The Gaza genocide has not only stripped bare the true nature of Zionism it has also exposed the hypocrisy, craven cowardice and empty spirituality of western Christianity.
Thanks for writing about her speech. I'm Episcopalian, so I was interested if she said anything abouth the Palestinians. I pulled up a transcript of it last night to find out. Nope, not a word -- even though it is US sponsoring the Israeli destruction of Gaza and pogroms in occupied West Bank.
Same with the Episcopal bishop here in Atlanta, Rob Wright. Not a peep about Palestine.
I was raised Episcopalian in a congregation that had a pretty strong social justice standpoint, so it is always a tad bit surprising when I see such church leaders as Buddee silent on something as egregious as the US genocide in Gaza.
Even the Unitarians have gone establishment. I tried working with some of them a couple years ago regarding the emotional crisis many young people are facing because of climate collapse. All they wanted to do was have some wealthy members pay for a solar system for the church building instead of using that money to provide outreach, support and resources for youth activism.
No surprise church attendance is collapsing in the United States. The congregations of the two churches above look like a nursing home group.
I no longer see most churches -- at least the ones around me -- as a resource for change. They are the more squeaky, cynical gears in the death machine.
All religions are about conditioning and control aimed at building hierarchies which give wealth and power to those at their head. Their very tenets are replete with hypocrisy and the greatest of those is their claim to be justified because they are the Earthly transmitters of the 'Word of God'.
There is not one shred of evidence that any of the 18000 or so gods worshipped over human history has ever existed other than as a creation or iconic representation of natural forces or wonders, generally understandable at a time of general illiteracy, limited education and the pre-eminent dominance of charismatic charlatans ready to make use of it. Indeed, it is a characteristic of religions that they build their followings by targetting the simple-minded, the poor, the under-privileged, the grieving, the troubled, the lonely and, indeed, any individual or group that is desperate for relief, for comfort, for something in which to believe and for some notion of being special and worthwhile.
However, instead of building a harmonious and collaborative world, religions have been constant instigators of division, hatred, persecution, absurd codes of practice in dress, food and morality and using the carrot of 'privileged access' whilst demonising all those who don't believe their particular notions of what their mythical 'god' has supposedly said. - All those 'Words of God', of course, being devised and written by human beings, almost exclusively male and often selectively collected and certainly selectively used to promote whatever actions the religious 'elders' have desired.
Since the rise of the naton-state, the other main control of the masses has been exercised through might and another hypocrisy - the notion that the 'people' are in. control and their leaders are representatives who work on their behalf. Either immediately or in short order, the religions allied themselves with nation-state leaders and vice-versa because it was in the interests of each to do so. That obnoxious alliance continues today with tax privileges for 'churches', 'swearing of oaths on religious texts', prayers and 'blessings' used at official openings, funerals, and other events and at the extreme level, the control of the nation state as a theocracy, despite whatever false name it is known as.
So, it is hardly surprising to find a harsh contradiction between the words and the deeds of religious officers or representatives. The will preach and proselytise whatever is in their own interests, even modifying centuries old tenets and teachings to attract an increasingly educated and aware society that no longer believes in their myths and legends and miracles but, which in the main part will not openly lobby for its ending because it is so widespread it is taken as a given and conditioned in the masses to such an extent that it will take an age, at least, to change those simple-minded enough to understand that they are being used or those who used deceit, charisma, choreographed promotions and such to earn vast incomes from the practice - not least the Catholic church and the lay-preachers and evangelists that dominate religious hypocrisy in the USA.
That so many people cannot see through this charade is a major failure in human organisation throughout the Word. Not only does virtually every religion hold itself to be better than others, often even the 'only true religion' and the only one to speak the 'truth', i.e. the made up 'Word of God' but even within religions that supposedly believe in the same monotheist and omnipotent 'God', albeit by differing names, there are massive divisions, hatred and conflict because of it.
That not only major supposedly democratic and free states have not condemned Israel and that the churches have conspicuously failed to do so, says it all. They do not do so because they would be attacking what is associated with another religion, Judaism, supposedly the religion of 'God's chosen people' and hence, the Jews, for whom there is an ingrained sympathy because of the horrors they enjured during and around WWII. [Their enormous financial contributions may also have much to do with it.]
