This guy is running for elected office in Minnesota.
He appears to be a legitimate, if unreal, candidate for Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District. It’s been a democratic district continuously since 1946, the current incumbent has been re-elected every 2 years since 2000. He is a Republican.
This guy, like the now forgotten Joy Villa, is a Donald Trump superfan and conspiracy theory supporter on everything from fluoride to vaccinations. And like Joy Villa, he is trying to have his cake and eat it too. He wants to appeal to the Christian right who generally vote Republican, but there is no hiding the fact that he is a scientologist. So, he claims to be both. But as every good scientologist knows, that is a lie.
But before we get to the lie, his strategy here seems off. He is announcing himself as a scientologist to attack a Christian website (that satirizes the left and non-Christians) that apparently said nasty things about scientology because this is “the very thing christians face everyday which [sic] persecution for one’s beliefs.” All around a strange pitch if you are trying to get christians to vote for you? And who else can he be courting? There might be a grand total of 3 scientologists able to vote in his district and he likely already has their votes.
But what about this old PR line about being a christian and a scientologist?
To say it clearly: it is a LIE. Scientology is antithetical to christianity.
I have written about this before L. Ron Hubbard on Christianity and Can Scientologists be Christians or Jews Too?
In these articles, you will find numerous disdainful quotes from L. Ron Hubbard on the subject of Christianity, Christ, religion in general and the requirement to be a 100% scientologist and not go off into “other practices.”
But the final word on this comes from scientology’s “Response to Final Series of IRS Questions Prior to Recognition of Exemption of CST Under Section 501(c)(3) As a Church on October 1, 1993. ” This is the official scientology position presented to the IRS in order to gain tax exempt status:
Footnote 6: Although there is no policy or Scriptural mandate expressly requiring Scientologists to renounce other religious beliefs or membership in other churches, as a practical matter Scientologists are expected to and do become fully devoted to Scientology to the exclusion of other faiths. As Scientologists, they are required to look only to Scientology Scriptures for the answers to the fundamental questions of their existence and to seek enlightenment only from Scientology. Thus, a Scientologist who grew up in the Jewish faith who continues formal membership in his synagogue and attends services with his family violates no Scientology policy or tenet. On the other hand, such a person is not permitted to mix the practice of his former faith into his practice and understanding of Scientology so as to alter orthodox Scientology in any way.
I’ve located Michael’s profile on facebook and sent him a message inviting him to explain to me how he could possibly support his claim in view of the fact that Hubbard not only denies the existence of Christ, but goes even further into telling he was a pedofile. He replied that I couldn’t prove my own info to be accurate and I was therefore bearing false witness, in violation of the ten commandments. He also managed to block the comm line to prevent any further discussion.
Now we know how the guy thinks.
The difference is that he isn’t selling something. The problem with the anti-scientology TV shows is that they are a commercial product and are used to support unemployable cult members. What will happen once anti-scientologists can no longer sell books and advertising?
Are you on drugs or what? Your comment is so nonsequitur
It’s The truth. We live in a showbiz society. You are lost without your TV. You’re only here because you watched a TV show. You need someone to tell you what to think. That is why you have to dox this “christian scientologist.” I don’t know the guy and neither do you.
Do you know at least who you are? You seem lost into making senseless assumptions. Get a life and seek some help for your mental condition
Yes. Your only recourse is to insult viewpoints that don’t fit the limits of your understanding. You are consumed by anti-cultism and you are telling others to “get a life.” Sleep well
Scientology is a commercial product that claims to be a religion.
Hi there. I didn’t know that. I thought it was “an applied religious philosophy.” (from the 0-8 book) Thanks for the tip.
Any time.
I made a comment on ESMBR that I would like to repeat here.
The Church of Scientology’s representation to the IRS clearly and unequivocally establishes that it is unacceptable to the Church of Scientology for a Scientologist to practice another religion in any meaningful, substantive or indeed non-superficial way.
There is another perspective that must be considered. Another question. One that the Church of Scientology never considers, and may be incapable of recognizing, much less considering.
That question is whether it is acceptable to the other religion, in this case Christianity, for its members and adherents to also practice Scientology? In other words, can one, from the perspective of the other religion, honestly practice both religions at the same time?
