“Why are we so afraid of theocracy? What might happen? Might we go on a rampage and kill sixty million babies? Yeah, that would be bad. Better not risk it. Might we set up a surveillance state, with camera clusters pointed in every direction at all the intersections? Right—theocracies are terrible like that.”
True Contentment
Two Jobs
“The priests of this system have two basic jobs. The first is to keep throwing virgins into the volcano. The second is to keep up an unrelenting stream of criticism of the Christians, heaping scorn upon how we treat our virgins.”
Virgins and Volcanoes, p. 29
At the Table or On It
“There are only two ‘ways,’ two fundamental religions in the world. One of them feeds people, and the other one eats people.”
Virgins and Volcanoes, p. 27
Contra All Three
“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and pecksniffs.”
Letters Post-CNN
As result of the interview with CNN, I was introduced to a number of new acquaintances. Not all of them were enchanted. Letter to the Editor: Shame. Shame on you for wicked beliefs. ...
That CNN Report: Viewing the Game Film
Introduction: So last week CNN dropped a report that they had put together on all the doings out here in Moscow. That piece was a blessing for us in many ways, and I thought to take a few minutes ...
Self-Deception in Business
Introduction: When a preacher talks to businessmen, it is not uncommon to have the topic tend toward things like “learning to be generous,” or “maintaining a work/family balance,” or "don't ...
Mingle Mangle
“Attempts to undertake what is euphemistically called sex reassignment surgery is in reality a high revolt. It is an attempted coup, an attempt to assassinate the God of Heaven. We can see this in two aspects. First, it attempts to take a prerogative of Deity in hand—only God can transform XY chromosomes into XX. And second, when God did this, the result was something that bore His image, the image of God. When He did it, the result was glorious beauty. When we do it, it will come out as some kind of mingle mangle of Frankenstein, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Mr. Potato Head, and the book of Enoch. It cannot end well . . . unless you count fire from Heaven as ending well.”
Virgins and Volcanoes, p. 24
Not You
“The basic Christian answer to our leaders and scientists and politicians and writers and poets and philosophers has to be this. Who is God? Not you. Who has the prerogatives of Deity? Not you.”
Virgins and Volcanoes, p. 23