The “peace on earth” message sure did take a back seat this season. Lotsa God and Jesus cards from relatives, but nobody had the “Peace on Earth” message this year. It wasn’t on any of the cards I got. Is it possible that this very idea is now considered too edgy, even Coulterishly “treasonous”? I had actually been pondering this as I started taking down the Christmas cards. Turns out I’m not the only one to have noticed the lack….
Reads: AlterNet: The 14 Worst Corporate Evildoers Big Brother Bush By Molly Ivins Presidents all the same when scandal strikes by Bob Barr It Has Happened Here: The growth of executive power in this country has some disturbing precedents by Alan Bisbort Top 12 media myths and falsehoods on the Bush administration’s spying scandal White Phosphorous: The U.S. Used It; The U.S. Says It’s Illegal The Exotic Adventures of Neil Bush by Bill Berkowitz Friends Roundup: Etherealgirl's Adventures in Cyberland…
This time of year is more difficult for families dealing with JW stuff, so can I just say…. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Blessed Yule, a Rockin’ Saturnalia, Groovy Kwansaa, and whatever else you feel like celebrating! Have a “Winter” party – call it whatever you like – have a “lights” party. Reach out to others in good will and kindness. I don’t mean at all to be glib, but one of the things JWs can’t understand very well is actual…
Questons Posed in the Italian Parliament This is a very good set of questions and concerns about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Just a couple of examples: The member who does not obey the precepts contained in the “Text book for the Kingdom Ministry School” is brought to trial before a so-called judicial committee, without any safeguard or protection of basic human rights; … All former members must be shunned (ref. Watch Tower, April 15th, 1988) and any kind of relationship with such…
Season’s greetings to all, whatever you celebrate (and even if you don’t celebrate anything)! We’re celebrating Christmas and Yule – but I think we’ll skip Saturnalia this year. A gift for you: If you pick it up, please upload/download to your own server. No hotlinking. Come and visit my Christmas/Yule page. There is a special section on mistletoe!
Congrats to Atlanta’s own John Suggs for this timely article in Mother Jones on the so-called “Christian Reconstruction” movement and its influence in Washington. I’ve been following this disturbing movement for some time. “This is a faith in which religion is not an influence on politics; it is politics.” “In this worldview, the mandate for Christians is not just to live right or to help their neighbors: They are called upon to take over or eliminate the institutions of secular…