and "true believers!" This belief in a temporally "punishing" God is obscene... But those on the evangelical Right have to find a way to blame the Obama administration for this disaster of fossil fuel-fueled greed gone horribly awry.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the spill...

Cmon, isn't it obvious all this is due to the queers and baby killers?

I like your Christ, I don't like your christians...

There is no such thing as god.

If Jesus is coming back, I wish he'd come now and smack the hell out of the oil companies and these "whack job" evangelicals.

Hal Lindsey? That says it all!!!! What a scientific genius!!!! I hang on his every mumble.....

Really?!? Grow up. Santa Claus did it! (to 111pct: its due to the lack of intelligence which you obviously have)

In spite of their claims, they are not really His followers.

Trying to blame the hand of God for something that was clearly a man-made disaster shows how little regard they really have for their Lord - and how little logic they are able to use.

Regardless, plan x now seems to be about invoking divine intervention. It is skimpy on detail but is cost effective. http://beyondprophecy.blogspot.com/2010/06/gulf-oil-last-resort.html

If Christ were to return, in His full Glory, he would be branded as a Nut Case, possibly institutionalized and/ or reviled by the right as one of those "Feel Good Libruls" and an out of the mainstream crazy with all kinds of clips to show him to be an actor, him walking on water, bread and fish for a crowd, healing the sick and crippled... little things like that that show him to be demented, egotistical fraud...even with the Real Thing that they profess to follow sitting right there in front of them, they would deny it because that is what their corporate Sponsors Did Decree, thus their hold on Power!

I'm sure there are those who universally back current Israeli government policy on settlements, East Jerusalem, etc. who are happy to see this drivel propagated. But of course current Israeli government policy isn't identical with Israel's "vital interest," which, it can be argued, rests in accommodating the rights and aspirations of Palestinians and others who share the land there in order to live in peace and security.

Having said that, the amount of vitriol and sheer paranoid nonsense attending critiques of President Obama never ceases to amaze me.

Again, my heart goes out to all those who have suffered because of this greed-driven disaster in the Gulf; unfortunately, I'm sure we haven't seen the worst of it yet.

I can't even believe you read it. Further confused that you'd be interested enough to read it, yet uninterested enough to complain about having read it.

I see we have issues.

you're a douche bag

@Bambi:

You get extra credit for knowing your Biblical facts, for sure! :)

Over the years, I have pondered a variety of hypotheses and theories regarding the best way to make sense of the Bible (King James Version), and the interpretation which appears to be the best fit at present is that sometime before God created the universe, God was either very young or very old, where currently I am leaning toward the idea that God was very young, as well as perhaps a bit bored, really . . .

Really!

So, in this theory, what one might call "Baby God" decided to do something interesting at various times over exactly one week, mostly during playtime in His little baby bed, which happened to be creating a universe complete with such things as heavens, light, darkness, stars, day and night, firmaments, a planet named "Earth", a virtual festival of water, land, plants, animals, Adam and Eve, a gnarly snake, and an apple tree . . .

And since this probably was the first complete universe that "Baby God" created, He took all the rough drafts and prototypes of incorrectly functioning genetic algorithms and put them in the apple tree, since it appeared to be a good place to store all the assorted garbage, but being a wise "Baby God", He told Adam and Eve specifically not to eat any apples and, additionally, He put a gnarly snake there, as well, since at the time there were no placards for a "Whatever you do, please, please, please do NOT eat the apples!" sign . . .

However, the gnarly snake, which was not the brightest candle, nibbled on an apple, and a few of the malfunctioning snippets of various genetic algorithms merged with the gnarly snake's genetic code with the consequence that the gnarly snake suddenly not only could talk but also developed skills which many millennia later would be quite similar to the skills enjoyed by most used car dealers, all politicians, many bankers, and virtually every government bureaucrat who more than anything simply wants to sleep all day . . .

So, after a while, the now talking gnarly snake had some conversations with Eve and convinced her that she really need to get a pair of Angela Gossow's Underpants--an analogy, metaphor, or simile--since everything is better with Bluebonnet on it, which makes no sense, but so what . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecAFV-6rQ7Q

So what!

And this soon led to Eve convincing Adam to share an apple with her, which he did, with the result that some of the malfunctioning snippets of various leftover genetic algorithms in the apple got into Adam and Eve's genetic codes, which among other things caused them to have what one might call a "romantic moment", and then about nine months later, much to their general surprise they discovered that they were parents, and so forth and so on, which included Adam having to get a job, since diapers were not free . . .

Then a bit of time passed, and "Baby God" grew a bit older and became "Toddler God", during which time He began having a grand time with some of the people on Earth, where among other things He would appear to them as a burning bush that talked and then then would give what certainly must have appeared to be strange instructions, which of course they followed, since what else can one do when a bush bursts into flames and starts talking but does not burn, yet knows your name and tells you to remove your sandals . . .

But, as "Toddler God" soon outgrew the "terrible twos", He developed a bit of a temper, which led to becoming quite annoyed with nearly everything and everybody on Earth to the point that He essentially and perhaps literally nuked Sodom and Gomorrah; turned Lot's wife into a pillar of salt; drowned everything and everybody, except Noah, his immediate family, and a "mom" and "dad" pair of all the animals He liked, which tends strongly to suggest that animal crackers in those days had a LOT of different types of animals, but no dinosaurs (except for a few lizards, which technically are not dinosaurs) . . .

And so forth and so on . . .

However, while now "Fifth Grader God" generally was happy, He realized that there might be a few things about people that needed a bit more understanding, so this probably was around the time that God decided He needed an imaginary friend, which He created and named "Holy Spirit", which is the way it works as best as I have been able to determine . . .

And this was a bit of FUN, but eventually "Fifth Grader God" had the idea that what He really needed was a real Son, since it was around this time that He read the classic children's story "Pinocchio", who would be human for a while, so connecting the dots after observing the way this was done by people, "Fifth Grader God" sent the Holy Spirit to Earth to handle the intimate technical details required to transform Mary the wife of Joseph into Mary the Mother of Jesus, since "Fifth Grader God" already had decided to call his Son by the name "Jesus", since He really liked the way "Jesus" sounded in Spanish, and as we know, the fine people of Mexico are among the best Catholics in the known universe, for sure . . .

For sure!

And it was good for a while, but then it got very dramatic and sad, yet three days later it was all good again, and since what by this time had become the Trinity comprising God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit--which is an all for one and one for all entity, similar conceptually to Sigmund Freud's id, ego, and superego, since we are created in God's image literally, physically, and spiritually, but mostly these are just different aspects of the same thing--God had a team meeting with Himself and decided that it would be FUN to write a metaphorical science fiction story, which actually was "spot on" as the British like to say, with the result being "The Book of the Revelation of John", which as all bright Biblical scholars know is singular rather than plural, since there is only one Revelation . . .

Then, we skip forward approximately two millennia, during which years and centuries Satan has been working overtime, and here we are at the dawn of the early 21st century pretty much just as ignorant as we have been ever since all the garbage snippets of leftover genetic algorithms got into our genetic codes, where in particular it is important to observe that everything revolves around two of the sons of Adam and Eve--specifically, Abel and Cain--and the summary version is that all the sneaky weasels on the Earth today are the descendants of Cain, while all the intrinsically good people are the descendants of Abel, his younger brother (Seth, who appeared sometime later), and a virtual festival of other siblings, since while Adam and Eve tended to misinterpret a few of the nutritional guidelines, they certainly were diligent over what looks to have been a very busy and quite romantic millennia in following God's instruction to be fruitful and to multiply, really . . .

Really!

So, it is absolutely correct that God is not punishing the world . . .

God allows things to happen; Jesus makes a Divine effort to ensure that the innocent and those who confess their sins and ask for mercy find salvation; and it is not a good idea to mess with the Holy Spirit, because most of God's temper now is controlled and handled by the Holy Spirit, which is very important to understand, since in great contrast to God and Jesus, the Holy Spirit does not need what one might call a "hall pass" to go anywhere at any time for any reason, which in the grand scheme of everything literally, physically, and spiritually maps to the Holy Spirit being ready, willing, and able to do all the apparently fantastic but actually quite real stuff revealed and delineated in Revelation pretty much anytime and anywhere it becomes necessary . . .

