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In my view, one of the great immoralities of the Christian religion is the ability to ask forgiveness and receive it for even the most heinous of crimes. A brutal murderer can ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus into his heart seconds before the switch is pulled and he gets to go to Heaven, but the 12-year-old little girl that he killed that was a practicing Wiccan goes to Hell. It’s immoral theology.

Governor Sanford is using the Forgiveness Doctrine to his advantage. Perhaps in the hopes of salvaging a presidential run in 2012?

Sanford wrote an opinion piece in which he says that his god will change him so he can emerge more humble and a more “effective leader.” That last part may be the key to understanding why he is going through all this trouble and refusing to resign from his governorship.

“It’s in the spirit of making good from bad that I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience to both trust God in his larger work of changing me, and from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader,”

“(W)hile none of us has the chance to attend our own funeral, in many ways I feel like I was at my own in the past weeks, and surprisingly I am thankful for the perspective it has afforded.”

At least a few of his fellow politicians are not falling for it:

Bill Sandifer (R) said, “”You have gone out of your way to make enemies. You’ve done absolutely nothing to make friends, and now you want us all to be your friends? That’s a pretty tough pill to swallow.”

Jake Knotts (R) said, “”He’s a helluva writer and a promise maker, but he doesn’t keep promises to the state of South Carolina like he doesn’t keep promises to his wife.”

In the world of Christian theology… this is all politics as usual.

- Blair Scott

My Dad gave me his boat, and I never used it. Too bad, it was a good boat, but I simply live too far from the water to make it work.

Instead of selling it, I donated it to American Atheists through Action Donation Services. They picked up the boat, and they will fix it up and sell it. Then they cover their expenses and the rest goes to American Atheists, and I get a tax deduction for the whole amount.

Check it out, and please consider donating your car, boat, RV, truck, yacht, jet, etc! It’s easy and a great way to show your support.

I’m very pleased to announce that Susan Harrington (Board of Directors, ID State Director) and Lori Howard (President of Idaho Atheists) have been appointed the Youth and Family Co-Directors. These activists are both educators and well experienced in Youth and Family Issues.

I will no longer be giving away the scholarships (sniff). I am very pleased to have granted the scholarships since their inception 6 years ago, but in reality, these two great activists are going to take over and take this position to the next level. Their email is yfdirector@atheists.org.

RENEE’ HANNANS HENRY/Staff
One of the most controversial and successful figures of late 20th century politics wants to expand his brand to the 21st. Ralph Reed believes conservative voters of faith need a Christian Coalition 2.0.

And the man once dubbed the “right hand of God” by Time magazine is returning to the arena where he had his greatest success to try and make it so.

“This is not going to be your daddy’s Christian Coalition,” Reed said in an interview to describe his new venture, the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “It has to be younger, hipper, less strident, more inclusive and it has to harness the 21st century that will enable us to win in the future.”

If so, perhaps this really will be a new start. After all, when Reed ran the original Christian Coalition from 1989 to 1997, he famously warned enemies they wouldn’t know what hit them “until you’re in a body bag.”

But, it’s been a decade since Reed left that stage, and he has suffered embarrassments and defeats the past few years.

Now, Reed wants back in. And, judging from the 2008 national elections, Republicans could use the help. But questions remain: Do Republicans need or want Reed’s new group? And can Reed still deliver it if they do?
…
“Even though I’ve been doing other things, this is kind of like Steve Jobs returning to Apple,” Reed said.

When Jobs left the company he founded, Apple foundered. After he returned, Apple grew into an iconic firm that has captured the public’s attention in ways that all other tech firms wish to emulate.

“You have to reinvent it,” Reed said. “It’s the political analog to the iPod and the iPhone. It would be cool. It would be transformative. It would transform our politics and bring younger people to our ranks. All of those are critical imperatives.”

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Ralph Reed is not going to be any more progressive than he’s ever been, because his mythology is rife with hatred and intolerance. He is no better (except in looks) than Pat Robertson (hence “the i-Pat”). He is the epitome of yesterday’s Christianity.

Christianity 2.0 will include gays, first and foremost, and not speak of bodybags or be involved with stealing money from native Americans. Christianity 2.0 will accept that non-Christians have equal rights, and that means that being a non-Christian should not mean you are still a viable candidate.

But let’s look at Mr. i-Pat’s own words for thoughts on how he sees the world:

“I honesty believe that in my lifetime we will see a country once again governed by Christians . . . and Christian values. What Christians have got to do is take back this country, one precinct at a time, one neighborhood at a time, and one state at a time.”
[Ralph Reed, Executive Director of the Christian Coalition, May 1, 1990, Religious News Service]

“I want to be invisible. I do guerrilla warfare. I paint my face and travel at night. You don’t know it’s over until you’re in a body bag. You don’t know until election night.” [Ralph Reed, Christian Coalition Exec. Director,
from the Virginian Pilot and Ledger Star, 11/9/91]

“Three years ago, Ralph Reed, the executive director of the Christian Coalition, wished not to be seen. ‘I want to be invisible,’ he said. ‘I do guerilla warfare…’… But on June 25th Reed played the expansive
host at a luncheon given by the Coalition, the most influential group on the religious right, which was attended by hundreds of delegates to the Iowa Republican Party convention. They were celebrating their victories in gaining control of the state Party’s central committee, ousting moderate Republicans, and in dictating a platform that supported the teaching of creationism in the public schools.”
["Christian Soldiers", New Yorker magazine, July 18, 1994]

What a wonderful and modern man! He’s all about inclusiveness and modernity, especially if you’re talking about white Christian men and the 1950′s.

Don’t think for a second I am disappointed – I am very happy. This is the best they have. After failing miserably, and then after several scandals, Ralph Reed is the best the Christians have to offer politics — let’s go back to the 1990′s? Oh, this is rich. Maybe they can find Jim Bakker or prop up the body of Jerry Fallwell in a “Weekend at Bernie’s” type of scenario.

Or MAYBE. they could find someone who would truly take Christianity to the next level, get it out of the bedrooms and doctors’ offices, and out of our wallets, and actually observe Jesus’ real teachings of treating everyone as you would like to be treated (OK that’s far from original to Christianity but you get the picture).

But there is no MONEY in REAL Christianity. They want MONEY and POWER, not compassion or love, so they turned back to the pretty king of yesteryear. That’s why they turned back to Ralph Reed.

Anyone who has been debaptised, either in person or remotely, who has actually sent in a copy of their certificate to their church so as to be removed from their roster, please contact me at dsilverman@atheists.org