All Comments (132)

I get it. Who cares if he calls Abraham a Pimp.

What about Moss constantly talking about the enemy and the enemy city? Where is the enemy city? Is it Washington D.C.?

The words of people in the public eye are often quoted out of context. Sometimes this is sad, and meant to deceive the listener. That is why Kipling wrote in his poem "If": "If you can bear the hear the truth you've spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools...." or even for those who aren't fools. But sometimes IN context does not make the impression any more pleasant. If you can find the full text of Wright's sermon on "the chickens have come home to roost" and the things the USA has done in recent history, you'll see that it really was taken out of context. Wright was quoting the white US ambassador to Iraq.
The problem about Obama is that he went beyond attending a church presided over by Wright and did not object to that UCC church's honoring Louis Farrakhan. Obama even appointed Wright to his campaign staff.... until the heat got hotter, and he kicked Wright out of the kitchen.
Guys like Falwell and Robertson are chastised with scorpions, but African-Americans like Motormouth Jeremiah Wright are held to a lower standard. Isn't that treating black people like children who are not held to the same standards as adults? THAT is racism!
Try Leviticus 19:17 -->>> "You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him."
And, yes, it IS curious that the Rev. Thistlewaite just happens to be an invitee to the church in question..... (as they say on "Seinfeld")...Hey! Not that there's anything WRONG with it!

The words of people in the public eye are often quoted out of context. Sometimes this is sad, and meant to deceive the listener. That is why Kipling wrote in his poem "If": "If you can bear the hear the truth you've spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools...." or even for those who aren't fools. But sometimes IN context does not make the impression any more pleasant. If you can find the full text of Wright's sermon on "the chickens have come home to roost" and the things the USA has done in recent history, you'll see that it really was taken out of context. Wright was quoting the white US ambassador to Iraq.
The problem about Obama is that he went beyond attending a church presided over by Wright and did not object to that UCC church's honoring Louis Farrakhan. Obama even appointed Wright to his campaign staff.... until the heat got hotter, and he kicked Wright out of the kitchen.
Guys like Falwell and Robertson are chastised with scorpions, but African-Americans like Motormouth Jeremiah Wright are held to a lower standard. Isn't that treating black people like children who are not held to the same standards as adults? THAT is racism!
Try Leviticus 19:17 -->>> "You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him."
And, yes, it IS curious that the Rev. Thistlewaite just happens to be an invitee to the church in question..... (as they say on "Seinfeld")...Hey! Not that there's anything WRONG with it!

Dear Rev. Dr. President Susan,

Thank you for your service. (cooped lexicon) With all those titles my salutation seems mocking. It is not. What I first heard about Barak was Community Organizer, Constitutional Law Professor, Princeton undergrad and currently a US senator. Quick look at position on issues, all good especially re: assorted wars.
So I immediately browsed TUCC.org, jumping to staff credentials. This church seemed to be building solid black leadership for Chicago and America as well as reaching out to the masses. The credentials of each was awesome. Two questions stood out - Otis and Ramah. Ramah had(has) no credentials listed. Otis seemed a bit of compromise to tone down the black ivy league elitist image and connect with the (black) populace. It never occurred to me that the Sr. Pastor was a loose cannon that would engender images of "burn baby burn" in the minds of white America. Now the fertilize has hit the impellor and I read it that the leadership at the congregation and among UCC in Chicago was ahead of the curve and working hard to keep this Juggernaut on the rails. UCC is rare here in rural Texas. Your recomentation for Otis removes any doubts I had; but, please twist his arm as needed so he completes that earned doctorate. I cannot think of anything more important to his calling as a voice for black America and pastor to America. I was received other baptized into the Episcopal church from a black UMC. I moved because my local parish has a woman preist and God's spirit gave us Presiding Bishop Katherine . I got to hear her remarks to the United Black Episcopalian convention in Houston. Inspiring. At times when people used their ancestors' historic time of arrival in America as basis of predjudice, the UCC (and Quakers, UUA and many Episcpal) churches said we too have those "credentials" but we "welcome" equality and justice very broadly interpreted. You, Susan, are one of those hard working women, still in the trenches. In your case, commanding regiments of would be angels. Thank you for your service. Sincerely, James hofacker27@netscape.com

Poor DCP, you just do not understand. Just because the protestants were "birthed" from the Catholic Church, does not mean that they can trace their Apostleship back to the original twelve. They rejected the Teachings and Sacred Traditions and thus turned their backs on the true Christian Church.

