More Dangerous Stupidity From the Religious Right

THIS is why I attack Christianity

Published on October 9, 2005 By Ionolast In Misc

Last night on Fox News' Heartland, John Kasich interviewed Senator Hank Erwin (R-Al.), starting with this written statement:

"New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness...it is the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgement of God." - Weekly Newspaper Column 9/30/05.

Kasich: "Don't you think you're driving people away from religion? I know you're not trying to do that, but don't you think it has the opposite effect?"

Erwin: "It's according to what your heart is saying. If your heart is humble and you have the lord using a message to send along to America we need to wake up. Your heart will respond in humility saying, "Lord, whatever it takes, begin with me to do what's right.
If your heart is hard, you'll turn away. I can't define what men do, I can only say what God would be honored with."

He actually believes he can read God's mind.

He and anyone who agrees with him should do the world a favor and kill themselves.

No wonder the Ancient Romans threw Christians to the lions."

Comments (Page 1)

Manopeace

on Oct 09, 2005

As long as these neoconturds have an audience, they will perform. Stupidity is not limited to any political scene... it's just been more obvious from the right lately... both in the media and in other places (if you know what I mean).

Ionolast

on Oct 09, 2005

I just Googled "Hank Erwin" and found this:

Link

As I mentioned earlier, the wingnuts heads are all exploding with racism and the bible over Katrina. Erwin's statements are a bit more scary because he holds office. When you see Hank you figure Falwell or Robertson, but not a State Senator.As you know, I'm not against religion or God or spiritual beliefs. I am against idiots like Erwin. The frightening thing is that people like Hank are being elected more and more in our country and our media will not call them out when they sprout nonsense like this. He's all smiling and so taken with his opinions. Why hasn't Las Vegas been hit with something you pompous fool?

Then I followed this link and found this:

Link

'Scarborough Country' for Sept. 28th. I am joined right now by Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin.

Senator, thank you for being with me tonight. You—you...HANK ERWIN ®, ALABAMA STATE SENATOR:

Joe, good to see you.

SCARBOROUGH: You have said a lot of things that have shocked a lot of people. Explain to me why you think that Katrina was God‘s wrath.

ERWIN: Well, I think, if you look at what‘s going on, this whole region has always known that, with the church, that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are known for sin.And if you go to a church and you read your Bible, you are always told avoid sin and that there‘s judgment for sin. And I just think that, in my analysis—and I can‘t speak for everybody, but I believe that, if you look at the factors, that you had a city that was known for sin—the signature of New Orleans is the French Quarter, Bourbon Street. It is known for sin. And you have a Bible that says God will judge sin, you can put two and two together and say, it may not be the judgment of God, but it sure looks like the footprint.So, I just told my friends, in an opinion, I think it could be the judgment of God on the Gulf Coast and on New Orleans. And I would urge the good folks that are the innocent victims to rally and rebuild that city and get a new signature.

SCARBOROUGH: And you wrote this—quote—“New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness.

”ERWIN: Yes.

SCARBOROUGH: “It‘s the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgment of God. Why were we surprised when, finally, the hand of judgment fell?”I have got to ask you this, Senator. I was on the ground in Mississippi. We certainly saw the pictures out of Louisiana. I saw young children, 15-month-old babies, who were suffering. I saw, in New Orleans, young children. I mean, you look on TV, you see young babies dying on the sidewalk of heat exhaustion. Certainly, these babies aren‘t sinful, are they? Should they be made to pay for the sins of tourists from Florida that go over and gamble in New Orleans and Biloxi?

(CROSSTALK)
ERWIN: Well, I think you need to understand that, whenever—wherever sin goes, the sins of a few can affect the innocence of many. And I think that you are seeing also along the Gulf Coast, as well as in the neighbors of our good state of Mississippi, a lot of innocent people that were affected by this hurricane. And that‘s the tragedy of sin, is that you never sin alone. You always affect other people. And we have had a lot of innocent people who have been hurt. Here in Birmingham...
(CROSSTALK)

SCARBOROUGH: But, you know, Senator—you know, Senator, though, I mean, the thing about the New Orleans—the New Orleans storm is that it was the French Quarter that seemed to be spared of devastation.

ERWIN: Well, I understand that, and I think the lord sent them a message that we need to turn around or we may have another hurricane come. And I just think the people who have been going in there, the church people have been going into the French Quarter for years, appealing for the people to turn around and get back right with God. So, I think the message needs to go even stronger, please turn around, so we never have to go through this again.

SCARBOROUGH: All right, Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin, thank you so much for being with us, a very provocative argument. I am sure a lot of people are very angry out there. All I will say is this. When you look at Matthew 25, and the disciples ask Jesus, how do we get to heaven? That‘s what they were interested in. We want to sit on the right hand of the father. How do we do it? Jesus said, you take care of the poor. You give the thirsty water. When they come to your door and they need food, you give it to them. When they need clothes, give them the clothes off your back and visit them in jail. Basically, help the dispossessed. That‘s why I just find it hard to square up my vision of God and what Jesus Christ said in the New Testament with what the senator is saying tonight. But I will tell you, it is a debate—I promise you, it‘s a debate that is raging across America right now in churches and other areas, too.

Then I followed another link and found this:

Link

Erwin's column says, "Warnings year after year by godly evangelists and preachers went unheeded. So why were we surprised when finally the hand of judgment fell?"

The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was flooded by Katrina. But Erwin said the Baptists knew they were ministering in a sinful place that could be targeted.

Moderateman

on Oct 09, 2005

Anyone that thinks they can begin to understand God and Gods mind is an IDIOT.

Gideon MacLeish

on Oct 09, 2005

He and anyone who agrees with him should do the world a favor and kill themselves.

