Foggy Bottom Line

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Archive for category Divine Intervention

Wish I’d Thought of This Department

Jan 19

Posted by R. Stanton Scott in Divine Intervention, Haiti, Natural Disasters, Reactionaries, Religion, Religious Conservatives, Whack Jobs, Wingnuts, Wingnuttia

Pat Robertson said, during a 700 Club report on the earthquake in Haiti, that

“They were under the heel of the French, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said ‘We will serve you if you will get us free from the prince.’ True story. And so the devil said, ‘Ok it’s a deal.’ And they kicked the French out. The Haitians revolted and got something themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by one thing after another.”

This of course sent all kinds of people into high dudgeon over the insensitivity of the remark.  Pat Robertson of course gives not a whit for the opinions of others, unless they speak to him from on high.

Or maybe it’s down low:

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m no welcher.

The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth — glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven’t you seen “Crossroads”? Or “Damn Yankees”?

If I had a thing going with Haiti, there’d be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox — that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it — I’m just saying: Not how I roll.

You’re doing great work, Pat, and I don’t want to clip your wings — just, come on, you’re making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That’s working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan

LILY COYLE, MINNEAPOLIS

Man, I wish I’d thought to send a letter to the editor like this.  Good work, Lily.

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Divine Intervention?

Mar 26

Posted by R. Stanton Scott in Abortion, Choice, Cognitive Dissonance, Divine Intervention, Religious Conservatives, Wingnuts

I don’t usually pay much attention to the various reports of plane crashes and other tragic accidents and incidents that often dominate cable news.  So I usually just change the channel when CNN goes to another update about the rich guy’s private plane that crashed in the Montana cemetery.  Things are tough all over, I figure, and just as bad for the folks CNN pays no attention to. 

But I check the blogs listed at right almost every day, either for edification or comic relief, and this morning Scott Lemieux at Lawyers, Guns and Money pointed me to Jill at Feministe, who introduced me to Jill Stanek and Gingi Edmonds.

Scott and Jill both focus on the apparent contradiction in the beliefs of many people who oppose abortion: they fight tooth-and-nail for the rights of the fetus, but can’t typically be bothered to worry themselves over children after they enter the world.  So they oppose reproductive choice on the grounds that it harms a human being–effectively taking control of the woman’s body and confiscating the baby–but oppose policies that save innocent children from all manner of abusive or dangerous situations once they are born.

This is important, but what struck me in Edmonds’ essay was the implication that God himself brought the plane down to punish an alleged abortion provider:

“We warned him, for his children’s sake, to wash his hands of the innocent blood he assisted in spilling because, as Scripture warns, if “you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you”. (Ezekiel 35:6)”

and

“I only hope and pray that in the face of this tragedy, Feldkamp recognizes his need for repentance and reformation.”

 This woman apparently thinks that God punishes people who kill children by…killing children.  Many of her commenters apparently agree.

 

Is it just me, or is there something seriously twisted about someone who would include this concept in a supposed philosophy of peace and love?  To me this shows the contradictory nature of the Christian message and the sick beliefs of many believers: how do they reconcile the message of love and tolerance delivered by Jesus with the notion that God would punish sinners by taking innocent life?  This version of Christian philosophy apparently considers human beings the tools of the divinity, not His children who He watches over and loves.  That is, instead of bringing Feldkamp’s grandchildren to Heaven to punish Grandpa, why not send Grandpa to Hell, if it exists, a bit early?  Is grief for lost loved ones more painful than eternal torment?

 

Just asking.

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