As far as the early Christians not "praying" to the original Apostles. In the Catholic Church, "prayer" to a Saint is asking the Saint to intercede on a person's behalf. That is, you asking a Saint to talk to God for whatever reason, that means that both you and the Saint are praying to God for that favor. It is no different than the early Christians who asked the original twelve Apostles to pray for their own personal requests, whether that request was to heal a sick friend/relative or some other reason. We Catholics believe that a Saint is alive in Heaven and capable of praying to God and therefore it is no different than asking your local priest or even anonymous strangers on some internet forum to pray to God on your behalf. As far as veneration for Mary, again, it is clearly shown in the NT that Jesus listened to and granted a miracle to his mother. The story of the turning water into wine shows Jesus' first miracle and who was the requestor?

True Christian, your church does not trace its history back to the apostles. The apostles never prayed to saints (ahem, themselves). Furthermore, the apostles never prayed to Mary. Plus there wasn't this ritual for canonization hundreds of years after a believer died. The Catholics invented that. The term "saint" referred to all believers. However, the protestant church was birthed out of the Catholic church. So, if your church traces its steps all the way back to the original apostles, then so does the protestant church.

Wow! I'm glad I belong to one of only two Churches that can honestly trace their Apostalic succession back to the original twelve Apostles, being a Catholic (the other true Christian Church is the Orthodox). We don't have this problem with part-time preachers who chop up the Bible for their own usefulness, instead they follow the Sacred Traditions and Teachings that have changed very little since Christ taught the original Apostles. I know this rankles some who believe that they should be able to interpret the Bible any way they think and, well, rev. Falhell and rev. Wrong are what you get from this kind of thinking, instead of learning what God wants us to learn as it was passed down from generation to generation since God was man himself.

I do empathize with the person who moved from church to church because of things in each he found disagreeable. The Catholic Church is strong enough and universal enough that having a problem with an individual priest or bishop does not mean you leave the Church, for ex. I currently disagree with how my local bishop handled a priest who has three times "outed" other priests who were sinning (one stealing from the Church, another who had an affair with a married woman, and another who was into gay porn), so ever since then, whenever the Bishop's Lenten Appeal comes in the mail, it goes right into the trash. However, I have nothing against my local Church or priests, therefore, I give generously to them. The Church is not perfect, but then it is much closer than these so-called "christian" churches that were attempts to "reform" the Catholic Church.

Rev. Thistlewaite,

As many of the comments in this section demonstrate, there are many people who do not want to hear the voice of reason, no matter how reasonable it is. They have staked out their point of view, and are slinging verbal arrows at you like people trying to scare an intruder off their land. However, be neither discouraged nor dismayed: this "land" is also your land, and you have a right to make your voice heard, just as surely as Rev. Moss, Rev. Wright and others also have the same right.

Please don't back down, and please keep speaking out. After all, it's only ignorance. There's a lot of it on display in American society these days, especially about black religious traditions. However, it is my hope that, with voices like yours - which in times of controversy pick up and courageously brandish the sword of truth - that ignorance, though it may die hard, will nonetheless do just that: die.

Thank you again for writing so promptly and cogently on this important subject. As a member of Trinity UCC in Chicago, I am extraordinarily grateful.

'Doctor of Ministry Program' eh? Must be just like the degree MKL got, you know, by plagiarizing his entire dissertation. Since this loser is into hip-hop he probably beats the crap out of his hos after he's thru with them just like MLK did. Nice folks you glorify lady.

Oh, wow, what Christian "Love" being shown to Rev. Susan! Wow. Any of you actually READ your Bibles, or did you ask Pat Robertson, Rod Parsley or John Haggee what to say??? Wow. Venomous, rude, nasty and bigoted bunch posting in response. Tell me, precisely how many of you have actually sat through to twenty THOUSAND PLUS hours of Pastor Wright's sermons? Now, tell me how many of you own and read Red Letter Bibles? I'm not a Christian, but let me point you hate-mongers in an interesting direction: Luke 6:20-49, the Beatitudes through to the story of the wise and foolish builders. Mine's from Zondervan's NIV, red letter edition. Here's just a taste, and you should feel free to feel "convicted" in your parlance: "Why do you look to the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother 'Brother let me take the speck out of your eye' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" Luke 6:41-42

Susan,

The better way for the Reverend Moss would be for him to speak the truth about the "fems" of religion i.e. the flaws, errors, muck and stench.

e.g.

Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

The muck and stench of non-Catholic Christian churches you ask?

Adulterous preachers and atonement theology.

It's gratifying to see that a number of posters on this MB are not conned by this Marxist's BS. 'Liberation theology' whatever it's flavor is pure Stalinism. The human race suffered grievously from this nonsense and completely discredited it. Its few adherents now cower in universities and so called 'theological seminaries.' People like SBT are truly pathetic.

Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ... Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love

Cone

Is this woman an idiot or just so full of self loathing that she defends Wrong and now Loss in their bigoted white hating rants? Now she's got a hip=hop minister she just loves. Is she too stupid to know just what misogynistic, authority hating, violence glorifying filth hip-hop is? Tupec a 'prophet'? Sure; of death and destruction. This ho's 'seminary' is obviously just the flip side of FARTwell's terrorist training 'university.'

Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite is without doubt an intelligent woman, but she advocates a practice begun in the 1960s that resurfaces from time to time: making the word of God more relevant to young people.

From my perspective this misguided practice always results in a milquetoast Christianity because the word of God can't be added to or taken away from by the actions of man. It requires enormous hubris for one to assume the message of salvation is dependent upon man's showmanship instead of the call of the Holy Spirit.

Are we to believe that God failed to present his message in a manner that transcends time, and requires generational polishing to make it acceptable? I don't believe such is the case.

Rev. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite seems to consider the Gospel of Jesus Christ a product in need of promotion instead it being the ultimate gift.

OK Susan

what are your filters?

Hannity?

neochristian?

Faux News?

The article in Newsmax.com could in no way be considered journalism or a news story. Journalistic structure demands that opposing views be represented in each story. News stories also should at least attempt to present objective coverage. The Newsmax story is a hack job. I have been a newspaper reporter and I am an ordained minister. If, for instance, Newsmax had bothered to ask a pastor or biblical scholar if there was truth in Rev Moss' controversial remarks, they would have found that King David indeed acted like a thug, and that Abraham did indeed as much as sell his wife off several times to save his own skin. Fortunately God blocked those transactions. So let's be clear, these so-called conservatives are not interested in truth or America's well-being.

As usual, Hannity misrepresents situations and statements in order to shroud himself in the glorious mantle of Character Assassin. Meanwhile, his pretend liberal straight man mumbles a few mealy-mouth words.
How can anyone with more than one grey cell tune him in?

Bet Rev. Susie also put Rev. Wacko Wright into CONTEXT! Well, we found out that Wright's words were his context. Same with Otis. The Rev. Susie is part of the Radical Chicago Left. She, the Ayers. Rev. Wrong, Rev.Jesse and our new Prez.Barry Hussien. Where is GOD now that we really need him!

Chop Block. Chop Shop. Chop Block.... what bull.

I watched Rev Wright answer questions when he was at the press club. He said what he said
in his sermons. So you can say chop shop and chop block all you want but I heard it and
saw it with my own ears and eyes. So what you want to do is pretend like what I saw and
heard did not happen and spin it all into cute little phrases like chop shop and chop
block.

I went to a so-called Christian church for 15 years. Then that church started preaching
that there are many ways to God. I left that church because Christ is the only way to
Salvation. I did not want my 4 kids to hear something that was not true.

I then went to a church that after attending for 5 years they started teaching that
homosexuality was not a sin. The church installed a woman who is a lesbian as the pastor.
I have 4 kids so I left that church because homosexuality is a sin. A pastor is an
example and I don't want my kids to even consider that woman's life style or to believe
that they would be happy as a homosexual. So we left that church.

I did not go to church for 2 years as I was so disgusted with what I was hearing at my
two previous churches.

Then a friend recommended another church. We are now attending this church for 3 year as
this is a place where the true Gospel is preached, not perfectly, but without major
flaws. If this present church started preaching racist hate, then I would stop going in
an instant.

So do not tell me that someone can go to a church for 20 years and be unaware of what is
being preached in that church. That is a lie. Do not tell me that if a person stays at a
church they do not agree with what is being preached. That is a lie. For the sake of your
kids, if not for any other reason, you should leave any church that teaches false
doctrine, especially racial hate.

This is not Iran with no freedom of religion. This is American and if you go to a church
for 20 years that teaches hate it is because you wanted to go there and you agree with
what is being preached. There is no chop shop or chop block except those who want to chop
out the truth from what we all know instinctively is true and deceive us to think
otherwise.

