In case you thought it was only Muslims loonies you had to worry about.

See:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/11/05/do0504.xml

Quote:

"And if that is not worrying enough, wait till the sequence in which a slick, clever, politically ambitious preacher tells his 2,500-strong congregation of impressionable young people that they should have no use for democracy since all the law they need is in the Bible."

Of course I would be the first to admit that this is atypical of contemporary Christianity. Most Christians in the US do not think the divide between religion and the state should be breached. Furthermore, these kids are going to have to go out into a largely secular and very diverse American workplace in order to earn a living. They will not be able to isolate themselves in a religious ghetto.

I also do not want to exaggerate the scale of the problem compared to Muslim fundamentalism. There are more actual madrassahs in Pakistan alone indoctrinating kids with this sort of madness than there are victims at "Camp Jesus."

Nonetheless I do find this worrying development. If the Telegraph report is correct I would like to see more Christian pastors saying this is not what Christianity is about. Just as is the case with Imams, silence can condemn Christian religious leaders.

I can think of a number of ways to respond to Steves article. (well, the article which his article refers to in reality)

VERSION 1.
The Environment in which the 'Jesus madrassah' is located.

From the Article:

>>As the nights lengthen and the mist swirls, as the first frost crinkles and the bones begin to chill, we are entering the season of scary movies. The sides of buses right now are decorated with pictures of severed heads and disgorged entrails by way of promotion for the latest offering of slasher porn.<<

MY COMMENT. err.. duh, and you wonder why there is a 'reaction' against the above ? x 100

VERSION 2.

The article is quite hysterical, long on emotive adjectives and short on a single quote from any of the speakers. Just an indirect assertion that the 'Preacher' tells the interviewer he will influence the next election.

WELLLLLL golly gosh.. and blowww me down.. I tawt tat was DEMOCRACY?

Then...the hysteria goes totally out of control, to the point where the utter bias of the writer comes to the top.. like the sludge in a blast furnace and he says...'brilliantly'

>>The absurdity of the concept that the Bible – rather than a common consensus should be our only legal guide<<

err.. double 'duh'.... I guess that only secular people can have 'common consensus' and that the Bible is 'absurd'?

Ohhh the shock...if enough people actually 'BY COMMON CONCENSUS' agreed that society based on the Bible is a good way to go..and VOTE accordingly ? Now that would be a spanner in the leftoidist works...wouldn't it.

VERSION 3.

>>Instead, they continue preaching an ever-more popular doctrine of hate, fear and war-mongering.<<

AGAIN....not a single supporting quotation, just baseless hysteria and emotionalism.

WAR ? what does Paul say about 'Christian war' ?

II_Cor_10:4 The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people's defenses, that is, their arguments"

Over 2 u Steve :)

ONE MORE THING......

When I see these young 'brainwashed' Christians picking up AK47s strapping suicide vests on, 'necklacing' homosexuals, and having 'last stands' at the camps, while being attacked by the National Guard.... I'll start to worry :)

But if they did.... I'd just point to the real scriptural position and declare them 'Christian' in name only.

Nice to see Steven taking a breather from whacking Mozzies. Yes, some of these extremist Christian Madrassah are a worry. They exist in Australia too, of course, and what is particularly galling is that your tax dollars and mine are used to prop them up.

For example, there's the wacko Exclusive Brethren schools:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20469486-2,00.html

For the record,

I am totally opposed to the use of tax dollars to fund ANY religious schools.

The barrier between religion and state needs to be maintained.

Might frighten you a bit Steve but the overwhelming amount of violence as a result of political gatherings seems to come from the atheist and in particular the so called environmentalist. Just look at any of their 'peaceful' demonstrations. They see it as sport to spit and throw urine on police and anyone else who disagrees with their views. For some reason they seem to attract the feralls.

I don't know of these guys but it seems that they are prepared to do spiritual battle rather than physical unlike many non believers and believers of other faiths. I am yet to see 'fundamentalist Christians' involved in violence as it contradicts the fundamentals of Scripture. The same can't be said for the philospohy of the earth worshippers and the like.