The following article has been contributed by Steve Richards.
***The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions of SHTF Plan or its authors.***
I’ve been a fan of Glenn Beck for the past couple of years. However, since the health care bill was passed basically he’s been saying:
» Pray
» Protest without violence.
» Vote them out of office.
Okay, do it. Especially pray. That’s going to help a whole lot.
Hell, it sounds like he has run out of ideas. Today he was indicating that God or the spirit had lead him in what he had to say. Where have we heard that before? Is this the same God who:
1) Led Ted Haggard to have homosexual relations while he preached against them?
2) Talked directly to Richard Roberts as he had people lay hands on their TV’s for healing while he scammed and skimmed funds for personal and political pay-off’s?
3) Told the now deceased Oral Roberts he would call him home unless he raised millions for his university and ministry? And of course, back in ’87 Richard claimed he saw his daddy raise a child from the dead. Must have been some kind of Viagra substitute to get that little head to finally come up as Viagra wasn’t invented till 1998.
4) Led Jimmy Swaggart (the crying preacher) to be caught with whores (prostitutes) twice… but cried: “I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God’s forgiveness.” Yep… that and crocodile tears worked even as he was caught the 2nd time.
5) Led twisted-mouth Jim Bakker to have his affair with Jessica Hahn and his crooked fund raising activities landed his butt in prison.
6) Inspired Tony Alamo of the Tony Alamo Ministries to transport minors across state lines for sexual purposes (he was convicted in July of ’09 and received 175 years).
Is this the same God who:
1) Protected any of the Christians praying in towers 1 & 2 in the WTC on 9/11?
2) Helped the 1,517 Christians (or mostly Christians) on the Titanic who perished?
3) Who watched while the Jap’s bombed Pearl Harbor or protected our men at Iwo Jima (6,821 dead) and Okinawa (12,513 dead)?
4) Who let 33,963 people die in vehicle crashes in 2009? Many of them were Christian.
5) Who let little Johnny get run over by a garbage truck this morning chasing his ball?
Enough already. You get the idea. And, that’s the point. When Glenn Beck or anybody else runs out of ideas they TURN TO GOD. But God (any God) doesn’t help!
Yeah, yeah… I know the Christian freaks will jump all over me for telling the truth… but you can pray to God all day long and for 6 months of Sundays and he won’t answer.
Fact: If someone is breaking into your house with intent to rob and kill you, praying to God or Jesus or Mohammad or Buddha won’t save you. However, your pistol or shotgun may help take care of that punk
Fact: If you’re driving too damn fast in the rain and your car begins to slide at 70 mph across lanes into on coming traffic, saying an instant prayer in the name of Jesus won’t help you. Better cross your fingers and toes and HOPE that big trucker is able to slam on his brakes before he plows into you. You deserved to die because you were too arrogant (and stupid) to slow the hell down!!
Fact: If you’re dumb enough to strike a match over your BBQ using a quart of high-octane gasoline you deserve to have your face melted off and there’s no God in any Universe (whether parallel or not) who will save you!
Bottom line: When ancient Egypt fell all their God’s didn’t help them. Neither did any God help the Persians or Greeks or the numerous God’s of the Romans. When Alaric the Goth took Rome in 410 all the Gods of the Romans couldn’t save that crumbling empire. In World War I and World War II a German prayed to Jesus to protect him from the Allied soldiers while the Allied soldiers prayed to Jesus to protect them from the Germans. God didn’t care. It was luck and keeping one’s head down.
You, me, all of us who are intelligent (or half-smart as gramp’s use to say), can see the writing on the wall just as Nebuchadnezzer did. Our American Empire is falling. We are teetering on the brink RIGHT NOW! And, when Glenn Beck and others have only God and prayer to save us… not only has HE run out of ideas and a clear, cohesive plan to save the Republic… people who follow this line are just willing sheep who have given up. He lost. He’s finished, and he knows it.
Think people! How did we win this Republic in the first place? How have we won anything in the past? Whether it was a war or a new invention or starting a business? It sure wasn’t by sitting on our butts and whining about it over a slice of pizza and a beer. It wasn’t by using the words: “I HOPE things will turn out okay†or “I’ll PRAY about it,†or “I’ll LEAVE IT to the next guy.†YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED AND DO YOUR PART. Me? My military service notwithstanding, even as a Boy Scout I took an oath to uphold the Constitution.
Just for enlightenment, below is a partial list of the major Roman Gods taken from the Wikipedia. There were 12 main God’s (the Dii Consentes), but personally I like ‘ol Bacchus. 🙂
» Apollo – god of the sun, poetry, music, and oracles, and a Dii Consentes
» Bona Dea – goddess of fertility, healing, virginity, and women. Also known as Fauna
» Bacchus – god of wine, sensual pleasures, and truth, not considered a Dii Consentes by the Romans
» Carmenta – goddess of childbirth and prophecy, and assigned a flamen minor. The leader of the Camenae.
