The wolves who present themselves as "concerned" Christians prey on the absolute ignorance of their church members - indeed on all Christians. The viral emails going out from the Christian “right” painting Obama as the Antichrist are first and foremost shameful, and second are complete “biblical” fabrications.
In the New Testament there are only four references to the Antichrist. These are: 1 John 2:18; 2:22; 4:3 and 2 John 1:7.
Here is what you can point out to anyone sadly ignorant enough to accept such lies as the “gospel”: The Antichrist is never mentioned by Jesus Himself. All references are in the two later books of the NT, 1 John and 2 John.
All are references to people who are living in that day who are denying that Jesus Christ is "come in the flesh" or that Jesus and God exist. Some of the quotes are referring to people who were at one time part of the church but then left it.
In 1 John 2:18 the author is stating that there are many Antichrists and that this is proof that "[we] are living in the last times" [read end times]. There is no reference to the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation. Many right wing Christians try to use some of the definitions of the "beast" and the "dragon" as qualifications for the Antichrist - which is completely wrong.
Also not that in 2 John 1:7 we have this qualification for what the (or an) Antichrist is:
[7]For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, even they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. [8]Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward. [9]Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.There are those, in politics, business, and religion (and very often all three) who are so utterly desperate to hold on to power they will stoop to take any action. When we hear someone utter profoundly ridiculous statements—when we know they’re simply parroting garbage they’ve heard on right wing radio or FOX, please, ask them kindly, “Where did you discover those facts?” Keep asking them to supply their unimpeachable source of information until it becomes clear to them, and to any listeners, that what they’ve been spouting is nothing but lies...
It only takes a moment, but a little truth, like a drop of bleach in a gallon of water, can purify a mind from ignorance.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - MARLOWE
SORRY FOR THE TYPOS! It's what I get for typing this on my laptop in a hurry.
Marlowe
2 - Al Barger
Marlowe, this little rant looks like nonsense to me. In the first place, who's saying that Obama is the Antichrist? I've seen none of this. I'm sure there's SOMEBODY said something stupid in an email, cause there's somebody who's said anything that could be said. But you can't be blaming the "Christian right," cause surely even 99.9% of the most rabid American Christian fundamentalists ain't that rabbit ass crazy.
Plus, you seem awful sure of your personal Biblical interpretations. Revelations is all poetic dream logic and symbolism and shit like that. You can't 100% know what John did and didn't mean. I get the impression that he was trippin' balls so hard when he wrote it that he himself didn't quite know what he meant. To put it mildly, there's some room for different opinions about what a lot of this stuff means.
Still, before the election it would be re-assuring to get a priest to inspect the back of Obama's head and make sure them big ears ain't covering up a little 666. I'm just saying...
3 - MARLOWE
Al, Al, Al... Where did your mother and I go wrong!
The above wasn't a rant Al. My rants get raves you know. It was simply an attmept - small as it is - to educate some on this matter. And yes, these emails are out there... The posts are out there. Google it. Combine this with some of the ads of late with the announcer asking in an ominous voice,
"could Obama be... The One?" Then the volume comes up on people chanting his name, eerily reminiscent of how Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins paint the "Antichrist" in their mega-seller series LEFT BEHIND. The ads got pulled very quickly when a lot of people pointed out this disturbing TONE...
As I've stated repeatedly I am not a member of ANY political party. And one doesn't need to be - in order to be deeply concerned for their country, for the direction it is heading... When one hears lies such as these that stoke the fires of religious hatred and fear one is honor-bound to tear away the lies and reveal the truth of matters... It doesn't matter if you are a Republican or Democrat at all - these kind of viral attacks should DISTURB EVERY AMERICAN.
Last time I checked the dictionary there was only ONE definition describing what an American is...
But if we keep going in this direction Balkanization isn't far off...
Now if you'll excuse me Al, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON is on TCM. Nothing could better end this day and its "news" of the looming election...
Marlowe
4 - Doug Hunter
"When one hears lies such as these that stoke the fires of religious hatred and fear"
The biggest stokers of hatred and fear are the atheists who abolutely despise religious folk. Thanks for being part of the problem.
5 - MARLOWE
Doug! Let me ask you something... When you had lunch with God today, how often did my name come up? You MUST have had lunch with God because I am SURE you yourself couldn't possibly know WHAT or HOW I believe...
But thanks for proving my earlier points. Very kind of you...
Marlowe
6 - jamminsue
Marlowe: You said: When one hears lies such as these that stoke the fires of religious hatred and fear one is honor-bound to tear away the lies and reveal the truth of matters...
Very good, I wish more people were like you!
7 - Dave Nalle
No right wing talk show host I know of has accused Obama of being the antichrist. It may have happened on Christian talk radio, but not on any of the more mainstream shows. Well, Michael Savage has guests that nuts sometimes. I'm sure there are nuts in blogland making the accusation, of course. But I've seen people on the right say the same kind of thing about McCain.
And BTW, Palin does not actually appear to be a dominionist. Occasionally attending a church with one former pastor who was a dominionist doesn't automatically make you one.
Dave
8 - Jordan Richardson
The biggest stokers of hatred and fear are the atheists who abolutely despise religious folk. Thanks for being part of the problem.
Hardly...
9 - MARLOWE
Jamminsue... Thanks. I simply wish more people would wake up to the future we're all hurtling toward. I suspect even those who are "rabid" either on the right or the left, if they really played out the scenarios that initially appeal to them would be appalled.
That Golden Rule... Everyone always wants to make sure that the OTHER guy is following it...
10 - MARLOWE
Dave, you stated: "No right wing talk show host I know of has accused Obama of being the antichrist."
I never stated that they did. And of course no career savvy, politically savvy talking head would... But they certainly don't have a problem letting the shock troops of the religious right do it for them... Those desperate to retain power have shown no compunction about using the ultra-conservative churches and of course those controlling those churches have never had a problem extending their grasp...
The goal of course is to keep the shrinking White population that tend to lean toward conservative politics or religious beliefs as well as those who wholly subscribe to it in a constant state of fear.
Fear that Brown skinned people are taking away "their" America. Fear that all Muslims are strapping on bombs. Fear that people are coming to take their hard earned cash. Fear that evil forces are afoot - even to the level of "spiritual" all hell bent on destroying "their" America...
As populations become - like drug addicts - habituated to this fear... They demand from their controllers more emotional METH... Until the population explodes...
Can't happen here? It couldn't happen in cosmopolitan, urban, sophisticated, modern GERMANY either... But it did.
When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. (Sinclair Lewis)
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Hold on ... you're not suggesting ... that chain letter e-mails have factual inaccuracies?
[Please forward this comment to 10 of your friends or you will never marry]
12 - Jordan Richardson
The only emails I get are from kind young Christians in Sierra Leone who want to tell me about a long lost uncle I had and how he's left me his fortune in blood diamonds. Apparently all I have to do to get in on my uncle's scrap is to pass along my bank account information.
Seems easy enough...
13 - MARLOWE
Jordan! Apparently we are closely related because I got that email just today!
Marlowe
14 - Clavos
I don't understand....I sent them my life's savings a month ago, and now they're writing you guys???
I wondered why they hadn't reponded...
15 - MARLOWE
Clavos... Apparently our uncle is in serious trouble because I've met dozens of other "family" it would seem that got the same email... I've been very depressed about the whole thing... Not about losing the money but rather discovering who I'm apparently related to around here...
Lord give me patience...
Marlowe
16 - Clavos
Marlowe,
Whaddaya mean "losing the money?" They said they're sending me a whole lot more -- I'm expecting it any day now.
And how did we all end up with relatives in Sierra Leone??? All my life I've been told my family was from Sweden!!
Those poor people -- they've had to ask for help from ALL of us???
I'm so confused...
17 - Dave Nalle
Marlowe, you have a rather twisted view of the world. The more reasonable elements of the right are pretty hostile towards the religious right and are doing much more to reign them in and keep them from doing harm than anyone on the left is.
Your accusations are so far over the top that they're really counterproductive. Sort of like the Troothers.
As for Sinclair Lewis, he was a self-hating communist who drank himself into obscurity and death after winning the nobel prize.
Dave
18 - Baritone
I think all those people who have these fortunes to give all of us people should keep the money in Africa (or wherever) where they need it.
Doug,
You say:
"The biggest stokers of hatred and fear are the atheists who abolutely despise religious folk."
I am an atheist (just in case anybody missed that about me.) I am NOT a "stoker() of hatred and fear." I don't "despise religious folk." About 99.9% of the people I know are religious. Most all are christians. I neither hate nor despise them. I simply think they are wrong about the existence of god. I am not the exception that proves the rule. Surely there are atheists who mirror your description, but rest assured, the hatred flows both ways.
If there is anything or anyone I DO hate, it's the bible thumping caterwalling evangelists who rail away at their parishoners, admonishing them to repent their sins, instructing them in their shame and fear to fill the offering plates to overflowing. Those "ministers" are truly hateful, despicable people.
B
19 - MARLOWE
DAVE... Well point out those good folk on the right trying to reign in these extreme elements! I'd love to encourage them! Can you supply us their names here?
As for Sinclair Lewis being a drunk communist who didn't like himself... How were you able to distinguish him from alcoholic, self-loathing capitalist pigs? Oh! Of course! One's drinking Glenfiddich. The other Night Train...
Marlowe
20 - Franco
#19 -- MARLOWE
"DAVE... Well point out those good folk on the right trying to reign in these extreme elements! I'd love to encourage them! Can you supply us their names here?"
MARLOWE, who is "us"
And are you saying that you and who ever else "us" is, can't find them yourselfs out there on the internet?
And if you found them, by your own hands or ours, how would that change your contempt deployed - indeed on all Christians
21 - Baronius
Whatever this viral right-wing attack is, it can't be too viral if Dave and Al and I have never heard of it.
22 - troll
Baronius - your parents must have inoculated you guys against such viruses...the shots explain your artistic behavior as well
23 - Cannonshop
It's news to me. I've seen a few rants from some guys so far to the fringe they make me look desperately centrist. (I'm not, you know, ask Pablo, it's one of the very few things I agree with him on.) Most of which are so cracked even my Pentecostal Neighbour thinks they're a red-herring cooked up to make Christians look stupid. (hey, he's paranoid.)
Now, I run with a diverse bunch in real life (being a gamer, you meet all kinds of strange folks), and this includes both moderate Satanists, and "Foamy" fundamentalist christians, and while they may not agree on much, both agree that Obama is NOT the Antichrist.
24 - wdufkin
According to scripture, Antichrist will seek to be worshiped as the Messiah of Israel. All the Obamessiah talk is a joke or a parody of the fact that Obama thinks he is the "savior" of the United States.
When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross...I doubt it!
25 - Deano
"Desperately Centrist"
That might make a nice license plate sticker...