The Empty Church: What Has Happened to Episcopalians?

 

This book and Via Media make the same point: “New numbers reveal that the collapse of the Episcopal Church dramatically accelerated in the last ten years.
“The denomination is literally falling apart, with attendance down 25% between 2000 and 2010. . . . The numerical decline, bad as it is, matters less than the collapse in the moral authority of the church. The Episcopal Church has made many controversial pronouncements on social issues and national security policty; at the latest General Convention the church declared that transgendered persons cannot automatically be barred from the priesthood.
“One can agree or disagree with some of these individual decisions, but what is striking over time is the decline in the moral weight of the church. It use to matter what the Episcopal Church thought of this or that social issue. Other mainline Protestant churches and many social and political leaders followed its theological and political debates.
“Now, basically, no one outside the dwindling flock in the pews really cares what The Episcopal Church says about anything at all. The General Convention can pass a million resolutions, and nothing anywhere will change.
“No one is even really angry anymore at anything the Episcopal hierarchy does; at most, there is a sigh and a quiet rolling of the eyes. Soon, there will not even be that.
“It’s an extraordinary decline in an institution that a generation ago was still one of the pillars of American life. At this point the disaster appears irretrievable; those running the church are determined to run it into the ground and it is hard to see how that can change.
For Anglicans, the theological and demographic collapse of their church is a bitter blow.”

More Foolishness From Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)

Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) received national attention last year by claiming the Tea Party goal was “to see blacks hanging from a tree.” He was back in the news when he addressed the Islamic Circle of North America convention.
The Congressman said madrassa schools (Islamic parochial schools), should be a model for how American children are taught.
The schools receive government funding in the UK, but reports have demonstrated students are beaten and taught intolerance of all things non-Islamic.
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the “9/11 Commission”), says the schools in Pakistan were fostering anti-American and terrorist sympathies.
The Congressman later said he was not promoting the Koran or his religion, but that is not what the video demonstrates.
Rep. Carson said the Koran should be the “foundation” for American schools: “America will never tap into educational innovation and ingenuity without looking at the model that we have in our madrassas, in our schools, where innovation is encouraged, where the foundation is the Koran.”
The lawmaker said “I say to those who are here under cover … Allah will not allow you to stop us. . . There are only two Muslims in Congress and we want more; and we have to have more. . .
We have to registered to vote.
“We must begin to groom the mayor of Hartford Connecticut. We have to groom the next city councilor, the next governor, the future President; the first Muslim President. . . It’s time for us to create the next generation of leaders.”
After a firestorm of negative publicity, the Congressman was asked if he believes American public school curriculum should be based on the Koran. He has apparently changed his viewpoint because today Carson is saying, “No, no no.”

Religious Intolerance on the Right

This is Jimmy Hall of Douglasville, Georgia who today said I am going to hell. Jimmy believes “The Tea Party needs to ‘weed out’ non-Christians, pro-choicers and gays. Otherwise, you are just as bad as Democrats. If someone IS NOT Christian, they are NOT very Conservative. The whole point of being Conservative is to support Biblical Principles. . . YOU are NOT a Christian, Greg, You are 100% wrong, Biblically. Obviously, God and the Bible mean nothing to you. You deserve eternal damnation. Read the Bible, if you can even read.”

The True Meaning of Christmas by Gregg Hilton

My parents have passed away but at Christmas I am reminded of our family traditions. When I was young my mother read “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Her message was neither unique nor especially profound. She felt it was important for a small child to understand why Ebenezer Scrooge was so unhappy. He had every…thing as far as material wealth was concerned, but had been miserable for decades.

President Obama Should Be Attending Church

A new poll shows a majority Americans are in the dark about President Obama’s religion. Only one person in three knows Obama is a Christian, while nearly one in five think he’s a Muslim. His advisers should tell the President to attend church more often. He has attended St John’s Episcopal Church across Lafayette Square from the White three times, and there is a chapel at Camp David. His staff should alert the press when he is headed to church.
The President always describes himself as a Christian and says he prays every day. During the 2008 campaign the President said he had been attending the same Christian church for almost 20 years, and he was sworn into office using the family Bible. During his Senate campaign he said:

The Separation of Church and State and the U.S. Constitution

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says government shall make no establishment of religion. The actual words prohibit the making of any law “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That is not an ambiguous phrase. They did not want a state sponsored religion similar to Great Britain. Some of them fled Britain to avoid the Church of England.

The Social Conservatives vs. the Regular Republicans: The Battle for Iowa Has National Implications

Because of its first in the nation presidential precinct caucuses, Iowa is often at the center stage of American politics. Statewide candidates are frequently linked to presidential contenders, and this year will be no different. A crucial battle is now being waged between social conservatives and regular Republicans, and it will culminate in the June 8th gubernatorial primary.

Are Mormons Christians?

Today Glenn Beck said it was “Romney’s turn” for the 2012 GOP nomination. I believe in the First Amendment and the separation of church and state, but many listeners said they could not support Romney because he was a “Mormon and not a Christian.” Beck is also a Mormon and Romney’s religion is certain to have a prominent role in the 2012 campaign. The Constitution does not stipulate that a President must accept a certain version of Christianity, or any religion.
This is not the first time this has happened in American politics. In 1908 the GOP presidential candidate was William Howard Taft, a Unitarian. His religious beliefs were criticized because his church did not believe in the Trinity. Taft was easily elected by defeating William Jennings Bryan who was making his third attempt for the presidency.
The dictionary defines a Christian as “one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ.” Mormons are Christians and the official name is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mormons describe themselves as Christians and they believe Jesus is the son of God who atoned for the sins of mankind. The Book of Mormon says “Jesus Christ Himself is the chief corner stone” of our faith.
Most Mormons I know are better Christians than the rest of us, and they certainly have good morals. They do not agree with some of my beliefs, but neither do the Democrats! The bottom line is that Mormons are Christians and the Scripture says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved.”
LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley addressed this topic: “Are we Christians? Of course we are! No one can honestly deny that. We may be somewhat different from the traditional pattern of Christianity. But no one believes more literally in the redemption wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ. No one believes more fundamentally that He was the Son of God, that He died for the sins of mankind, that He rose from the grave, and that He is the living resurrected Son of the living Father.”
The Mormon church uses two sources as its primary authorities: the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The Christian church uses the Holy Bible alone as its authority from God. Joseph Smith is not recognized as a prophet.
Regarding life after death, the Mormon church maintains that although there is temporary punishment for those that are most wicked, Jesus Christ will establish a new kingdom that will consist of three levels: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, and the telestial kingdom. The Christian church holds that there are only two possible fates after death, heaven or hell. These locations are final, both physically and spiritually.

A Christmas Message From My Parents by Gregg Hilton

The true spirit of this season reflects a dedication to helping those in need, giving hope to those in despair, and spreading understanding throughout the Earth. As we enjoy the traditions of this holiday, I am sure you share my gratitude for the men and women in the military who are working to defend freedom, and advancing peace and safety around the world.
The vast majority of my friends and associates are politically active. They represent a wide range of views on our political spectrum, and they all have good intentions. As Theodore Roosevelt said, the credit for our progress belongs to people in the political arena – “who know great enthusiasms and devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
No matter where we are on the political spectrum, we all want to make this world a better place. We are doing what we can to effect change. To lift one another up and to bring a better life for all. This is a central message in all religions.
Christ said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” St. Francis of Assisi told us “For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” In caring for one another we find purpose in life. When we stand for freedom, human rights and those who are less fortunate, we are fighting for each other.
My parents have passed away but at Christmas I am always reminded of some of our family traditions. I still remember my mother reading and explaining “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. Her message was neither unique nor especially profound, and I was just 6 years old when she read it the first time. She felt it was important for a small child to understand why Ebenezer Scrooge was so unhappy. He had everything as far as material wealth was concerned, but he had been miserable for decades.
There are many people today who have an outlook similar to Ebenezer. They believe happiness comes from material possessions. They are delaying their happiness until they have a new house, car, job or the improved version of some product. My mother said Ebenezer Scrooge was unhappy not because of a failure to get but to give, and she wanted me to know this was the most important message of Christmas.
My parents were instrumental to the happiness of the first half of my life, but they will not know the second half. Their lesson was to find happiness by looking around you. What are your opportunities to give with joy? This is your best chance to find happiness at midlife.
May you always keep fighting the good fight.
“Peace on Earth, and Goodwill Toward Men.” (Luke 2:14)

