All Comments (58)

Here is what the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Note that the very first phrase of the Bill of Rights is

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

It is completely clear and self-evident what the Founders intended. I am prepared to fight to defend the Constitution of the United States. We must fight the dominionist pigs like Colson and Huckabee.

"Mr. Colson: Would you still run over our grandmother for Richard Nixon?"

Grandma got run over by Chuck Colson,
Just because she hated Tricky Dick,
Oh, you can say that Chucky follows Jesus
Right before he beats you with a stick!

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. :D

This resolution was passed to satisfy people of limited intellectual capacity.

Even when they were passing the resolution, they knew that it was targetted at a stupid audience, and they knew they would be called scoundrels and fools, and they knew the accusations would be true, but they couldn't help themselves; they just went ahead and did it anyway; it was easy.

What makes Colson's Christianity suspect is his continued support for and campaigning for Republicans. If he were a sincere thoughful Christian, he'd see that faith transcends political affiliation, that one can be a Christian and also a Democrat or Socialist or Green etc. Instead as most responses to this column suggest, he undermines himself and Christianity. The day Colson draws on his Christian faith to oppose war, poverty, human exploitation, and environmental degradation will be the day I'll accept his sincerity.

Re the so-called "War on Christmas" - I suspect those complaining about this alleged "war" are the same ones who cancelled their Sunday church services on Christmas Day (Xmas fell on a Sunday in '05)so that their families could stay home and gorge themselves with material excess. It makes me wonder how seriously they take their faith.

The true "War on Christmas" isn't about schools singing Xmas songs or town squares having creches; it's the retail industry pushing us to buy, buy, buy, spend money so that we can impart the "Christmas spirit" to their stockholders as well as what trickles down to the sweatshop laborers in China.

So if Colson and his Christian Right bretheren really want to celebrate Christmas and act out their faith with any modicum of sincerity, they'd join forces with non-politically conservative Christians and end the senseless rush to crass materialism in the name of "Christmas." Instead, how about making their purchases for gifts and other needs through coops or "green" industries or companies that practice fair labor standards? Think of the good it could do!

While I'm delighted that Mr. Colson finally found Jesus and faith while serving a prison sentence after criminal activity during the Nixon/Watergate era....

I'm not sure he's the appropriate person to tell the rest of us----who had already found Jesus and faith WITHOUT felony convictions to get there----how important faith can be in our lives.

I congratulate Mr. Colson on his work with prison programs for those without faith who probably need what he has to offer.

The rest of us are just glad that he FINALLY reached where the rest of us were all along, but don't need his advice.

With all due respect.

While I'm delighted that Mr. Colson finally found Jesus and faith while serving a prison sentence after criminal activity during the Nixon/Watergate era....

I'm not sure he's the appropriate person to tell the rest of us----who had already found Jesus and faith WITHOUT felony convictions to get there----how important faith can be in our lives.

I congratulate Mr. Colson on his work with prison programs for those without faith who probably need what he has to offer.

The rest of us are just glad that he FINALLY reached where the rest of us were all along, but don't need his advice.

With all due respect.

Thanks, Congress. I don't know what Dad and I would do without your support. And our poor, persecuted, minority followers will surely be heartened to hear that the Congess of the United States sees their opression and suffering. Also, up yours, Buddhists!

"Happy are the merciful, since the will be shown mercy. "Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see god. "Happy are the peaceable, since they will be called 'sons of god.' "Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. ( Matthew 5:7 ) A HAPPY AS PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO/ all STAFF OF, THE WASHINGTON POST. Xxx

Guess I'll have to turn my attentions to the NYTimes....

Wish I could have sex with the Publisher of the Post, so I could get a whole section of editorial comment devoted to my little hobbyhorse!

[Seashells, if you must know!]

"Congress vote for Christianity. It's a blow, but I think Christianity will survive."

Amen.

Will probably survive Colson and Quinn, too!

Congress vote for Christianity. It's a blow, but I think Christianity will survive.

"I'd think Mr. Colson deserves a hearing, as much as would any other citizen appearing in this space."