» Ceres – goddess of the harvest and mother of Proserpina, and a Dii Consentes, and assigned a flamen minor
» Cybele – earth mother
» Diana – goddess of the hunt, the moon, virginity, and childbirth, twin sister of Apollo and a Dii Consentes
» Flora – goddess of flowers, and assigned a flamen minor
» Fortuna – goddess of fortune
» Janus – two-headed god of beginnings and endings and of doors
» Juno – Queen of the Gods and goddess of matrimony, and a Dii Consentes
» Jupiter – King of the Gods and the storm, air, and sky god, father of Venus, and a Dii Consentes, and assigned a flamen maior
» Mars – god of war and father of Romulus, the founder of Rome, lover of Venus, and a Dii Consentes, and assigned a flamen Maior
» Mercury – messenger of the gods and bearer of souls to the underworld, and a Dii Consentes(Hermes)
» Minerva – goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, and a Dii Consentes
» Neptune – god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses, and a Dii Consentes
» Ops – goddess of plenty
» Pluto – Pluto a name given to him by the Romans from Greek myths, he is the King of the Dead, and of the underworld.
» Pomona – goddess of fruit trees, and assigned a flamen minor.
» Portunes – god of keys, doors, and livestock, he was assigned a flamen minor.
» Proserpina – Queen of the Dead and a grain-goddess
» Quirinus – Romulus, the founder of Rome, was deified as Quirinus after his death. Quirinus was a war god and a god of the Roman people and state, and was assigned a flamen maior.
» Saturn – a titan, god of harvest and agriculture, the father of Jupiter, Neptune, Juno, and Pluto
» Uranus – god of the sky before Jupiter. Based on the Greek Ouranos.
» Venus – goddess of love and beauty, mother of the hero Aeneas, and a Dii Consentes
» Vesta – goddess of the hearth and the Roman state, and a Dii Consentes
» Volturnus – god of water, was assigned a flamen minor.
» Vulcan – god of the forge, fire, and blacksmiths, husband to Venus, and a Dii Consentes, and assigned a flamen minor
This article has been contributed by Steve Richards.
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What a stupid article – lets splinter the cause.
Is the point of the article that God doesn’t exist or help because bad things happen to people?
There is only ONE TRUE GOD. You are right sometimes, our prayers dont get answered. Thats because as believers its his will not our will. God sees beyond the visible. In the Bible Paul says “to die is gain”. Its not all about this life. Death is an inevitable consequence of sin. This life is only to prepare you for eternity. Hopefully with God and not in hell.
By the way, I agree with Glen Beck! There was no economic solution or fix it for Soddom and Gemorrah!
Your probably smarter than you write.
It’s spelled out in the 10 Commandments, do not use God’s name in vain, and that means for any reason we humans would come up with be it social, political, economic, or otherwise.   No one is above God’s law.  Beck needs to put a can on it.Â
I am surprised you published this here–this guy’s ignorance is obvious and his attitude is hateful. I know this is not a christian website but I feel he is totally out of line and offers NOTHING to the types of discussions that go on here
you’re way off on this one… you seem to be discounting why most people turn to faith in the first place–to find the strength to face the fact that johnny just got hit by a truck, or that there has been and is ethnic cleansing, or to calm their nerves when leveling their shotgun at an intruder. were you running out of ideas at the end? is that why all the Greek Gods were included?
Okay then, bookmark removed. Bye now.
I think God respects an open rejecter/unbeliever more then all those who pretend they have a relationship with God but do not. Â I also think that there are times when judgement happens, and no prayer is going to stop it at that point.
But as for you, Steve Richards, we will see if prayer to the living God will have any effect on your eternal destiny or not. Â It is my prayer that you will be drawn to the real and living God, Jesus Christ, and repent of your unbelief and accept Him as your God.
We are not told the answer to everything, but I KNOW and I HAVE SEEN personally that God does answer prayer. Â Not always the way we want or in our timing, but the answers do come, and events are changed changed for the better (not all). Â Evil still does happen, innocents are still destroyed, corrupt men and women still seem to go unpunished. Â It is OK to wrestle with those issues, but don’t give up on God. Â
Ironically, the (clearly ax-grinding) author makes reference to Nabuchodonosor — a figure from…the Bible. Who wrote on the wall, so the king could read it? Uh, God. God expects us to do our part; He helps those who help themselves, as the saying goes.  This poor fella is simply frustrated. No surprise. Godspeed 🙂
George Carlin on religion:
Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religionhas actually convinced people that there’s an invisible man …
Well, that was a waste of time – mine for reading it, yours for publishing it, and Steve’s for writing it. SHTF has great content and insight, usually.
What a waste. The author and/or Mac could have said something useful. This is just a rant – not what the readership of SHTF Plan expects.
Steve,
What a wonderful piece of irony. Thank you for sharing it. In your effort to demonstrate that God is just self delusion, you demonstrate that you your self are deluded. You ask â€Is this the same God who… and then list 6 examples that demonstrate that it is indeed not the same God. The examples you site were actually men following your god, (‘ol Bacchus) not the God they claimed to be following. Then you further your “argument†by trying to demonstrate that God is powerless (or non existent) because suffering occurs or because he allows humanity free will to choose evil.
The real irony in this piece other than the nonsensical arguments is that you do believe in a god. And it is your belief that is indeed the problem. Your belief is actually in the god of self. You believe that if there is a god it is you. You came into this when YOU decided that those incidents were somehow evidence that prayer doesn’t work. YOU also have determined in your unending wisdom that YOU determine what is truth, and that praying for 6 months won’t work either. Your evidence is to quote (the REAL) God with you YOUR “facts†which basically prove what God said long ago; “God will not be mocked, you reap what you sow.†Curious strategy and not very persuasive.
Lastly (if you still reading) is the best little irony of the piece. Your self worship and elevation of self reliance to the level of godhood is quite troubling in that you are evidently fairly powerless and  lacking in any ideas. The true illuminating advice and solution of “YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED AND DO YOUR PART.†(I assume the all caps was because you were using YOUR god voice) doesn’t sound very new. It is actually quite underwhelming considering all the work you did to demonstrate that you are god. Your other advice of military service, boy scouts and upholding the Constitution were not really all that novel as new solutions either (I hope this doesn’t effect your god status in your own mind)
One last thing, since the scripture of your godhood appears to be the Constitution, it is notable that your scripture and those who wrote it ascribed to a particular world view. (since you have Wiki as a book mark you might want to look “world view†up and see if you and identify yours , hint Human will be in the word) The writers of your scripture, made assumptions about; a humans value, where human rights come from, what justice is, and fair economics. This word view derived from a document which purports itself to be the Word of God. While trying (horribly ineffectively) to discredit God, you pay tribute to what might arguably be the masterpiece document of a government constructed on the assumptions of a Western Biblical Judeo-Christian world view. That is some sweet irony.
You and those of your religion (self worship and self reliance) are trying to replace those basic assumptions with “THINK†and we are reaping the rewards of such a direction. Human rules, human ethics, humans deciding who should live or not, economics of greed, rejection of consequences for actions all come the rejection of those much older assumptions. Here is my suggestion for you as a test,  having declared yourself to be god, go ahead and change this world on your own power. Please let us know how it works out.
As for me, I will pray for you and all of those who think humanity can pull itself up by its bootstraps and I will look to live a life based on how God has told us to live. Â It actually works every time it is tried.
For the record organized religion, for the most part, is agenda driven and full of corruption, greed, hypocrisy, deceit, and an inordinate lust for power and control. Do not make the mistake of confusing this man made institution with Christianity and the one true God whom it represents.
Comments…..Praying to God is a form of elightenment that leads to proper action and foresight which leads to saving our selves from the evil that resides in everyone of us and future harm. If you lived in the days of Noah you can pray all you want but if you don’t participate in building the boat but mock intead you’re going to drown.
Ancient Egypt fell because they refused to believe in the God of Moses, the botton line is this Guy is ignorant of true religion. God doesn’t save anyone by his mere existence, but through prayer he guides us and enlightens us that we may act righteously towards our fellow man refrain from vice, and save ourselves in the present and future.
No doubt most people only turn to God 0nly in times of adversity, like the movie the Titanic, when the ship was sailing smoothly everone was partying forgetting God, but when SHTF everyone remembered God and started to pray. I am sure if the ship would have made it to shore they would forget again.
“We don not destroy a nation prior to sending them a messenger” God is just, and ignorance is no execuse, for submission is a natural instinct, as there is no vaccum in nature, if you don’t submit to God you will to something else. Francis bacon divided the idols of today into four, Idols of the tribe, den, market place,thearter. Which on is yours?
Wow, what a hateful and non-productive waste of everyone’s time. Â Not to mention the fact that if he had watched Beck recently, he’s been covering solutions/suggestions specifically. Â Again, as I’ve said before, I just don’t get the religion bashing… seems like a waste of time. Â As for praying for what you want and not getting it, or as for bad things happening to good people, clearly anyone with any understanding of anything at all realizes that free people have free will to do as they choose. Â Unsuspecting and undeserving folks can and will be impacted by other people’s decisions.
Not sure why I didn’t just delete this and not post it… but here it is.
Praying or not praying. Believing or not believing. You will get an answer either way. Yes or No. If its yes then it is gods will. If its no then its not gods will. works either way.
“you can pray to God all day long … and he won’t answer”
That’s not scientific. How can you be sure unless you pray to each and every God? How about starting with this list:
Agdistis,Ah Puch,Ahura Mazda,Alberich,Amaterasu,An
Anansi,Anat,Andvari,Anshar,Anu,Aphrodite,Apollo,Apsu,
Ares,Artemis,Asclepius,Athena,Athirat,Athtart,Atlas,Baal
Ba Xian,Bacchus,Balder,Bast,Bellona,Bergelmir,Bes,Bixia Yuanjin,
Bragi,Brigit…
Comments…..I would say I feel sorry for Steve because he hasn’t found true peace within himself, but you know we all have the opportunity to sail our own boat, His is just shipwreaked on the edge of hell. The God I serve does answer prayers, everytime, it’s just sometimes those answers aren’t exactly to our pleasing.
“Death is an inevitable consequence of sin.”
Sin is the #1 cause of death according to the surgeon general.
“I think God respects an open rejecter/unbeliever more then all those who pretend they have a relationship with God but do not.”
I think that’s a large assumption, but I think I know what you’re trying to say. The reality is the God of Scriptures is just and cannot give life to those who are unrighteous. Only those who belong to Christ Jesus will be counted as righteous.
“For the record organized religion, for the most part, is agenda driven and full of corruption, greed, hypocrisy, deceit, and an inordinate lust for power and control. Do not make the mistake of confusing this man made institution with Christianity and the one true God whom it represents.”