The reality is that the descendants of Cain are doing what they always have done and probably always will do, which in a very real sense is to destroy and to kill everything they can, typically with considerable help from Satan, who is the "Prince of Sneaky Weasels", for sure . . .

For sure!

And after studying the various satellite images at the National Hurricane Center, as well as the completely and totally surreal, nearly perfectly circular, approximately 60 feet diameter, 30-stories deep, cylindrical hole that appeared sua sponte in Guatemala City just a few weeks ago--which is virtually mind-boggling--I think that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have decided to allow a few of the descendants of Cain to have yet another opportunity for a much needed epiphany for the betterment and enlightenment of everyone else . . .

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

http://s.ngeo.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/211/cache/guatemala-city-sinkhole_21110_600x450.jpg

Hence, Baldenario's advice to novices is to watch the weather fervently and to be ready, willing, and able to run away; to seek shelter; and to pray passionately when the truly gnarly stuff starts happening, unless of course one happens to be able to control the weather by the sheer power of his or her mind, which is fabulous . . .

Fabulous!

Only in the US? ummm.... No. How about the people of this world who subjugate the female Sex? Or blow themselves to kill people that do not believe the way they do. Or perform genital deformation in the name of {insert who/whatever you pray to}? The list of examples of "delusional and VERY psychotic belief systems" are evident in every civilization.

Lets pray that Humans as a race can figure things out. One way or another we are gonna have to live with each other or spend the next 2,000 yrs in blood... kinda like the last 2,000 yrs......

amen ......all the way .As big business gets it's way more and more we won't need to fear socialism anymore ,we will need to fear rampant corporate fascism.As big corporations find as many ways necessary to stifle smart human growth ,engineering the future of green and lean tech.,and most notably small business that may one day threaten them,sure they give 20% of us jobs ,"for now" as they send more jobs overseas to death factories where ,for the moment these 3rd world governments tolerate it . but soon ,as they have done before ,they will be forced to clean up their act in those countries and pay better and assure safety,AH!! but will they <nope they will pack their tents and unleash their brand of corporate greed and destruction on some other poor sap nation.And sure some will be lifted out of poverty but for the most part the legacy of death and destruction left in their wake will never have been worth it....small business will build the future ,"just as soon as we can get the corporate backed politicians from changing the rules around for the small guy all the time...After all small business' are responsible for the other 80% of all jobs in america...."put that in your well and drill it BP"

I seriously hope that this is just an attempt at some tongue and cheek. If you are religious in any way you are defaming your own religion by claiming that this is God's retribution on to America. Period.

And if the religious want to convert or make peace with others of different beliefs this is NOT the way. In fact go read the Bible for once and find for yourself where it says that being self righteous and ignorant is the path to God. I read the book and can tell you it is not there. In fact there is a lot about being humble and turning the other cheek. But I guess we can just ignore that which doesn't suit what we wish to believe.

I beat even if it wasn't the day after the UN meeting it would have been some other event some how tied to the president that would have caused it. If you look for something hard enough you can always find the answer you want if you just ignore a few facts and sprinkle some hypothesis. Just don't expect anyone with an IQ over 120 to even look you in the eye with any respect what so ever.

So sit back and enjoy the ride called reality that the rest of us are on.

Shh.. is that a hint of self righteousness in sense in your tone?

Though I'm not an atheist, I wholeheartedly agree with you concerning this absurdly backward characterization of God; if He (or She?) did this to the Gulf, more specifically to all the innocents - human and animal - involved, and, what's more, did it because the US failed to support, in the UN Security Council, the militant policies of the current Right-wing coalition governing the state of Israel, I would want no part of the "Grace" of such a God.

I perceive a God of beauty, of order within apparent chaos - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number - and yes, though it seems unlikely to some, on a personal level I perceive a God of mercy and of comfort.

I'm not a Creationist. I'm not a Believer, in terms of God, except in what I see as "good" in the world.

It's Evil that's recognizable by it's willingness to do harm and take life; a God who is so recognized deserves the worship and/or faith of no one... nobody at all.

