driving to Oklahoma City on Thanksgiving Day, 1974 (Nixon was already out of office as of August, 1974).
Anyhow, along I-40 - a HUGE billboard: "GOD BLESS RICHARD NIXON"

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-and it's only gotten more intense since 9/11.

Add to that all the science disproving their deeply held beliefs...


ETA: Not to mention the Zone of Totality is cutting right through the Bible Belt where all the craziest ones live...

Try the last 2,000 years.

The funniest (because they are so blithering stupid) to me are the "endtimes prophets," any and every world event is a "sign from Gawd" that the end of the world is "soon."

Jesus' disciples thought that the would return during their lifetime. Didn't happen. Every successive generation since has believed that they would be part of the rapture. Not so far. And yet, they're still utterly convinced.

will cling to anything

That's why so many universities have church roots. Unfortunately, we are not in one of those times.

The combined effect of all the right wing propaganda and your aforementioned progressive, inevitable scientific dismantlement of mythological belief has created a perfect storm of desperate zealots. I live in the eclipse viewing area in SE Tennessee, and I can assure you that this breed of signage is nothing exceptional or new here.

And, yes, the ascendant fascist police state being sold to us (by both sides, BTW) since 911 has certainly expedited things... The zealots are ever eager to support troops... even if it's fucking storm troopers disguised as sheriffs deputies.

The general theme is: "God's Gonna Getcha for That."

That could have been the best thing I have ever heard ...

I will certainly share them with the locals at the watering hole, although they may not appreciate it.

LOL!!

Although the GPS diverted us down back highways claiming I75 was backed up. Now that we're at the relative's house where we're watching the eclipse, we aren't planning to budge before Tuesday. Hope the traffic out of here Tuesday isn't too bad.

And for some people, it's a lot easier to shrug off any responsibility for making things better by thinking that Jesus is going to rapture them out of the way and serve all those evil-doers right. If you're suffering, it's all that you deserve, and none of their concern. They're just waiting on the Lord to return, wave his magic God stick, and justify their selfish existence.

Being a Californian I never saw so many churches and those signs saying you will be damned if you don't believe in Jesus etc was surprising at first and then shocking to me. Rarely do I ever see those type of signs or number of churches even in rural California.

to come by, you can just start your own church if you have a little Bible knowledge and a few friends. That's one of the reason there are so many little churches around in some states and areas. For some, it's a part-time gig that helps supplement their on and off employment status.

I know understand why so many churches.

a lot in rural Arkansas when we lived there.

Someone gets unhappy, causes a ruckus, and one group will stay and the other will find somewhere else to meet.

really.

Jesus is coming; act busy.

God is coming and boy is she pissed.

Jesus is coming, hide the bong.

he's not even breathing hard yet."

You can have my eclipse glasses

But surely ending all life is better than electing a woman who gave a speech once and had emails.

It's ok to commit crimes and screw other people's spouses as long as you're saved

If you're in TN, hope you enjoy the stay and enjoy the eclipse. We're in full on eclipse mania here north of Nashville!

Thinking about making the drive pre dawn tomorrow. Any advice? Cincy to west of bowling green.

They have been predicting some kind of deluge of people for weeks. Local paper reporting this morning that the number of people in the most popular bar and restaurant area of town (called The Vista) was actually down on Saturday because locals stayed away fearing the crush of the crowds.

Traffic isn't any worse than an average holiday weekend, though. I imagine it will be slightly worse tomorrow, but even then shouldn't be too bad for you if you really want to make the jaunt.

We're at the house of a relative out in the countryside. Nearest town is Crossville and we haven't gone in there.

It MUST be Gawd! No natural phenomena can explain why the sun disappeared!

(In case it's needed: )

It's been a major thread running through the culture since at least the Second Great Awakening. It absolutely took off among evangelical types after Israel captured Jerusalem in the six-day war in 1967.

When I was in school in Boone, NC, the best route to and from Charlotte was Highway 321, and there was a car dealer who had all these signs on the highway near his lot proclaiming: "America's number one problem: false religion" and declaring himself a "saint" and other such messages. And he was selling used cars, not running a church.

Used car salesmen, definitely one of the more trusted American institutions! Sadly, I can't find any pictures online.

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I always try to get a picture of some of them to show to people who have never seen anything like that. I would imagine it's not cheap to rent space on these signs, aye?

In the cities they're more expensive, when you get into the small towns/rural areas they're pretty cheap.

Although, there is one that's been up forever that is pretty much right outside of South Fort Worth.

The owner of the sign isn't going to go to the expense (and risk) of sending a worker up there to take it down/paint over it if they don't have a buyer. Once the sign is up, renewing the rental yearly is cheaper.

Over the years they've aquired many smaller companies. Lamar Advertising is probably the second biggest. Smaller local companies will probably be more economical.

"Hell is hot."

For some reason, that cracks me up.

I spotted a billboard featuring an American flag and "Freedom isn't free." It was an ad for a bail bondsman.

But for the pure cheese factor, I wish I did.

...from Illinois to Emerald Isle, NC. As we crossed from WV into VA, I saw the weirdest damn billboard. The background was grass, like someone's lawn, on which reposed an empty man's long-sleeved white dress shirt tucked into a pair of chinos, and, I think, some shoes.

In HUGE white letters was the question - ARE YOU READY FOR THE RAPTURE?

Hilarious and creepy at the same time. We are taking that same route this October. I will be ready with my cell phone camera this time.

I guess near Albany, read they made them stop on overpass.

Said it was because of driver distraction but no one stopped people during election from signs.

On the back side a plastic surgeon advertises "San Antonio Butt Lift" with a pic of a sexy butt

I don't care.

Ben met Anna.

Made a hit.

Neglected beard.

Ben-Anna split.

Burmashave.

I think they must have been Buddhist. Isn't that the predominant religion in Burma?

at Damascus First National.