The USA is as hypocritical as are the religions themselves. "In God We Trust" it prints on its bank-notes (or at least some of them) yet it has and is funding one of the longest hostage situations ever perpetuated in such an obnoxious and punitive way and for around 16 months has been committing clearly evidenced ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate killing of civilians, 70% women and children and injury of ov er 100,000, together with laying waste to the homes and infrastructure of the Palestinians, (whose land they occupy), to such an extent that experts estimate it will take somewhere between 60 and 80 years to rebuild.
All this, of course, is justified by the claim that Hamas are terrorists and Israel has "A Right to Defend Itself." - Yes, it does, but this ethnic cleansing and destruction has nothing to do with self-defense. It is revenge - multiplied without limit.
Israel, the USA and all nation states that have not condemned or, even worse, have supported Israel in this conflict - no, it is not a 'war', more a bullying exercise similar to a mass rape but with fighter jets, tanks, artillery, assault weapons and 2000lb bombs, incarceration, torture, assassination and state support for attacks illegal even under Israel's own legislation - these are the most enormous example of Hypocrisy that perhaps the World has ever seen.
Check out this story from Gallup on US Church affiliation and attendance. They break it down by religion and occasional and regular attendance. Perhaps a new kind of awakening.
This is one of the conclusions:
"Two decades ago, an average of 42% of U.S. adults attended religious services every week or nearly every week. A decade ago, the figure fell to 38%, and it is currently at 30%. This decline is largely driven by the increase in the percentage of Americans with no religious affiliation -- 9% in 2000-2003 versus 21% in 2021-2023 -- almost all of whom do not attend services regularly.
"Still, most religious groups have also seen a decline in regular attendance at religious services over the past two decades."
65 years ago MLK said the most segregated hour in the nation was Sunday at 11:00am. Christmas has been bombed and barred in Bethlehem the last two sessions and not a chirp from most churches despite Pastor Munther Isaac promoting baby Jesus under the rubble. Good sermon on the bishop Budde’s blatant hypocrisy exposed by Ali Abunimah on Electronic Intifada.
Oh yeah, some liberal pantywaist handle on Substack was gushing over Zionist bud Budde's faux "courage" and blocked me after I called out the hypocritical silence over Palestine.
The difference nowadays between a Republican and Democrat is that the red-hatted supremacists openly admit their disregard for human decency while blue-shirted supremacists pretend their selective "compassion" for privileged Westerners (not the Palestinian people blown apart by Israeli bombs funded by Ku Klux Kamala) elevates them as champions of human rights.
Est. liberals manage to make Trump supporters look honest by comparison.
How I WISH that I got letters from the DNC! Your idea of stuffing the envelopes with junk is genius (I’d like your cat food coupons myself though) 😉
As to the Bishop:
Christianity is the world’s most psychotic religion, using a book of horror stories to justify its existence. And then there are the Jews who consider themselves the “chosen” because an equally depraved book told them they were. The one exception I have found that condemns the genocide in Gaza is the Society of Friends (Quakers.) And while the Pope similarly decries the genocide, he needs to put his money where his mouth is and GO THERE, or at the very least, send one of his cardinals.
Who was it that said “Religion is an opiate for the masses”?
One doesn’t need religion in order to be a “good” person in hopes of achieving heaven, or wherever. Be that good person because it’s the right thing to do.
As a Pagan, Nature is my Higher Power. This only makes sense: Nature is the one thing that humanity cannot control. She is neither benevolent nor malevolent; she just IS. She is as sweet as picking a fresh strawberry from your garden; as horrific as a tornado.
I’m really not sure how anyone can believe in some deity for which there is no proof of existence…only myths and unlikely stories.
Oh, they are cat food can labels, I'm not sending coupons to the DNC. Don't want to give them anything useful. Maybe sign up on their mailing list.
As to religion and spirituality, you nailed it: "One doesn’t need religion in order to be a “good” person in hopes of achieving heaven, or wherever. Be that good person because it’s the right thing to do."
Hee, hee, hee! I've done the same with anything the Dems might send me in the mail. I let them know EXACTLY what I think of them and mail it back with their stamp.
Since I don't watch anything with Trump in it, I've only heard bits and pieces about the Rev. Budde. I'm not surprised by her lack of response to the genocide at all. I'm convinced that the heads of the mainline denominations are telling their pastors to keep quiet so they don't risk losing zy-0-nist donations to their universities and social institutions. Yeah, believe it or not the Z's donate to "Christian" groups when it suits their purposes and furthers their agenda. I experienced it myself about 14 months ago when I asked my then pastor to speak out about the genocide happening and got nowhere (and worse). I've lost all respect for these over-hierarchal religious organizations.
