About one in five Americans combine a view of God as actively engaged in daily workings of the world with an economic conservative view that opposes government regulation and champions the free market as a matter of faith.
"They say the invisible hand of the free market is really God at work," says sociologist Paul Froese, co-author of the Baylor Religion Survey, released today by Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
..."When Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann say 'God blesses us, God watches us, God helps us,' religious conservatives get the shorthand. They see 'government' as a profane object — a word that is used to signal working against God's plan for the United States. To argue against this is to argue with their religion."
56 comments
I think we knew this already.
And I'm sure, should the Dominionists achieve their ends, the Government would cease to interfere in people's lives completely. /sarcasm
"About one in five Americans combine a view of God as actively engaged in daily workings of the world with an economic conservative view that opposes government regulation and champions the free market as a matter of faith."
That means 4 out of 5 (80%) DON'T believe that. Funny how numbers work, isn't it!
> "They say the invisible hand of the free market is really God at work,"
Which explains why the economy is so fucked.
I'm all in favour of regulating God.
So if they really believed in democracy, they'd understand that they are in the minority by a HUGE margin and accept it when they get outvoted. But no, they throw hissy fits and demand recounts, or worse, threaten physical violence against those who voted against them. I'd call them fucking depraved sociopaths, but I've already stated that calling them sociopaths would be too kind to them.
EDIT: @ Tolpuddle Martyr:
Your third picture didn't go through, even though your first two did. So what is the third picture of?
Couldn't be further from Jesus if they tried, couldn't be further from Jesus if they tried, hi-ho-the-merrio, couldn't be further from Jesus if they tried.
Do they READ the Bible?
"About one in five Americans combine a view of God as actively engaged in daily workings of the world with an economic conservative view that opposes government regulation and champions the free market as a matter of faith. "
We call these people 'teabaggers'. And they are Americans in the same way AL-Queda terrorists who were born in America are Americans.
It's one thing to make shit up, call it religion, and expect everyone else to follow it. That's been going on for many millennia now. But to make shit that ISN'T IN YOUR OWN RELIGION while claiming that it IS is lunacy on a level that is both hilarious and horrifying.
It's as was said decades ago: the greatest argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
Who are "they?" And who are they to say the invisible hands of fascist dictatorships are not really God at work?
If one can't even show that God exists, isn't it awfully presumptuous to claim to know "God's plan?"
So, if they believe that the market is literally the hand of God, does it not follow that, by extension, they worship the market?
Huh. Seems a tad idolatrous to me. I seem to recall a man about 2000 years ago or so who said that one cannot serve both mammon and God. Seems like that would have been a rather moot point to make if mammon IS God.
With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.
-- Rudyard Kipling, "The Gods of the Copybook Headings"
(emph-ass-is added)
"They say the invisible hand of the free market is really God at work ," says sociologist Paul Froese, co-author of the Baylor Religion Survey, released today by Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
..."When Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann say 'God blesses us, God watches us, God helps us,' religious conservatives get the shorthand. They see 'government' as a profane object a word that is used to signal working against God's plan for the United States. To argue against this is to argue with their religion. "
Then - pre-Obama's election - God must have dropped the ball. But then, you Religious Conservatives did have your God Emperor of Fucking Up, George Dumbya Bush as the quarterback at the time. Thus no Vince Lombardi Trophy for you, McPain & Failin. >:D
'Hand of God' - via the fat drug-addict cheat Diego Maradona - in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final (England vs. Argentina), anyone?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_v_England_%281986_FIFA_World_Cup_quarter-final%29#.22Hand_of_God.22_goal
[/Max Keiser]
the invisible hand of the free market is really God at work
So when the stock market drops a thousand points in one day, it means that God really sucks. Right?
This is inches away from trying to clutch at the First Amendment religious protection right. And it's utterly ridiculous.
I just got back from church, and even Paul -- the man you fundies orgasm over constantly -- would never support capitalism. I was the lector, tonight, and I read from the Letter of St. Paul to the Phillipians. This is what Paul had to say to them: "Act not for selfishness or vainglory, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not look out merely for your own interests, but also for the interests of others ." (emphasis added by me)
If anything should damn capitalism in you fundies's eyes, that ought to be it. He spells it out that true followers of Christ look out for the good of others rather than themselves. As you all fall into conniption fits over who is a truer Christian, I'm glad to be the one to inform you:
Sorry, it ain't you.
It's not me, either, not yet, but at least I am willing to accept that fact.
To all sensible Americans: hi! nice to meet you!
To all people who think America some sort of fucking holy land: YOU'RE WRONG! If it was the promised land, it wouldn't have IDIOTS in it, would it?
So 20% of Americans are batshit insane, that's good to know.
I suppose it's up to the rest of you 80% to keep them away from the nuclear launch codes.
In the mean time, some more money into medicare to include psychiatric help would probably be a good investment.
Strange.
Sometimes I have some sympathy for Headache's views.
That said, 'about one in five' means the vast majority of people in the US don't buy this BS
and champions the free market as a matter of faith.
Isn't this the worship of Mammon?
EDIT: I see CohibaMan beat me to the Mammon conclusion.
Yes, but being sane and reasonable means nothing if they don't vote:
If the 20% loonies all vote, add a dash of political corruption and 'missing ballot' from corporate special interests and it's little wonder that people like Rick Perry or Michele Bachmann have such a high chance of becoming the leader of the United States.
In the end, the 'reasonable' individuals have no one to blame but themselves for being too lazy and/or apathetic to perform their civic duty.
That's right, people, this is what people like Perry and Bachmann (not to mention their supporters) really believe. If we have a shitty economy, it's obviously because we're too tolerant of gay people.
SpukiKitty
Where did Froese get his degree, The University of Cracker Jacks? The Academy of Cereal Box Tops? The College of Grocery Store Vending Machines?
No, Ren & Stimpy Polytechnic U.
@Papabear:"Who are "they?" And who are they to say the invisible hands of fascist dictatorships are not really God at work?
If one can't even show that God exists, isn't it awfully presumptuous to claim to know "God's plan?" "
Well, duh! Fundamentalism is all about Ego: "I am Super Extra Special Friend with the Big Man upstairs!" Even the ones who consider everybody and everything (themselves included) as sinful still go "at least I have the One, Only and Truthiest Truth, and you don't!"
@SpukiKitty :"Where did Froese get his degree, The University of Cracker Jacks? The Academy of Cereal Box Tops? The College of Grocery Store Vending Machines?"
The way I read it, Froese is simply describing the mental processes of the Teabaggers, not endorsing them.
Render unto Caesar, Jesus and his gang sharing everything with each other, Jesus constantly telling people to treat the poor as they want to be treated themselves, Jesus telling people to sell all possessions and give the money to the poor.
Yeah, it sounds very conservative and free market...
If God governs the free market, then why is the pornography industry so profitable?
I hear the makers of those smutty and violent Hollywood movies and TV shows make a fair bit of money as well.
Gambling. Drugs and alcohol. Popular music. All massive industries.
Did you think this one through?
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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