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There’s not a lot of middle ground about conservative talk show host and author Glenn Beck.
Some people see a weepy hysteric who thinks American civilization ran horribly aground during the 20th century, except for a brief eight-year revival under Ronald Reagan.
Others see a passionate and courageous citizen with the soul of a civics instructor yearning to set the population free from a collapse into collectivism by getting them to read and – gasp! – think.
Case in point: Every Friday on his TV show, Beck hosts what he calls Founder’s Fridays, about a specific founding father or a group of them. A couple of weeks ago, he did black patriots you’d never heard of. For a visual aid, he sets up a blackboard. Sometimes two. There hasn’t been a blackboard on television since Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, but Glenn Beck is not afraid to be retro. Indeed, retro is his primary point.
Beck doesn’t do a conventional book club a la Oprah, where everybody reads the same book for a month. It’s more of a syllabus for a college class, a list for suggested reading on Beck’s website.
It’s mostly nonfiction – books on the original intent of the Founding Fathers, and histories of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. There are a scattering of pulp thrillers – writers such as Vince Flynn, Brad Thor and Tom Clancy – and Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.
Most of the nonfiction is less analytical than hortatory — one recommended volume is titled New Deal or Raw Deal – but he also recommends such primary source material as The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and The Federalist Papers. Beck wisely doesn’t presume that people have a background in basic American texts.
Ed Fulop, a resident of North Palm Beach and Beck follower, says that "60 percent of the books he recommends you’ve heard of, while other titles come out of left field – a 30-year-old book that’s on Amazon’s bestseller list a week later."
Fulop is right about Beck’s ability to influence sales of books. Last month, three titles on Amazon’s Top Ten list could be attributed to Beck: The Overton Window, a thriller written by Beck; George Washington’s Sacred Fire, a book Beck recommended a few months ago; and The Road to Serfdom, a 66-year-old book that occupied the better part of a recent Beck show. As of this week, Sacred Fire and the Road to Serfdom were still in the Top 25.
Beck is unquestionably interested in ideas, and sometimes he doesn’t care where they come from. One of the books he’s talked about was Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Alinsky was a cagey left-wing firebrand, and Beck’s initial inquiry into the book was along the lines of "know your enemy," but there was also an organizing-is-organizing component, and some of Alinsky’s ideas have been adopted by tea party activists.
For conservative readers, a Beck recommendation is the literary equivalent of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval – when it’s not redundant. "A lot of the authors he recommends I was already familiar with," says Iris Scheibl, of Palm Beach Gardens. "I read Atlas Shrugged in college, and Animal Farm and 1984, too. I re-read them more and more, but it has nothing to do with Glenn Beck.
"A lot of his focus on bringing people to the original documents is to let you get rid of some of the bias. Thomas Paine says what Thomas Paine thought, exactly. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence tell you what they stand for. Reading the founder’s letters directly, you don’t get interpretation, you get the original. And that’s of value."
Conservative activist Kyle Olson blogs on Andrew Breitbart’s biggovernment.com, lives in Michigan, and has been a guest on Beck’s show. If Beck recommends a book, he "gives it a serious look," Olson said. "I’m not the only one. We’re looking at the people and the documents that show where we came from, and I think it’s because people want to embrace those values again."
Todd Harvey, from Sebring, says that he gives a lot of thought to what Beck recommends. "He can be instrumental in changing the country. He’s woken up millions to the political process and the Constitution. Beck’s endorsement of books would lead me to read it. I’ve read Neal Boortz’s book on the Fair Tax and some of Bill Forstchen’s books. I see what he recommends and act on it."
Former Republican congressman Mark Foley sees Beck’s didacticism as a form of education as much as re-education. He recalls welcoming school groups to Washington, D.C., when "the kids would sit on the steps of the capitol, and they’d be looking at their phones or at what kind of shoes the other kids were wearing. You’d want to say, ‘Look at the buildings, look at the inscriptions on the walls, look at what Jefferson wrote.’