He got it.

He also got paid for it.

In case you didn't notice.

Stupid.

Is it true that Charles Colson is sleeping with Sally Quinn, or is that just how it seems to most of us?

You do have to appreciate the Christian Charity of the Washington Post, though, giving a high-paying job to Charles Colson, whose only qualifications are felony burglary. Almost makes you weep!!

Wow, nice bunch here. I'd think Mr. Colson deserves a hearing, as much as would any other citizen appearing in this space.

I don't, however, see where the Congress of the United States has any business making pronouncements about religion - and I look askance at any member of any religion who seeks such pronouncements from government.

"I wish the Washington Post would STOP giving right-wing Republican conservatives precious space to vent their views .... "

I do too!! But the Publisher won't sleep with me!

But what will become of the column when Monica Lewinsky moves in and asserts her dominion??

In case you wondered, and there's no good reason that you should have, my God, unlike "Chuckles" Colson's has not forgiven him. In fact, my God is looking forward to roasting Chuckles on the warmest fires of Hell. For what it's worth.

It's worth at least as much as the opinion of a convicted felon.

"Mr Colson isn't perfect, he's just forgiven!"

Not by me! And his "god" hasn't cleared it with me either.

He's still a burglar and political cheater, as far as I'm concerned.

"Mr Colson isn't perfect, he's just forgiven!"

Not by me! And his "god" hasn't cleared it with me either.

He's still a burglar and political cheater, as far as I'm concerned.

ANYBODY [as in ANYBODY!!!] who gives a scumbag like Colson a podium has a lot of explaining to do.

And I mean A LOT of explaining!!!!

Let's face it: "Silly Quim" may have her influence with the Publisher, but it's death for the newspaper among thinking people, which is pretty much everybody not already captivated by Fox News. Don't you think you ought to rethink this particular stance, before losing what little of the demographic the Post still holds??

"The world has come to celebrates Christmas but sadly, not one atheists or materialist showed up."

I was here, you dumb f*cker. You were just too self-absorbed to notice! Typical stupied Christian scumbag moron. Insulting message to follow!

"Felons for Christmas" seems like a good sort of movement to believe in. Sort of like "Rapists for Chastity."

This is why I read the NY Times and have weened myself from the Post.

Blaaaarrrrp!!!

I could scream!
Would you right-wing conservatives STOP, once and for all, claiming that the meaning and importance of Christianity is not recognized at Christmas. it most certainly is, and you know it.

Your claim is not valid.

You. Mr, Colson. and your ilk's mantra: eternally claiming that Christianity is on the decline is done ONLY in order to give yourself a perpetual public platform and attention, and something controversial to say, in my opinion.

Anyone who supports murderous war and the NRA has no moral authority or standing on ANY issue.

I wish the Washington Post would STOP giving right-wing Republican conservatives precious space to vent their views .... there are millions of Christians in America and other countries such as Europe, who are repulsed by your conduct, wrapping yourself in the mantle of Christianity is an absolute outrage and insult to us all.

I could scream!
Would you right-wing conservatives STOP, once and for all, claiming that the meaning and importance of Christianity is not recognized at Christmas. it most certainly is and you know it.

Your claim is not valid.

You. Mr, Colson. and your ilk's mantra: eternally claiming that Christianity is on the decline is done ONLY in order to give yourself a perpetual public platform and attention, and something controversial to say, in my opinion.

Anyone who supports heinous war and the NRA has no moral authority or standing on any issue.

I wish the Washington Post would STOP giving right-wing Republican conservatives precious space to vent their views .... there are millions of Christians in America and other countries such as Europe, who are repulsed by your conduct, wrapping yourself in the mantle of Christianity is an absolute outrage and insult to us all.

"Eric Futterman:
.......
That is, until, right wing conservatives try to create yet another scapegoat to hide thier anti-populist economic policies by pretending there is somse mythical war on Christmas....."

You hit the nail on the head Eric. So-called "Christian Right" leaders like Falwell, Robertson, Dobson are nothing more than shills for the agenda of the wealthy and corporate America as they sucker all their followers into thinking that religious conservatism goes hand-in-hand with right wing politics.

