For the last 20 years I and others have questioned the validity and the devotion of America’s evangelicals and radical Christians. The recent senatorial election in Alabama raised the eyebrows of many men and women who claim to be religious devotees. This, combined with constant efforts by the Christian religious right to control the agenda of the entire Republican Party, offer more questions than anyone will ever answer.

The support by southern evangelicals of child molester Roy Moore was both confusing and revolting. It was obviously more important that a Republican be elected than rejecting one of the most immoral men in America.

This has not gone unnoticed by other Christians around the world.

In an interview with the Guardian, Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes accused “self-styled” evangelists of “colluding” with an administration in the White House that, he claimed, fomented division and intolerance.

“Some of the things that have been said by religious leaders seem to collude with a system that marginalizes the poor, a system which builds walls instead of bridges, a system which says people on the margins of society should be excluded, a system which says we’re not welcoming people any more into our country,” he said.

Personally, I question any self-proclaimed ‘Christians’ who refuse to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. These men include Trump, Pence, Moore, Cruz, Palin, Limbaugh, Sessions, Ingraham, Rubio, King, Corker, and dozens more.

Bayes encouraged religious leaders to reject ‘right wing populism,’ and accept all men and women into their faith.

“Whenever people say those kinds of things, they need to be able to justify that they’re saying those things as Christians, and I do not believe it’s justifiable,” he said.

In America, we call religious extremists ‘hypocrites.’ They use their faux-Christianity to accomplish their personal goals and attain wealth beyond imagination.

Please do not condemn me for exposing fake religious leaders. My daughter is a devout Christian and I admire her for her dedication to what she truly believes. There are millions more like her. I am opposed to religious leaders who use their parishioners to subscribe to their cons with the goal of achieving personal success. I also condemn televangelists who accept money from those who can least afford it and purchase mansions and private planes from those donations. Jesus would never have acted in such a manner.

These mostly men, and some women, prey upon the weak-minded and emotionally needy. This is not religion; it is fraud.

One final note; you must remember that all religions are exempt from federal income tax. What a country!

Please re-post; thank you.

Op-ed by James Turnage

SOURCE

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