# Omnibus Religious Fucks in the NEWS **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 7, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066 "2022-02-07T18:33:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 67
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1321 "2026-10-22T04:58:52Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > [J on X: "Televangelist Kenneth Copeland claims he was shown the punishment those who didn't vote for Trump will face on Judgment Day: They'll spend eternity listening to the names of all the babies killed by abortion" / X](https://x.com/jbulldogs4/status/2112649389189783949) Is it because the felon’s not actually running for office that Ken (apt name) Copeland is able to freely violate the rule against endorsing specific persons? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1322 "2026-10-22T05:23:18Z")
Aborted babies have names? I suppose a few must. … so presumably the Trumpandemic gets to eternally hear the names of all those he and his regime killed by withdrawing US Aid, Vaccination programmes, etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1323 "2026-10-22T05:54:57Z")
Of course not. Jeezus wouldn’t allow it. [![](https://external-preview.redd.it/jesus-vs-jesus-v0-6Tr-yinkJ3QJLo5CAr5uvgBbmVZ0S1Lc56fRB3ff_Jo.jpg?auto=webp&s=b9892a7a1a2235f40a78b20acd3f5edba631daa6) ](https://external-preview.redd.it/jesus-vs-jesus-v0-6Tr-yinkJ3QJLo5CAr5uvgBbmVZ0S1Lc56fRB3ff_Jo.jpg?auto=webp&s=b9892a7a1a2235f40a78b20acd3f5edba631daa6) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1324 "2026-10-22T12:06:30Z")
I’ve been thinking all week about this article I read: > **[Tishomingo Burn Ban \[GIFT LINK\]](https://southlandsmag.com/p/1d1d9380-6245-4193-999f-365974a7e77c/?src=longreads)** > > An encounter in the Christ-haunted South It’s about a man on a camping trip with his young son. They are interrupted by a religious nut who is incredibly intrusive and borderline threatening. How do we keep manufacturing people like this? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1325 "2026-10-22T16:00:10Z")
I find it troubling that somebody writes an article about a religious loon and in it describes himself as: > Yes, we did know the Lord. Fairly well, as a matter of fact. I was, at the time of this encounter, ordained as a Ruling Elder in a Presbyterian Church, where I’d also taught Bible classes, written liturgies, and developed curricula for small groups. and thinks this is normal. I would not let my son go camping with either of them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1326 "2026-10-22T16:06:07Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I’ve been thinking all week about this article I read: > > [Tishomingo Burn Ban [GIFT LINK]](https://southlandsmag.com/p/1d1d9380-6245-4193-999f-365974a7e77c/?src=longreads) > > It’s about a man on a camping trip with his young son. They are interrupted by a religious nut who is incredibly intrusive and borderline threatening. How do we keep manufacturing people like this? They have to do something with factory rejects. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1327 "2026-10-22T16:09:06Z")
Being a “[ruling elder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_polity)” in the Presbyterian church is pretty banal in itself. > [@](#): > > Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the [session](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_(Presbyterianism) "Session (Presbyterianism)") (or [consistory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consistory_(Protestantism)#Reformed_usage "Consistory (Protestantism)")), though other terms, such as _church board_, may apply.[[notes 1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_polity#cite_note-1) Groups of local churches are governed by a higher assembly of elders known as the **[presbytery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_polity#Presbytery)** or **classis** ; presbyteries can be grouped into a **synod** , and presbyteries and synods nationwide often join in a **general assembly**. > [@](#): > > - Preaching (the ministry of the Word) and the administration of the sacraments is ordinarily entrusted to specially trained elders (known as ministers of the Word and [Sacrament](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament "Sacrament"),[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_polity#cite_note-form1645-9) sometimes called “teaching elders”) in each local [congregation](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/congregation "wiktionary:congregation"), approved for these tasks by a governing presbytery, or classis, and called by the local congregation.[[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_polity#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBannerman1868a%5Bhttpsarchiveorgdetailschurchofchristtr01bannpage432mode2upqelection_pp433%5D_passim-10) > - In addition to these ministers, there are also "others … with gifts for government … commonly call[ed] “elders”[[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_polity#cite_note-form1645-9) or “ruling elders”. > - Pastoral care, [church discipline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_discipline "Church discipline"), leadership and legislation are committed to the care of ruling assemblies of presbyters among whom the ministers and “ruling elders” are equal participants. > - All Christian people together are the priesthood (see [priesthood of all believers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priesthood_of_all_believers "Priesthood of all believers")), on behalf of whom the elders are called to serve by the consent of the congregation. It’s like the church version of a school board, divining the Word of God by committee. Which is not to say they can’t get up to something hinky, as we’ve seen a bazillion times over in similar churches, but I think his point in that story was that he was very involved in his own church and hardly a stranger to the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1328 "2026-10-22T16:15:21Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I think his point in that story was that he was very involved in his own church and hardly a stranger to the Bible. Yes, that was my point too. And if **Llama\_Llogophile** one post before asks > [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > How do we keep manufacturing people like this? I see a connection there. Teaching Bible classes, calling yourself a Ruling Elder with capital letters, writing liturgies, developing curricula for small groups, those words scream DANGER in my ears. Which goes to show that I am not an US-American. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1329 "2026-10-22T16:19:48Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I see a connection there. Teaching Bible classes, calling yourself a Ruling Elder with capital letters, writing liturgies, developing curricula for small groups, those words scream DANGER in my ears. It entirely depends on _what_ you’re teaching in those classes. I’ve seen Bible classes that are basically a tepid “Bible For Dummies” session and others where they are very much pushing a malign agenda. As for titles, well - people love that shit. See also: the Freemasons, the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, etc. Meaningless ritual to validate their existences. Sometimes they get a hat too. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1330 "2026-10-22T16:23:29Z")
Whoa, whoa. I’ll have you know that my installment as Grand Poobah of the Water Buffalos was _anything_ but meaningless. And I’ve got a hat, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1331 "2026-10-22T16:30:25Z")
[Hats are important](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120113). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1332 "2026-10-22T16:32:53Z")
Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Hindu, says the American Founding Fathers will judge you in the afterlife, which is not how Hinduism (or any religion I’m aware of) works. > ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1333 "2026-10-22T16:40:20Z")
Well, yes, I see, but the **[snag](https://youtu.be/gV5OAfKhe34?t=172)** is, if I call HR now and say that I have with me a 45 years old chartered accountant who wants to become a Ruling Elder, his first question is not going to be: has he got his own hat? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1334 "2026-10-22T16:45:43Z")
Putting the _presbyter_ in Presbyterian. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1335 "2026-10-22T17:03:48Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I find it troubling that somebody writes an article about a religious loon and in it describes himself as: > > > Yes, we did know the Lord. Fairly well, as a matter of fact. I was, at the time of this encounter, ordained as a Ruling Elder in a Presbyterian Church, where I’d also taught Bible classes, written liturgies, and developed curricula for small groups. > > and thinks this is normal. I would not let my son go camping with either of them. But he was not barging into peoples’ camp sites and acting creepy. Or so I gather from the tone of the article. Which is why I have no real problem with religious people, despite thinking it’s completely irrational. My problem is with the “religious fucks” who act like assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1336 "2026-10-22T17:27:38Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > [Hats are important](https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20120113). I was hoping that’s what would be what was at this link. (He hates that hat.) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1337 "2026-10-22T18:00:33Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > American Founding Fathers will judge you in the afterlife Wait… _what???_ (I’m having that reaction entirely too often still. I thought by now I’d get jaded.) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1338 "2026-10-23T01:39:25Z")
from **Smapti** ’s link: > [@](#): > > Vivek Ramaswamy says the founding fathers will hold Americans accountable in the afterlife: Well, in all of VR’s great, all-seeing ways, Amy Acton’s mom might dodge this bullet. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1339 "2026-10-23T03:49:31Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I have no real problem with religious people, despite thinking it’s completely irrational. My problem is with the “religious fucks” who act like assholes. As if there is some bright line between the two groups, when in fact it is a continuum with only tiny steps separating one end from the other. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066/1340 "2026-10-23T04:01:49Z")
Thomas Jefferson is going to hold _me_ accountable? Almost makes me wish I weren’t an atheist. 😁 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066.md?page=66) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-religious-fucks-in-the-news/959066.md?page=68)