Seeking Power in Jesus’ Name. The Patriot Church

[Tao Jones Sr.]

Seeking power in Jesus’ name: Trump sparks a rise of Patriot Churches

KNOXVILLE, TENN. — The new congregation is gathered in a barn in Lenoir City, Tenn., with a roof that has a 60-foot American flag painted on it. And they are praying for a Trump landslide.

Standing in a circle, the dozen or so men and women, young and old, lay their hands on their pastor, Ken Peters, as he raises their requests to God.

He prays that “communism and socialism and transgenderism and homosexuality and abortion will not have their way in this land.”

“Yes, Lord,” someone cries.

He prays that the nation’s “Christian roots” will remain, that the church of Jesus Christ will be a “restraining power.”

“God, this nation is a miracle for you,” Peters continues. “You rescued us, and you gave us our independence for a purpose.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion ... ot-church/

[carmenjonze]

Cult behavior.

[marindem01]

Do Cons understand that Jesus was a progressive in his time? He never said one word about Homosexuals or Homosexuality. He never spoke a word about abortion either. Now on divorce it different, he hated divorce. So all those divorced Q-Publicans will have to explain their multiple marriage and many affairs and children out of wedlock with the gate keeper.

[Glennfs]

Do Cons understand that Jesus was a progressive in his time? He never said one word about Homosexuals or Homosexuality. He never spoke a word about abortion either. Now on divorce it different, he hated divorce. So all those divorced Q-Publicans will have to explain their multiple marriage and many affairs and children out of wedlock with the gate keeper.

My dad born in 1927 in the West Virginia mountains used to say when he was a kid they said the first child could come at any time. But, after the first one it takes 9 months for the others.
You are correct about divorce as for homosexuality and abortion they really weren't an issue when the bible was written.
Finally the bible is a book of truths. Not history or historical fact.

[carmenjonze]

My dad born in 1927 in the West Virginia mountains used to say when he was a kid they said the first child could come at any time. But, after the first one it takes 9 months for the others.
You are correct about divorce as for homosexuality and abortion they really weren't an issue when the bible was written.
Finally the bible is a book of truths. Not history or historical fact.

It’s only a book of “truths” to believers.

Problem is, there are a ton of you who only believe in it selectively. This WS cult church is just the latest iteration.

[ZoWie]

Unfortunately it's a book of 9th century truths. Even these are based on a series of revelations that were passed between another thousand years of vastly different cultures and linguistic groups. The content has been massaged, mistranslated, studied, retranslated, interpreted, and (on occasion) propagandized ever since. The core is there, but layered over it is millennia of, well, stuff.

The stuff contains an almost unlimited number of contradictory interpretations which can range from the personal to the scholarly. How does one adapt, say, "Thou shalt not kill?" The take on those four words alone ranges all the way from absolute pacifism to holy wars. People kill daily because their version of deity told people not to kill.

To say the least, this is not the kind of authority that achieves a civilized society.

[Libertas]

Unfortunately it's a book of 9th century truths. Even these are based on a series of revelations that were passed between another thousand years of vastly different cultures and linguistic groups. The content has been massaged, mistranslated, studied, retranslated, interpreted, and (on occasion) propagandized ever since. The core is there, but layered over it is millennia of, well, stuff.

The stuff contains an almost unlimited number of contradictory interpretations which can range from the personal to the scholarly. How does one adapt, say, "Thou shalt not kill?" The take on those four words alone ranges all the way from absolute pacifism to holy wars. People kill daily because their version of deity told people not to kill.

To say the least, this is not the kind of authority that achieves a civilized society.

900 years after his alleged life on earth? The New Testament? I am trying to learn here not question. So the first known recording of it is 9th century? What about Old Testament?

[sam lefthand]

900 years after his alleged life on earth? The New Testament? I am trying to learn here not question. So the first known recording of it is 9th century? What about Old Testament?

About the alleged time of Christ. Before that the Torah was handed down verbally, all the parts were memorized until they could recite it perfectly.

One question I've always had is if there were actually a person living in the name of Christ who became an early rabbi during that time, could he read and write and did he have a scroll of the Torah?

It sure would be interesting to know the answer to that.

[ZoWie]

The version of the Bible that we know as same was not written down until sometime after Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, largely at sword point. It had to get all the way to a little island off the coast of Gaul/France. Then the believers had to kill everyone else who didn't share their claim to authority, or at least intimidate them into thinking they had to convert to survive. Then they had to get the monarchy to rule by divine right. At that point there came a series of translations, first into "vulgar Latin," and many years later, finally into the precursor of today's English, aka the King James Version, which has been rewritten many times since.

Rinse and repeat for other languages, including Latin, which is still being argued by Vatican scholars. In my time alone, "Peace on Earth, good will to men" has been reworded into "Peace on Earth to men of good will," and whatever the current Pope says in the English translation of the Mass, which goes something like "On earth, peace to those who we like" by any other words.