All I have to say about all war on Christmas stuff: I'll be glad to wish you a Merry Christmas on the eve of Dec 24th and on Dec 25th if you will greet me with a "Gut Yontiff!" during the rest of the Holiday season.

Oh you guys. Mr Colson isn't perfect, he's just forgiven!

Mr. Colson: Would you still run over our grandmother for Richard Nixon?

Wasn't Chuck Colson the Watergate figure who once said that he'd run over his grandmother for Richard Nixon?

Wasn't Chuck Colson the Watergate figure who once said that he'd run over his grandmother for Richard Nixon?

This Colson guy is a convicted Felon.... consider the source

So "Chuck" Colson is founder of Prison Fellowship! He's going to be a bussy man now that the dead sentence here has become a nono. In Texas though he's still out of work.

Is Colson still alive - there must be a god or perhaps he's talking straight from heaven on earth.

no. xmas is to celebrate the fact that the xtians stole (xtian value) jesus from the Jews and created some ridiculous story about him. Puhlease...

Old Con Man Chucky would certainly vote for it because He used His conversion to get out of Jail Free and get rich. Chuck is probably one of the better con Men in the last 40 years and was richly rewarded for His hanging the Jesus Saves sign in front of His Bank Account. Chuck went to Jail for violating his Oath in the Nixon Administration and I suspect He would do it again if that's where the Money was. Chuck has never been in it for His Fellow Man, He's in it for Chuck. I have no idea why the WP would ask Colson anything, He hasn't told the truth in His adult life.

to 'TTWSYFAMDGGAHJMJ':

Are you aware that December 25th was an existing Mithrasian holy day that was adopted by the early Christians as being the (imaginary) birthday of Christ?

"Known as Mitra to the Indians, Mithra and Zarathusa (Zoroaster in Greek) to the Iranians, and Mithras to the Romans, this is the oldest of all living deities. Mithras was recognized as the greatest rival of Cristianity, a greater threat than even the religion of Isis. If Rome had not become Christian, it would have become Mithrasian. Mithrasians had a sacrament that included wine as a symbol of sacrificial blood. Bread in small wafers, or small loaves marked with a cross was used to symbolize flesh... Mithras was born on December 25th. He offered salvation based on faith, compassion, knowledge and valor." ('Mithras - Mysteries and Initiation Rediscovered' ~ Dr. Jason Cooper,

Roy: "I have no problem with Christianity. Christ is/was the best teacher of love and acceptance."

_________________________________

You must be unfamiliar with the teachings of the Buddha.

Christmas and the Atheists

The world has come to celebrates Christmas but sadly, not one atheists or materialist showed up.

“Christmas night, stars shine bright, and all the angels are singing,’ The Son of God is Born' Little Child, Holy Child, how I want to be near You, this blessed Christmas night –Garry Gamble”

Luke 2: 2cf.
“And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them and the brightness of God shone round about them: and the shepherds were filled with a great fear. Then the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be to all the people: For, this day is born to you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David.

And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will.”

On that first Christmas day, Mary brought God’s Son into the world and gave Him to all mankind. Eternal light was brought into a world of darkness to light the hearts of all. The Lover came to the beloved; the beloved became the lover. The aura of Christmas is a story of the Perfect Lover infinitely giving Himself to all man, and man responds in mutual reciprocity.

“Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine. Love was born at Christmas; Stars and angels gave the sign—Georgina Rossetti”

Christmas is a celebration of a soul’s ineffable dream for the perfect love coming true, for the desire of God is written in every human heart.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind, to cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas—Calvin Coolidge."

Today our nation has unconsciously chosen to rebuke Christmas with a “culture of death.” Sadly, in America, our culture is impaling life’s sacredness. When we impugn human life, we vicariously impugn God through His beloved. The Crèche, that portrays the Holy Family, is banned from the public square; Christ is being taken out of Christmas (XMAS), and Christmas is being incrementally taken out of America.

