Beating babies for Jesus?

We all know that line about sparing the rod and spoiling the child, but Frank Schaeffer reports at Truthout:

There is a brutal movement in America that legitimizes child abuse in the name of God. Two stories recently converged to make us pay attention. Last week, a video went viral of a Texas judge brutally whipping his disabled daughter. And on Monday, the New York Times published a story about child deaths in homes that have embraced the teachings of To Train Up a Child, a book by Christian preacher Michael Pearl that advocates using a switch on children as young as six months old.

You can read more here. And thanks, Cliff, for the link.

Progressive Jesus: Remix or back to the basics?

Brad R. Braxton explores.

From Friday’s rally against Islamophobia in Hartford

From Sis. Tracy, at Creedible, and thanks for the link.

The Holy Trinity and you

To be honest, this describes perfectly my misunderstanding of the Trinity. I mean no disrespect. (And if you want to skip the sales pitch, the video effectively ends at 4:06.)

Thanks, Bro. Jim Palmer, for the link. I stole this link from him on Facebook, and I don’t feel guilty at all.

For more from this merry band of skeptics (I watch and read this kind of thing for exercise), go here.

More Duggars!

Can’t have too many Duggars, I say!

I’m lying. This is their 20th child — and yes, I’m sure the photo I posted is not current. Oh-well. For an explanation of what may be motivating this family, please see this.

And thanks, Sis. CTLW, for this fruitful link.

Hey! I made a funny!

Jesus Loves Me But He Can’t Stand You

Here’s more on the Austin Lounge Lizards.
And thanks, Sis. Kick!

Sis. Sharon sends this fabulous quote

“True religion invites us to become better people. False religion
tells us that this has already occurred.” –Abdal-Hakim Murad

Discuss.

Australia’s new PM is an atheist

Julia Gillard took office last week.

Do you think an atheist could ever be elected President of the U.S.?

Tea Party Jesus!!!

What would Jesus say?

Probably not this stuff.

Thanks, Bro. Leftover, and Sis. Jabbadhut, for the link.

If you’d told me I’d spend a sunny Saturday at a conference…

…I would have said you have the wrong conference-goer, pal.

However, I’m at “Understanding Radicalization and De-Radicalization Strategies,” a Connecticut conference focused on precisely that, and sponsored by a group of Pakistani-American organizations.

And I’m sitting in the back listening to discussions about alienation and radicalization and exclusivity and thinking — specifically in regard to theology, though the problem is far more complex than that., “Hey! That could be my One True Church.” No, not the violent part — at least, not my particular church — but the language of war, the notion that we are right and everyone else is wrong? Yeah. I get that. And once you separate yourself from the rest of the (sinful) world, bad things can happen.

I don’t know. I need to think on this more, but goodness-gracious, I am comfortable here.