Lobbying for Armageddon

By Sarah Posner
Alternet

http://alternet.org/story/39748/

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At the center of it all is Pastor John Hagee, a popular televangelist who leads the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. While Hagee has long prophesized about the end times, he ratcheted up his rhetoric this year with the publication of his book, "Jerusalem Countdown," in which he argues that a confrontation with Iran is a necessary precondition for Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ. In the best-selling book, Hagee insists that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive military strike against Iran to fulfill God's plan for both Israel and the West. Shortly after the book's publication, he launched Christians United for Israel (CUFI), which, as the Christian version of the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee, he said would cause "a political earthquake."

At CUFI's kick-off banquet at the Washington Hilton, attended by over 3,500 members, Republican support for both Hagee's effort and his drumbeat for war with Iran were on full view. Republican National Committee Chair Ken Mehlman told the group that "no regime is more central to the global jihad" than Iran. Just two days before, Newt Gingrich and John McCain made the rounds of the Sunday talk shows to sound the same message, leading Benny Elon, a member of the Israeli Knesset, to comment to the Jerusalem Post that their remarks originated with Hagee. Rick Santorum and Sam Brownback also addressed the group, and Bush sent words of support to the gathering. Republicans, and even some Democrats, spoke at CUFI events to show their "support for Israel." But while public and media attention was on the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Hagee's focus continued to be on Iran.

While the crisis at the Israel-Lebanon border drew more mainstream media attention to CUFI's activities, Hagee's supporters have long known that leading Republicans are listening. Rabbi Daniel Lapin, a prominent Jewish ally of the evangelical right (and friend of Jack Abramoff) has said that Hagee "without question, yes, absolutely" has the ear of the White House. Hagee's annual Night to Honor Israel at his church has drawn prominent Republicans, including Tom DeLay, who was the keynote speaker in 2002.

Although Republicans would never admit it -- they claim their support for Christian Zionists like Hagee is based on their own support for Israel -- it is clear that they know they need the votes of this constituency to win. In the same way that Karl Rove courted conservative evangelicals in 2004 by appealing to their homophobia, Republican campaign rhetoric for 2006 and 2008 has already shown signs of playing to voters who have been hearing hype for a war with Iran for months -- at church...

It leaves me speechless. I always thought religious people were supposed to "love thy neighbor". What in the hell happened to that message??

That was just the candy coating they gave you when you were a little kid, at the same time they begin telling you if you don't do exactly what they say their loving, merciful god will burn you in hell for all of eternity. The burning part sticks better than the sugar part. :shrug:

crucified Jesus, God's son.

Don't get caught up in their dogma. There's good and evil in this world and the religious right has sold their soul to evil.

The stories of Jesus are to teach us how to live; giving, caring, befriending the weak and friendless. Jesus said, (1) I am God (2) Love God and then love others as yourself. (3) lay down your life, give your shirt, walk an extra mile (4) give to the poor, visit the sick and imprisoned (5) pray in private (6) judge a tree by its fruit (7) pay your taxes (8) believe, trust, obey, etc., etc.

For whatever reason you or I choose to believe, I am convinced that Jesus (God) spirit dwells inside of me; affecting my thoughts. I'm not as quick or bright as Jesus, but I feel like He did regarding others. They should be loved not harmed; accepted not judged. For the most part, you won't find feelings like these in the heart of the religious right. They hate, not love. They want to take, not give. They want to harm , not care for or protect.

GW Bush and his administration appear to me to behave just the opposite of Jesus. What I would refer to as Demons (evil). Don't look at what they say, look at what they do (the fruits of the tree). They live just the opposite of how Jesus lived and what Jesus taught.

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, walks like a duck,... you know the drill. The religious right is just the opposite of Jesus. Very little good comes from the religious right.

You want to see people who care about others like Jesus, try sites like these:
- Sojourners at sojo.net
- www.unitedforpeace.org
- christianalliance.org
- compassion.org
- christianchildrensfund.org
- feedthechildren.org

:hi: