Southern Baptists to split from Baptist World Alliance

*ha?

those who describe themselves as "not religious" favor Kerry 69 percent to 22 percent

asked if a president should be guided by his faith when making policy, 63 percent of Democrats say no, while 70 percent of Republicans say yes

I'm from Alabama and I am incredibly proud my family does not attend church. Like, even my extended family, my aunts and uncles and grandparents, fuck some church, we got better things to do on weekends, like crossword puzzles and mowing the lawn.

And oh BTW being from Alabama and not attending church: I FUCKING HATE SOUTHERN BAPTISTS. In their case though it's more like I just hate everybody who attends, unlike the Catholic church where I just despise the living shit out of the institution itself. I'm gonna go re-read L'Etranger now I think.

11:14 And it came to pass that Ethem did execute judgment in wickedness all his days; and he begat Moron. And it came to pass that Moron did reign in his stead; and Moron did that which was wicked before the Lord.

11:15 And it came to pass that there arose a rebellion among the people, because of that secret combination which was built up to get power and gain; and there arose a mighty man among them in iniquity, and gave battle unto Moron, in which he did overthrow the half of the kingdom; and he did maintain the half of the kingdom for many years.

11:16 And it came to pass that Moron did overthrow him, and did obtain the kingdom again.

Considering myself somewhat of a free-thinker, by age ten I had tons of questions aboout creationism, immaculate conception, etc. that were usually met with blank stares or looks of pity from Sunday school teachers. I'm sure there was a prayer circle or two regarding the state of my soul (I could totally relate to Saved!, which I tought was great, btw). I wasn't ready to sign up just yet. Again, my parents were fairly cool and never gave me any grief as I slowly stopped attending. They weren't far behind.

So, yeah, Southern Baptists are THE WORST.

By RICHARD N. OSTLING, AP Religion Writer

INDIANAPOLIS - The Southern Baptist Convention voted down a controversial proposal Wednesday that would have asked parents to pull their children from public schools in favor of religious education.

On the final day of the denomination's annual meeting, some 8,500 church representatives also approved a call to amend the U.S. Constitution to bar gay marriage. The 16.3 million-member SBC is the nation's largest Protestant body.

Earlier this year, a statement denouncing "government schools" as "officially Godless" had been proposed by retired Air Force General T.C. Pinckney of Alexdandria, Va., and attorney Bruce Shortt of Spring, Texas.

The meeting's resolutions committee rejected that in favor of a broader and less pointed warning against "the cultural drift in our nation toward secularism."

Pinckney took the floor to move a briefer amendment encouraging parents to provide their children "a thoroughly Christian education" through private day schools or home schooling. That was defeated that by a show of hands after the most spirited debate of the meeting.

The Rev. Calvin Wittman of Wheat Ridge, Colo., who chaired the resolutions committee, said half its members are home schoolers but the panel opposed Pinckney's bid because parents must decide.

Baptists must be careful "not to usurp the authority that God has placed firmly in the home," he said, and there isn't enough consensus among church members to issue such a statement.

The gay marriage resolution passed without debate. It commended President Bush, who spoke to the meeting Tuesday, for supporting a proposed federal marriage amendment.

The text said "the union of one man and one woman is the only form of marriage prescribed in the Bible as God's perfect design" and "this traditional family is the fabric of all social order and the foundational institution that builds and maintains strong societies."

Other resolutions that were approved Wednesday without dissent by the staunchly conservative gathering:

-Urged all U.S. Christians to register and "vote in accordance with biblical values."

-Expressed "pride and strong support for our American military."

-Praised Ronald Reagan for his "strong belief in the Bible and its answers to life's problems" and pledged to "perpetuate the positive values" his life exemplified..

-Thanked those who led the "conservative resurgence" in the SBC beginning 25 years ago that "led us back to our historic biblical moorings."

I swear to god I read that as "post-service lynching." I think my prejudice against Christians is becoming more insidious...