Very well put.
I’m a Christ follower myself, but I don’t get mad at a post like this. I’m well aware that there are plenty out there who reject God. I know what I believe. If you don’t believe the same thing, well ok, no worries. Instead of yelling about it, let’s pray for the author of this post. I’m sure he wouldn’t object to having others pray FOR him.
Thx
“Only those who belong to Christ Jesus will be counted as righteous.”
“If you don’t believe the same thing, well ok, no worries”
So, if your child grows up to worship Zeus, then you think he is unrighteous and will writhe in hell fire eternally. But, no worries.
Comments…..Jerusalem is referenced in the Old and New Testament more than 600 times. Not once, nada, in the Koran. The Muslims have no right to one inch of Jerusalem. Jesus is returning to the Jerusalem of Israel, not to the Jerusalem of some somemoon god cult tribe,
Even Glen Beck knows this.
Comments….. Wow! This article is way beneath the normally great articles on this site. How did this one slip by?Â
What a dumb*ss.
Glenn Beck has a h*ll of a lot more to say the “just pray”. Why don’t you try listening to him?
I think you’ll be finished long before Beck.
We have only the historical facts that about 2000 years ago, a guy named jesus was executed. Â His death was not overly horrendous, or even remarkable in any way, for the time. Â Upwards of 100 other criminals may have been executed that same week. Â Beyond that, there is no proof whatsoever of any of it. Â There is no god, and there never was.
Religion serves two purposes. Â It soothes weak people by making them feel that their lives aren’t all that short after all (Wait! there’s more!, (just like on Ronco)), and it keeps poor people from killing rich people with an empty promise (you’ll get a way bigger reward AFTER you die, don’t worry about those people who keep ripping you off, they’re going to hell), the key is, you have to DIE first, then you get the rewards…….
Jonny V,
-You are forgetting to mention the hundreds of prophecies that Jesus fulfilled from the old Testament! Do you know what the odds of Christ fulfilling all these Old Testament prophecies written by different people throughout different times was? like a zillion to one! But they were fullfilled! Jesus is coming back soon as you will find out!
I. THE ACTUAL PROPHECIES
A. Concerning His Birth
1. Born of the seed of woman (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:20)
2. Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18, 24, 25)
3. Son of God (Psalm 2:7; Matthew 3:17)
4. Seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18; Matthew 1:1; Galatians 3:16) Here it is determined that the Messiah would be a Jewish descendant.
5. Son of Isaac (Genesis 21:12; Luke 3:23,34) Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Now God eliminates one half of the lineage of Isaac.
6. Son of Jacob (Numbers 24:17; Luke 3:23,34) Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. Now God eliminates one half of the lineage of Isaac.
7. Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23,33) Jacob had twelve sons and each became a tribe of the Hebrew nation. Now God eliminates eleven-twelfths of the lineage of Jacob.
8. Family line of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1; Luke 3:23,32) Now God narrows it down even further by picking one family line out of the tribe of Judah.
9. House of David (Jeremiah 23:5; Luke 3:23,31) Jesse had at least eight sons (I Samuel 16:10,11). Now God eliminates all of Jesse’s sons except one, David.
10. Born at Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1) Now God eliminates all the cities in the world except one, Bethlehem.
11. Presented with gifts (Psalm 72:10; Isaiah 60:6; Matthew 2:1,11)
12. Herod kills children (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16)
B. Concerning His Nature
13. His Pre-Existence (Micah 5:2; Colossians 1:17; John 1:1)
14. He shall be called Lord (Psalm 110:1; Luke 20:41-44)
15. He shall be called Immanuel (“God with us”) (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
16. Shall be a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:18; Matthew 21:11)
17. Shall be a priest (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:5,6)
18. Shall be a judge (Isaiah 33:22; John 5:30)
19. Shall be a king (Isaiah 33:22; Matthew 27:37)
20. Special anointment of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16,17)
21. He zeal for God (Psalm 69:9; John 2:15-17)
C. Concerning His Ministry
22. Preceded by a messenger (Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:1,2)
23. Ministry to begin in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1,2; Matthew 4:12,13,17)
24. Ministry of miracles (Isaiah 35:5, 6a; Matthew 9:35)
25. Teacher of parables (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34)
26. He was to enter the temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12)
27. He was to enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:35,36,37a)
28. A “Stone Of Stumbling” to the Jewish nation (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
29. “Light” to the Gentiles (Isaiah 60:3; 49:6; Acts 13:47,48a)
D. Concerning Events After His Burial
30. His resurrection (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31)
31. His ascension (Psalm 68:18a; Acts 1:9)
32. Seated at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)
E. Prophecies Fulfilled In One Day
The following 29 prophecies from the Old Testament, which speak of the betrayal, trial, death and burial of Jesus, were spoken at various times by many different voices during the five centuries from 1000-500 BC, and yet all of them were literally fulfilled in one twenty-four hour period of time in Jesus’ life.
33. Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Matthew 10:4)
34. Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15)
35. Money to be thrown down in God’s house (Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:5a)
36. Price given for potter’s filed (Zechariah 11:13b; Matthew 27:7)
In the previous four prophecies we find in both prophecy and fulfillment the following:
1. Betrayed
2. By a friend
3. For 30 pieces of silver (not 29)
4. Silver (not gold)
5. Thrown down (not placed)
6. In God’s house
7. Money used to buy potter’s field
37. Forsaken by His disciples (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:50)
38. Accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-61)
39. Mute before accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-19)
40. Wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:26)
41. Smitten and spit upon (Isaiah 50:6; Micah 5:1; Matthew 26:67)
42. Mocked (Psalm 22:7,8; Matthew 27:31)
43. Fell under the cross (Psalm 109:24; John 19:17; Luke 23:26)
44. Hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33)
45. Crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38)
46. Made intercession for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34)
47. Rejected by his own people (Isaiah 53:3; John 7:5,48)
48. Hated without a cause (Psalm 69:4; John 15:25)
49. Friends stood afar off (Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:49)
50. People shook their heads (Psalm 109:25; Matthew 27:39)
51. Stared upon (Psalm 22:17; Luke 23:35)
52. Garments parted and lots cast (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23,24)
53. Suffered thirst (Pslam 69:21; John 19:28)
54. Gall and vinegar offered Him (Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34)
55. His forsaken cry (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46)
56. Committed Himself to God (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46)
57. His bones not broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33)
58. His heart broken (Psalm 22:14; John 19:34) The blood and water which came from Jesus’ pierced side are evidences that the heart had literally burst.
59. His side pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34)
60. Darkness over the land (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45)
61. Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
I can see that you’ve spent a lot of time working on this. Â Beyond lines 1 and 7 of part A however, I don’t think you have anything. Â If you had some evidence or proof that did NOT originate within the bible, I would be willing to extend credit and take a look. Â I’d even admit if I was wrong. Â The problem with christianity is that the whole argument is structured so as to be “self-supporting” that is, there is no outside evidence. Â We have Pilates’ name inscribed in a mosaic in Cesarea, but beyond that, there just is no evidence. Â Sorry.
Wow…this stirred up the hornets’ nest…
Although I was born and raised raised in a pretty religious family, I do think Richards is raising a valid point – but he is definitely oversimplifying Beck’s comments.
His valid point, IMO, is that you should really try to avoid getting to the point in any situation where your only “solution” is to pray. “We” (the people of the U.S.) are not at that point yet – there are real world, common sense solutions to our problems. We can all help bring these solutions to fruition – the first thing that needs to happen is to vote every single corrupt, two-face, S.O.B. out of office - on BOTH sides of the aisle.
This is probably inferring too much from Richards comments, but his possible valid point reminds me of one of the stories I used to hear during homilies…
The one that was about the farmer/rancher who knew a flood was coming? I’m probably going to butcher it, but oh well…
The gist was that the farmer refused to leave his land because he was confident God would save him because he prayed and was a righteous person, etc.
Well, just before the waters came, a friend or someone drove by his place in a truck and asked him if he wanted a ride to a safe place. The farmer refused – and told the driver something to the effect of “God will save me…”
After the waters came and started to get pretty deep, the farmer was up on the roof of his car (or something), a boat of some sort came by and the people on the boat asked the farmer if he wanted a ride out of there. Again, the farmer refused and claimed that God would save him, etc.
The water continued to rise. The farmer took refuge on the roof of his house. Then, a helicopter flew by. People on the helicopter dropped a rope ladder so the farmer could climb up and be flown to safety – once again, the farmer refused, and waved the helicopter away…
Well, it didn’t turn out well for the farmer – he drowned in the flood. When he got to heaven, the first thing he did was to ask God how he could have not have saved him or offered any help…
God’s reply – “Who do you think sent that truck, the boat, and the helicopter?”
As I said before, although I think Richards is possibly making a valid point, I’m pretty sure that Glenn Beck would have hopped in the truck, the boat, or the helicopter.
Comments…..In the days of Jesus we know there was at least three wise men, after reading most of these posts it seems wise men have become extinct.
Thanks for posting this hateful anti-Christian screed. You have just motivated me to take your blog off my feed reader.
Wow, one article that has a go at your “faith” and you’re gonna pack up your bat and ball and go home. I thought religion was supposed to teach tolerance?
Johhny V is right: christianity is a 2000 year old superstition to rational people. No more silly than any other superstition, but irrational nonetheless.
You have believed what you wanted to believe. You have faith. It  is called by many names, one of them being, Secular Humanism. You believe in yourself, in what you imagine to be reality. The God I believe in is the only Lord and giver of life, Jesus Christ. He has always answered my prayers. I don’t need miracles to validate His reality. However, here’s a miracle I’ll tell you about  that happened to me. Whether you believe me or not, I don’t care.  I was driving my car and my young son fell out of the car. This happened before we had safety belts in cars, and you most likely were not even born yet. I was driving 30 to 40mph. I was tremendously overcome with fear when it happened. No other way to say it than to say I prayed with all my heart, soul, and being that  my son would be alright. I knew I had no other hope at this point. My son didn’t have a scratch on him, not a skinned leg, not one bruise or bump. I had no control over the situation. We have no control personally over some of the events of our lives. Why was my son spared? I believe because God hears the prayers of those who believe in Him and are humble enough to bend their stiff knees and pray. You want to make up answers for your questions but you don’t want the truth. The Bible will answer every question you have and then some you didn’t ask. It may not be what you want to hear, but if you want truth…it’s the only source of truth in the world.Â
I’m interested in reading SHTF for the intelligent articles and input of other Americans that love our country. I apologize that I probably shouldn’t have made any comments about something that doesn’t belong on SHTF web page.
