@Bren...Thanks for the kind words. Moderation seems to be something of the past.

@JRH...Sorry, but I usually am in bed when that stuff starts airing.

My statement about "The Christian Right has proven to be the antithesis to the principles of our founders. This minority wants to severely restrict our freedoms." I'll give you one good example. The efforts of the Christian Right curtailed valuable research that was being gained from embryonic stem cells. They are continuously fighting against science, secular humanism and the implementation of such things as taking personal responsibility regarding birth control; and, this only represents a minor tip of the iceberg. Taking the wraps off, it is clear it's all about money and power.

I would hope that it isn't the case, but my view as a non-Christian minority, makes this movement pretty threatening who don't share their views or philosophies.

Joel Osteen, from what I've observed, is all about self-empowerment and self-forgiveness. One in my family, who honestly needs a self-reflection of a life selfishly lived in order to emotionally and spiritually evolve, has told me, "Joel Osteen says you can't change the past." Perhaps one can't change the physical past, but one can reflect upon what one could have done differently, and discuss/resolve those mistakes with the people one has hurt with behavior. Thanks to Joel Osteen, that won't happen for my relative. How many others has Joel Osteen affected in this way?

Another example of how the Christian "Right" is impeding social advancement in our country.

@skinnyDUDE...Good morning, you're up early. Quoting you: "Freedom of speech is Freedom of Speech". There are a few limitations on free speech including you can't yell fire in a crowded venue. What I am attempting to point out is that the practice of the Charismatic Christian Right leadership is to do the equivalent of yelling fire. Whether we understand it or believe it, this is a very large movement, hell bent on creating a theocracy.

My intent is not to demonize Christianity, but to point our how a segment of those calling themselves "true Christians" are posing a very real threat to our society. Don't you remember when 9/11 occurred that Falwell got on the tube and claimed we were being punished by G-d? Aurora is only the latest incident where this occurs.

As far as extremists go, the left has their fair share, but I can't see that there is a widespread following such as there is with the Christian Fundamentalist Movement. The extreme Left doesn't have the kind of funding that the extreme Christian Right enjoys. Look at all the corporate sponsors the Christian Right has. Chic-fl-a is only the latest one to hit the media.

You really should stop listening to Rush Limbaugh and watching Faux News. You sound like a wing nut!

@skinnyDUDE....Obama is no more part of the liberal core than my tea-tot-ling aunt fanny is an alcoholic. As you say perspective is everything. If Obama was such a liberal, why is he under so much criticism from the political left. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. If anything Obama is cut from the same clothe of the progressive Republicans of past decades. If you look at his policies, they are clearly all Republican inspired. His administration could be characterized as leading from slightly right of center with a center that has moved clearly to the right over the last 3-1/2 decades. You can't even claim that Bill Clinton was a liberal and he administered from the center. The days of the old liberal Democrats ended with the election of Richard Nixon in 1968.

skinnyDUDE, when you are so far to the right the center appears to be far left. I am clearly disappointed that neither Obama or the Republicans adopted the recommendations of the Simpson - Bowles Commission.

The liberals should be so lucky to have the organization that the conservatives have put together. The political right has out organized, out thought, out planned and out communicated the political left. The Christian Right has been able to create a steady source of revenues and can clearly claim a following of a 25 million. Show me any leftist organization that has that kind of following.

@Michele Divelbiss...Your rational thinking is shining through. I agree that the printing press and the Gutenberg Bible was a gift to mankind's freedom. Those who would censure the religious speech and ideas of others are certainly moving away from the basic principles upon which this nation was founded.

Those who closely follow their religious leaders lead don't think they are being misled or that they are simple sheep being taken advantage of. However, when their money and resources are drained away to support these leaders and they power brokering, then that is clearly the shearing of the sheep. When one looks at these charismatic movements, then I tend to follow the money and what is done with it. I remember Reverend Ike on TV claiming that G-d told him he needed a Cadillac. I don't have any problems with people supporting their religions, but I do have a problem when those same organizations turn around and get involved in secular policy making.

BTW, I follow the long held Jewish tradition of substituting for the name of the Ruler of the Universe. The other permissible printed names include El Shadi, Elohim, Adonai, and YHVH; but for the purpose of writing I prefer G-d to an audience of gentiles.

I find references to "God" confusing, since there are so many gods past and present in the traditions and scriptures of many disparate cultures. It's not always clear which god you mean. Kind of like when we have office communications and use the term "President" and someone asks if we mean the President of our organization, the President of a client organization, or the POTUS. But we know now which gods are real and which belong relegated to mythology, though science?

I'll believe a god is punishing us when a Tsunami about to crush Haiti, Indonesia, or Japan disappears then suddenly reappears in Wisconsin.

I can certainly see how taking religious extremism too far is a bad thing, like any other belief system. Belief systems (political, national, religious) are abused to control people, which often takes advantage of hardship and relies upon fear. The widespread continued hardship and rising fear in this country is likely to continue to fuel that effect. However, it doesn't negate the positive influence the comfort of faith in any belief system can exert.

Nick:

It seems to me that you might be the one that is attempting to 'infuse the populace with fear'...

http://shorewood.patch.com/blog_posts/why-ayn-rand-objectivism-the-extreme-right-and-paul-ryan-all-have-it-wrong-for-america

"Those of us who are Progressives and Progressive Conservatives must engage against the dark and evil forces of the Randian Right."

"Regardless of their looks, their personalities, their personal fortunes, and their fine educations, the adherence of politicians such as Paul Ryan and the others to Objectivism makes them a HUGE danger to this Nation."

"America’s democratic republic is being threatened by these Randians"

@Denise Konkol...It is going to continue, with the fringe speaking for the vast majority of Christians, until the Christian majority begins speaking out and advocating the difference. What we used to call main stream Christianity has given way to a highly politicized religious minority who are attempting to dictate what it means to be a "true Christian". It turns out to be more about politics and wealth and less and less about personal salvation.

@Lyle - On the contrary, it will continue until the press is no longer attracted to the extreme.

I just heard that the world was going to come to an end because of cow flatulence.