Bet Rev. Susie also put Rev. Wacko Wright into CONTEXT! Well, we found out that Wright's words were his context. Same with Otis. The Rev. Susie is part of the Radical Chicago Left. She, the Ayers. Rev. Wrong,Rev.Jesse and our new Prez.Barry Hussien. Where is GOD now that we really need him!

I suppose the decades and centuries of teachings that created racists like Hannity's supporters is morally superior somehow...

Or would the real point be to silence black voices entirely.

LOUIS MICHAEL MOUNT: "Anyone who criticizes our government is a terrorist lover who shouldn't be near the White House anyway."

Anyone who says what you just said is a fascist whose knowledge and ethics would together fit into an elf's thimble.

The Republicans and their running dogs are comparable to the Pharisees, Sadducees and temple money changers of the New Testament. They have corrupted the religion they claim to represent. They also practice Machiavelli's first axiom: APPEAR to be religious and compassionate. Compassionate conservatism, anyone? When Bush made that announcement, I wondered that he had to add "compassionate," as if conservatism, even in his own mind, was hardhearted and venal.

A fantastic article!

Anyone who criticizes our government is a terrorist lover who shouldn't be near the White House anyway.

I think the point of th article was to show that if you chop up a sermon into sound bites, it sounds extreme. Take for example the Blacks/lepers sound bite.

Pamela, He didn't say blacks were lepers, he drew an analogy.

Fact: Lepers were outcast of society in the middle ages.
Fact: They we not permitted to live among healthy people because their sickness was contagious.

Rev. Moss III compares the plight of black people to that of lepers.

Fact: Blacks in the south were not allowed to go into the same places as whites. There were outcasts.

Fact: Blacks were not allowed to live in particular neighborhoods.

This is an analogy, he is NOT saying being black is a skin disease. He said the lepers were segregated as were blacks.

The sermon goes on to say, in sum, that despite whatever "condition" you may experience in life, you can still receive God's blessings.

Is this extremist or racist? I understand that some of you are not Christians and do not believe in organized religion. But do you still think its ok to attack a pastor for the sole purpose of discrediting a politician?

I guess that's what it means to have a Democracy.

Wow, I am stunned that this so called Reverend and professor of theology thinks nothing of demonizing those with whom she does not agree. And she doesn't seem to bat an eyelash while doing it.

Apparently the lessons of the Bible on love have totally missed the mark with this babe. Rather than turning the other cheek ( and really the todo was not about her at all she just jumped into the fray) she basically jumps in with both fists, metaphorically speaking.

It seems that the Reverend Susan Brooks Thistlewaite (please read in plummy tones) is nothing but a liberal hack and reserves respect and love only for those with whom she agrees. God help her students and the future parishioners of those students.

A rock thrown into a pack of dogs disappears. But if you want to know which dog got hit then just listen for the yelping and howling, look for the snarling and running, and most importantly -- look for the blogging and denial in posted comments.

There is a whole lot of dogs of denial running around biting their own tails concerning your excellent article Mrs. Brooks. They must have gotten hit by the rock. For the dogs that did not get hit behaved quite differently. That right wing dog is sure ticked off now. I thank you for your marksmanship. We need to know what kind of dog we are dealing with here and who amongst is prone to the doggish mentality of divide through expressions and machinations of evil intent.

Your comments on the Rev Otis Moss III are very good. I appreciate you giving the total picture before right wing pundits dissect the sermons for radical purposes. There are ministers who feel they can comment on any subject without retribution in cases of no supportive scripture.

We can receive our thoughts and opinions from anyone on the street but the church is our direct instructional institution to our faith.

Focus on our Faith must not be deterred by subject of the week. We must apply our Faith to focus. We have no control over what people pull from the sermons. But we have control over our Faith and will.

Wow:

I think we are seeing the ugly racist side of the right wing revealing itself in a number of these responses.

You need to click the link and actually read the article to see what the "radical right" Newsmax is saying about the Reverend Moss. Ms. B-T doesn't actually quote them, or rebut them.

If you actually follow the link, you'll find a fact-based article that takes some rather silly quotes from Mr. Moss and publicizes them. Although it's clearly for political purposes, and the quotes are taken out of whatever dopey context they came from, it's neither "radical right" nor dishonest.

The author of this hit piece should grow up and stop using incendiary language.