I too am removing your site from my feeds. Will check in periodically for material of value.Â
I am now more stupid for having read this article.
Great job Tony.
Thank all of you for your comments… except the crybaby who said he was going to cancel his (unpaid) subscription. Sounds like the baby who pouts then runs home to mommy when things don’t go his way.
Thanks also to Mac for letting me post. This is what freedom of speech is about. Freedom of speech is not supposed to please everybody. Furthermore, religion and government are almost inseparable. But that’s a whole different topic.
Let me be clear about a few things:
I like Glenn Beck and I listen to Glenn Beck. However, when Glenn Beck or anybody else has to resort to prayer as the Number 1 methodology for bringing this republic back under the Constitution, I strongly feel they have run out of ideas. To expand on that, Glenn Beck, above all else, is in the ENTERTAINMENT business. Furthermore, he realizes his base is in people who call themselves Christians. And, to continue to appeal to this base, he (like ministers who wish to keep their flocks coming to church or viewing their programs on TV) will and must invoke GOD. He better not even suggest people take up arms against the government or his butt would be put in jail so fast he wouldn’t have time to put his chalk down.
Secondly, how do the disgruntled take back their government? This list is not in order of how it should happen but is simply a list of how it could happen.
a) Pray: As I tried to show above in my so-called “rant†(as one commenter posted)… this does absolutely no good. Prayer may make you feel good and you may get goose bumps all over but it won’t do a damn thing to change the government. You can pray at the foot of the Washington Monument with all the fervor in your heart but the government leaders aren’t listening.
b) Vote ‘em all out: Yes! This is this is an excellent solution but who are you going to vote for to replace the jerks in office? Have you got a list of fresh faces you support? Do you want to replace the Democrats with the Republicans? We’ve got a two-party system folks but only one party is really in office (as we’re fed the same crap by both parties). And, over 90% of the SAME people keep getting reelected. We need a whole new party (3rd Party) and over 90% new faces.
c) A new party?: Start a new party or register the Tea Party as a 3rd choice. Another good idea. However, the Republicans are trying their best to co-opt the tea party movement which is a shame. McCain, Palin, etc., are all useless and the same run-of-the-mill type of politician we keep getting. Ron Paul is the only one I voted for. We do need a new party and new, honest faces who believe in the Constitution and will stand up for it.
d) March: Have a million or more man/woman march on Washington D.C. and hold up signs and whine and bitch? Oh, it’ll get a lot of play on Fox News and maybe some on CNN and the other mainstream media but it won’t do any good. The President and Congress aren’t listening.
e) Kill ‘em all ‘n let God sort ‘em out?: In Tom Clancy’s ’94 novel “Debt of Honor,†a JAL pilot flies a fully fueled 747 into the Capital during a joint session of Congress. Not only did it take out the President, but all of Congress, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court and the Joint Chief’s of Staff. Now that’s an interesting way of changing government in one fell swoop. Know any of your neighbors running around in his camo’s who’s got the knowledge and cojones to do that? I think not. The Air Force would shoot him down damn quick before he even got close. This may have been an interesting conclusion to a novel in 1994 – but after 9/11 it ain’t gonna happen folks. I dunno… on 2nd thought, paint the plane in camo and fly in listening to Jim Morrison?
f) Force of arms: Do what Jefferson indicated and find some leader, support him, pick up guns and head to Washington D.C. and take it by force? I want to be clear – I don’t advocate that.
However, some do advocate that. The trouble with this method is that those who advocate violence usually get it but not how they wanted it! What if a leader such as Hitler were picked? This is essentially how he came to power. Secondly, the government is watching. Our emails are monitored, phone calls, faxes, camera’s everywhere, your computer’s IP address and what websites you visit can be monitored, most of your purchases are aggregated except those via cash; your cable TV or satellite TV provider even knows what programs you watch. And, your guns are probably registered.
Furthermore, if any so-called person wanting to be a leader and who advocates change of government by force should stick his head up – it’ll be pounded down damn quick. And that includes any supporters. Yep, I imagine a million people marching on Washington D.C. with guns at the ready could change things but that’s not going to happen.
To have our Revolution our Founding Fathers had to get a militia/army organized. They even had secret meetings setting up the organization. It couldn’t be done today. Similarly, during the Civil War both sides had to get organized. Think this could happen today? Nope. An organized uprising would be quashed before it even got half-assed organized.
If TSHTF and there is total collapse then all bets are off. In a Mad Max type scenario there will be hell to pay and no pitch hot!
Last thing on religion. The Drudge Report yesterday was reporting that Muslims were threatening to kill the producers of South Park because they had Mohammad dressed up in a bear costume. I bring this up because Christians have gone out and killed abortion doctors and done other atrocities in the name of Jesus. The Spanish Inquisition, with some of the most horrible tortures ever imagined and perpetuated, were also done in the name of Jesus. Buddhist monks pour gasoline on themselves and others and immolate themselves.