I don't know if this is true, but I think you can take a postage-paid return envelope like that and paste it on a paper-wrapped brick -- or box of bricks -- and the DNC would have to pay the postage. Now, I don't know if that is correct and I haven't done it...
She is a great representation of the modern democrat. A selfish, hypocrite. Seeing her stance on Palestine, made her speech look like nothing more than an attention grab. She obviously cares nothing for human rights. She also spoke about immigrants as though they are lesser beings than her.
I wondered about this and whether or not she would have been brave enough to stand in front of Biden and used the same pleas towards the Palestinian children. I also feel like when some “compassionate” person publicly tries to appeal to his humanity, they are grandstanding because they know he doesn’t have any.
Haha, thanks for the suggestion to weight down mail.
I often stamp outgoing political junk mail, especially candidate begging letters (both sides) with one of three stamps: Money is Not Speech and Corporations are Not People, Not to be Used for Bribing Politicians and The System isn't Broken, It's Fixed! From now on, I will put a little extra inside, as you are doing, while still trying to end the unwanted incoming mail!
Thanks for sharing yours and others' perspectives.
The Episcopal priests who taught me some valuable things, like nobody knows when the Second Coming is going to happen and anyone who claims otherwise is either a hustler or a fool, would have zero chance of being ordained in that church today.
I wonder what St. George thinks of the Church of Woke Whitey still using his cross?
Thanks for writing about her speech. I'm Episcopalian, so I was interested if she said anything abouth the Palestinians. I pulled up a transcript of it last night to find out. Nope, not a word -- even though it is US sponsoring the Israeli destruction of Gaza and pogroms in occupied West Bank.
Same with the Episcopal bishop here in Atlanta, Rob Wright. Not a peep about Palestine.
I was raised Episcopalian in a congregation that had a pretty strong social justice standpoint, so it is always a tad bit surprising when I see such church leaders as Buddee silent on something as egregious as the US genocide in Gaza.
Even the Unitarians have gone establishment. I tried working with some of them a couple years ago regarding the emotional crisis many young people are facing because of climate collapse. All they wanted to do was have some wealthy members pay for a solar system for the church building instead of using that money to provide outreach, support and resources for youth activism.
No surprise church attendance is collapsing in the United States. The congregations of the two churches above look like a nursing home group.
I no longer see most churches -- at least the ones around me -- as a resource for change. They are the more squeaky, cynical gears in the death machine.
Let's not forget how she described the importance of undocumented immigrants as people who pick our lettuce and pick after us.
As if she was a plantationer describing the damages ending slavery would bring to the trade.
Yes, boss!
All religions are about conditioning and control aimed at building hierarchies which give wealth and power to those at their head. Their very tenets are replete with hypocrisy and the greatest of those is their claim to be justified because they are the Earthly transmitters of the 'Word of God'.
There is not one shred of evidence that any of the 18000 or so gods worshipped over human history has ever existed other than as a creation or iconic representation of natural forces or wonders, generally understandable at a time of general illiteracy, limited education and the pre-eminent dominance of charismatic charlatans ready to make use of it. Indeed, it is a characteristic of religions that they build their followings by targetting the simple-minded, the poor, the under-privileged, the grieving, the troubled, the lonely and, indeed, any individual or group that is desperate for relief, for comfort, for something in which to believe and for some notion of being special and worthwhile.
However, instead of building a harmonious and collaborative world, religions have been constant instigators of division, hatred, persecution, absurd codes of practice in dress, food and morality and using the carrot of 'privileged access' whilst demonising all those who don't believe their particular notions of what their mythical 'god' has supposedly said. - All those 'Words of God', of course, being devised and written by human beings, almost exclusively male and often selectively collected and certainly selectively used to promote whatever actions the religious 'elders' have desired.
Since the rise of the naton-state, the other main control of the masses has been exercised through might and another hypocrisy - the notion that the 'people' are in. control and their leaders are representatives who work on their behalf. Either immediately or in short order, the religions allied themselves with nation-state leaders and vice-versa because it was in the interests of each to do so. That obnoxious alliance continues today with tax privileges for 'churches', 'swearing of oaths on religious texts', prayers and 'blessings' used at official openings, funerals, and other events and at the extreme level, the control of the nation state as a theocracy, despite whatever false name it is known as.