For example, I previously noted that there is at least one fatwa that it is unacceptable for Muslims to also practice the religion of Scientology:
About Islam: What is the position of Islam on Scientology? Can a Muslim become a Scientologist? (Answer: No.)
https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/the-position-of-islam-on-scientology/
https://exscn2.net/threads/about-islam-what-is-the-position-of-islam-on-scientology-can-a-muslim-become-a-scientologist-answer-no.2074/
Back to Christianity, Mike’s articles show that a person who believes in and practices Scientology simply cannot, from the perspective of Christianity, simultaneously believe in and practice Christianity in any meaningful, substantive or non-superficial way. The spiritual, moral and ethical beliefs and practices of Scientology are antithetical to those of Christianity.
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The only Christian who would ever claim that they are practicing both is either completely ignorant of the Christian faith that they are claiming or indifferent about it to the point where they could offer “yes” or “no” with equal ease when asked about their Christian “faith” commitment. For two millenia Christians have suffered and died because of their insistence on the exclusivity of their God and their faith.
The person and idea that Christianity and scientology “believe in” are simply irreconcilable. The ethics are diametrically opposed. As are their respective impacts on the community with charitable activities, or refusal thereof unless it can be faked for a camera.
So other than ignorance and indifference, there’s one other possibility: A non-Christian (including scientologists) who simply wants to pander to naive Christians by pretending to be one of them. To lure them over, get their vote or get over on them. Which is by all indications what Snellings appears to be.
I applaud him for the courage of outing himself as a scientologist. He could have stopped right there, let his scn freak flag fly and not made a total liar out of himself by adding an obviously false and impossible claim.
Type4_PTS made an insightful reply to my post on ESMBR that I would like to share here.
* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *
It would be interesting to poll religious leaders of all varieties, showing them what the CoS wrote to the IRS, then asking them “In light of this information, is Scientology compatible with (fill in the religion)?”
I don’t see how any leaders of any of the major religions could honestly consider Scientology to be compatible. One of the sentences written to the IRS is: “As Scientologists, they are required to look only to Scientology Scriptures for the answers to the fundamental questions of their existence and to seek enlightenment only from Scientology.”
Per this requirement, if a Christian wished to practice Scientology he would no longer be permitted to rely upon the Bible as a source of truth or wisdom. If he attended a bible study in a Christian church and lived his life in accordance with his realizations from that study, he would be in violation of this requirement from the CoS.
* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
The last paragraph in particular says what needs to be said succinctly and in concrete terms. How can one say that they are a Christian if they can’t rely on the Bible for the answers to the fundamental questions of their existence or to seek enlightenment?
What is left? Christmas trees? The Easter Bunny?
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“The Church of Scientology’s representation to the IRS clearly and unequivocally establishes that it is unacceptable to the Church of Scientology for a Scientologist to practice another religion in any meaningful, substantive or indeed non-superficial way.”
As you know, one of the criteria to qualify as a church for IRS purposes is that the members don’t belong to any other church.
“That question is whether it is acceptable to the other religion, in this case Christianity, for its members and adherents to also practice Scientology?”
Not all religions attempt to control the lives of their members. I can’t imagine a leader from a Methodist church taking a member aside to discuss the fact that the member has been seen going to a JW church. I would expect many churches to encourage their members to explore other religions if they are curious about them.
But aren’t the Muslim’s that are working with the cult putting the tax exempt status of both “churches” at risk?
Michael Snellings,
This is what L. Ron Hubbard, the founder and “Source” of Scientology said about Christ and Christianity (on tape): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc9HjgXdWBw — “L. RON HUBBARD’S Truth on GOD/CHRIST/MOHAMMED/CROWLEY”
And very clearly at 2:01: “The man on the cross. There was no Christ!
If he is in any way, shape, or form an actual Christian, then he should know that Scientology’s issue with Christianity goes beyond “other practices”. Hubbard says in no uncertain terms that Christ is an implant, i.e., never actually happened, a figment of our collective imaginations. Or maybe of our BT’s imaginations, but I digress … Hubbard also said that Christ was not such a nice guy and was a lover of young boys. How exactly an implant becomes a lover of anything, and why that would matter, I don’t really understand. Maybe that’s on the upper levels, I don’t know.
