Poe. Maybe I should go back for entertainment but Poes that are too good can be too depressing.

Greg, Your original question about why Christian don’t call people on such comments (when they are NOT satire) is stuck in my mind. I’m agnostic, but I do have friends, family, former workmates who attend church, temple, etc. (Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Buddhist, Jewish, Islamic, etc.) and since my artwork seems to attract people who are quite religious, maybe I can give it a try.

I would say their reaction is similar to people responding to my brother (who I mentioned in another post’s comment has schizophrenia) when he starts talking about how people are controlling his thoughts with their brainwaves.

You back away slowly. You do not argue. If you do. You get nowhere.

But maybe the question is who’s responsibility is it? Is it anyone who believes in any God? Is people who believe in fundamentally the same God (or Gods or Path), without regard to sects? I’m not sure if that would work? If a catholic stands up and calls a fundamentalist crazy, everyone says “Sure, you’re Catholic”. Sometimes you do see groups of clergy that stand together to make some point. That can be effective.

Many times members of a church do questions choices and make stands in their church. This is what we are seeing today with the Episcopal Church and clergy selection.

Other churches make stands on issues. So at the pulpit a pastor may not say “Boy that such and such is crazy for saying they are frightened of the Chinese) but they may present a sermon on loving your neighbor and how fear and hate are not Christian values.

Of course, some (maybe many)churches are extremely insular and the main topic is “how to worship God.” I have to say, I find that a complete waste of time. My husband’s church (that I attend sometime) is alot like that. But they do also collect money for a medical clinic in Haiti. That, I find worthwhile.

One problem is that like minded people tend to collect. So the crazy religious people (well and crazy in all walks of life) seems to find each other and support each others’ beliefs. They are sometimes oblivious to criticism from other Christians and sometimes further empowered by it.

So when you say “Why don’t the normal Christian’s do a better job of taking down the crazies” I just wonder what that would look like? I don’t mean to sound critical. Maybe you have an obvious example that I’m not imagining?

Seriously, there’s an article that claim the “soviets” are trying to corrupt children with “berenstein bear porn.” http://christwire.org/2009/08/soviets-create-new-berenstain-bear-porn-to-lure-children-into-sin/

Then there’s the “Moral Alerts” box, which has nothing in it except the small notice “Currently praying to decide who needs boycotting. Please check back soon.”

And then there’s the one which accuses Batman, of all people, of being not only real, but also the right-hand man of Castro. http://christwire.org/2009/10/more-proof-that-comics-exist-and-are-evil/

This is the fundie’s version of “The Onion.”