There have been the two testaments, etc, in a narrative that goes back well before the agreed upon date for the birth of Jesus, whoever he was. Scholars are still unclear on the exact origins. The Thou Shalt Not Kill part, the one for which untold millions of humans have been killed, dates from early Jewish narrative and was already old (hence "Old Testament") when translated into the "original" Aramaic, then Greek, then Latin, then Vulgate Latin, etc etc etc.

My point was not to nail down something that's being argued by far more learned scholars than I'll ever be. I'm just saying that anyone (except **maybe** the Pope) who can hold up a Bible and claim a cloak of infallibility from doing same, with or without any kind of holy ordination, is probably selling you land in a swamp. If he holds it upside down, as drumpf did in Lafayette Park, he might even be a disgraced president trying to unlawfully seize authority.

[sam lefthand]

The version of the Bible that we know as same was not written down until sometime after Christianity became the dominant religion in Europe, largely at sword point. There have been the two testaments, etc, in a narrative that goes back well before the agreed upon date for the birth of Jesus, whoever he was. Scholars are still unclear on the exact origins. The Thou Shalt Not Kill part, the one for which untold millions of humans have been killed, dates from early Jewish narrative and was already old (hence "Old Testament") when translated into the "original" Aramaic, then Greek, then Latin, then Vulgate Latin, etc etc etc.

My point was not to nail down something that's being argued by far more learned scholars than I'll ever be. I'm just saying that anyone who can hold up a Bible and claim a cloak of infallibility from doing same, with or without any kind of holy ordination, is probably selling you land in a swamp. If he holds it upside down, as drumpf did in Lafayette Park, he might even be a disgraced president trying to unlawfully seize authority.

Zowie, I think that's a fine long version, a practical long version labeling of what in the short version labeling format is simply referred to as "mythology."

[ZoWie]

I'm trying to keep it scholarly and nondenominational. I'm talking about a written text, not a revealed word of anything at all, because that's not my province. Of course what we call religion and what gets dismissed as mythology is itself completely dependent on who's talking. My own view is that mythology is a complex process, and sometimes myths are actually fairly close to the truth. A myth is not necessarily wrong.

Hell, we're still arguing over general relativity vs QM, and that's science, not even religion. Basically, we know a lot about how stuff works, and next to nothing about why.

That's really kind of proof of my thesis right there. In today's world, religion is what its core of believers believe, and cannot be relied upon for a definitive source of truth.

[sam lefthand]

I'm trying to keep it scholarly and nondenominational. I'm talking about a written text, not a revealed word of anything at all, because that's not my province. Of course what we call religion and what gets dismissed as mythology is itself completely dependent on who's talking. My own view is that mythology is a complex process, and sometimes myths are actually fairly close to the truth. A myth is not necessarily wrong.

Hell, we're still arguing over general relativity vs QM, and that's science, not even religion. Basically, we know a lot about how stuff works, and next to nothing about why.

That's really kind of proof of my thesis right there. In today's world, religion is what its core of believers believe, and cannot be relied upon for a definitive source of truth.

Well it sounds to me like you're being reluctant, hesitant, to grant Christianity and perhaps Judaism the same full measure you would grant to say those Roman Gods of mythology. And Thor, Thor must never be forgotten.



I think being kind is golden and you might as well just be generous and give them that honorable grant that they are deserving of being labeled as "mythology" for nothing in particular.

[ZoWie]

I think being kind is golden and you might as well just be generous and give them that honorable grant that they are deserving of being labeled as "mythology" for nothing in particular.

My definition of mythology is that it is what myth makers make. It typically includes an attempt at cosmology, not the academic version of this where they look for the mass of the universe etc, but the mythic version, where people try to explain the universe in whatever terms the culture gives them.

You have to remember that the artist has a particular take on all this, and it's often different from other fields of study. My own degree was, at the time, mostly about how to make light dance on a wall in a manner that would speak to big rooms full of diverse people. That particular medium has made a lot of contemporary myths. I've moved on since, but I find this same mythic process in electronic media, Internet posts, you name it. There's obviously a human need for this.

This may not match your take on the subject.

Every go-round on this one gets us closer to why I am never going to agree that any clown holding up the Bible (perhaps upside down) has any claim to ultimate truth.

[marindem01]

My dad born in 1927 in the West Virginia mountains used to say when he was a kid they said the first child could come at any time. But, after the first one it takes 9 months for the others.
You are correct about divorce as for homosexuality and abortion they really weren't an issue when the bible was written.
Finally the bible is a book of truths. Not history or historical fact.

Cons cherry pick what they want and do want from the fictional bible. What my late Grandfather and Methodist Minster for 60-Years called "Cookbook Christians". Q-Publicans need to remember that their Christ threw the money lenders out of the temple. Today's Cons worship money in all its forms.

Belief in a monotheistic god head is totally subjective and depends upon which fiction work you read and which house of the monotheistic god head to choose to go to and which fictional bible you choose to read. There is no one true church because no such thing exists.

Even you Glenn, condemn "Murdering Muslims", even though your version of your bible and your version of your god teaches you to love your fellow man. Being a Christian means you do NOT hate others for the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, the god they worship or their sexual orientation. Your version of your god preaches a universal love which from you past posts you do not in fact practice.