It would be interesting to see how Mr Snellings reconciles that with his supposed Christianity. Unless his “Christianity” doesn’t go any further than exchanging gifts on Christmas.
As for him being a candidate in the first place, it’s fairly normal that in a district that is solidly either R or D, the national party pays little attention to the race. It is then open for pretty much any whacko to run on the minority ticket.
Some people on ESMBR and in private correspondence are convinced that Michael Snellings speaking out was a target on an actual, formal Scientology program. I am skeptical because wouldn’t they choose someone less… extreme? But who knows.
/
Michael lashing out like that was a minor miscalculation. Now, many more people recognize him as an unbalanced true-believer. If he’d just kept his mouth shut, I doubt anyone would have recognized him as a rabid scientologist, quick to take offense at the slightest provocation.It’s not as if there ever was a big group of scns in Minnesota. Now, the few exes in the area might be alerted and can climb on the bandwagon against him.
“MN CD4 Candidate 2022 Michael Snellings said
“I’m a Christian and I’m also a Scientologist. I commented on one of your anti-Scientology articles as it goes against the very thing that christians face everyday which persecution of one’s beliefs. Do your research on Scientology before printing anti-Scientology, thanks.”
He’s advising someone else to do their research on scientology? Seems he doesn’t take his own advise.
Oy vey! What a putz.
People who often give advice but rarely follow their own advice are one of life’s amusements that are sorely needed during trying times.
But this cult does this very thing by talking out of both sides of their mouth simultaneously. For the longest time, I thought that learning to talk out of both sides of the mouth simultaneously was TR0.
I really worry about someone who maintains that they can be a scientologist and ANY other belief system as scn/Hubbard/doesn’t/didn’t allow for followers believing anything Hubbard didn’t write is “true”. scns can only believe his proclamations unsupported by any evidence and in the face of copious evidence Hubbard badly missed the mark in most all cases.
You are right: Michael Snellings should research scientology itself, without the blind obedience scientology demands of its followers. We who are following scientology’s foibles and failings and living in the real world at the same time likely know far more about the organization, so this blog is a good start for a proper education of scientology’s true beliefs and goals. Tony’s blog may be nearly as good. Together, they can’t be beat for well-researched, factual data.
Skyler, I guess we all need some amusement in our life 🙂
I tried to look up TRO but didn’t find just what it meant. Is it part of training?
Jere, one of the things I really respect about Mike and Tony’s blogs is that they don’t just write, they back up what they write with documentation. Any scientologist can look up LRH’s words as well as those of us who were never-ins. I suppose the cult could say that what’s on the internet has been altered. But they have to know it’s LRH’s own written words since they have to have studied everything he ever wrote or said. I know that’s only them preaching to the choir and the reason they don’t want anyone to look for themselves.
Also, Michael Snellings can make all the self-serving claims he wants but he can’t hide from the truth.
ISNOINews made a great point that Snellings has to know he doesn’t really have a prayer of winning anything except getting his name out there. Maybe Snellings should think about how people can be judged by the company they keep. Being associated with an abusive organization doesn’t bode well.
Hi Peggy!
I’ll answer for our friend Skyler. They were talking about TR 0. That stands for Training Routine Zero. This training routine is casually called ‘confront’. Here is the definition from Wikipedia.
TR-0: Confronting
In the first exercise, a student and coach face each other with eyes open. The routine ends when the student can confront the coach for at least two hours without movement, excessive blinking, or loss of attention. The second exercise is the same, except that the coach tries to distract the student both verbally and physically.
Here is the Wikipedia page on the TR’s. It gives a quick and simple description of each. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Training_routines_(Scientology)
Thank you Linear13. You and Skyler cleared that up. So, I take it that this is step one to mind control, oh what fun to belong to a business that takes over your mind, and your bank account, and your life. Hard to believe that anyone actually enjoys that.
Hi Peggy. From the outside of the bubble, it certainly is hard to believe that anyone can enjoy that, to be sure.