Ya think Buddha was listening? And, Mohammad is just as dead as the Christ. None of these so-called God’s or son’s of God can help. When the Christians were thrown to the lions in the Roman Coliseum Jesus didn’t help them and I could make hundreds of other examples about not only the Christian religion but all others.
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Point is, believe what you want. I’ve been around this planet more than 4 times. I’ve studied other cultures and religions. And, I’ve come to one conclusion. No matter what religion one believes in, if I don’t believe in it, then I’m an unworthy unbeliever. Some kind of a heathen or infidel. If I bash the Buddhist religion in certain countries I’d be thrown to the dogs. If I bash the Muslim religion I’ll be threatened with death or maybe even killed. If I disagree with Christians I’ll be inundated with invective and maybe even threatened with death (it has happened to me a couple of times).
When I read the overwhelming response to my article by the Christians on this ‘blog… I realized just how mean a lot of them really are. But stone me in the name of Christ and it would be okay… right? Can’t do that so narrow-minded Christians say they are going to run away from this ‘Blog and delist from feeds?
Well, so much for freedom of thought and religion eh?
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Comments…..Steve, you and everybody else on this post is ignorant of religion as you are of politics.
1.First of all it doesn’t matter what party or which president holds office, what matters is understanding the invisible force behind the scenes that pulls their strings and everybody else before them. When you have elections you’re not changing anything ,all you’re doing is replacing the puppets, while the same people continue running the show. More imprtant than knowing thy self is knowing your enemy.
2. Travelling the world obviously didn’t help you any, for after seeing all the different creeds you would figure it out and find unity and the oness of God.For example in the city where I live, there is a street that has 95 churches all of them have different denominations written on the signage in front, does that mean Christ brough 95 different forms of Christianity. No of course not one message proclaiming the oness of God.
3. As for the Christians or Muslims that threaten to kill you, they are not true believers. Scripture clearly states there is no compulsion in religion, for those who believe it is for their benefit and those who don’t to their detrement.So I really don’t care what you believe for it is you who will pay the price at the end, or reap the benefits. As for violent reactions to a religious comment,”If the ignorant address you salute them with peace and move on”.
4. I agree with you on the point that we’re alaways watched and monitored through the different forms of media, phones internet,tv. etc. So what, speak the truth regardless, even if it means losing your life, for you haven’t learned to live till you accept the fact that you’re going to die, only the guilty fear death.
5. Some will say let’s pray for Steve so God will guide him, what good is that, if Steve chooses not to believe.
Great post Steve R.!!!
Wow. Very few rational people in this world. Why do you need God to be a good person? Are all of you that scare of dying? If it gives you comfort so be it, but recognize comfort for what it is.Â
I will live by my heart, not by the words ancient men.Â
If there is no God than I’m just silly for believing in Him but no better or worse than you. However, if there is a God, I’m saved and you are royally screwed (for eternity). You don’t have to be even half smart to figure out these odds! Gamble wisely my friend….
Steve,
Glad you are so happy to have the chance to blow of steam. Your posts have surely been an interesting study.
If people say…pray, don’t pick up arms and vote them out…they’re stupid fools who believe in a rock somewhere.
If people (Christians) answer you back in the same tone and with the same substance that you, yourself put out on your first post, they are ‘mean’.Â
You offer no solutions yourself other than to complain about what others believe in or are trying to do. That approach has no teeth or substance. Anyone can have words or criticize. Perhaps if you put your plan out, people might actually have some bad things to say about it as well. I see nothing here at all.
I, too, have lived (actually lived…not visited for a couple of years) around the world. Big deal. I have seen the beliefs of others. Big deal. So you have an opinion. It still may be incorrect.Â
You don’t like what you see…then let’s see some actual solutions not just endless lists of shrieking criticisms. That is the height of hypocrisy: criticize other for their efforts and beliefs and then have none yourself. That is the picture of today’s baby-men. Your toys are removed and the easy life is gone…and you just point to your neighbor and blame them or post railing missives putting down their faith of beliefs. Not buying it. You have faith and beliefs too only you won’t be honest about them. They are in a system that has ‘failed’ or in people who have failed or whatever.Â
All those people overseas who you may have seen from afar while being fed off of the military’s funds, they were actually living the nightmare and working hard to make it past. Let’s see you do the same thing. Put your money where your mouth is and come up with something to talk about and do.
“if there is a God, I’m saved and you are royally screwed (for eternity). You don’t have to be even half smart to figure out these odds! Gamble wisely my friend….”
And what if Ronald McDonald is charge, and there is no invisible sky daddy? Then you will burn for eating Whoppers, while I be rewarded for having eaten Big Macs.
Personally, I believe in the Ragnarok Lumberjacks:
“The Lumberjacks came into being on 7 May 1988 e.v., on which occasion the Fool-Magus, the Magus-Fool, and the Empress of the disorder, assisted by the Angel Elesdiel, destroyed the world. Synchronous with this eschaton, Ragnarok Lumberjacks al/X and Sor. K.A. annhilated the planet Saturn… Currently, the Lumberjacks seek to cut down certain Trees (those of Knowledge and Life) by the employment of various axes… Despite the radical difference in the functioning of the axes, their effect, when employed by a Lumberjack, is complementary and cumulative. Further explanations of the Four Axes may be found in the Whetstone Pages and the Book of Plaid. “
“If there is no God than I’m just silly for believing in Him but no better or worse than you. However, if there is a God, I’m saved and you are royally screwed (for eternity). You don’t have to be even half smart to figure out these odds! Gamble wisely my friend….”