America’s soul is slowly turning its gaze from the Infinite Good to the profane. Our nation’s heart is overshadowed by a morbid insensitivity towards life. America’s once noble passion to revere life is being traduced by a false sense of compassion defined by a stolid and deadly pragmatism that demeans life. Many schools of medicine have abandoned the teaching of the time-honored Hippocratic Oath, an oath that holds life sacred.

The integrity of life is experiencing a bizarre transmogrification that disembodies man from human dignity. This transmogrify is a contradiction to the Christmas Spirit and is a discord to social order. Its human destructiveness is self-evident in the intentional termination of over 48 million unborn in America and over a billion worldwide.

Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Clause. He is the Christmas Spirit sent down from Heaven by the Mad Lover at Christmas. It is a Spirit of awesome intimate love and joy, undeniable, real, ubiquitous, unwavering, and eternal. Everyone feels its presence of wonder and jubilation. But many refuse to bathe in its Joy. We must embrace it by asking for his Love.

To embrace it is to embrace Eternal Happiness, unbounded in Love. To reject His love is to journey into a futile rapture of unfulfilled emptiness and hopelessness that engenders a self-destructive cynicism and despondency.

So in this beautiful season of Christmas, do not be foolish. Reach for the hand of God! Open the door of your heart to the Infinite Lover. Let His love delirious intoxicate you; His infinite tenderness inebriate you! Feel the thrill of eternal joy and happiness! Let the Mad Lover take you to the celebration of the world’s greatest birthday party.

Do not seek that your Christmas and New Year be only happy and merry. Ask that they also be Holy, then happiness and joy will ensue. Then the Mad Lover will come to consume you, His beloved. Because of His merciful compassion, his intimate infinite love, He has uniquely created you from His unfathomable altruism.

So, come and rejoice at this Christmas feast and be filled with the joys and gifts of the Spirit! Then, you shall receive the Author of Life from His beloved Mother, and you shall eternally be enriched with the blessings of Christmas.

Then the Christmas Spirit will come to wrap you in His arms with His aura of eternal love, touch the deep recesses of your heart with immeasurable joy and happiness, and abide with you forever.

“Then the greater your distress, the more He will comfort you! The more you are scorned, the more He will love you! The more you are insulted, the more He will exalt you! The more you are forgotten, the more He will remember you! If abandoned, He will draw you closer to Himself”—Cardinal John Henry Newman.

"In the end, it was always said of Scrooge that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us all—Charles Dickens." So on this Christmas celebration smile, give your face a holiday, and celebrate Christmas in all its glory.

While it's obvious this resolution is purely a cheap political effort to earn praise from the monied evangelical movement, it can also be percieved as an effort to intimidate Americans who are not Christian.

I am Jewish with a three year old daughter. Anyone who claims Christians aren't recognized and Christmas is restricted has no idea how the holiday dominates the time.

And actually I enjoy it. As the day approaches families get together, the streets become quiet and Amerians take stock of what they have to appreciate.

That is, until, right wing conservatives try to create yet another scapegoat to hide thier anti-populist economic policies by pretending there is somse mythical war on Christmas.

Passing any law that resolves to ensure the government subscribes to a specific religious belief is anti-constitutional. How would Chuck Colson feel if Congress passed a resolution calling on all Americans to appreciate Muslims and their holidays?

I wish all Christians the very best on this beautiful holiday. But please stop playing the part of the all powerful victim and enjoy an extra Christmas cookie for me.

I have no problem with Christianity. Christ is/was the best teacher of love and acceptance.

It's neochristians like Colson I can't stomach. This bill was to satisfy their egos. Christ doesn't need a Congressional resolution - neochristians do to validate their sense of importance and domination over American life.

