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gridlore| Psalm 109 Imprecatory Prayer Case to Go Forward in Texas
Fascinating case. Gordon Klingenshmitt is a well-known right wing loony who was thrown out of the Navy for failure to obey lawful orders. He keeps telling people it was because he "refused to stop praying in Jesus' name" even when confronted with the actual paperwork showing differently.
But does imprecatory prayer rise to the standard of incitement? If I stand in front of a group and shout "bring me the head of Tommy Lasorda, and burn Dodger Stadium to the ground!" I can (and should) be arrested for inciting the orange & black mob in front of me to commit felonies. However, if I happened to say "it would be so sweet if I could sit here with my feet up on Lasorda's severed head watching Dodger Stadium burn." have I done anything to encourage or suggest to my theoretical listeners that I want them to do these things?
Will no one rid of this troublesome priest? Henry II knew how to phrase things to avoid direct responsibility.
Do constant imprecatory prayers directed at a fairly public figure, broadcast to an audience that can be described as far more devout and fanatical than the average Christian in America rise to the level of a credible threat? Or are they protected free speech?
I have my opinion. What's yours?
Fascinating case. Gordon Klingenshmitt is a well-known right wing loony who was thrown out of the Navy for failure to obey lawful orders. He keeps telling people it was because he "refused to stop praying in Jesus' name" even when confronted with the actual paperwork showing differently.
But does imprecatory prayer rise to the standard of incitement? If I stand in front of a group and shout "bring me the head of Tommy Lasorda, and burn Dodger Stadium to the ground!" I can (and should) be arrested for inciting the orange & black mob in front of me to commit felonies. However, if I happened to say "it would be so sweet if I could sit here with my feet up on Lasorda's severed head watching Dodger Stadium burn." have I done anything to encourage or suggest to my theoretical listeners that I want them to do these things?
Will no one rid of this troublesome priest? Henry II knew how to phrase things to avoid direct responsibility.
Do constant imprecatory prayers directed at a fairly public figure, broadcast to an audience that can be described as far more devout and fanatical than the average Christian in America rise to the level of a credible threat? Or are they protected free speech?
I have my opinion. What's yours?
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Date: 24 Mar 2011 04:16 (UTC)I'd sum it up-- they don't want to have the actual blood on their own hands, but they want SOMEONE who'll do it; yet they're phrasing it in this way so they can defend themselves by saying, "We didn't say anyone should actually go out and KILL Obama!"
FWIW, I'm Christian--Episcopalian, liberal as all get-out. I FIRMLY believe in separation of church and state. I don't want Fundies running the country, thankyouverymuch! Eh. I'm probably not making much sense. But I wanted to say, I'm frightened by people like this. And I think they're dangerous.
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Date: 24 Mar 2011 13:00 (UTC)