While I agree with your statement that his was an ignorant statement, I appreciate your exmple of the tolerance of the left.

Ever wonder why I'm not one of you anymore?

bakerstreet

on Oct 09, 2005

Wow, so opinions are dangerous. We'd better take care of that. I'll go make a list of people around here whose opinions a I think are dangerous. What is the usual reaction when people refer to Micheal Moore as "dangerous" when he distorts the truth to undermine public support during wartime? Yet someone's religious beliefs are dangerous, and Micheal Moore is just enjoying his rights?

I don't think people who derive their ideals from a source are as dangerous as people who claim they have no moral compass and then want to impose their idealism on other people by force. I'll take a fundamentalist Christian over a thug faux-nihilist any day of the week. At least one has guidelines. The other can impose whatever the hell they want and still pretend to take the moral high ground.

" As long as these neoconturds have an audience, they will perform. Stupidity is not limited to any political scene... it's just been more obvious from the right lately... both in the media and in other places (if you know what I mean)."

Frankly, mano, someone living in Israel, a nation that only exists because they thought God gave them someone else's property... come on. You have to have some balls to be judgemental of other people who talk about what God thinks. At least when our "neoconturds" meddle in people's lives they don't bulldoze their homes to make settlements that God said they needed...

Moderateman

on Oct 09, 2005

Reply By: Gideon MacLeishPosted: Sunday, October 09, 2005He and anyone who agrees with him should do the world a favor and kill themselves. While I agree with your statement that his was an ignorant statement, I appreciate your exmple of the tolerance of the left.Ever wonder why I'm not one of you anymore?

amen brother, the left just cannot see that they are driving or have driven anyone sane away from the democratic party.

Moderateman

on Oct 09, 2005

Frankly, mano, someone living in Israel, a nation that only exists because they thought God gave them someone else's property...

yer treading on dangerous ground baker, really, lets try to remember there was an Israel before someone took it away from them.

Manopeace

on Oct 09, 2005

At least when our "neoconturds" meddle in people's lives they don't bulldoze their homes to make settlements that God said they needed...

Baker.... you know damn well that I do not support those actions... don't make it sound like I do.

a nation that only exists because they thought God gave them someone else's property...

I do not support that theory either.

bakerstreet

on Oct 09, 2005

But you reap the benefits of them every day, and were it not for people with ideas like you are ridiculing there wouldn't have been a modern Israel at all. I personally don't buy the "I don't support Zionism, pass the knish" perspective. Without it, you wouldn't be there.

I wonder how you would react to someone who used the word "zionisturds"? People in glass houses, mano. You aren't in the position to offer ridicule.

"yer treading on dangerous ground baker, really, lets try to remember there was an Israel before someone took it away from them."

No, you have an Old Testament recounting how they took it to begin with. Mano's stupidity is calling Americans who base their governmental decisions on religious ideals "neoconturds" when he is living under the umbrella of a nation wherein that is S.O.P...

Manopeace

on Oct 09, 2005

Mano's stupidity is calling Americans who base their governmental decisions on religious ideals "neoconturds"

I was NOT referring to Americans who base their governmental decisions on religious ideals.... I was referring to STUPID people on all sides that think God has nothing better to do than talk to them personally.
Disagreeing with something I say or not understanding it does not make me stupid Baker... I'm really getting tired of this .

If you have been reading my threads that you so often comment on, you would also know that I do not consider myself a zionist.... so the terminology you used would not upset me in the least.

Don't be so quick to condemn Baker, you advocate looking at a whole picture, you criticize if I do not give a truthful picture in my threads, why do you sieze on one word in my comments and blow it up?

Ionolast

on Oct 09, 2005

Wow, so opinions are dangerous.

Erwin's opinions are dangerous because he's a lawmaker.

Erwin's statements are a bit more scary because he holds office.

Moderateman

on Oct 09, 2005

"yer treading on dangerous ground baker, really, lets try to remember there was an Israel before someone took it away from them."

No, you have an Old Testament recounting how they took it to begin with. Mano's stupidity is calling Americans who base their governmental decisions on religious ideals "neoconturds" when he is living under the umbrella of a nation wherein that is S.O.P...

ok clear now.

Truth is if not for America and american aid, fighting tools Israel would have fallen to the hoards of Muslims long ago

Ionolast

on Oct 09, 2005

I appreciate your exmple of the tolerance of the left.

Thank you. I'm very intolerant of people like him.

bakerstreet

on Oct 09, 2005

"I was NOT referring to Americans who base their governmental decisions on religious ideals.... I was referring to STUPID people on all sides that think God has nothing better to do than talk to them personally."

But those ARE his beliefs, mano. They believe an ommipresent, omnipotent God would have time to do anything He liked. You think perhaps people who feel God "chooses" particular people are turds, or "dangerous"? Again, a strange perspective for an Israeli who survives from day to day only because of Zionists.

"Erwin's opinions are dangerous because he's a lawmaker."

Beliefs are beliefs. I think a lot of the hippy bullshit people cart around is "dangerous," but I don't think it disqualifies them from public service.

"If you have been reading my threads that you so often comment on, you would also know that I do not consider myself a zionist.... so the terminology you used would not upset me in the least."

But living under the wing of zionists isn't, evidently. It's kind of like an atheist railing against religion and living in a church. You may not agree with Zionists, but you sure don't seem to mind banking on them, either.

Not that it isn't your right to do so. Just be careful who you call a turd when people you'd define as "turds" are your bread and butter.

bakerstreet

on Oct 09, 2005

"Thank you. I'm very intolerant of people like him."

Glad to see you admit that. That makes the clear distinction between ignorance and bigotry.

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