Major Protestant Denomination Demotes Jesus

Funny what you find when you are clicking around looking at Brit Hume stuff. One click takes you here and then there and you never know where you are going to end up. One day I'm finding scat porn reactions on You Tube and the next I'm digging through reports that apparently represent the not so well allocated tithes and offerings of Presbyterians worldwide.......I thought that the money people threw in the old chicken bucket was suppose to go to help the poor and unsaved? Checking the Great Commission.....nope no commands from JC for useless acts of bureaucratic self examination.

And now this........Jocoeveryman is, what would the modern electronic version of the word "penning" be?....clicking?, okay clicking back to back takes on religiosity? Presbyterians have all but demoted Jesus Christ from sole savior of the world to religious also ran. Srly. This confuses me. I thought it was the Jews who didn't believe Jesus is the savior.

Anywho.........I thought this survey that was just released is a fascinating look inside the changing beliefs inside a major main line denomination.

Okay....here is some of meat from the study..........

According to the report entitled “Religious and Demographic Profile of
Presbyterians,” nearly half of PCUSA pastors (45 percent) and a majority of
“specialized clergy” (60 percent) surveyed disagree that “only followers of
Jesus Christ can be saved.” Approximately 1 in 5 in both categories
answered “neutral” or “not sure,” making the totals that do not “agree” with the
statement as 65 percent for pastors and 78 percent for specialized
clergy. More than half of “members” and “elders” surveyed answered
similarly. Approximately 1 in 3 members (36 percent) and elders (31 percent)
either disagree or strongly disagree that “only followers of Jesus can be
saved.” In both categories, approximately 1 in 5 is “neutral” or “not
sure.”

Many Christians might find this upcoming link from the lead picture above offensive......but apparently not most Presbyterians. To a majority of Presbyterians playing Dress Up Jesus evokes no more emotion now than Dress Up Fashion Barbie.

Basically, for you amateur theologians this is a seismic shift in the old "I am the way, the truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father but through me" theology of our youth. You can't write it off as layperson worldview confusion because the sentiment is felt not only among up and down the pew members that were surveyed but among seminary educated clergy and leadership as well. A deeper look at the study also shows huge changes in attitudes about things like gay marriage, gay leadership and the ordination of openly gay people.

I encourage, er if you are bored, you can read the whole report which basically highlights that more than half of Presbyterians no longer believe that Jesus Christ is the sole savior. Wow.

While they didn't survey on who they thought other possible saviors might be I've taken the liberty (would you expect less) to suggest maybe where their heads might be:

Other possible Presbyterian Saviors:

1. Barack Obama: The world's favorite Negro (as Harry Reid calls him......) WWBOD?

2. Dan Savage: The world's favorite fag (as he calls himself) WWDSD?

3. Handy Manny: Come on tools....be my disciples. WWHMD?

4. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog: Dunno, just seemed funny praying to Triumph. WWTICDD?

5. Judas Iscariot: Got a PR firm to repair his image and is making a comeback WWJID?

6. Tom Scherer: Making America a Better Place deserves some consideration WWTSD?

7. Mother Earth: Why not.....according to Climate Change Incorporated she is sacrificing herself for all of mankind. WWMED?

8. The Internet: Electronic Nirvana. WWID

9. Sarah Palin: America's Martyred working mom and MILF. WWSD

10. Mickey Mouse: Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? WWMMD

That's all I've got. None of them have quite the same ring to them as good old JC. Pretty lame list actually. Give a me a little help. Please feel free to send your own.

I'm not sure what all this means. Do Progressives point to this as progress and ultra conservatives point to this as the next closest thing to the Apocalypse?? Or does it just say that even among what is considered conservative strong holds America is deeply divided? I do know this........in spending 10 minutes reading through about this issue it was clear to me that Presbyterians spend more time fighting with each other over what the believe and who they should let in that actually helping others and that is pretty sad actually.

Don't trust him........Jeremiah Wright

Never trust a guy who claims to speak for a whole segment of society. Reverend Wright claims to speak for black churches in America. He has taken their traditional positions on social justice and radicalized them beyond recognition. I saw Juan Williams on the news last night and he is a liberal....but a smart one and he doesn't trust him.


Here is the deal. This whole run of speeches by the Reverend Wright is a set up to try to help Obama. Here's how it works. Obama tries to support Wright early on but gets plenty of backlash when people start watching all Wright's comments on youtube. People start to get more upset when they realize that Obama was in the pew nodding in agreement during many of those sermons.

