"Joy and pleasure are as real as pain and sorrow and one must learn what they have to teach. . . ." -- Sean Russell, from Gatherer of Clouds

"If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." -- Helyn D. Goldenberg

"I love you and I'm not afraid." -- Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

“If I hear ‘not allowed’ much oftener,” said Sam, “I’m going to get angry.” -- J.R.R. Tolkien, from Lord of the Rings

Monday, November 13, 2017

No Surprises Here

Here's a couple of very revealing facts about Republicans and "Christians" in the wake of the accusations against "Judge" Roy Moore:

But the answers to this question are disturbing: "Given the allegations that have come out about Roy Moore’s alleged sexual misconduct against four underage women, are you more or less likely to support him as a result of these allegations?"

Just 38 percent said they now are less likely to vote for Moore, 33 percent say it makes no difference to them, and a nearly one in three Alabama voters (29%) say they are more likely to vote for Moore as a result.

The poll, conducted November 9-11, also says nearly six in 10 (58%) call themselves evangelical Christians.

It's bad enough that 29% of Alabama voters are more likely to vote for Moore after the allegations, but that 33% don't care is even more appalling.

I think it's become quite clear over the past couple of years, and especially since the election of Trump, that evangelical "Christianity" is not a religion and has nothing to do with Christ: it's a tribal identity marked by hating the same people. As long as that's in order, there are no expectations of good behavior or moral probity (except, of course, in calling out the failings of the disfavored groups), especially for men.

(For an illuminating discussion of evangelicals' attitudes toward women and sexual predators, see this post by Digby.)

In other words, it's everything we as a society have been moving away from for the past century.

A Note: Oh, an about all those senators taking back their endorsements, etc.: Moore's not well-liked in Washington to begin with, but he's what they had. Now they have a credible excuse for cutting him loose.

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