Religious affairs

Among all the hypocrisies of the libertarian wing of the North Carolina Party of Greed, their hypocrisy around protecting young people from being monetized by commercial interests or proselytized by religious interests is most damning. Carrying the banner of free-market fundamentalism, they believe businesses should be free to exploit children with no restrictions - and that it's just fine to reallocate tax dollars into "faith-based" initiatives like religious charter schools. "What's the problem?" they ask. The marketplace will eventually work things out and the best ideas will win in the end.

For my part, the line between church and state is both broad and bright. Though I am personally a regular church-goer and student of all things religious, I strongly object to any instance in which government sanctions, embraces or endorses any aspect of religious practice. Institutional prayer in public meetings, schools, courts, and other government-funded activities should be strictly forbidden - as Jesus specifically recommended.

The United States Marine Corpss has decided to accept Talking Jesus dolls into their Toys for Tots program. Sure hope none of those dolls are gay, though the one in the middle looks pretty buff to me. Lord knows, the NC Baptist Convention would find itself in a swivet if that happened.

Guess what the old guy with the gray beard says when you push his button?

"You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above . . . " (Exodus 20:4-6 RSV)