Christmas is for the merchants who depend on its commerce for profits for the year. It is encouraged by our profligate government, who spend what we do not have, in order to keep the economy going.And worse, government and the mercantile influences urge people to buy, buy, buy to keep up the economy and the 70% of the GDP that consumers are responsible for. Don't save, our money will be worth less anyway, do as the Congress does: spend, earmark, don't worry about tomorrow. - What a way to guide a supposedly moral society.

oh jesus maria pleeze even on xmasday this is too much bs .here we have an exconvict promoting more jesus scams and frauds! remember chukiboi what i told you previously when you were still behind bars "RELIGION POISONS EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES"

The resolution is meaningless and nothing but pandering by the pusillanimous simpletons currently occupying Congress as they vainly strive to find ways to ensure their incumbency.

It's also somewhat amazing that AIPAC allowed this resolution to get to the floor and come to a vote.

PS: Why is that people like Colson only find religion AFTER they have been caught, convicted and sentenced?
BTW, does he still have a vote?

Christianity has always been a lightning rod for bigotry and death that attaches itself to governments and ruling classes just like a virus does to an unsuspecting host.

This is just the latest incident.

In another post, some guy said Jesus IS Satan. I am starting to think he was right.

CHUCK..There a lot of people whom anti religious ( ((((for very good sound reasons as towards the experiences have had this life as previous lifes. They do not object that there a god as religions, but rather, objecting to those whom used as use religion for persoal power as wealth )))) ) They fail divide the true christian from the religious crackpots. Hence, all being tagged with the same judgement which being very unfair. The Almighty being not one to let such injustice carry, hence, by the power of the FATHER as the SON wishing you a very happy xmas & new year. . .. . xxx xx x X

Well, mission accomplished I guess. The idiot brigade is happy.

You may opine all you like about religion, although why anyone would listen is beyond me. When you speak to the separation of church and state in a way that might weaken that separation, you enter the realm of politics.

You have no right. You have already been convicted of attempting to abrogate the separation of powers in the federal government. You expose yourself as a greater criminal and traitor. I doubt this cloak of piety, you pull around yourself now, can be sincere in any respect.

I hope this is some sort of joke.

If its not, its truly frightening.

Are we turing into Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia, but with Jesus rather than Allah?

This seems like something out of the 16th or 17th century, not the 21st.

All I can say is, if in the Watergate crook Reverend's estimation, this is "God's Kingdom come to earth," it seems the health plan leaves much to be desired.

from The Independent UK.

Dawkins to lecture in US Bible Belt
By Jonathan Brown
Published: 24 December 2007

Richard Dawkins, the scourge of pseudo-science, Christianity and homeopathy, is to step up his campaign for rational thinking with a series of high-profile lectures deep in the heart of the American Bible Belt.

The Oxford University professor travels to the US next year as part of his battle to promote evolutionary theory in the face of a backlash against the concept in the world's most-advanced industrial nation.

He is to address a series of 2,000-seater venues in the American heartlands. The tour will coincide with the publication of his best-seller The God Delusion in paperback in the US in January and act as a prelude to a series of global events to mark the bicentenary of Charles Darwin in 2009.

Professor Dawkins has charities in his own name on both sides of the Atlantic to promote reason and science. He has said that it is in the US, where 50 per cent of the population believes the universe is less than 10,000 years old, that the Enlightenment is most threatened.

However, he said he did not expect audiences to be too tough on his atheist beliefs and that many thanked him for speaking out. "The Bible Belt is a lot less monolithic than it portrays itself. I have a feeling that there is rather a large groundswell of people who agree with me," he said.

I think it's a crock o' crap. Why should we elevate one religion above all others?

Because Republicans know they can score political points.

End of story. Worthless scumbags.

The 'heart' should not override the professionalism that's supposed to be behind the *text* of laws.

Speaking of Rev. Elliott's 'Trojan Horses' he accuses the mere existence of minority religions of constituting, there seems to be a lot of language in the text of that 'from the heart' gesture which constitutes *bad precedent* and a false legitimacy for some Dominionist and revisionist political agendas.

Kinda dirty.

They could have resolved, 'Merry Christmas, every one,' *gavel strike.* Done.

Why all the words?

Cause it's not about that.

Merry Xmas to you as well, Mr Colson.

If I had any money, I'd treat you to a few botox treatments to unfurrow that brow of yours.