One of many reasons I have for regarding religion as a Con is how so-called "Christians" get to decide who is and who is not moral, based on some subjective criteria that little or nothing to do what their version of their god teaches them.

Religion is suppose teach inclusion, love, acceptance and forgiveness. RW churches teach hate and racism. Their big on bigotry and and Antisemitism. They teach Misogyny and homophobia. They teach tearing children away from their parents at gun point is so very "Christian'.

Of all the possible people for RW Christians to endorse for Prez, the Traitor is the single most unchristian person I can think of. He has fucked around on each of wives. Paid off a Porn Star and Playboy Model to prevent them from talking their extra-marital affairs with him. He attended parties where underage girls were made available for sex and bragged grabbing Women by their Vagina. He is accused raping a 15-Year Old Girl and all these so-called "Christians" flock to the Traitor. WJC received a blow job and they condemn him. Over 20+Women have accused the Traitor of Sexual Abuse/Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment and all these RW so-called "Christians" say nothing. That is subjective belief in action.

Love and Acceptance vs Hate and Bigotry.

Kinda says it all.

Children killed in schools Glenn, and RW Churches do jack shit.

Yea for your fuck god.

[marindem01]

About the alleged time of Christ. Before that the Torah was handed down verbally, all the parts were memorized until they could recite it perfectly.

One question I've always had is if there were actually a person living in the name of Christ who became an early rabbi during that time, could he read and write and did he have a scroll of the Torah?

It sure would be interesting to know the answer to that.

The deification of the Man called Jesus did not occur for at least 100 to 150 years after his execution by the Romans.

He was more of an itinerant Rabbi, I do not know if he read. He really was not part of the educated class, unless one of local Rabbi's decided to teach him. The early Roman Church took a lot away from the Pagan's religious practices and holidays.

So much of the bible is just he said/she said/they said.

[Tao Jones Sr.]

…The content has been massaged, mistranslated, studied, retranslated, interpreted, and (on occasion) propagandized ever since….

It’s the longest running game of ‘telephone’ on earth.

[carmenjonze]

About the alleged time of Christ. Before that the Torah was handed down verbally, all the parts were memorized until they could recite it perfectly.

One question I've always had is if there were actually a person living in the name of Christ who became an early rabbi during that time, could he read and write and did he have a scroll of the Torah?

It sure would be interesting to know the answer to that.

His name was Jesus, and he was of the Essene sect. Christ is a conferred title.

[gounion]

My dad born in 1927 in the West Virginia mountains used to say when he was a kid they said the first child could come at any time. But, after the first one it takes 9 months for the others.
You are correct about divorce as for homosexuality and abortion they really weren't an issue when the bible was written.
Finally the bible is a book of truths. Not history or historical fact.

So, there's actually nothing in the Bible that's real, correct?

[Glennfs]

So, there's actually nothing in the Bible that's real, correct?

Again it is a book of truths and should be the rule and guide to your faith and practice

[carmenjonze]

Again it is a book of truths and should be the rule and guide to your faith and practice

Well, it’s a book, anyway. Believers may assign it magical qualities, but that doesn’t make it a book of “truths.”

We can tell because so many of you quote it selectively, typically to rationalize violence against others. The Bible contains a ton of stuff you yourself don’t believe in.

[Glennfs]

Well, it’s a book, anyway. Believers may assign it magical qualities, but that doesn’t make it a book of “truths.”

We can tell because so many of you quote it selectively, typically to rationalize violence against others. The Bible contains a ton of stuff you yourself don’t believe in.

Because unlike my evangelical relatives I view the bible not as the word of God written by God.
I view it as man's interpretation of God's spoken word if he were to speak.
Man being flawed means of course there are going to be flaws in the bible.

[gounion]

Because unlike my evangelical relatives I view the bible not as the word of God written by God.
I view it as man's interpretation of God's spoken word if he were to speak.
Man being flawed means of course there are going to be flaws in the bible.

So, it's all made up.

Tell you what - let's let God speak for himself. If he wants to come down here and talk he can. Until then, it's all bullshit.

[Glennfs]

So, it's all made up.

Tell you what - let's let God speak for himself. If he wants to come down here and talk he can. Until then, it's all bullshit.

The most arrogant people are those who claim that theirs and only theirs is the correct way to worship or pay homage to the diety.
Followed closely by those who claim there is no diety

[gounion]

The most arrogant people are those who claim that theirs and only theirs is the correct way to worship or pay homage to the diety.
Followed closely by those who claim there is no diety

I don't claim there is no deity. I DO, however, claim that it's obvious that there is zero proof that the God of the Bible exists, and LOTS of proof that it's just made up. As well as the other 10,000 gods that man has dreamed up.

I just believe in one less than you do.

[marindem01]

So, it's all made up.

Tell you what - let's let God speak for himself. If he wants to come down here and talk he can. Until then, it's all bullshit.

Thank YOU!!!!