A Losing Cause: Trying to Stop Offensive Libertarian Comments

I have written many articles critical of the Libertarian Party and its leader, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). My articles have primarily attacked their isolationist foreign policy and advocacy of a wide range of silly conspiracy theories. Not surprisingly, the Libertarians have fired back. They should defend their viewpoint, and that is what democracies dialogue is all about.
The personal attacks do not bother me, but I have encountered several highly disturbing and offensive comments. Some of them are reprinted below but I have erased the curse words. My efforts to encourage the Libertarians to tone down their rhetoric, and to avoid curse words as well as racial and ethnic slurs, have not been successful.
I try not to be judgmental and our first amendment guarantee of freedom of speech is very important. I do not want to censor anyone, but I felt compelled to act in the situations below. About 90 percent of these comments are from Libertarians and and the other 10 percent are from members of the John Birch Society and the Constitution Party. I am certainly not blaming all Libertarians for the anti-Semitic and racist views of this small group of radicals.
I have told people that reducing high voltage language allows their intelligence to shine through. Profane language is not profound, and people swear and attack ethnic and minority groups when they are out of control. Once again, it does not bother me if people disagree with my viewpoint, but the comments below have all crossed the line.

* Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is a murderer and doesn’t deserve to live! The DEATH penalty is still applicable in CA as far as I know. I still want a retard to rape her before executing this slut. Get out of my country you piece of shit. I am sick and tired of her.

* Muslims are all animals and need to go see the 72 maggots that await them in hell.

* The PRESIDENT of the United States who is DELIBERATELY and knowingly DESTROYING America!!!! In my book, he’s a TRAITOR, an ILLEGAL ALIEN. But NEVER an American. REVOLUTION NOW, GODDAMMIT!!! I hope we can undo what this bastard has done to our country. Then we can throw him out of America, and put him somewhere in Africa for the carnivores.

* Blacks and latinos are parasites on those of us who work hard. They all voted for Mama Bama because they know he’ll give them free handouts while they breed like fleas. They take, take, take until we’re a nation of peasants. This is why they were enslaved in the first place, it was a no-brainer that if we granted them freedom, this is exactly what would happen.

* There are no words strong enough or dirty enough to describe these subhuman environmentalists. They are useless pieces of human flesh. Al Gore, I really am out of words describing what I wanna do with you.

* Get rid of the f–king Jews from the USA and you will get rid of Arab desire to destroy good Americans. Your Jew loving ways will destroy you. Send em home and let em fight their own battles. We don’t care about the Middle East.

* Geez, that’s a surprise. The majority of Latinos support government healthcare. Isn’t it what they have back home, in their banana republics? And isn’t it what they want… Everything for FREE? So they think… They are idiot morons.

* Who ever supports Obama should also be tried for treason.

* The biggest problem in the Arab world is the lack of pornography. Arabs need more porn. If they watched porn all the time, there would be peace in the world. Watch porn, masturbate and relax, no time or energy for wars.

I am also disappointed in former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) who continues to say the United States should bomb the Muslim holy sites in Mecca and Medina if another militant terrorist attack happens on American soil.
Tancredo does not see a distinction between a small group of militants from the rest of the one billion plus Muslims worldwide who want peace. We should not be attacking an entire religious population with followers living around the globe.
There are militants in many faiths. A few extremist Christians have bombed abortion clinics. No one suggested bombing Christian holy sites in Jerusalem as a retaliation. It is always wrong to stir up religious hatred.