The Rank Hypocrisy of Trump Supporting Evangelicals

This blog frequently looks at the blatant hypocrisy of far right Christians and evangelicals in particular for a simple reason: the hypocrisy is so wide spread and seemingly never ending.  If one wants to find an argument for why one would NOT want to be Christian, evangelicals are the number one example.  Their support of the GOP and its policies they support are the antithesis to Christ's gospel message.  Add in their hypocrisy surround sex and marriage - they whine about abstinence and the sanctity of marriage yet have the highest unwed pregnancy rates and the highest divorce rates - and they are a prime example of what one should never want to be.  But perhaps the greatest demonstration of their hypocrisy - and I would add moral bankruptcy - is their support of Donald Trump.  Thankfully nearly 40% of those under 30 have gotten the message and walked away from organized religion. But it is still useful to shine the spotlight on these folks in the hope that even more will flee a version faith that is nothing less than toxic.  A recent piece looks at how these falsely pious folks care nothing about Trump's racism or the human rights abuses of his regime yet are simply appalled and upset that Trump has used the words "goddamn" twice of late. Abusing children, separating families, and fanning racial hate and bigotry are all fine, but use of the above term causes these folks to hyperventilate and go into swoons. The Pharisees of the New Testament look like upstanding folks in comparison.  Here are article highlights:

While much of the political conversation this week has centered around Donald Trump‘s open bigotry and racism against four Democratic congresswomen of color, it was something else he said that got the attention of a lot of conservative Christians.

Trump, twice, said the word “Goddamn.”

In one instance, he recalled a business person he knew who usually hated him. But Trump allegedly told the guy, “You are going to support me because you are a rich guy, and if you don’t support me, you are going to be so Goddamn poor.”

For some people, that was the bridge too far.

Imagine how deluded you have to be to think Trump is “better than that.” He’s not. This is who he is. He doesn’t get any better.

Hardesty said nothing about the “Send them back” chants.

It wasn’t just him. Plenty of Christians on Twitter pointed out how offended they were by the cursing… but not, apparently, by the idea that Trump’s critics should go back to where they came from… even though they are American citizens and patriots through and through.

It brings to mind the old sermon illustration from preacher Tony Campolo:

I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.

These evangelicals are very clear about their priorities. They don’t give a damn about kids in cages, racist attacks against congresswomen, incompetence and scandal at all levels of this administration, or the constant stream of lies from the White House.

But taking the Lord’s name in vain? MY GOODNESS! THINK OF THE KIDS!

How the Bible Belt Lost God and found Trump

This past week and through tomorrow, many self-styled evangelical Christians have been attending church services for Holy Week and tomorrow will be engaging in acts of outward piety and wearing their religiosity on their sleeves. Don't be fooled by the outward displays.  81% of these same people voted for a serial adultery and sexual aggressor, not to mention narcissist and pathological liar.  Just as telling, they support the GOP agenda to destroy the social safety net and throw millions off of health insurance. In short, they are the antithesis of the true Gospel message.  So why does the media continue to treat them with deference and undeserved respect?  A piece in the Financial Times looks at how evangelical Christians have basically discarded their faith other than outward trappings of church going and protestations of religiosity and piety.  In practice, these people make the Pharisees of the Bible look like upstanding, charity-filled philanthropists.  Here's the money quote on their hypocrisy:

A Pew Research Center study in 2015 found that evangelical Protestants in the US were more likely to be divorced or separated than Catholics, Jews, Muslims or atheists.

“Jesus says four times in four different places: do not divorce,” Flynt says. “Does divorce bother evangelicals? No, absolutely not. Does adultery bother evangelicals? No, not really, because if so they wouldn’t have voted for Donald Trump. So what bothers them? Abortion and same-sex marriage. Beyond that, there’s no longer an agenda.” 

Read the entire article which holds few punches.  As I have said often, I no longer call myself a Christian.  I want NOTHING to do with these foul and toxic hypocrites.  A third of Millennials seem similarly inclined as they have walked away from organized religion.  

The GOP Candidates’ Hypocrisy on Christianity

One of the things that disgusts me about today's Republican Party - actually, there are MANY things that disgust me about the GOP - is the perversion, if not total rejection of the Gospel message even as both candidates and many in the party base wrap themselves in religion and utterly false piety.  The New Testament seemingly does not exist and only selective passages in the Old Testament - generally those that inspire hatred and justify violence - are on the radar screen.  The hypocrisy is literally off the charts.  A column in the Washington Post looks at this hypocrisy.  Here are excerpts:

Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) defended “carpet bombing,” while Donald Trump explained that being “much tougher” on terrorists meant going after their families and “girlfriends.” 

Perhaps I am influenced by the Christmas season, but there was something genuinely appalling that candidates who so often claim to be devout Christians allocated the bulk of their time to warfare, to throwing people out of our country and to walling them off. There was almost nothing about our obligations to millions around the world who are suffering, from the very wars the candidates were so focused on and from a depth of poverty that is hard for us in rich countries to fathom.

[Carly] Hernandez raised this matter pointedly in a video, asking: “If the Bible clearly states that we need to embrace those in need and not fear, how can we justify not accepting refugees?” The responses from Christie and even the normally compassionate Kasich were, shall we say, less than full-hearted. 

I am not naive, and I am not a pacifist. But I’d ask a small favor from these candidates: Please stop saying how Christian you are unless you show at least a few signs of understanding the social obligations the word imposes.