Wow:

I think we are seeing the ugly racist side of the right wing revealing itself in a number of these responses.

...and I find it tragic to say that these people, who attack in this way, know not love unless it is juxtaposed with self. Self interest has ruined lives and can ruin a nation. Love is not so far fetched that it cannot pull a nation back from the brink of its run up to a cliff’s edge. To be servant is the highest as well as the hardest. Who can serve in an environment of hate? Yet is that not where service is most needed? The brick wall of human propensity to be base is difficult to scale to reach the other side where virtuous progress resides as opposed to win at any cost evil on the other side.

Today a bunch of crooks and hucksters, womanizing egotists and dangerous megalomaniacs choreograph extravaganzas of the Jesus frenzy. Alarmingly, they have serious political influence and an agenda for Armageddon. Tragically millions believe their swill and people who should know better, like the writer of this piece, apologize and attempt to justify their bigotry and stupidity.

I loved the article because the theology of Reverend Moss was explained very clearly that even a Hillary-Clinton-noneducated-blue-collar white can understand. Got it? Good! By the way, why is it that African Americans require interpreters?

Sounds fair to me. The only reason the radical left isn't still "chopping up" Jerry Falwell's sermons is that he's dead. (I'm assuming they're not still chopping...)

"Radical right" is a phrase well-known to readers of the modern liberal press. "Radical left" is a phrase the press never uses. But there is a healthy anti-US left that can properly be so designated. Those who are informed only by reading liberal publications live in the ideological shadows and so are unable to see properly. Reverend Wright is a member of the radical left and he is merely one of thousands of ministers who fit nicely in that category. I daresay that Ms. Brooks would not describe men like Wright or anyone for that matter as "radical." For such as her only right-wingers merit that label.

Going all the way back to my childhood, I've always been suspicious of those who claim to be devoutly religious. I have never been totally sure of whether to trust them or not.

But the actions of these types of people over the past 20 years have proven to me that my suspicions were well founded and that they should not be trusted under any circumstances.

Thanks, but I think I'll just stick to treating people kindly and with fairness while I avoid the non-profit quasi-political religion businesses altogether.

This is what I detest, abhor, hate about organized religion - they are hypocrits of the highest caliber. Used car salesment and snake oil hawkers have more of a socially redeeming value than those who corrupt the word of God. As a Deist I find it fascinating that so many people allow themselves to be herded as sheep, completely trusting what the individual cutting and pasting from the Bible is actually spouting.

I'm a conservative from cleveland. I grew up in Rev. Moss father's church and am very familiar with the sermons of Rev. Moss III. Honestly, there's nothing racist or extreme or anything about his sermons. He preaches the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, that's all. He doesn't preach politics. Please don't go down this road.

ottis is another explosive bomb for the black liberation trinity church. didnt he state, blacks are like lepers with diseased skin?

oh my!!! who could think this stuff up??? its unbelievable!! THOUGHTS BEYOND BELIEF!!!yet some peoople feel insecure enough to believe them, and start to blame people outside of themselves. some americans obviously are easy to brainwash? isnt he really saying blackness is a disease? sick!its just not true.

ottis is another explosive bomb for the black liberation trinity church. didnt he state, blacks are like lepers with diseased skin?

oh my!!! who could think this stuff up??? its unbelievable!! THOUGHTS BEYOND BELIEF!!!yet some peoople feel insecure enough to believe them, and start to blame people outside of themselves. some americans obviously are easy to brainwash? isnt he really saying blackness is a disease? sick!its just not true.

Whay not discuss hillary's spiritual connections? Have you done a story on her church? Does she belong to a church? Does she believe in God? Who is her pastor? Are you a racists?

What's wrong with you stupid white people? You do not understand the black church, because you refuse to accept the history of racists America. All of you should be ashamed. I'm ashamed to be white.

How sweet it is seeing these bigoted black Leninist filth peddlers unmasked as the mirror images of FARTwell and all the other Fascist white hate mongers. But hey, when your whole religion is based on tales specifically designed to engender hatred for the tribe next door, what else can you expect?

McCain said he was 'proud' to have pastor John Hagee's support.

Hagee said Jews brought the Holocaust upon themselves by "turning away from the true God." He said Catholicism is a "false cult," and said it was the cause of Hitler's anti-semitism.

Good for the goose is good for the gander.

I'm so glad we've decided, since 1980, that religion belongs in our politics. What excellent results we've reaped! Congratulations, Goddies, on your part in the destruction of our once-proud nation.

