It's OK, it has Jesus on it
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross."
- Sinclair Lewis
I've recently discovered the opposite of Godwin's Law (in which you always lose the internet argument), which is that when someone -- with apparent sincerity -- invokes the name of Jesus Christ, he automatically wins the argument. If someone calls him on this tactic, such comments are automatically deflected as insensitive attacks on his deeply-held faith. Thus does the merits or lack thereof of whatever was argued about get swept under the cyber-rug.
And about what did I get defeated in online debate? My less than charitable reaction to when someone posted this to my veterans' Yahoogroup. He praised its quality and inspiration and "truth." Others admired it and at least one boasted of having a signed copy. My response was that I couldn't begin to list what all I found wrong with this thing.
At the other end of that link in the previous paragraph is a "Fine Art" painting with Jesus standing in the center, holding the U.S. Constitution, as it is "Inspired of God and created by God fearing, patriotic Americans." (I got that quote by hovering my mouse over that part of the painting. All elements in the artwork have notes like this. You can spend quite a while reading all about all the included details.) Standing behind Jesus are various founding fathers, patriotic heroes and past presidents. Further back are the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings and a sky with 50 stars (the celestial type).
In the foreground, to Jesus' right are various good patriotic people, plus an "immigrant" who is apparently in awe in spite of the notion that "they are not all Christian" (he could be Asian, or he could be Hispanic, which doesn't jibe with the statement as most are Catholic). Bridging the gap between them and Christ is a mother and child. (Awww...)
But on Jesus' left are various people clustered with Satan (that's Old Scratch there hooded on the far right of the painting). Two reporters, representing print and radio/tv media, are there, so you can see how having my career portrayed as being in league with the devil didn't sit too well with me. But I'm in good company. There's a politician, "Mr. Hollywood," a professor with his "Origin of Species" (who is different from the God-fearing "teacher" on the other side of the painting), a Supreme Court justice (yes the Court itself is exalted, while the justices are evil; I didn't realize they worked independently), and a pregnant woman (while motherhood is godly, being pregnant is not, since it is pregnant women who have abortions -- note this one actually choosing to keep her child doesn't spare her being on the Devil's side).
So many other problems sprang to mind -- Deists like Franklin honoring Christ who they didn't see as divine, stuff like that -- but I'll just leave the topic alone since I've already been chastised once for overreacting.
Not everyone loved the painting, though. One comment was: "It reminds me of something one would see from a religious police state like Iran." Can't help but agree.
- Sinclair Lewis
I've recently discovered the opposite of Godwin's Law (in which you always lose the internet argument), which is that when someone -- with apparent sincerity -- invokes the name of Jesus Christ, he automatically wins the argument. If someone calls him on this tactic, such comments are automatically deflected as insensitive attacks on his deeply-held faith. Thus does the merits or lack thereof of whatever was argued about get swept under the cyber-rug.
And about what did I get defeated in online debate? My less than charitable reaction to when someone posted this to my veterans' Yahoogroup. He praised its quality and inspiration and "truth." Others admired it and at least one boasted of having a signed copy. My response was that I couldn't begin to list what all I found wrong with this thing.
At the other end of that link in the previous paragraph is a "Fine Art" painting with Jesus standing in the center, holding the U.S. Constitution, as it is "Inspired of God and created by God fearing, patriotic Americans." (I got that quote by hovering my mouse over that part of the painting. All elements in the artwork have notes like this. You can spend quite a while reading all about all the included details.) Standing behind Jesus are various founding fathers, patriotic heroes and past presidents. Further back are the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings and a sky with 50 stars (the celestial type).
In the foreground, to Jesus' right are various good patriotic people, plus an "immigrant" who is apparently in awe in spite of the notion that "they are not all Christian" (he could be Asian, or he could be Hispanic, which doesn't jibe with the statement as most are Catholic). Bridging the gap between them and Christ is a mother and child. (Awww...)
But on Jesus' left are various people clustered with Satan (that's Old Scratch there hooded on the far right of the painting). Two reporters, representing print and radio/tv media, are there, so you can see how having my career portrayed as being in league with the devil didn't sit too well with me. But I'm in good company. There's a politician, "Mr. Hollywood," a professor with his "Origin of Species" (who is different from the God-fearing "teacher" on the other side of the painting), a Supreme Court justice (yes the Court itself is exalted, while the justices are evil; I didn't realize they worked independently), and a pregnant woman (while motherhood is godly, being pregnant is not, since it is pregnant women who have abortions -- note this one actually choosing to keep her child doesn't spare her being on the Devil's side).
So many other problems sprang to mind -- Deists like Franklin honoring Christ who they didn't see as divine, stuff like that -- but I'll just leave the topic alone since I've already been chastised once for overreacting.
Not everyone loved the painting, though. One comment was: "It reminds me of something one would see from a religious police state like Iran." Can't help but agree.