But when someone is inside the bubble, there are a combination of effects (like peer pressure) and when you put all these effects together, it is highly believable.
The key to understanding – just my opinion – is that this thing has been going on for thousands of years. I’m not just talking about this one cult. The techniques involved in mind control have been getting refined and stronger and better for thousands of years.
Another key to understanding is these cult leaders try something and if it works, they adopt it. If not, they discard it.
So, mind control cults have been getting stronger and stronger for many, many years. They are now so forceful, they are almost impossible to resist.
People who have never succumbed to the power of a mind control cult – again in my opinion – should consider themselves very lucky they had the strength to resist.
On one hand, remember Nancy Regan’s simple minded, “Just say NO!”? Well, in one way that is all that it takes. But, in another way, it takes real strength of will and strength of character to resist. I believe we all need to be very kind and understanding to the victims. It’s just not right to call them stupid. They are victims of a very powerful and insidious force. They need our compassion and our help.
Skyler, I hope no one took my remark as a judgement. Yea, I have to admit that I found myself somewhat under the control of a person, didn’t enjoy it, but had to stick it out for one reason.
Anywho, I agree with you about this being a refined and rerefined (not a word I know) skill for centuries. Others learn from previous cults how to perfect. I think LRH did a lot of research on many dark subjects, including how to gain control of others.
You are so right that people who have been victims deserve understanding and a hand up if they need or want it. Best to remember that there but by the grace of God go I.
“The routine ends when the student can confront the coach for at least two hours without movement, excessive blinking, or loss of attention.”
That’s incorrect information. There was no time requirement for TRs unless it might have been required for a specialized TR course. Auditors would often do TRs for short periods to “freshen up” so to speak on their TRs.
Hello Peggy,
TR0 – is the first thing that people who are interested in this cult learn to do. I think it means, “Training Routine Zero”. It is very well known to anyone who has spent any time in this cult.
If you are interested (and it’s really worth knowing what it’s about to get some idea of how this cult deceives people into believing they can attain “super powers” when the truth is they are taught some garbage and made to believe that they are on the road to attaining super powers.
The movie, “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” is probably the best movie about this cult that shows the dark side of things. Someone in this movie (I think it is Jason Beghe) describes TR0 in detail. If you have never seen this movie, it is an excellent source for anyone interested in this cult.
By the way, I didn’t mean to say there was anything good about people who give advice but never follow their own advice. It may have seemed that way because I called it an “amusement”. But I was just trying to contrast that with the way the cult actually behaves.
I’m sorry if I seemed to be saying it was fun to laugh at victims. I really didn’t mean that at all.
Oh Skyler, I didn’t take that comment that way at all! I took it as amusement at the pitiful way that the cult twists and turns and dodges facts. I know you would never make fun of the victims of the cult or any victim for that matter.
Thank you and Linear13 for explaining TR0.
I have never watched Going Clear but really should make the time to do so.
Peggy – Here is a scn glossary in case you want to learn Scientologese as a second language.
http://www.xenu-directory.net/glossary/glossary_a.htm
Thank you Richard,
Oh my. Hmmm. I took 4 years of Latin, 2 years of French, 1 year of Spanish, and sad to say I remember very little of those. I have a feeling I would flunk out of scientologyeze.
That being said I will save this link and can use it when I read something here I need translated.
Thank you Richard,
I think I lost my reply – sr. moments are rough.
I took 4 years of Latin, 2 years of French, 1 year of Spanish and honestly don’t remember more that a tiny bit. I have a feeling I would flunk out of sciengologyeze.
I will save this link though and use it when I need something written here translated.
Question – when you got out did you find yourself using any of these terms in the outside world? This would make getting out with non-members around you an even more confusing part.
Peggy – A scio wouldn’t use scn slang when talking to a non scio since he would obviously not understand the word or term. Hubbard coined a lot of words which are just descriptions of human behaviour to make scn seem original and unique. For example, “enturbulated”, no King’s English definition, is Hubbardese for upset.
The bigger problem for people exiting scn is learning how not to *think with scientology* if that makes any sense. As an alternate example a Jesus Freak thinks with the idea that everyone must be saved.
