Love your blog. But could you please put your religious-story intros on random? I'm really tired of reading "First up from the God Machine this week." Many of us read blogs for the writing as well as for the content. Thank you.

thk: Love your blog. But could you please put your religious-story intros on random? I'm really tired of reading "First up from the God Machine this week." Many of us read blogs for the writing as well as for the content. Thank you.

I don't know. Continuity can be a good thing. I'm already missing "It's Rasmussen, so take it with a grain of salt..."

I won't click a wsj link, but I would like to know what over-repentance is. Does it mean Haggard's god owes him some sin-time? Will he soon be getting busted in a public toilet?

Asked if we're "now living in the end times," (Tim) LaHaye said, "Very definitely."

Well, if the Republicans win back Congress this year it will be a strong indication that the Mayans were right.

Buyer beware - religious quackery is much more dangerous than the medical sort! Sounds like the next campaign for Jones and Serafin (two of the most confused Christians on the planet) will be a Guns for Jesus rally! (WWJS? Who Would Jesus Shoot) -Kevo

I suppose it's possible to over-repent.

I wonder if Pastor LeHay hopes that we're in the End Times because they'll boost his book sales and maybe even make that horrible movie with Kirk Cameron seem not that bad.

Are you sure that wasn't a typo on Tushie Ted? Are you sure it wasn't re-pant or de-pant?

Just saying.

Hate the earth week and get baptised with Oilah Akbar is a popular evangelistic enterprise eh?

I was driving back from a job site in flyover land this week, and heard on a bible station that the apocalypse is "most definitely" coming in 2011, based on a very detailed analysis of the years from the beginning of time as reported in the Bible.

The guy said that is was time to get ready, as the true believers were soon to go sit with God, and that there is nothing more to do here on earth but get ready, and get one's affairs in order for when the rapture comes.

The war these nuts are trying to gin up is quite similar to the race war Charles Manson and others were trying to start in the 60's. I guess *god* is their acid this time around.

Those Quran burners might as well be working for the military industrial complex. They can never have too much war.

If you see history as cyclic, you can see the Christian fear of an increasing prevalence of the Muslim faith in America as corresponding to what the Native American nations felt when Christians began invading on their territory and culture a few centuries ago.

What goes around comes around. Or, to be biblical about it, You reap what you sow.

I wonder if these vile Islamo-phobes are taking any real economic action against Islam. Like buying gasoline and oil that only comes from non-Muslim countries (we get a good chunk of our oil from the Middle East). Or not buying any clothing made in Islamic countries like Egypt or Indonesia. Or not buying electronics made in Malaysia. I haven't heard anything about boycotts like these.

-After burning a Quran, they should then draw a picture of the Prophet, sign it with their name and address, and post it on the internet. . .

Evangelical Christian minister Tim LaHaye, best known for helping write the best-selling "Left Behind" series, told Fox News this week that the Obama administration's agenda is bringing us "closer to the apocalypse."

From his point of view, that's a good thing, right? All right, evangelical wingnuts back Obama!

"THIS WEEK IN GOD.... First up from the God Machine this week is..."

Tastes differ. I wait all week for these words.

Deliberately goading other people's sensitivities is a criminal (in effect and moral standing) threat to our safety. Yes, I know that Muslim extremists are already dangerous, why make it worse?

You write a book titled "Islam Is Of The Devil", and them claim you have "nothing against Muslims".

Got it.

"It's not that I want to kill her..It's just that I don't want her alive anymore"

Don't forget the right-wing apoplexy over a Muslim family day to celebrate Eid at a 6 Flags Theme park. They scheduled it for Sept. 12, a Sunday, obviously trying to avoid offending anyone's sensibilities, since Saturday is the 11th. But it wasn't good enough to satisfy the God Machine. (Love that term, BTW). They're screaming that it's still too close to the Sacred Day on which Muslims are supposed to lie low and cower before the wrath of Real Americans. Unfortunately, the problem is with the lunar calendar: Eid falls on the days of Sept. 10-12 this year, and short of changing the moon's orbit there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Re: haggard

That must mean he's making money at preaching again.

Evangelical Christian minister Tim LaHaye, best known for helping write the best-selling "Left Behind" series, told Fox News this week that the Obama administration's agenda is bringing us "closer to the apocalypse." Asked if we're "now living in the end times," LaHaye said, "Very definitely."

I never cease to be amazed at all these born again fundamentalist Christians who for all their supposed knowledge and bible reading have somehow managed to completely ignore the book of Revelations which plainly states that only God not any man knows the time when end times will occur, and that no human can affect the end of times.So then are we to believe that the Bible is Gods holy word, except for the book of Revelations. I suspect that most of these predictions have some other motivations attached to them rather than just an interest in the well being of peoples soul.

Can I burn churches now?

Can't argue with the end times.

The Right Wing is pretty clear on one thing: It's not a war against terrorism, it's a war against Islam. The only problem, how do they think they can ever win?

Please, it's not "flyover land" or "flyover country". Granted, almost every reference I hear to this concept is coming from a self-pitying conservative rather than from anyone else, but it's not good to feed the pity machine, even in jest.

Besides, there's a lot worth seeing in the middle parts of the country.

Whatever happened to freedom of religion in this country, this is like the nazis burning the synagogues and trying to wipe out the jews.
I did not think we were at war with Islam, even though we have killed about 500,000 moslem children, shame on these so called christians.

the only thing the abrahamic religions seem to agree on is that there is an omnipotent devil.

which they accuse each other of being followers of.

Asked if we're "now living in the end times," LaHaye said, "Very definitely."

Added LaHay: "And I'll say so again if it will help me sell more of my books."

The "Dove World Church"??? Are you kidding? The actions of these Islam-haters certainly don't reflect that the meaning of that symbol (the dove represents the Holy Spirit in Christianity, also peace). And they certainly aren't spreading peace throughout the world with this stunt.

* California Tea Party activist Diane Serafin organized a protest at a Riverside County-area mosque this week, and urged Christians to bring dogs to the demonstration because "they hate dogs." -- Steve Benen

She's also planning on everyone breaking into rousing, Christian songs. The dogs, doubtless, will try to "help" and will add their voices to those of the crowd. I certainly hope that every attendee brings at least one dog. Should be a fun gathering.

Hannah, @16:13. Sounds like the church comes from the world of very soiled doves...

"Maybe there's some director's cut version of the New Testament I'm not aware of, featuring a hateful, book-burning Jesus."

Great line. I was thinking something similar, but you just described my sentiment perfectly.

Tim LaHaye: the Obama administration's agenda is bringing us "closer to the apocalypse."

Unless the apocalypse would otherwise be receding from us like a distant galaxy, everything is bringing us closer to it. And if this is the level of discourse we can expect from now on, the sooner we reach it, the better.

Are we in the end times?

Gawd I hope so! I'm getting really tired of hearing about this holy bullshit.. The end times of short lived bits of civility and common sense maybe, otherwise the propensity for evil control-freak fairy tales will no doubt continue till the last fool is breathing.

"I suspect that most of these predictions have some other motivations attached to them..." grandpajohn @ 2:05 PM.

Except for the word "most", grandpajohn, I do believe you have, as they say, "nailed" it!

Haggard "over repented' so must be horny for man sex again. Not to worry, he'll be forgiven if he 'strays' because that's what that hypocritical crowd does: they forgive their own, and condemn everyone else for what is normal human behavior. Haggard is most likely bisexual, not a very unusual human trait, but his square jaw, and blazing eyes can convince you that he's as straight as they come. Good-looking people just control us. Look at Scott Brown. A brainless beauty captivating the bluest of blue states. Who would have thunk it.

Peripherally on topic:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/31/us/31boyscouts.html
They still don't allow atheists, but are OK with "inflatable mosques". Though one has to wonder how much those mosques are used; I can't believe there are legions of young Muslims among the Boy Scouts, especially given that the overall makeup is close to that of the Tea Party (pasty white). Still... Maybe the Boy Scouts ought to be sent to demonstrate tolerance at all those anti-mosque rallies?

California Tea Party activist Diane Serafin organized a protest at a Riverside County-area mosque this week, and urged Christians to bring dogs to the demonstration because "they hate dogs." The point of the protest was to denounce the construction of a new mosque, which Serafin perceives as part of an effort to "take over our country." She told Evan McMorris-Santoro, "I want you to stress this -- I'm not prejudiced. I worked retail for nine years and I didn't even know my manager was gay until someone told me. And when I found out, I didn't care." I guess that settles it, then.

And the good news is, 20 Fundamentalist morons showed up to protest the Muslims and harass their religious ceremony, and 60 good Christian American patriots showed up to oppose the fundamentalist traitors and support religious freedom in America.

exlibra, from what I've heard, the national Boy Scouts organization is as authoritative as the Vatican: People say, "Yeah, whatever," and run their local troops the way they want to.

I don't worry about the Boy Scouts.