So, it is hardly surprising to find a harsh contradiction between the words and the deeds of religious officers or representatives. The will preach and proselytise whatever is in their own interests, even modifying centuries old tenets and teachings to attract an increasingly educated and aware society that no longer believes in their myths and legends and miracles but, which in the main part will not openly lobby for its ending because it is so widespread it is taken as a given and conditioned in the masses to such an extent that it will take an age, at least, to change those simple-minded enough to understand that they are being used or those who used deceit, charisma, choreographed promotions and such to earn vast incomes from the practice - not least the Catholic church and the lay-preachers and evangelists that dominate religious hypocrisy in the USA.
That so many people cannot see through this charade is a major failure in human organisation throughout the Word. Not only does virtually every religion hold itself to be better than others, often even the 'only true religion' and the only one to speak the 'truth', i.e. the made up 'Word of God' but even within religions that supposedly believe in the same monotheist and omnipotent 'God', albeit by differing names, there are massive divisions, hatred and conflict because of it.
That not only major supposedly democratic and free states have not condemned Israel and that the churches have conspicuously failed to do so, says it all. They do not do so because they would be attacking what is associated with another religion, Judaism, supposedly the religion of 'God's chosen people' and hence, the Jews, for whom there is an ingrained sympathy because of the horrors they enjured during and around WWII. [Their enormous financial contributions may also have much to do with it.]
The USA is as hypocritical as are the religions themselves. "In God We Trust" it prints on its bank-notes (or at least some of them) yet it has and is funding one of the longest hostage situations ever perpetuated in such an obnoxious and punitive way and for around 16 months has been committing clearly evidenced ethnic cleansing and indiscriminate killing of civilians, 70% women and children and injury of ov er 100,000, together with laying waste to the homes and infrastructure of the Palestinians, (whose land they occupy), to such an extent that experts estimate it will take somewhere between 60 and 80 years to rebuild.
All this, of course, is justified by the claim that Hamas are terrorists and Israel has "A Right to Defend Itself." - Yes, it does, but this ethnic cleansing and destruction has nothing to do with self-defense. It is revenge - multiplied without limit.
Israel, the USA and all nation states that have not condemned or, even worse, have supported Israel in this conflict - no, it is not a 'war', more a bullying exercise similar to a mass rape but with fighter jets, tanks, artillery, assault weapons and 2000lb bombs, incarceration, torture, assassination and state support for attacks illegal even under Israel's own legislation - these are the most enormous example of Hypocrisy that perhaps the World has ever seen.
Check out this story from Gallup on US Church affiliation and attendance. They break it down by religion and occasional and regular attendance. Perhaps a new kind of awakening.
This is one of the conclusions:
"Two decades ago, an average of 42% of U.S. adults attended religious services every week or nearly every week. A decade ago, the figure fell to 38%, and it is currently at 30%. This decline is largely driven by the increase in the percentage of Americans with no religious affiliation -- 9% in 2000-2003 versus 21% in 2021-2023 -- almost all of whom do not attend services regularly.
"Still, most religious groups have also seen a decline in regular attendance at religious services over the past two decades."
https://news.gallup.com/poll/642548/church-attendance-declined-religious-groups.aspx
Roger, that post should be required reading for the entire populace!
👏👏👏
You are very kind. Thank you.
Take care. Stay safe. ☮️
Credit where credit’s due, Roger!
Much love and respect.
Religion: The opiate of the masses.
Jenny, be sure to see my reply to Roger.
Ah Jenny, ya beat me to it! 😁
65 years ago MLK said the most segregated hour in the nation was Sunday at 11:00am. Christmas has been bombed and barred in Bethlehem the last two sessions and not a chirp from most churches despite Pastor Munther Isaac promoting baby Jesus under the rubble. Good sermon on the bishop Budde’s blatant hypocrisy exposed by Ali Abunimah on Electronic Intifada.
Oh yeah, some liberal pantywaist handle on Substack was gushing over Zionist bud Budde's faux "courage" and blocked me after I called out the hypocritical silence over Palestine.
