"Jesus Plus Nothing" an insight into the hoped-4 world of politico-theocratic power

[Mel Brennan]

First, read this:

http://www.harpers.org/JesusPlusNothing.html

Then, hopefully, comment on these questions:

Is there a predestined clash between those who see their take on Christ and Scripture and mission and conversion, and those who just want to be left alone? What happens when theocracy, power, Rapture and Revelation come to shape policies undertaken with the resources and energies that spring from a social contract that everyone, Fervent and non-fervent alike, is a part of?

"The Family?" Disturbing.

[fiddlestick]

Tell me that's supposed to be a Dan Brown satire. Please. Lie if you have to.

[Mel Brennan]

Tell me that's supposed to be a Dan Brown satire. Please. Lie if you have to.


Nope. True. And seriously underreported, which is why I've brought it up a couple of different times since the article launched...

[christopher d]

It's like watching a horror movie. You know when they hit the campsite that the kids are in for it, but you're still shocked when the killer shows up.

This stuff is straight out of Starhawk's distopia from her novel The Fifth Sacred Thing. Misogynist theocrats/plutocrats with a self-sanctioned monopoly on the definition of Divinity.

Mel, next time you lay something like this on us, do me a favor and give a warning if I'm going to need to up my anti-anxiety meds before reading, m-kay? :eek:

[Yankee_Blue]

I checked the author's website. Him writing this article is a lot like a sheep doing an unbiased report on the eating habits of wolves...

[Mel Brennan]

...This stuff is straight out of Starhawk's distopia from her novel The Fifth Sacred Thing...

That great unfinished novel, that three-piece trilogy I hope to write, that I talk about with my wife as she rolls her eyes ( :) ), wrestles with the same climatic issue with which this solid work does...

[Riz]

I checked the author's website. Him writing this article is a lot like a sheep doing an unbiased report on the eating habits of wolves...

Can you explain this a bit? I don't know a lot about the author, and the article has seriously disturbed me.

[Yankee_Blue]

Can you explain this a bit? I don't know a lot about the author, and the article has seriously disturbed me.

The author is editor of this website: http://www.killingthebuddha.com/

I get the impression that he walked into the story with the story already in mind. Having said that, the whole thing is pretty bizarre on a lot of levels...

[Riz]

The author is editor of this website: http://www.killingthebuddha.com/

I get the impression that he walked into the story with the story already in mind. Having said that, the whole thing is pretty bizarre on a lot of levels...

I will have to explore that site further when I get a chance, thanks. :)

I will say though that another one of that site's editors, Peter Manseau, has written an absolutely fantastic book - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743249070/qid=1126733344/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-9583212-3055363?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

I cannot recommend it enough.

[Dadinho]

God's Senator (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9178374/gods_senator?rnd=1142140225190&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.1212)

Another article about the Family, except it focuses on Senator Blackwell.

[flowergirl]

God's Senator (http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/9178374/gods_senator?rnd=1142140225190&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.1212)

Another article about the Family, except it focuses on Senator Blackwell.

Actually it was Brownback, but either way, that's some scary $hit.

The last part was the best... You don't have to necessarily believe in his God, as long as you bow down before him...
ah, shades of Germany.. gotta love it.

[Dr. Wankler]

The author is editor of this website: http://www.killingthebuddha.com/

I get the impression that he walked into the story with the story already in mind. Having said that, the whole thing is pretty bizarre on a lot of levels...

What, specifically, is wrong with that website?

[Mel Brennan]

The author is editor of this website: http://www.killingthebuddha.com/

I get the impression that he walked into the story with the story already in mind. Having said that, the whole thing is pretty bizarre on a lot of levels...


It's more than bizzare.

[Nemesis]

That may be one of the scariest, most disturbing things I've ever read in my life. It illuminates quite a lot of things if true....wow.

[Malaga CF fan]

God help the true church with these dominion hungry Pharisees in power.

I read this article when it was initially written back in 2003. It was disturbing to the extent that I know (or knew) a lot of people similar to some of the ones depicted in the article. I think there are two levels of people in this "Family". A lower level of initiates who are truly motivated and sincere believers who trust that they are doing good and God is willing them to do what they are doing (deceived and misguided as they may be). Then there is the upper crust of this group who may or may not realize their endeavors have much more to with the power and dominion of men rather than a divine plan for the world. At some point, they are willing to deceive themselves because to change their minds would mean the end of their life as they know it. So they perpetuate the myth, and live a life that ascribes the political power of this world to Jesus, who said emphatically that his "kingdom was not of this world" (and he rejected the people who wanted him to use his power and charisma to attain political power).

But I also agree with Yankee Blue, this article must be taken with a grain of salt.

[Mel Brennan]

That may be one of the scariest, most disturbing things I've ever read in my life. It illuminates quite a lot of things if true....wow.

I also felt that much begins to make sense if it's true. Crazy, right?