You go girl!!! I'm so glad to see that I'm not the only one who feels the same way about these wack Jobs!! To think that there's actually people (and far to many) on this earth who are so demented is actually frightening as hell!!!!

Bumper sticker: "God is coming

and boy, is he pissed!"

If you believe in God then why not Santa Claus, the easter bunny, tooth fairy etc. He is imaginary and only used as a crutch for those that cannot cope with even the slightest adversity. He does not exist in any form except in your mind, your fearful mind. Get a grip and deal with reality and face the music of your own poor choices and mistakes. You hold your own fate in your own hands. It is not God's Will, it is your own and maybe lack of integrity and character that holds you back. No one has ever seen God and no one has ever come back from the dead to affect anything. Believe in yourself.

For those that think that God is not real, just open your Bible, O you don't have a Bible. In the first book of the Bible. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. God did more in six days than we can do in a life time. Then he rested on the seventh day and said it is good. This spill was caused becuase mankind wants more for less and failed to follow guide lines..

I believe in God and I think this guy is whacked! People like those are the wolf in sheepskin that is turning people away from actually knowing God for who is really is. If you really think God is going to give a certain group of people privilege no matter what they do then you have no understanding of Christianity at all! The Old Testament depicted God seeking justice and punishIsrael every time they lose sight of doing what is right. In New Testament (yes that's where we get all the nice story about Jesus) multiple times Jesus talk about love and compassion over a LOT of geo-political issues, and the rest of the letters painted a clear pictures that it is the heart of men and women that is more important than the Geo-political crap that some politicians wannabe try to make people believe in. In fact, the instructions are simple: Don't believe them! Their words are worthless.

There are things we do in this country that is not right. But you know what, for the most part I do think people in this country still has a moral compass that is somewhat in-line with the standard set by God. I'm not saying we are picture perfect but saying we are completely doomed by God because we don't "support Israel" unconditionally and give any country a free ride is just nuts. Please show me the scriptures where that is the case. In Revelations it is said that Israel will be taken cared of but they are under the same judgement just as all other Christians do. Nobody is getting a free ride when the end comes (if you believe in it, that is).

I really do not appreciate when people trying to tie geo-political agenda to "the will of God". That is not how religion works and this is certainly not the message of true Christianity. I don't think my opinion can represent those who pretends to be Christians and express skewed opinions to fit their agendas but I can comfortably say that most Christians that truly seek God would agree with my expressed opinion above.

We've seen this kind of claims, after almost any kind of disaster strikes anywhere. These supposed "punishments by God" are so capricious and irrational and hits so many innocents - and misses so many guilty! - that it makes no sense whatsoever. It basically portrays a god that isn't worthy of worship.

'Heidi, I agree with you completely.

A state as ugly and bigoted as the state or Florida, if you envision the concept of a state writing hate against a class of citizens, based on their sexual orientation, into our state constitution, and it doesn't make you angry, something's wrong with you. I hope oil covers the cesspool states of Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Those bigots deserve that and worse. The federal government should not be spending a penny to stop the oil or clean it up. Let the prejudiced citizens of those repulsive states pay for it themselves.

What a schmuck. I grew in east New York City and have lived in Akron, St. Louis, Chicago, Salt Lake and Florida. You don't know what you're talking about. If you wish to judge all the citizens down here based upon the laws on the books that a large number of Southerners would love to see overturned and lump everyone together as evil, you are no better than the hate-mongers you rail against. Judge people as individuals and not by the laws they are bound by and I'd have a little respect for your opinions. As it is.... I don't think you're any better.

@ Ryan:

Putting everyone who live in those states into the same category... yeah that certainly isn't bigoted. What sanctimonious smack. Maybe you need to look up the word "bigoted."

Man you talk about prejudice and bigotry! I'm glad you're not judgmental and generalizing everyone in the South as being all the same. I think you people are crazy. God didn't do this to people, people did this to themselves. Blame BP but don't blame God and don't categorize everybody into the same group as you seem to doing. We need to clean up the damn mess that the oil companies created. They are taking way too long to fix this leak and if they take much longer there won't be any birds to save or fish to eat. Then what are we going to do? Pay up and clean up BP!

