# The Omnibus "Religious Leaders Being Fucking Awful" Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 6, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108 "2019-06-06T03:26:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/101 "2020-01-27T15:52:56Z")
So, was there a massive wave of so-called “miscarriages” as a result of her command? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/102 "2020-01-27T16:09:16Z")
The preacher [responds that she was speaking metaphorically](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/480039-trumps-spiritual-adviser-responds-to-backlash-after-sermon). > [@](#): > > “I don’t normally respond but clearly this has been taken out of context. I was praying Eph 6:12 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood,” she tweeted on Sunday. “Anything that has been conceived by demonic plans, for it to be cancelled and not prevail in your life, that is- any plans to hurt people.” […] > > “We declare any strange winds — any strange winds that have been sent to hurt the church, sent to hurt this nation, sent against the president, sent against myself, sent against others — we break it by the superior blood of Jesus right now,” she said in the sermon earlier this month. > > “In the name of Jesus, we command all satanic pregnancies to miscarry right now,” she also prayed. “We declare that anything that has been conceived in satanic wombs will miscarry, it will not be able to carry forth any plan of destruction, any plan of harm.” IOW, a “satanic pregnancy” just means plots about bad stuff, not a reference to any physical pregnancy. I would have thought that a right-wing televangelist would be aware that **any** figure of speech expressing a positive view of “pregnancies” “miscarrying” would be bad optics for the “pro-life” position, though. Personally, I feel that social media has neglected the rhetorical possibilities of the speaker’s previous declaration that they are “breaking” “strange winds”. Oh, is **that** what those weird noises are, I thought it was just your preaching. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/103 "2020-01-29T02:02:18Z")
The Satanic Temple has the best response to Paula White: > [@Lucien Greaves and The Satanic Temple](#): > > Dear Pastor White, > > Greetings from The Satanic Temple (TST)! We were very pleased this weekend to learn that you had recently publicly prayed for God to induce miscarriages in Satanic pregnancies. At a time in which Satanists have had tofight desperately to retain their bodily autonomy in the face of increasingly restrictive anti-abortion laws, we are glad that your “logic” must necessarily lead you to support unrestricted abortion access for Satanists seeking to end unwanted pregnancies! I am writing to ask you to take a bolder step in the name of your faith, and lend your support to our Religious Reproductive Rights campaign which seeks to invoke religious exemptions from abortion restrictions on behalf of Satanists. > > Consistent with our tenets, which call for bodily autonomy and acting in accordance with best scientific evidence, TST religiously objects to many of the restrictions that states have enacted that interfere with abortion access. TST is taking many steps on behalf of our members and those who share our beliefs to establish exemptions from laws that do not promote the health and safety of patients and violate our conscience and beliefs. > > As you know,more than half of all abortions in the United States are sought by Christian women, while 38% are sought by the nonreligious, and only 8% are sought by women who belong to a non-Christian religion. So it is especially forward-thinking of you to single out Satanists as deserving of expressing the reproductive freedoms they champion. While the Satanic Temple is officially nontheistic, we do hold as one of our central tenets that, “One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.” We are delighted to learn that you share that view. > > We are impressed at your integrity in boldly supporting our reproductive rights, especially as many of your cohorts dishonestly equate abortion with “baby killing,” a notion completely at odds with science. It will not come as news to you that, according to theCenters for Disease Control, 91% of abortions in America are performed before the thirteenth week of pregnancy, when it isscientifically impossiblefor the fetus to experience conscious pain. By contrast, a newly-hatched chicken isfar more conscious. There is more ethical quandary in a chicken sandwich than in a first-trimester abortion. > > It was a true relief to all of us at The Satanic Temple to see you in particular defending our health care rights, as we know that you will put your substantial fortune where your mouth is. While exact figures are unknown, you areestimatedto carry a net worth of roughly $5 million. The average abortion isroughly $500. Thus, ten of our members could exercise their Constitutional (and, as you see it, God-given) right to terminate their pregnancies for a mere $5,000, or roughly 0.1% of your estimated net worth. > > You may send a check directly to our headquarters: > > The Satanic Temple Religious Reproductive Rights Campaign Seriously, those guys are awesome. They’re like the ACLU, if it were run by Monty Python. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/104 "2020-01-29T12:15:11Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You’re not wrong, but I offer Modi’s Hindu-supremacy politics in India right now and the brutality of the Buddhist government in Myanmar as counterpoints. And remember that the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot came up from an almost entirely Buddhist Cambodian culture. > > Most religions are crappy, period. Awful people who happen to follow some religion do not prove the religion is awful. Even if those religious people are religious leaders. What makes a religion awful is when awful leaders are explicitly praised or abetted by the top spiritual leaders of that religion. The “Khmer Rouge government under Pol Pot sought to systematically obliterate Buddhism from Cambodian society.” Pol Pot, an atheist, had actually spent 8 years learning at … Catholic school. Sure, you can find examples of Buddhist head-monks who are corrupt or criminal. But do you have a cite for major spiritual leaders of Buddhism or any East Asian religion actively condoning sin and corruption in the name of religion? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/105 "2020-01-29T15:05:26Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > The Satanic Temple has the best response to Paula White. Seriously, those guys are awesome. They’re like the ACLU, if it were run by Monty Python. Thank you for that laugh. And Paula White should be head of the Spin City Yeah…But Committee." Make that Butt, cause she’s an ass. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/106 "2020-01-31T04:41:51Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Sure, you can find examples of Buddhist head-monks who are corrupt or criminal. But do you have a cite for major spiritual leaders of Buddhism or any East Asian religion actively condoning sin and corruption in the name of religion? 😕 And are they wearing kilts when they do so? I mean, golly, that’s some serious No-True-Asian-Religion-Leader you’ve got going on there. Oh well, if it’s only a “head-monk” then that doesn’t count, right? Not “top” enough. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/107 "2020-01-31T07:25:49Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Sure, you can find examples of Buddhist head-monks who are corrupt or criminal. But do you have a cite for major spiritual leaders of Buddhism or any East Asian religion actively condoning sin and corruption in the name of religion? Hmmm. Perhaps [Falun Gong](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Falun_Gong#Epoch_Times) might qualify. Their general teachings embrace homophobia, racism and support for the current president of the US. Then there is [Aum Shinrikyo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum_Shinrikyo), which is more than slightly ugly. Buddhism is all lovely and stuff, but it can be abused, just like any other tool. As I understand it, the Dalai Lama is actually a serious dick, in terms of doctrine. Never mind the venerable Reverend Moon, who took an Asian religion (Christianity) and did quite a number on it (just try to read the Washington Times while also trying to keep your lunch down). ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/108 "2020-01-31T16:34:00Z")
I’m not sure what qualifies as a major spiritual leader, but Myanmar, as previously mentioned, has had some pretty awful things going on. Would the leaders of Ma Ba Tha be leaders in the larger sense or “head monks?” > **[Buddhist nationalist group threatens stability in Myanmar](https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Buddhist-nationalist-group-threatens-stability-in-Myanmar)** > > We bring you the Asian business, politics, economy and tech stories others miss. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/109 "2020-01-31T18:29:35Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Awful people who happen to follow some religion do not prove the religion is awful. Even if those religious people are religious leaders. > > What makes a religion awful is when awful leaders are explicitly praised or abetted by the top spiritual leaders of that religion. > > The “Khmer Rouge government under Pol Pot sought to systematically obliterate Buddhism from Cambodian society.” Pol Pot, an atheist, had actually spent 8 years learning at … Catholic school. > > Sure, you can find examples of Buddhist head-monks who are corrupt or criminal. But do you have a cite for major spiritual leaders of Buddhism or any East Asian religion actively condoning sin and corruption in the name of religion? Whatever. Religion needs to stay the hell out of politics and out of the personal business of people - especially those that don’t “belong” to them. Some of us are pretty damn sick and tired of their bullshit. And the crap excuses trotted out by their apologists. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/110 "2020-02-08T18:35:49Z")
We know that Billy Graham was kind of bad, but he projected a respectable persona. We know he was bad because his son turned out to be a massive shitpile, so disgusting that even the Brits reject his efforts to soil their green and pleasant land. > [@Stupid Republican idea of the day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/43450): > > Franklin Graham was planning a seven city tour of the UK, but every venue has canceled, saying his homophobia and Islamophobia is not welcome > [https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/uk/franklin-graham-uk-tour-scli-intl/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/uk/franklin-graham-uk-tour-scli-intl/index.html) ---
**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:** [February 8, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/111 "2020-02-08T19:55:50Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > We know that Billy Graham was kind of bad, but he projected a respectable persona. And when the fuck did he project that? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/112 "2020-02-08T21:31:38Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > And when the fuck did he project that? In the '60s, when he was just another preacher. ---
**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:** [February 8, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/113 "2020-02-08T23:00:07Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > In the '60s, when he was just another preacher. Nope. I remember the 60s. He was an ass then, too. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2020, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108/114 "2020-02-09T02:24:54Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Nope. I remember the 60s. He was an ass then, too. What? I’m sure Jesus would have worn his Rolex when he played golf with Richard Nixon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-religious-leaders-being-fucking-awful-thread/835108.md?page=5)