I hope my reply is clear enough that I have not enturbulated you. . . . . . (joke) 😇
LOL, nope, you didn’t upset me at all Richard 🙂 Thanks for the directory link.
When I watched the Aftermath shows I remember some of the guests saying that they sometimes had to stop and wonder if what they were thinking was scientology or what they were really thinking. Something like that.
Hardwired thinking isn’t something that’s easy to, well, to change to being more open minded, not my way or the highway. It can be something as simple of someone’s favorite football team – heaven forbid they are not yours.
Oy vey is right. He’s tagging into CHRISTIAN persecution which is hardly recognized to exist in America. He’s got it backwards, if you ask most members of supposedly persecuted groups.
I guess he’s the poor victim of both just to cover all his bases. Whoever helped him write that didn’t do him any favors. I still don’t get just what his point was other than … on second thought what was his point?
Also, on this Michael Snellings’ statement, “…the very thing Christians face everyday, which is persecution of one’s beliefs,” huh? Which century are we in? With some few exceptions, such as in a country or region where a different belief set is dominant and enforced either by government or thuggery, I believe for many decades, Christians do NOT face any persecution whatsoever, certainly not “everyday.”
Let’s see…which brand of individual possesses the characteristic “Speaks in generalities”?
Peridot I am a Christian and can’t think of a time when I felt persecuted at all. I have friends who are agnostic, or atheist, not sure what the difference is but either way I like them very much. I can’t say they didn’t try to plead their case, which I never questioned them about. I don’t know why the topic even ever came up. I just listened and soon that never came up again.
I just get the feeling that Snellings is one of those people who had this solution and is looking for a problem. If he’s being persecuted my guess is it would be from his other faith.
To Peggy L – Well stated. Seems we both did a head scratch, “EVERY DAY, if you are a Christian, you are facing persecution.” ? Strange characterization unless, as you speculate, does he mean “persecuted” for Scientology involvement. Someone either has coached him to go for the Tone level of “Victim” because this will strike a chord with society or I don’t know what. It seems strange.
Peridot, maybe that’s his fall back position? If he has nothing substantial to run on maybe he feels he can at least get a few sympathy votes? To me the poor poor baby isn’t much of a reason to vote for someone.
The fact that Michael Snellings is running for Congress as a Republican in a heavily Democrat district and doesn’t have any chance of winning doesn’t mean that his candidacy is irrelevant or insignificant. (Not that Mike suggested that it was; I just want l to emphasize the point.)
There is a strategy where Republicans will run for office, particularly Congress, in races that they are certain to lose in order to boost their status in the Republican party and bona fides to appear on Fox News, Newsmax, One America News Network (OANN), podcasts, blogs, and rallies.
Just being nominated and being the official Republican candidate can get them on Fox News, Newsmax, OANN, podcasts, blogs, and invited to rallies. Having a Congressional exploratory committee probably helped Joy Villa raise her profile.
I don’t mean to pick on Republicans when I say this, or suggest that the strategy is improper or illegitimate. Democrats — and often LGBTQ Democrats — do the same thing in heavily Republican districts that they have no chance of winning in order to raise their profile and status, and mainstream their platform. Often they run unopposed for the Democrat nomination, or with token opposition, because everyone knows that the Democrat nominee is going to lose anyway.
An analogy to LGBTQ Democrats who adopt this strategy may be instructive. LGBTQ Democrats may run for office under such circumstances to mainstream and make more acceptable the idea of LGBTQ persons running for office at all. Just being nominated is the “win,” and serves as the first step. Similarly, a Scientologist (or “Christian Scientologist”) who runs under such circumstances may do so to mainstream and make more acceptable the idea of a Scientologist (or “Christian Scientologist”) running for office. Again, the “win” would be being nominated, and would serve as the first step.
This may (or may not) be a long-term strategy.
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i hope it isn’t a LONG-term strategy, for Snelling or for any other Republicrat, as it would be too similar to a recently-departed idiot who is best left alone and politically dead & buried.
To be fair to the Bee, they also satirize aspects of (modern US) Christianity a fair bit as well so it isn’t all one sided.
