Steven Anderson, the mainstream, and closets

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Michael

Steven Anderson is a complete and utter nut job. He also holds beliefs which are largely in line with mainstream Christianity (especially the Christianity prevalent in Maine): he hates da gays, Obama, and common sense. He’s most recently known for praying that Obama would die of brain cancer. This isn’t much different from Limbaugh hoping for Obama’s failure. They both want disaster for the country if it proves their ideology. The only distinction to be made is that Anderson wants Obama to die naturally sooner than Limbaugh. They still both think the president will be judged by some tiny-minded, local god and sent to hell for not loving giant corporations and the wealthy.

In the above link is a list of 10 Anderson quotes. This one especially stood out to me.

“Because of years and years of looking at and touching scores of women inappropriately, the male gynecologist no doubt has a seared conscience and a perverted mind… Any doctor that looks upon and touches a woman’s private parts in his office “hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Sir, if you let your wife go to a male gynecologist, you need to get right with God.”

This pretty solidly represents the sexually immature views wrought by Christianity. From Ashcroft wanting to cover the breast of Lady Justice to morons pushing for abstinence-only sex education, Christians have a twisted view of sexuality. Their religion really harms their perspective. It’s unfortunate so many of them can never be healthy adults in regards to sex.

But the silliness of Christians doesn’t end with sexuality.

“If music without drums, syncopation, or a rock beat is acceptable music, then “Yesterday” by the Beatles would be suitable for a Christian. This song has no drums, syncopation, or rock n roll beat – so what’s wrong with it? It doesn’t talk about drugs, illicit behavior, or violence – so what’s wrong with it? What’s wrong with it is the source. It was written by God-hating communist devils. Rock n roll music was pioneered by ungodly sinners like Little Richard, a sodomite filthy animal, and Ray Charles, a heroin addict. The source of rock n roll music is ungodly.”

This is basically a version of the abusive ad hominen attack. It is not valid. Ignoring the inaccurate attacks on The Beatles, music is wide open for interpretation by the listener. What’s more, individual songs reflect different ideas. It is plain stupid to dismiss an entire group’s work on the basis of what some of their art says – or what they say outside their art.

And of course, Christians’ opinions on other media is horribly skewed.

“God, please just help it to be real to us. Help us to realize that David Letterman and Jay Leno just aren’t that funny. The sitcoms and the TV shows and the movies just aren’t that cool. The rock music just isn’t that great anymore when we realize that there is a far greater purpose for our lives; to win souls to Jesus Christ.”

Okay, I have to give Anderson a little leeway. Letterman and Leno aren’t that funny. But I have no idea why he’s so deluded as to think that there’s hardly anything redeemable about television or even movies. Oh, hang on. It’s the Jesus thing again. That ugly little cretin that lacks in any real beauty at all.

Anderson does finally say something that sounds sensible. Unfortunately, he would never know where the sense was.

“And this is what thought entered mind. I thought to myself… I looked over at the closet and I thought to myself, “What if I were locked in that closet for 100 years, nothing to do, nothing to see, the closet is dark.” … And then I thought, “What if you never get out of that closet.” That would be awful, wouldn’t it, just locked in a closet forever and you knew you were never going to get out.”

Yes, wouldn’t be awful if a person was locked in a closet, all alone, even alienated. And wouldn’t it be worse if a bunch of immoral bigots forced a group of people in their own, little closets.

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Bragging about stupidity

Posted on September 6, 2009 by Michael

Steven Anderson is some crazy, religious windbag. That doesn’t really narrow the field, I know, but his claim to fame is publicly praying for Obama’s death by natural causes.

But that’s not what’s interesting about him. That belief sets him apart from much of mainstream Christianity (though the Bible and theology offer no methods to internally condemn his interpretation of God’s will). What’s interesting is what holds him close to the mainstream Bible thumpers. Of course there are the usual positions: he hates abortion, liberalism (which is just reality), and – of course – da gays. But then there’s this subtle piece that gets ignored far too much.

Pastor Anderson holds no college degree but has well over 100 chapters of the Bible committed to memory, including almost half of the New Testament.

Today, most Baptist churches are started by Bible Colleges. However, the Bible makes it clear that the church is the pillar and ground of the truth, not a school. Faithful Word Baptist Church is a totally independent Baptist church, and Pastor Anderson was sent out by a totally independent Baptist church to start it the old-fashioned way by knocking doors and winning souls to Christ. This is the scriptural method.

There isn’t really much reason to talk about not having a college degree. There shouldn’t be any pride in that. But for Christians and conservatives, it’s a point on which they puff their chests. Anderson is actually bragging about having no degree. He’s proud that he’s doing it “the old-fashioned way”, which is through willful ignorance. This should be roundly condemned.

Being proud of having a lack of education or feeling a sense of victory at criticizing intelligent people for using big, scary, intelligent words is why people like Larry the Cable Guy have been successful. (It certainly isn’t because he’s funny.) But this allegiance to stupidity is a blight on U.S. politics, too. Sarah Palin almost got elected to a national office. She’s one of the most genuinely stupid people to be given a voice. Her failure to think critically and to keep up with the clearly smarter people on the left is what lifted her up so high. Her simplicity appealed to the high number of simple people in the U.S. Bobby Jindal will probably become a big star for the same reason soon.

It’s pride in stupidity that keeps the idea that faith is a virtue alive. It’s pathetic.

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