I think organized religion is pretty much evil incarnate -- mostly about money and not much about living right. I just don’t feel the whole God, Jesus, and religion thing in general. I don’t buy into heaven and hell. I don’t pray. I can’t figure out the deal with God’s punishment and forgiveness. I think people need to live a certain way, and they need to try not to hurt others, and they need to help those in need. The whole God thing is murky, but I think I would have liked Jesus, so I’m not an active atheist – and I believe that I live more like a “Christian” – whatever that means -- than a lot of self-proclaimed Christians. I’m kind of with the American Humanist Association, whose signs -- so derided on Fox -- read, “No God, No Problem! Be Good for Goodness’ Sake.”
I gather – if I have to apply a term – a refusal to call myself a Christian makes me an agnostic, or a non-believer, or a heathen, or . . . well, in Fox News’ world, the Devil.
I’m stunned by the ferocity with which Fox – the “Christian Right Network” – defends Christianity and puts down those of us who haven’t staked out a position on God. I celebrate Christmas – we all know Christmas isn’t about religion, it’s about merchandise. I give to the homeless, and donate to charity regularly, and go out of my way to open my doors to kids and animals and those in trouble. So how come I can’t be an agnostic and get Fox love too? They can have their Baby Jesus, even though the whole born in a manger story doesn’t really resonate with me. All I want is equal rights on Fox – the right to be a heathen.
Priscilla at News Hounds does a great job of highlighting Fox’ “War on Christmas.” From Gretchen Carlson and Fox & Friends, to Bill O’Reilly, to the Fox Nation gang (and I’ve posted in the past about the anti-Christ yokels you’ll find there), Fox has a mission to make everybody see the light of God. O’Reilly calls atheist signs “filthy” (and this is the same guy who settled a sexual harassment claim – too late, however, to avoid public disclosure of his vivid sexual fantasies that were not welcomed by his victim). O’Reilly derided the American Humanist Association’s signs as “dumb and unnecessary.” Is that any way to be Christian and generous? I could say the same thing about Fox, that its attacks on those of us who like those signs are dumb and unnecessary. Unless they want to start accurately labeling themselves as the Christian Conservative Network, it seems like a topic they could easily avoid addressing at all.
Maybe my foggy understanding of Christianity is what makes me so muddled about why Fox thinks it’s a good Christian mission to attack those who haven’t embraced the God-thing. I thought they were supposed to be witnessing to us or something, trying to win us over. Way to do the whole PR thing, guys. Every time Fox attacks atheists, it reinforces my belief that a lot of Christians talk the talk but stumble all over the place when they try to walk the walk.
I’ve been watching Fox News for some time now – and writing for News Hounds on its hypocrisy, misinformation, news distortion and generally ugly tone about anything it doesn't like or deems "different". Its xenophobia is well-documented – from illegal aliens (close the door on ‘em!) to ACORN (we can’t be wasting federal tax dollars on poor people!) to homophobia (it just ain’t God’s way) to President Obama (he wasn’t even born in the United States!), Fox hosts and contributors, as well as many of its guests, have demonstrated that they are the antithesis of what Jesus probably would have wanted his children to be.
If Fox is scornful of the American Humanist signs, maybe it can instead contemplate what the Dalai Lama said: “If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.”
Comments
There will always be bias in the media, I personally agree with much of what is said on FOX. If you don't like it, I suggest you go get your news from NBC. It is the roll of the media to inform the public as to what is going on in the world, how they do that is up to them and a part of their freedom of speech. We as citizens have no right to decide how a private enterprise operates. Like it or not, that is up to the owner of the enterprise. Now, some media organizations believe that it is their role to form public opinion. The left-wing particularly believes this, which is dangerous because they naturally want to suppress public debate on major issues and instead dictate. The right-wing media may be harsh in criticism, but at least they open the debate for or against an issue. That is why true Christians watch FOX, because true Christians today believe in agency and democracy, therefore they are open to public debate which the right-wing media will give them on issues they care about.
the FOX God Squad are a bunch of ignorant morons. you don't need their love, nor approval. i wish people would just stop watching them, as their ratings are very high and they attribute that to their Church-In-State agenda. i used to watch, but can't take them anymore...especially that lunatic Glenn Beck
go f**k yourself
Oh LiberyMAtters you forgot your "T", did you leave it at a tea party?
This is too much!!!
"TRUE Christians watch FOX" LOLOLOL!! I'm SURE they DO!
Because you, and FOX news have that stamp of authority from God making it and you the "True" Christians.. You really should listen to yourself talk! You don't have a monopoly on Liberty, and you damn sure don't own exclusive rights to "goodness".
You CAN be good without God, and the right wing morality police don't want anyone to even hear or read it.
Can your religion be good if it was taxed? How many FOX-Blondes are there anyway?
FAUX NEWS is not fair and balanced, and they ARE a political arm for the "religious-wrong".
Good article Julie, I think you stirred up a crap-storm with it though!
Fox does news? Who knew?
>>I can’t figure out the deal with God’s punishment and forgiveness.<<
Imagine a shipwreck survivor treading water in the middle of the ocean. Someone offers him a lifejacket. Will the guy take it?
THAT is what it's like. There's an open invitation for everyone who wants to be saved. Jesus said "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Free lifejackets for anyone who wants them! Will you take it?
They are right in attacking atheists because WE are a threat to their myth. It takes two sets of DNA to manifest into a zygote then onto a baby. They also don't want to expose the pagan origins of December 25th, which was a date celebrated by polytheists long before Christians settled on it as their Jesus's birthday.
But the war is not about their right to believe what they want. The war is about their selfish narcissism in thinking their way of celebration is a law that everyone else has to celebrate winter holidays the way they do.
I am not surprised in the least that Faux News does this. They are in the same business as any other media. The pick a niche demographic to gain advertisers.
Lifejacket? HUH? Never heard the Bible downplayed like that. But it never ceases to amaze me how people will backpeddle.
And if I don't take the life jacket I drowned. But not only do I drowned, after I die I get tortured forever. How is that appealing? We are reading the same book? Do you deny that hell is forever? Please don't deny that eternal torture "hell" is in the bible.
It is not an invitation. It is a threat, just like an abusive spouse who says, "You have a choice. Stay, and I wont beat you. Leave, and I will stalk you and beat you".
I will never understand why some people hate atheists. They have as much right not to believe as people have to believe. I also have mixed feelings about God but know I would have and do love Jesus. I have a magnet that says"JESUS WAS A JEWISH LIBERAL"so I'm surprised they don't dislike him at Fixed News.It would be nice if the people at Fake News practiced what they preached . Their entire channel is a testament to bearing false witness.
WWJD? I guarentee He would not watch Faux News.
julie, try livin on da sout syde, or in logan square, or humboldt park, maybe it will help you to WAKE UP!
More lies from poor Julie. There is no evidence that Fox people hate Athiests.
Aren't you just a bit of a hypocrite when you bash Fox for their so called "hate" and then you turn around and trash Christianity because you "don't get it"?
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