozarks (which are quite scenic, and not just in the "man it's a long way down from here" sense).

My habit on long trips is to listen to NPR- it's not goddamn pop or rap, and unlike oldies stations NPR stations are concentrated into a narrow section of the FM dial (about 88-92).

However, Christian broadcasting is also concentrated in that same range, and for about an hour I lost Pittsburg State U's public channel and couldn't find Red River Radio. For that hour of searching all I found was a multitude of tightly packed and occasionally duplicate Xtian stations.

The "praise songs" (which are songs too bad to be pop songs) I could avoid easily, but I had to spend a few minutes listening to the non-music stations to verify that they were commercial religious stations, rather than NPR doing a bit on religion.

During this time, I "learned" the following "facts".

* Homosexuality is becoming acceptable because the Bible has lost its moral authority. If the Bible is not seen as absolutely inerrant and literal God-given truth, it is worthless. Therefore Christians must stop compromising with evolutionists and work towards abolishing evolution education in the United States. When this is done, homosexuality will become unacceptable to society once again. (And, presumably, persecuting and killing homosexuals will be quite acceptable after THAT.)

* "Global warming" is a myth devised by Satan to destroy American industry; in reality, we've been in a cooling period since 1998, and the hottest decade in the past century was the 1930s. (Leaving aside the lack of truth in those latter two facts, I have to ask: since when did Jesus support big business?)

* Abraham Lincoln was a weak-willed, slimy politician until he was brought to Christ after Willie Lincoln's death in the White House. (The preacher selling this idea claimed that, for months after Willie's death, Lincoln shut down the White House to all business every Thursday, all day... during the Civil War. Riiiiiight...)

* God wants you to consolidate your debts with a truly Christian refinancing company.

* It is impossible to be both homosexual and Christian. Homosexuals are not born that way; it is a deliberate choice. Even if they were born that way, it's no excuse- homosexuals must deny these urges and pray to Christ to be delivered from temptation. Unless they do this, they must be excluded from all contact with Christians. (Um... Jesus went into the homes of whores, lepers, and tax collectors. I'm pretty sure he doesn't think kindly of shunning the sinful...)

* Barack Obama is a weak and probably evil leader. God punishes nations with bad leaders. Therefore, unless something is done about it, America can expect to be punished by God for having Obama as President. (Heard in three different forms. Two forms of this sentiment didn't mention Obama by name, merely pointing out, "Does your leadership measure up to God? Think about it." The third one, though, said it right out in the open, plain and blunt.

* There will be a new Roman Empire, based in Italy, which will give birth to the AntiChrist. At that time Israel will be the single greatest military power on Earth. (Even by the standards of interpreting Revealations... WTF???)

* Speaking of Israel, that nation is apparently doomed to destruction unless it completes the expulsion or extermination of all Palestinians, as was commanded by God in Joshua and II Chronicles. Any suggestion that Israel and Palestine must co-exist comes of the devil. (Again. W. T. F'n. F??)

And in that hour-plus of bouncing from one fundie station to another, did I hear a word about healing the sick? One word about feeding the hungry? Giving to the poor? Anything about loving your neighbor (fellow man) as you do yourself? Anything about not passing judgment on others?

Not one fucking word.

And most especially not a word about "giving to Caesar that which is Caesar's," or what both Jesus and later Paul taught about accepting the civil authorities which God has seen fit to allow to rule you. Most the opposite, in fact: virtually every spoken word I heard focused on changing or overthrowing the existing government in some way or other.

Friends, I give you the Christian churches of America... wholly owned subsidiaries of the Republican Party and the corporations of the world.

Ichabod. The glory is departed.

File under, "Broadcast Pollution"

So, on the way back from NakaKon yesterday, I went through the Ozarks (which are quite scenic, and not just in the "man it's a long way down from here" sense).

My habit on long trips is to listen to NPR- it's not goddamn pop or rap, and unlike oldies stations NPR stations are concentrated into a narrow section of the FM dial (about 88-92).

However, Christian broadcasting is also concentrated in that same range, and for about an hour I lost Pittsburg State U's public channel and couldn't find Red River Radio. For that hour of searching all I found was a multitude of tightly packed and occasionally duplicate Xtian stations.

The "praise songs" (which are songs too bad to be pop songs) I could avoid easily, but I had to spend a few minutes listening to the non-music stations to verify that they were commercial religious stations, rather than NPR doing a bit on religion.

During this time, I "learned" the following "facts".

* Homosexuality is becoming acceptable because the Bible has lost its moral authority. If the Bible is not seen as absolutely inerrant and literal God-given truth, it is worthless. Therefore Christians must stop compromising with evolutionists and work towards abolishing evolution education in the United States. When this is done, homosexuality will become unacceptable to society once again. (And, presumably, persecuting and killing homosexuals will be quite acceptable after THAT.)

* "Global warming" is a myth devised by Satan to destroy American industry; in reality, we've been in a cooling period since 1998, and the hottest decade in the past century was the 1930s. (Leaving aside the lack of truth in those latter two facts, I have to ask: since when did Jesus support big business?)

* Abraham Lincoln was a weak-willed, slimy politician until he was brought to Christ after Willie Lincoln's death in the White House. (The preacher selling this idea claimed that, for months after Willie's death, Lincoln shut down the White House to all business every Thursday, all day... during the Civil War. Riiiiiight...)

* God wants you to consolidate your debts with a truly Christian refinancing company.

* It is impossible to be both homosexual and Christian. Homosexuals are not born that way; it is a deliberate choice. Even if they were born that way, it's no excuse- homosexuals must deny these urges and pray to Christ to be delivered from temptation. Unless they do this, they must be excluded from all contact with Christians. (Um... Jesus went into the homes of whores, lepers, and tax collectors. I'm pretty sure he doesn't think kindly of shunning the sinful...)

* Barack Obama is a weak and probably evil leader. God punishes nations with bad leaders. Therefore, unless something is done about it, America can expect to be punished by God for having Obama as President. (Heard in three different forms. Two forms of this sentiment didn't mention Obama by name, merely pointing out, "Does your leadership measure up to God? Think about it." The third one, though, said it right out in the open, plain and blunt.

* There will be a new Roman Empire, based in Italy, which will give birth to the AntiChrist. At that time Israel will be the single greatest military power on Earth. (Even by the standards of interpreting Revealations... WTF???)

* Speaking of Israel, that nation is apparently doomed to destruction unless it completes the expulsion or extermination of all Palestinians, as was commanded by God in Joshua and II Chronicles. Any suggestion that Israel and Palestine must co-exist comes of the devil. (Again. W. T. F'n. F??)

And in that hour-plus of bouncing from one fundie station to another, did I hear a word about healing the sick? One word about feeding the hungry? Giving to the poor? Anything about loving your neighbor (fellow man) as you do yourself? Anything about not passing judgment on others?

Not one fucking word.

And most especially not a word about "giving to Caesar that which is Caesar's," or what both Jesus and later Paul taught about accepting the civil authorities which God has seen fit to allow to rule you. Most the opposite, in fact: virtually every spoken word I heard focused on changing or overthrowing the existing government in some way or other.

Friends, I give you the Christian churches of America... wholly owned subsidiaries of the Republican Party and the corporations of the world.

Ichabod. The glory is departed.