You're just an idiot, man. You need to accept that.

Why is limiting the definition of marriage a act of bigotry against homosexuals? The morals of the society and clarfication of definition of what marriage is totally warranted. Already polygamy is prohibited, as is marrage of minors or of closely-related blood relatives. Why can't same-sex mariages be prohibited as well?

Cut the cut with the gay agenda. Your sexuality is only one component of who you are, alebit many seem to define their entire existence by their actions and needs live such a lifestyle. Muddy the issues by simply saying "oh, we're all just good people who want to to this or that", "we contribute to society", "you need us to take care of unwanted children so allow marriage", etc etc. Society says NO--just like minors aren't allowed to buy or consume alcohol, or pedophiles are restricted in their lifestyles or criminals have to pay time/fines, or there's no mail delivery on Sunday.

gimmeabraekoradrink: Why do you and your ilk need to hate anyone different from you? I'm convinced that if we can figure the answer to this out we can create heaven on Earth.

gimmeabreakoradrink: I've been married for 30 years to a woman of a different color. At the time we were born such a marriage was illegal. Because of people like you. Blind, bigoted and self righteous.

The time for your hate is long past.

scmathisen: May I continue to bash Christians if I do it in a thoughtful manner?

It's sad that people don't see the need to move to a post oil economy. The time to act was back in the 1970's but Big oil didn't want any competition, they kiboshed the electric car and stalled any innovations in green technology. Now here we are 30 years later in the same situation. Seems a bit redundant to me. The simple fact is that oil won't last forever. Period. The sooner we start replacing consumable energy with clean alternatives (electric from wind, solar, and nuclear) then we can save what little oil we have left for all of the plastics and rubber materials used in everyday life.

I've read and studied the bible and anyone who can say that they honestly believe 1 page of that contridictory babble is justifiably insane!!! I am sick and tired of every christian spouting threats from thier soapbox and ramming thier demented indoctrinations down everyones throats!! Your paranoia and completely unfounded ridicule and accusation of the government and Barack Obama are completely miss placed. You might have forgotten that it was your born again president Bush and Dick chenney who have blood on their hands. It's sure funny how all the right winged christians want the government (barack obama) out of thier business, until there's a catastrophe, then your all @!$%#ing that they weren't there soon enough! How about alittle respect for the President of the United States of America.

You go girl! Contradictory babble is right!

If people want to believe all that crap more power to them, but I wish they would quit quoting some stupid bible verse in answer to everything.Some of them even believe that god or jesus or whoever actually "commands" them to go out and keep an eye on everyone and let them know if they are sinning!

Such arrogance makes me sick! I say: stay the hell away from me!

Respect for the President? Respect is dead in this country. No one even knows what it is anymore.

I don't know what Jill and Tina is angry about. Are you guys angry with people being Christian or people oppose Barak Obama? I don't see Andy's comments as anti-Obama or anti-government. I am tired of the right-wing nut-jobs who don't use their brain and don't (or can't) read. Do I have to deal with left-wing crack head that doesn't read as well?

If anything, I think Barak Obama once said that although we as a nation have difference of opinion, we need to listen to one another with respect. I don't see how you are respecting someone when you don't even read their comments throughly and attack them straight-on because the word "Christian", "Obama", and "punish" happens to show up in the same post and miss the big "if" that tells the poster's true intention.

I was replying to what Jill said, not what Andy said.

Whether she was replying to what Andy said, you'll have to ask her.

Tru dat Adam, tru dat! Like leaving the fox to watch the hen house.

I have always found it interesting how in the christian religious extremist "end times" belief men of peace are cast as the evil incarnate? Why is that?

Classic New Age crap. Good for you, you know can elevate yourself to being a (false) god. Logic over faith and revelation and the proof of Christ as the Son of God. With the fulfillment of the Old Testament (Judaism) prophesy and covenant and the "way/path" clearly set out for all time/age/humans, there's the New Age mentality that spits at it all and allows false man-made religions or pathways of Shintoism, paganism, Buddhism, Islam, native spiritualism, scientology, et al. They are not equal and elevate earth and man himself to that of a god OR intertwines such half-truths and denials that no wonder the clueless think they are "all the same."