Yes, I am sure this is correct. I didnt make a study of it. Just enough to see it is not generally anti-Christian
Yep, they totally do! That’s why I was surprised that such a “Christian” as our full-of-it Mr. Snelling claims to be, opted to point out just the satirization of $cientology – shows exactly where his priorities (& primary faith) lie.
Yeah, I think the reader here would like some of their pieces mocking Joel Osteen and other Prosperity Gospel advocates. They will remind you a lot of Hubbard…
It looks to me like the guy is just doing cheap election propaganda. Trying to sound cool with what he says and show off.
And the lies he shoots are obviously the usual “acceptable truths” that we all know.
As a good Christian he doesn’t remember the first commandment – will you have no other god but me??
Hello LMR. Yes. That is indeed the first commandment and I have always thought it was also the most important. Hand in hand with that commandment that says, “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven image.” But talk about hypocrisy!
People who sell religion – like cults and the telephone evangelists usually fail to remember that commandment and get extremely angry when challenged.
I remember one televangelist who told people if they made a “donation” of $50 or more, they would be sent a lovely keychain with an image of JC on the cross. When I called them and asked them about the size of that graven image, the young man on the other end of the phone seemed startled for a minute.
“What kraven image?”, he asked. So, I told him, “The one you are selling for $50. You know …. like it says in the 3rd commandment, “Thou shall not make unto thee any graven images.”
“But that is just a reminder of your devotion”, he said. “Plus it’s a handy way to keep your keys safe”. So I tried again. “When you read that commandment, what did you think is meant by a “graven image? A statue of JC on the cross is exactly what is meant by a graven image! Don’t you know that? How can you be a good Christian if you don’t even know what the Commandments mean?
You never heard such a well mannered young man get so angry. He actually screamed at me and called me a bunch of names. But I enjoyed it. When you are having a bad day, I recommend that for a little bit of anti-cult fun & games.
Well, most Christians do not consider a crucifix or picture of Jesus a graven image. My folks have a painting of Jesus on their wall. Generally the rule is not to pray to a picture or statue, pray to the actual Dude you want to talk to.
I do support screwing with televangelists though. The people who are the most respected don’t act like cheap salesmen.
Thank you OmegaPaladin for explaining how most people consider something to be a graven image only if you pray to it. I was born into a religion different than Christianity and so I have never discussed that with anyone before and never really even thought about it. I just assumed that any kind of statue or other image purporting to be an image of God or one of the Holy Trinity was considered a graven image.
So he believes Jesus was the Son of God, but he also believes he was an R6 implant and ‘there was no Christ’. Got it.
Cognitive Dissonance. If he keeps it up, it will get him in the end. Crazy making stuff, this.
They guy does have some completions
https://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/m/michael-snellings.html
UNIVERSE PROCESSES CONGRESS COURSE Freewinds 106 2015-01-01
SUCCESS CONGRESS Freewinds 124 2018-09-01
Whatever that is
There is a guy who regularly answers questions about Scientology on Quora, always pushing the pro-Scientology line, who claims to be both a Mormon AND a Scientologist. Talk about being in two cults at the same time…
Weirdly, there seem to be quite a lot of pro-Scientology posters on that website. I’m not sure if they’re being told to do this by the cult (probably) or if they’re being paid (it’s Scn, so I doubt it) or what, but it’s really strange.
Unfortunately, there is now mass stupidity which must be dealt with as manifested by Michael Snellings. A percentage of the population grew up in confusion. Most of these people are in a fantasy world where reality is merely subjective belief. This type of behavior is similar to Scientology so it is not surprising to see Christians who think they can be Scientologists. Jon Atack said it best in the podcast tape. Although Scientology has been destroyed, after forty years the basic principles of the religion have permeated the population. QAnon, for example, is nothing more than modern Scientology. Hubbard distorted the basic principles of the Occult also and these massively stupid people thus have no refuge. Michael Snellings is a combat veteran and thus must be respected as a realist. However ,he is making the famous mistake of the Army – ready, fire, aim. Michael needs to spend more time with AIM.