Bush, at least, called out some of the meanness where Trump is concerned. The smart punditry saw his performance as coming too late to salvage his candidacy, and this may well be true. But it was a real relief to hear Bush mock Trump for proposals that would “push the Muslim world, the Arab world, away from us at a time when we need to reengage with them to be able to create a strategy to destroy ISIS.” Bush left a lasting scar when he called Trump “a chaos candidate” who bids to be “a chaos president.”

Overall, Republicans are betting that our country is in a warlike mood. I’m skeptical. But even if they’re right, they will have to do better than playing tough guys on TV. 

I long ago ceased calling myself a Christian given what an ugly word the GOP and the Christofascists have made it to be.

Lawyer For Anti-Gay Alliance Found Guilty Of Making Child Porn

I do not like to revel in the misfortune of others, but at times it is hard to fight the urge to do so, especially when such misfortunes overtake those who make careers in peddling anti-gay hate and bigotry.  This blog previously noted the indictment of Lisa Biron who was arrested in 2012 after taking a teenage girl to Canada and filming her have sex with two adult men.  Biron's trial has now concluded and she was convicted of the charges brought against her.  The irony, of course is that Biron had been an attorney for the virulently anti-gay Christofascist organization Alliance Defense Fund, proving once again that it is the self-congratulatory, falsely pious "godly Christian" crowd that one most needs to watch when it comes to issues of sexual perversion.  Queerty had coverage.  Here are excerpts:

A lawyer who has worked with the anti-gay Alliance Defending Freedom has been found guilty of coercing a 14-year-old girl into making pornographic videos.

Manchester, New Hampshire, lawyer Lisa Biron was arrested in 2012 after taking a teenage girl to Canada and filming her have sex with two adult men.

On Friday, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding Biron guilty of eight federal indictments, including transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, possession of child pornography, and sexual exploitation of a child.

Biron was remanded into custody last fall after breaking the conditions of her bail. According to the Concord Monitor:

* Two witnesses testified to seeing Biron in possession of ecstasy, marijuana and cocaine.
* Biron sent a threatening text message to the person who turned her in to the police, advising him he would have to watch his back “FOR EVER.”
* Biron sent a text to a friend saying she might flee to Cuba because she had “nothing left.”
* Biron has asked people to lie to law enforcement about her case.
* Other juveniles have been subjected to Biron’s sexual activity and drug use.

During the trial, jurors listened to a recording of a jailhouse phone call between Biron and her father, in which she claimed the girl “had a part in this.”  Biron’s sentencing is scheduled for April, when prosecutors say they’ll ask for a nice long prison sentence.

ADF is a legal foundation founded in 1994 by, among others, Focus on the Family’s James Dobson and American Family Association’s Donald Wildmon.

I have long maintained that those who hang onto the legalistic, hate and fear based teachings of far right Christianity are compensating for their own inner demons and sexual perversions - perversions they trey to transfer to others.   When someone wraps themselves in conservative Christianity and rants about the damnation of others, the best option is to run for safety, guarding your purse or wallet as you run fleeing.

Discover Annapolis Tours Axes Wedding Services Rather Than Service Gay Weddings

In general we LGBT Virginians look across the Potomac to Washington, D.C., and Maryland with envy.  Compared to Virginia where ant-gay bigotry is virtually incorporated into the state's laws, our neighbors to the north are beacons of liberalism and equality - especially since both have passed legislation allowing same sex marriage.  But that does not mean that those locales are devoid of anti-gay bigots, Christofascists and modern day Pharisee types.  A case in point comes from the picturesque City of Annapolis, Maryland where the Christofascists who own  Discover Annapolis Tours are axing all wedding services rather that provides services to same sex couples as required by the Maryland public accommodation laws (Virginia, of course, has no such laws that would protect same sex couples or single LGBT citizens).  Both the Annapolis Patch and the Baltimore Sun have coverage of the smug bigotry of the company's owner, Matt Grubbs (pictured above) that resulted in the move.  First highlights from the Sun article:

An Annapolis company whose old-fashioned trolleys are iconic in the city's wedding scene has abandoned the nuptial industry rather than serve same-sex couples.

The owner of Discover Annapolis Tours said he decided to walk away from $50,000 in annual revenue instead of compromising his Christian convictions when same-sex marriages become legal in Maryland in less than a week. And he has urged prospective clients to lobby state lawmakers for a religious exemption for wedding vendors.

Yes, you read that correctly, Grubbs and his fellow bigots want the special right to ignore the law and a special privilege of discriminating against everyday citizens.   The selfishness and self centered focus of the Christofascist truly knows no boundaries.  The Patch article contains this:

The email was provided to Patch by Chris Belkot on Nov. 29. He received it from Grubbs after Belkot inquired about using the company's wedding services this spring.

Grubbs confirmed the email, and said his attorney advised him to shut down the wedding part of his business immediately because he could be sued for refusing services to same-sex couples.

"We’re a Christian-owned company, and we just can't support gay marriages," Grubbs said. "We're not trying to make a statement. We're not trying to make a point. We're just trying to be faithful Christians."

Grubbs' business, which provided trolley cars to transport wedding parties and guests from churches to receptions, still provides tours and other site seeing services.

Frankly, the "faithful Christian" batshitery makes me want to vomit.   If Grubbs is like other Christofascists, he likely votes Republican and would give tax cuts to the obscenely wealthy while cutting services to the poor and hungry.   He by extension also likely opposes extending health care to the uninsured, wants to disenfranchise blacks, and wants to control women's bodies.  Not exactly the stuff Christ spoke of in the Gospels.  The feigned piety and hypocrisy is simply unbelievable.  But, nowadays, that is what most often defines those who like to loudly proclaim themselves as being "faithful Christians."