In his Colbert appearance, Hedges said he is a Christian and a seminary graduate. He complained of his faith being hijacked by the people he is attacking in the book. He revealed no details on what he actually believes about his religion. Quoting Newsom Michael <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
I too have read the piece, but have a decidedly different reaction
to
it. I wouldn't call it hate speech, or his attack vicious. That
is,
perhaps, a bit too intemperate. He raises a series of legitimate questions and concerns. The fact that his particular solutions
might -
or might not - be problematic does not mean that the questions and concerns are not real and serious. By the way, your use of the word "Christian" suggests that
"Christian"
applies only to a rather narrow subset of Christians. I am not
sure
that that is appropriate either. Or to put it differently, there
are
some Christians who agree with much of what Hedges has to say. ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick
Duncan
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 10:10 AM To: Law & Religion issues for Law Academics Subject: RE: AlterNet website I just read Hedges' piece. It was pure hate speech, but speech I
believe
the Constitution protects. It sounds like Hedges also wishes to restrict not only Christian broadcasters, but also Christian schools, such as the one my son attends. His real problem is not so much the "Christian fascists"
he
attacks so viciously, but all three Clauses of the First Amendment. Hedges piece is a sad and bitter piece, written by a man who
believes
that both political parties have blessed "the unchecked rape of
America"
and that those who believe in the teachings of the Bible have moved "from the reality-based world to one of magic -- to fantastic
visions of
angels and miracles, to a childlike belief that God has a plan for
them
and Jesus will guide and protect them. This mythological worldview,
one
that has no use for science or dispassionate, honest intellectual inquiry, one that promises that the loss of jobs and health
insurance
does not matter, as long as you are right with Jesus, offers a
lying
world of consistency that addresses the emotional yearnings of
desperate
followers at the expense of reality." I think the real threat we face is not Christian fascism, but
rather
religious persecution directed at anyone who has a
committed,"childlike"
faith in God and God's "lies", or who believes in "this
mythological
worldview." We need a strong First Amendment now more than ever. Returning to lurk mode, Rick Duncan Rick Duncan Welpton Professor of Law University of Nebraska College of Law Lincoln, NE 68583-0902 "It's a funny thing about us human beings: not many of us doubt
God's
existence and then start sinning. Most of us sin and then start
doubting
His existence." --J. Budziszewski (The Revenge of Conscience) "Once again the ancient maxim is vindicated, that the perversion of
the
best is the worst." -- Id. ________________________________ Food fight?
<http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/index;_ylc=X3oDMTFvbGNhMGE3BF9TAzM5NjU0NTE[1]
wOARfcwMzOTY1NDUxMDMEc2VjA21haWxfdGFnbGluZQRzbGsDbWFpbF90YWcx?link=ask&s
id=396545367> Enjoy some healthy debate in the Yahoo! Answers Food & Drink Q&A.
<http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/index;_ylc=X3oDMTFvbGNhMGE3BF9TAzM5NjU0NTE[2]
wOARfcwMzOTY1NDUxMDMEc2VjA21haWxfdGFnbGluZQRzbGsDbWFpbF90YWcx?link=ask&s
id=396545367>
Douglas Laycock Yale Kamisar Collegiate Professor of Law University of Michigan Law School 625 S. State St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215 734-647-9713 Links: ------ [1] /horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fanswers.yahoo.com%2Fdir%2Findex%3B_ylc%3DX3oDMTFvbGNhMGE3BF9TAzM5NjU0NTE [2] /horde/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fanswers.yahoo.com%2Fdir%2Findex%3B_ylc%3DX3oDMTFvbGNhMGE3BF9TAzM5NjU0NTE
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