Sounds like the only reason you’re “believing” is to hedge your bets. I dont think an omnipotent being will see through that…who are men to think they know the mind of God?
If there is a God and that God is so shallow and egotistical to condemn me for knowing myself and living to love life and all its beauty then so be it. Send me to hell with the rest of the cynics, at least I’ll have some descent conversation.Â
Your heaven sounds alot like coporate america where you stand around talking about how great god is all day. Keep it.Â
I get what Steve is trying to say, it takes men of action to instill chance, not hope in intangiblity. We fight over some stupid things, God and religion being amoung them. Technology seems to have progressed, if only people would too, and not a ‘My god is better then your god,’ but more of a, ‘why cares about that, lets work these real problems out.’
Man, this site is usually a great source of info, but I have to say this is one of the lamest pieces of swill I’ve ever read.
An old joke goes like this: What is a cult? Answer; The other church down the street.
The “my god is the true god†argument is as old as man has been around. Man has killed millions in the name of this or that god. There is no winner. All this does is polarize us.
Comments…..When it comes to the one God and true religion there is only one way to hit the bulls eye, and infinite ways to miss.
Just because those the author cited fell doesn’t mean I have to. I would not want to be in the amateur author’s shoes.
We in the United States have turned against God. Christians are ridiculed and portrayed as evil by both our media and our educational system. Most of the politicians who say they care about God just say it to get the votes. When republicans controlled the House, the Congress and the White House, they could have passed a prohibitive tax on abortion. What did they do? Wars and tax cuts.
We are not the first nation on a self-destructive path away from God. Watch this documentary about Byzantium. When I watched it, I was surprised. This is like a medieval version of current events in the USA.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-948039110151002317#
Isn’t in funny how recently ancient Mesopotamian tablets have been found that depict the story of Noah’s arc to a tee? This scroll has actually been verified that it is in fact a historical tablet, not just a folk tale.
This is one of literally hundreds of new stories that are coming out that quite frankly are revealing God little by little as we approach the end.
I agree with many others, the christian church is filled with all kinds of horrific things, however God’s people although still imperfect will reside with the perfect one, one day.
Good luck and I hope you are preparing for this end of the world not with food and water, but with what really counts.
Don’t blame God for the evil that men do.
Blame the men.
Comments…..the author isn’t even half smart. He’s an idiot! And that’s in the words of grandma.
Hey people, you know the Bible tells you about this stuff: “To those that know not God, the gospel is as foolishness.”
Obviously Mr. Richards knows nothing of God. Which, in and of itself, is disappointing. His world is much different than mine. Did anyone see the lack of hope in his article? There is no God to save us, no hope in anything. Its all just bad bad bad to the end. Thanks Steve for that message. Good luck with that.
What do you pin your hopes on, Mr. Richards? Luck of the draw? Pattern of the stars?
You lump all the “gods” together as if they’re all just a bunch of big Sky Daddies. Nice!
I would warn anyone that if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything. I had detected this in Mr. Richards before. A lack of hope. A lack of concern for eternity. Someday your life will end, Mr. Richards. Mine won’t. I hate to see someone make an eternal fool of themselves.
…and, yes, Mr. Richards, I will pray for you. You need it more than anyone else I can think of right now.
Just because we don’t believe in jesus and his invisible buddies doesn’t mean that “we’ll fall for anything”. Â On the contrary, it means that I didn’t fall for the old superstitions and hoping (foolishly) that “god” would come bail us out. Â I am taking actions to do the work myself, instead.
And come to think of it, we ARE “standing for something”. Â We’re standing for;
1. Â Personal responsibility
2. Â Personal accountability
3. Â Responsible planning
4. Â A realistic viewpoint going forward, without “pinning our hopes” on ancient foolishness which has never once proven to be true.
Well, maybe once the ancient foolishness has been proven to be true: “He hangeth the earth upon nothing” Job 26:7  Well,  okay, maybe twice, “It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth”. Isaiah 40:32 This ancient wisdom was written 3000-4000 years ago.Â
Oh goodness, here come the bible thumpers quoting scripture and getting insulted by their blind ignorance missing the whole point of what the guy was trying to say. I’ve noticed that it is mostly christians getting upset (which they are the most emotional people ever) and he wasn’t talking about christianity. hah.
He makes a point as I have seen many people say “let’s pray” instead of taking action. I was watching Tudors and King Henry said something that I’ve heard a million times “don’t rebel against your gov’t and the Bible commands you not too”. I’ve this usually followed by “just pray and G-d will do something about it”. Usually its sending in a foreign army to do the job because the religious are usually too dumb to save themselves.
People should wake up. This country was not founded on Christianity, it was founded on Deism, as this writer sounds deist. One who believes in a Creator (just one) that created all things, and sends teachers to show humans a better way. But leaves it to us to take action, not have organized religions to just pray. All the founders (mostly deists and some christians) all believed in one thing, ACTION not prayer. ACTION.
Wow, it’s like you bible-thumpers really believe in the crap coming out of your pie-holes!
Oh wait, you are. :/