I’m beginning to believe that Gurjideff (sp?) was right when he said that there was only so much truth in the Universe.
Yes. His Fourth Way seems difficult to reach. It was described as a higher path.
As someone who actually is a Christian and thinks those conspiracy theories are a joke and an embarrassment to the rest of “us” and a sad statement on the level of ignorance people CHOOSE to have… someone like this disgusts me. Pandering is never a good look, but taking it to this degree is pathetic and the sad thing is there are people that won’t research and will take him at his word.
Better to keep your moth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” — Abe Lincoln.
Snelling is an embarrassment to both scientology and well-meaning Christians the world over.
Absolutely, Jere! I swear if ANYone involved in politics, especially the past 4 years, would have used that as a plumb line… we’d be in a very different spot. It’s make-you-squirm uncomfortable to watch some of these people running say such idiotic things that are SO blatantly contrived, thinking they’re actually fooling someone. But then the cringe gets a bit worse when you see social media commentary and recognize they actually succeeded in getting a group to buy the bull they’re selling.
That’s why when I hear people comment, “Oh I could never be sucked into $cientology or anything cult-like…” I shake my head at the pompous cognitive dissonance as we see the “same thing, different wrapping” in so many of these extreme movements.
Kinda like being a Catholic and a Jew. Yea, Right.
Exactly!
Jenyfurrr is a name of a band, isn’t it?
If not, it should be!! But nah – just a phonetic spelling I adopted because that’s how my name was said when I did the outreach work in Dominican Republic and liked how it sounded.
OSD – Haven’t seen you a ton recently – hope you’re staying healthy and snarky! We drove out to OC and went from Dana Point (where I used to live) up through LB, NB, HB and I totally thought of you!
Can we get the ability to upvote? Pretty please?
Mary Kahn outdid herself with:
“Kinda like being a Catholic and a Jew. Yea, Right.”
As a guy brought up sorta as a Christian, tasked with understanding the religions of our region, belief optional, I got the idea that a good Christian also had to be a good Jew, too. Judaism is a fundamental piece of Christian theology, AFAICT; Christians didn’t remove the Jewish testament from their Bible in the last 2,000 or so years, though there was plenty of opportunities to do so.
YEP! (On both upvoting and being a good Jew, too!) always struck me as funny when people who claimed to be Christian would look down their noses at Judaism. But my dads side are mostly from Lithuania, so Eastern European Judaism was a culture I grew up understanding well (Grandma & Great Grandma…) and appreciating.
And agreed Mary’s was the comment of the day!
This is perhaps a naive thought, but if you can gather enough instances where the “church” is publicly associating with other religions, could you challenge their tax status as a religion? I know that was part of their argument for tax exemption in the first place…
Unfortunately, I live in the fifth congressional district of Minnesota.
Isn’t the fifth Congressional district of Minnesota only unfortunate in the winter time? Someone once told me that and then they followed up by saying that winter lasts for 12 months in Minnesota. If that is true, how do people survive in Minnesota?
Many of us in Minnesota consider Winter to be a dress rehersal for the next Ice Age.
If they don’t believe in the human caused catastrophic global warming hoax they’re my kind of people.
Unfortunately AGW has become a political football.
Global Warming can’t be anything BUT political, since I’ve seen no SCIENCE that shows that there’s any way to reverse the warming trend. Yes, it’s a “good idea” to cut down human carbon production, but is it worth driving all societies into abject poverty to do so? Science might have a more proper answer than throwing money after carbon sequestration and other oddities. The best answer may just be nuclear, fusion power. Scare-mongers killed the industry a few decades ago, but it’s the one power-generating technique which has zero carbon emissions AND can be ramped up to supply industrial-level amounts of electricity.
IIRC, France produces a significant portion of its power via nuclear.
We need to understand that the terrestrial biosphere is a dynamic environment in a dynamic universe. We need to understand that the terrestrial climate will always change naturally. We need to understand that human actions will always have an impact on the terrestrial climate. We need to understand that the idea of a steady state terrestrial climate is pure nonsense. We need to understand the idea human action that brought about a change in the terrestrial climate has become a political football. We need to understand that there’s no such thing as a valid excuse.