The Government and Churches
Overstep Their Bounds on Issues
of Gender and Sexuality
By Steve Rensberry4/16/2025
What is the harm of diversity, cultural or sexual? It enriches us as human beings and as a society. I'm tired of the bigots who levy false charges against innocent people, diverse people, simple because they're different or because some ideological belief system they adhere to "defines" certain people and certain ways of thinking and living as bad or worse yet "evil," or an "abomination." I am disgusted every time I here some hateful person claim that certain people with certain lifestyles are "an abomination." Really? Never do these people cite any actual harm, only that their sacred books calls it such (as they interpret it). So much for rational, evidence-based thinking.
I'm hopeful for better days ahead, but it will take some work.
Fairness and Decency
Are In Short Supply
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Leaders Who Violate Their Oath
Don't Deserve to Lead
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Bullies Can Bully Themselves
Right Out The Door
By Steve Rensberry
The Playground Bullies Became Christian Nationalists, MAGA Republicans
MAGA Trolls Bully Kyle Rittenhouse Into Sticking With Trump
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The Properity Gospel's
Take on Poverty is Disgusting
By Steve Rensberry
Meeting and
interviewing literally hundreds of people in all walks of life over a
30-year journalism career pretty much makes me want to vomit every time I
hear people despising the poor, insinuating they are lazy or undisciplined, or justifying their impoverishment on religious grounds.
Those who do it with religious fervor -- prosperity gospel types -- are the absolute worst, often going after the poor with both barrels by falsely claiming that poverty is primarily the result of "laziness," and that poor people are "morally deficient" in some way. So those at the lower
end of the economic ladder are thus doubly despised, on both economic and
moral grounds.
Another despicable and hateful accusation from the haters of poor people (minorities in particular) is that 'those with less' contribute to their own plight by having too many babies and thus have too many mouths to feed. Meanwhile, out of the other side of their mouth they argue that modern society is going to hell because people aren't having enough babies. -- 7/26/2024
A good read: Help the Poor? Many Christians Prefer to Blame Them (Good Faith Media, by James L. Evans)
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In Science We Trust
By Steve Rensberry
I'm not prone to believe the sky is falling, but if we end up with leaders who don't trust science, expertise, or dedicated nonpartisan public servants sworn to uphold the Constitution, but instead favor "magical" or "intuitive" solutions to all our social problems, we could be in for a very rough ride the next time an outbreak occurs.
The first two years of the covid outbreak in 2020-2021 were horrendous and took the lives of at least a dozen customers of mine in Southern Illinois, along with several close friends. I narrowly escaped exposure myself several times, and seriousl fear another public health crisis or pandemic happening during an anti-science administration.
With so much left-over angst, and new rules in some states against protecting the public health, instead of 1 million American deaths we'll probably see 50 million -- since the official national government police in an authoritarian anti-science state will likely be DO NOTHING, just roll over and die. We can do better.
For the record, the coronavirus pandemic has taken the lives of more than 7,010,680 people. -- 7/26/2024
The data: Coronavirus Death Toll
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Freedom From Religion Foundation
Performs Worthwhile Public Service
If you are looking for an organization to represent you in the fight for religious freedom and freedom of thought, the Freedom from Religion Foundation is one that I can highly recommend.
The membership fee is modest and can be purchased on several levels, so I invite you to join me if you can. Link: FFRF. One of their most famous spokespersons is Ron Reagan Jr. and they have a significant presence on youtube and in the news media.
There will be tremendous pressures to conform in the coming years ahead, and the FFRF may prove to be a crucial watchdog. Don't be deceived by false promises and false prophets, of those who make outlandish claims with no reasonable or scientific proof. My guess is we'll be flooded with such claims for at least the next four years.
From the FFRF "about" section: "The history of Western civilization shows us that most social and moral progress has been brought about by persons free from religion. In modern times the first to speak out for prison reform, for humane treatment of the mentally ill, for abolition of capital punishment, for women’s right to vote, for death with dignity for the terminally ill, and for the right to choose contraception, sterilization and abortion have been freethinkers, just as they were the first to call for an end to slavery. The Foundation works as an umbrella for those who are free from religion and are committed to the cherished principle of separation of state and church." -- 11/9/2024