Are black Ministers under seige from the "Right-Wing" in this country?

These bastards! What kind of Jesus do these right-wing extremists preach? Is Jesus Christ so full of hate that he(Christ) cannot see eye to eye with all human beings as the right-wing extremists would like us to believe?

Sean Hannity, Why are you so HATEFUL? What did black people do to you or your family members so as to deserve this kind of vernom from you?

This is a warning... listen to Newt(former Speaker of the House); John McCain will never win this White House if all you've got is this much HATE! The Republicans better chat another course, a new way of doing politics, because America has changed for the good, and we are rejecting this "traditional" Republican attack line of seperating us based on race.

I hope you find the true Jesus Christ soon, because when you do, he(Christ) will change you!

Religion peddlers of ALL hues can be counted on extol hatred. When what you do is based on stone age fairy tales, anything and everything goes. As these filth sellers so disgustingly demonstrate.

Love and Light will shine through. Keep up the good fight and the truth will set us free. I am looking forward to reading your sermon. I would rather hear it spoken, if you can direct me to a website at some point please.

The Sunday you speak would be a great time for Sen. Obama to go back to his church and reconnect with the congregation. If you have a way of giving him a special invitation, please do. It would do so many people in America good to hear the discussion of race that you are having. All the best as you and your church push on with your mission.

Love, Lance

It blows my mind that people don't seem to realize that you can be friends with someone even if you don't agree with everything they say. I think I learned that in Kindergarten.

This article is typical of the left when trying to defend statements and radicalism which are indefensible. They point to the ever present Republican boogeyman, who "distracts" the country from what the left considers important. Mr. Obama sat in this church for twenty years and obviously until recently had no problem doing so. I have no idea whether Rev. Otis is a nut and as out of touch as Mr. Wright. What should be noted is that the left wants to tie Mr. McCain to preachers themselves. Obviously they have no problem "distracting" the country. It isn't as if Mr. McCain sat in a church, had his children baptized, nor gave $20,000 to a church and preacher that advocates African Nationalism tinged with a Leninist World view. I ask who is the party chopping up speeches and policies? The Left will be the ones who tell America that McCain will kill the Earth, Old People, and promote gay bashing. That isn't new politics, that is Democrats standard operating procedure.

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Deuteronomy 28:20
“The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me.

27 “I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.

OH THE SOLUTION IS SO EASY!! SINCE RELIGIONS POISON EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE IT TOUCHES , JUST STAY AWAY FROM IT!!

Nothing is wrong with investigating the new pastor's sermons at Trinity UCC in Chicago and publicizing their contents. If the new pastor wants everyone to know transparently the contents of his sermons, he could easily post the text and video versions on the Church's website.

I have no love for the Right Wing, nor for race baiters. Just what, specifically is the Right Wing criticism that was leveled at the pastor you defend? Are you putting out a gauzie straw man, suggesting that maybe there is something racist in addition to being nefarious. Your article does not specify much of anything other than name calling the Right Wing. The RW has much to answer and so do those who toss out vague accusations--what is the difference between what they do and what you apparently are doing?

I have no love for the Right Wing, nor for race baiters. Just what, specifically is the Right Wing criticism that was leveled at the pastor you defend? Are you putting out a gauzie straw man, suggesting that maybe there is something racist in addition to being nefarious. Your article does not specify much of anything other than name calling the Right Wing. The RW has much to answer and so do those who toss out vague accusations--what is the difference between what they do and what you apparently are doing?

I have no love for the Right Wing, nor for race baiters. Just what, specifically is the Right Wing criticism that was leveled at the pastor you defend? Are you putting out a gauzie straw man, suggesting that maybe there is something racist in addition to being nefarious. Your article does not specify much of anything other than name calling the Right Wing. The RW has much to answer and so do those who toss out vague accusations--what is the difference between what they do and what you apparently are doing?

We will all look like idiots in 2009 if we allow the republicans to use the same old smear campaigns they have uses since reagan's wellfare queens and Bush I's willie horton tactics to convince us to stay with the bush administrations continued failed policies by proxy through McCain. It will prove what they already think of the american voter public is true which is we are lazy and dumb and would rather vote based on mudslinging and character assassination than on the issues and their accomplishments.

Susan,

It appears from many of the responses that there is a vast reservoir of hatred in this world, and an equally great fear of the power of love.