Now, Wright goes out and doesn't back off from the statements and even goes further by saying negative things about Obama and basically saying he lacks the character to say what he is saying because he must be political. Instead of Obama distancing himself from Wright, Wright distances himself from Obama. Then Obama comes out and says.....I told you this guy doesn't speak for my values and beliefs. Brillant strategy. Clinton.....and then McCain need to keep tying Obama to the cultural beliefs of Reverent Wright. For Obama to say the effort isn't coordinated is a lie.

So how does this relate to southern Johnson County? I guess I'm just commenting on what one white, republican, southern johnson countian thinks about it. I'm not sure how the other sojocoians think about it......I don't speak for them.

By the way.......did you know about this?

And......I never want to hear anyone call Bill Moyers a journalist again. That interview of Jeremiah Wright was not journalism. I don't even think you can call it an interview. It was an infomercial and at best social commentary by a liberal pretending to be a journalist. I'm glad too because others picked up on it and are seeing him for what he is......unapologetically biased. Bill Moyers is no more than a commentator and calling him a journalist is a slap in the face to any and all real journalists who take their job and role seriously enough to ask the real questions....the tough questions. Shame on you Bill Moyers.

Different Angle on the Spitzer Scandal

This is going to shock you. I know you will be amazed that many of us continue to be shocked at the liberal bias of the press. Yesterday, The Kansas City Star printed a front page story on Governor Eliot Spitzer's involvement as a client with a prostitution ring. I like to think I'm a well read guy and usually know who the players are in national politics but I couldn't remember if he was a democrat or a republican. He is reputedly so tough on crime and has a reputation for high morals and ideals that it would seem like a reasonable bet that he was in fact a republican. So, I 'm reading the story and usually right after they mention a politican they note his party but not in this article. Nope, no mention that he is actually a democrat. In fact, I had to go off the front page to the rest of the story and glean from the fact that it mentions his Lt. Governor is a democrat to surmise his party affiliation. Now you can say I'm a little over the top on liberal bias but I think not. It appears they go out of their way to NOT mention his party. The Star should be ashamed of themselves. I'm so sick of the liberal bias of the media.

Also, on a complete digression.....I'd really like to punch Keith Olbermann right in the damn nose. I'm starting to really develop a deep dislike for the guy.

I'm not defending any of these fallen public figures indiscretions but when Larry Craig had a faulty stance in a Minnesota bathroom stall everyone knew this guy was a republican from the first sentence of the coverage. I'm sick of it. They carefully deceive the average person in this world who just don't pay as close of attention with the sum result as people being misinformed.

Now, on to Eliot Spitzer. Too much is already being said by lots of people but a couple thoughts. First, interesting little side note of the story how the feds were "routinely" reviewing bank transactions that had been reported as suspicious. Be careful and know that your bank transactions are not private and your bank has a obligation to report any large transactions to the authorities. This practice preceeded 9/11 by a long way so don't be ignorant and blame George Bush.

Also, don't you really feel for these wives? Silda Spitzer looked absolutely whipped standing up there by him. And if I can be a little caddy for a second.....what is he thinking? She is a nice looking woman and he is no glamour boy. That's a lucky guy and I'm sure on a better day she looks even better. I mean Larry Craig's wife, Suzanne, looks like a guy in drag so in reality that doesn't surprise me at all. Silda is a pretty, classy looking woman and uh....well was realitively free if you are Eliot. I mean there is that suggestion that no sex is free if you are a man, right? If you are dating you have to wine and dine them usually more than once, buy them stuff, dress right....and all that costs money. I bet if you add it up it might be cheaper to just get the whore. If you are married you better keep up the investment you made or the returns will diminish AND you have to take care of yourself by working out, eating right.......the whore doesn't care about any of that. So, with all morality aside if you just need some..."relief" from a pure cost to value ratio......perhaps I shouldn't go there.

I respect her for standing up there with him. They have kids and it would be easier for her to kick him out but I suspect she knows staying is the best chance for her family.

I think most of us really, really just hate the hypocrisy. Spitzer being the hard nosed, giving no breaks prosecutor with the high moralistic positions. Larry Craig actively working to make the lives of homosexuals more difficult. Locally guys like Pastor Jerry Johnston living the life of Rockefeller while preaching to us about humility and admonishing us to give back to God's work or that other Pastor who used homosexual prostitutes...I forget his name. Anyway, we all make mistakes in life and we don't get our dirty laundry hanged out for everyone to see but also most of us live our lives in way that is consistent with our morals both in the day and the night, in the sun and in the shadows. That is what makes these guys such jackasses.