Nice :) Fear for resources seems to drive the neoconservatives ad their drive for empire. Fear is easy to exploit in fundamentally-religious people, but they are drawing on it from many others, too. Maybe it's just a matter of them and their more fundamentalist backers losing steam, since most people seem to be losing their taste for pre-emptive war.
Sort of related in terms of the U.S. economic empire: yy husband said that since China has a long tradition of workers' rights, from being formerly communist, that that may force the hand of the Chinese government. Unlike ours, their culture isn't steeped in adoration for the capitalists who exploit the most.
Christians are not shielding America from judgment. America is shielding Christians from judgment. America doesn’t prosper because Christians tithe. Christians prosper because Americans tithe. The Old Testament Jews tithed and got nothing in return except a smug, self-righteous, corrupt class of priestly parasites who did nothing at all to benefit the society. I paid more than 10% of my gross salary last year in taxes, and I got roads, schools, airports, weather satellites, national parks, and a host of other things in return. Also I helped pay for efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty and nurse the sick.
Great point Steve, and your taxes also paid for the thousands of tax-exempt churches and schools and "charities" employing everyone from bishops living in palaces to TV "evangelists" flying over your house in private jets.
I nearly always find your writing thought provoking and stimulating. I'm glad for your perspective and do my best to keep you in my view. But occasionally I am just left with an unaswered question. Perhaps you can help.
You mention Os Guinness as your father's imitator, but wasn't there a time when you were also close to him? I think I had heard that he had been your best man at your wedding.
I can understand how the years and different perspectives and choices in life can create a distance or even break a friendship, but your post reveals no personal history with Guinness. Isn't that part of the story?
8 comments:
Lovely piece, Frank! Have experienced the whole trajectory you describe and am pleased to live in a post-apocalyptic New York!
Thanks for tweeting this!
Elliott Humrich
Evict The Vatican.
Nice :) Fear for resources seems to drive the neoconservatives ad their drive for empire. Fear is easy to exploit in fundamentally-religious people, but they are drawing on it from many others, too. Maybe it's just a matter of them and their more fundamentalist backers losing steam, since most people seem to be losing their taste for pre-emptive war.
Sort of related in terms of the U.S. economic empire: yy husband said that since China has a long tradition of workers' rights, from being formerly communist, that that may force the hand of the Chinese government. Unlike ours, their culture isn't steeped in adoration for the capitalists who exploit the most.
Thanks Ray, Shawana and Dracaena, for the good word. I'm glad you read my piece. Best, F
From a piece I posted on Little Green Footballs:
Christians are not shielding America from judgment. America is shielding Christians from judgment. America doesn’t prosper because Christians tithe. Christians prosper because Americans tithe. The Old Testament Jews tithed and got nothing in return except a smug, self-righteous, corrupt class of priestly parasites who did nothing at all to benefit the society. I paid more than 10% of my gross salary last year in taxes, and I got roads, schools, airports, weather satellites, national parks, and a host of other things in return. Also I helped pay for efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty and nurse the sick.
Full Piece
Great point Steve, and your taxes also paid for the thousands of tax-exempt churches and schools and "charities" employing everyone from bishops living in palaces to TV "evangelists" flying over your house in private jets.
I nearly always find your writing thought provoking and stimulating. I'm glad for your perspective and do my best to keep you in my view. But occasionally I am just left with an unaswered question. Perhaps you can help.
You mention Os Guinness as your father's imitator, but wasn't there a time when you were also close to him? I think I had heard that he had been your best man at your wedding.
I can understand how the years and different perspectives and choices in life can create a distance or even break a friendship, but your post reveals no personal history with Guinness. Isn't that part of the story?
What happened to the post?
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