Robert Karma - you have it almost right on. Except for the basic concept that sets mankind apart, which is that God's greatest gift to us was "free will." Sodium and chlorine can't choose to become salt or not. A plant cannot determine whether it wants to turn toward the sun or not. A dog can be trained to lead a blind person along a certain path, but it can't decide to lead that person into traffic if it doesn't like the style of clothing he is sporting that particular day.

Cheney chose to remove regulations, just as Enron chose to cook the books. Just as Adam chose to eat the apple. The reality of the apple can be disputed, but the reality of choice belongs to Mankind alone. With choice comes responsibility, and our greatest sin lies in avoiding that responsibility when the wrong choice is made. Since everything is connected to everything else by much less than six degrees of separation, who knows what "event" actually triggered the GoM tragedy.

The other side being that "if" god exists and he created everything, and he has a divine plan, then EVERYTHING that has happened or ever will happen is his will. Therefore he obviously condones this accident the same way he condoned the Union Carbide accident. It's all part of the Plan. If that's the case then what's the point of praying to god in the first place?

@ captainthursday - If there is pre-destination then there is no free will, and we might as well pick up our marbles and go home. But there is no future until action in the present determines what that future will be. Actually there is no real present time, the present being just the interface between the already determined past and the undetermined future. Once something, anything, has been done, that action cannot be undone. Which is a good argument against time travel of any kind. But our universe exists in the macro version (Newtonian physics) and the micro version (Einsteinian physics) and the laws God set in option are immutable and eternal, including the free will we exercise in choosing whether or not to acknowledge His will. We cannot choose to stop the Gulf oil flow, but we could have chosen to do it right in the first place, and we can chose to correct it now. It just takes free will.

Give me a break, givemeabreakoradrink as I am as far from being "New Age" as you are in making a rational response.

You wrote, "Good for you, you know can elevate yourself to being a (false) god." I haven't elevated myself into being a mythical deity, I simply have used the brain we humans have evolved with over the past 100,000 years.

"Logic over faith and revelation and the proof of Christ as the Son of God." This is simply laughable as there has been no proof of Jesus bar Joseph being a supernatural being who performed miracles which works into the total lack of proof of the existence of any god let alone Yahweh. You can keep your faith in the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy & Jesus and enjoy whatever revelation you believe you gain from such myths and if you believe you have legitimate evidence for the existence of a supreme being (any such deity named by humans, I am not picky) then please present it as the world has been waiting for thousands of years for actual evidence rather than the faith-based assertions of the faithful. I look forward to your evidence as rational beings are always open to new evidence rather than closing our minds to the possibilities like religion does when it proclaims the "one true way" dogma that has led to such pain, suffering, strife, torture, oppression and war in the name of god.

If you want new age thinking, go seek out the crystals or at least Google the term before making comments.

@ Des Emery

You really need to study your history and theology better. In fact you need to stop personally interrupting the Bible to your own liking. It is dishonest and full of self righteousness and hate. Exactly the opposite of what Yehoshua taught in his sermon on the mount. (That is his real name by the way. Jesus is just the Romanized version because Constantine didn't like him having a Hebrew name.)

@ Reality-19 etc. I'm not sure how to take your admonition. I try not to be self-righteous and hateful. I gather that you yourself don't like Romans or Constantine because he was anti-semitic. I don't recall ever reading about him exercising that particular trait, although he did live in interesting times, so it could very well be the case. I wish all of us would subscribe to the tenets of the sermon on the mount. Perhaps BP would not have caused the oil spill in the Gulf. And while I believe God allows the rain to fall upon the good and the bad alike I do not believe He hurts the good in order to punish the bad.

gimmeabreakoradrink: "Faith" is believing in something for no reason. And there is no reason to have faith. Scare the children until they model the behavior...they may come to actually believe it. It's Child Abuse. Generation after generation. Fear God or you'll go to hell! And you wonder at how hard we fight to keep this superstitious nonsense out of the schools and out of the government.

America means Freedom from Religion!