The difference nowadays between a Republican and Democrat is that the red-hatted supremacists openly admit their disregard for human decency while blue-shirted supremacists pretend their selective "compassion" for privileged Westerners (not the Palestinian people blown apart by Israeli bombs funded by Ku Klux Kamala) elevates them as champions of human rights.
Est. liberals manage to make Trump supporters look honest by comparison.
I say the Republicans are honestly dishonest while the Democrats are dishonestly dishonest.
Hi Mark
How I WISH that I got letters from the DNC! Your idea of stuffing the envelopes with junk is genius (I’d like your cat food coupons myself though) 😉
As to the Bishop:
Christianity is the world’s most psychotic religion, using a book of horror stories to justify its existence. And then there are the Jews who consider themselves the “chosen” because an equally depraved book told them they were. The one exception I have found that condemns the genocide in Gaza is the Society of Friends (Quakers.) And while the Pope similarly decries the genocide, he needs to put his money where his mouth is and GO THERE, or at the very least, send one of his cardinals.
Who was it that said “Religion is an opiate for the masses”?
One doesn’t need religion in order to be a “good” person in hopes of achieving heaven, or wherever. Be that good person because it’s the right thing to do.
As a Pagan, Nature is my Higher Power. This only makes sense: Nature is the one thing that humanity cannot control. She is neither benevolent nor malevolent; she just IS. She is as sweet as picking a fresh strawberry from your garden; as horrific as a tornado.
I’m really not sure how anyone can believe in some deity for which there is no proof of existence…only myths and unlikely stories.
Oh, they are cat food can labels, I'm not sending coupons to the DNC. Don't want to give them anything useful. Maybe sign up on their mailing list.
As to religion and spirituality, you nailed it: "One doesn’t need religion in order to be a “good” person in hopes of achieving heaven, or wherever. Be that good person because it’s the right thing to do."
Amen! It's really not complicated.
I’m gonna try signing up Mark! Damn, that could be a lot of fun!
Completely agree! Well wrote! Txs
Thanks.
The genocide in Palestine has affirmed that ALL religions are spiritually empty.
NO. Your Evangelicals are going strong annd growing support for the Zionists.
See the article I link to in my response to Roger.
Nope.
Hee, hee, hee! I've done the same with anything the Dems might send me in the mail. I let them know EXACTLY what I think of them and mail it back with their stamp.
Since I don't watch anything with Trump in it, I've only heard bits and pieces about the Rev. Budde. I'm not surprised by her lack of response to the genocide at all. I'm convinced that the heads of the mainline denominations are telling their pastors to keep quiet so they don't risk losing zy-0-nist donations to their universities and social institutions. Yeah, believe it or not the Z's donate to "Christian" groups when it suits their purposes and furthers their agenda. I experienced it myself about 14 months ago when I asked my then pastor to speak out about the genocide happening and got nowhere (and worse). I've lost all respect for these over-hierarchal religious organizations.
I don't know if this is true, but I think you can take a postage-paid return envelope like that and paste it on a paper-wrapped brick -- or box of bricks -- and the DNC would have to pay the postage. Now, I don't know if that is correct and I haven't done it...
Do it!!
She is a great representation of the modern democrat. A selfish, hypocrite. Seeing her stance on Palestine, made her speech look like nothing more than an attention grab. She obviously cares nothing for human rights. She also spoke about immigrants as though they are lesser beings than her.
Highly selective compassion.
I wondered about this and whether or not she would have been brave enough to stand in front of Biden and used the same pleas towards the Palestinian children. I also feel like when some “compassionate” person publicly tries to appeal to his humanity, they are grandstanding because they know he doesn’t have any.
Haha, thanks for the suggestion to weight down mail.
I often stamp outgoing political junk mail, especially candidate begging letters (both sides) with one of three stamps: Money is Not Speech and Corporations are Not People, Not to be Used for Bribing Politicians and The System isn't Broken, It's Fixed! From now on, I will put a little extra inside, as you are doing, while still trying to end the unwanted incoming mail!
Thanks for sharing yours and others' perspectives.
Pack those envelopes! Cut up cardboard really packs the weight on.
The Episcopal priests who taught me some valuable things, like nobody knows when the Second Coming is going to happen and anyone who claims otherwise is either a hustler or a fool, would have zero chance of being ordained in that church today.
I wonder what St. George thinks of the Church of Woke Whitey still using his cross?