"I like Beck’s passion; I like anybody that engages the public. You don’t have to agree with all of his premises, but he’s encouraging people to read about the foundation of the country. Nobody thinks back to how we got here. Beck is talking about the underpinnings of the nation.
"It’s how we formed and created the nation and the Constitution. In that sense, he’s creating a more active and alert citizenry."
RECOMMENDED READING FROM GLENN BECK:
7 Events That Made America, by Larry Schweikart
A Patriot’s History of the United States, by Larry Schweikart
America’s Prophet: Moses and the American Story, by Bruce Feiler
Every Other Monday, by John Kasich
Liberal Fascism, by Jonah Goldberg
Samuel Adams, by Ira Stoll
Beck can be very entertaining, even inspirational, to those who share his conservative beliefs. But unfortunately Beck lately has been trying to support his arguments with philosophies that he doesn’t really seem to understand. He is now attacking Christians who believe in “social justice,” which includes most Roman Catholics, Methodist, members of most mainline Protestant churches. His arguments seem based upon a confusion of the doctrine of “social justice” with the doctrine of a “social gospel.” Social justice means that Christians seek to strive for justice in this world. Social gospel was used around the turn of the Nineteenth Century as a substitute by some liberal theologians for personal salvation based upon an individual’s faith in Christ.
I suppose the logical conclusion to Beck’s argument against social justice is that Christians should strive for social injustice.
Another area of confusion for Beck is his zealous enthusiasm for Ayn Rand, the founder of the philosophy of Objectivism. Rand was an atheist who considered ordinary Christians to be parasites and leeches. She was a sexual libertine who was staunchly pro-abortion. Beck’s simultaneous embrace of Rand’s philosophy and conservative Christian social positions would seem to be a clear contradiction. But Ayn Rand wrote: “Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you think you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong.” I wonder which of Beck’s premises are wrong?
I just came on to say that Glenn Beck was a raving lunatic hypocrite, but you put it so much more eloquently. Thank you.
Beck makes a clear distinction between what he means when he says to question churches that say they support “social justice”. He has explained what this on numerous occasions. What he is referring to is not what you find traditional churches believing. He has said that what he is referring to is any church that supports “forced redistribution of wealth with a hostility toward individual property rights, under the guise of charity and/or justice.”
Dear Mr.Eyman,
While Beck is influential and has many viewer, that’s all you can say about him. To say that he is “educating” Americans is simply untrue.
Unfortunately, Beck uses the Founding Fathers as a political tool to convince viewers that separation of Church and State is a fallacy. He tries to convince viewers that the Continental Congress was somehow sifting through Biblical passages looking for inspiration. I would urge viewers to actually read primary sources.
Read letters between the Founding Fathers and legal documents to see this. Beck has not only mentioned them, he selectively twists out of context anecdotes or makes up facts as he goes to an audience unfamiliar with that time period.
Read the Treaty with Tripoli of 1796 that was written under President Washington which states “As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion”. Read letters by Jefferson. In one them he writes, “The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.”
Such statements are selectively left out by Beck. He is hardly an intellectual, rather, more of a revisionist trying to rewrite American history in a manner that suits him.
You seem to have quoted Mr Jefferson in his earlier years. Toward the end of his life he embraced Jesus and was ready to meet his maker.
Many people also suffer from dementia during the last years of their lives.
I agree with much of what both Mr. Evans and Mr. Russell say. I watch Beck to see and hear for myself what he professes to his followers and I am quite surprised that he recommends that people read the Federalist Papers. They are very important reading for anyone wishing to learn about the founding fathers and the beginnings of our country and they, like our Constitution don’t mention Jesus Christ or Christianity. Yet I have witnessed Beck constantly trying to justify his position that our nation is a Christian nation. Our Founding Fathers were truly amazing in that they realized that this country must have freedom from religion as well as freedom of religion. Afterall, the original settlers came to this new world to escape religious persecution (from the Church of England). I wish that Mr. Beck would actually read and understand what he recommends for his followers to read.
All three of you are revisionist historians! You accuse Beck of picking and choosing the quotes that serve his arguments, and all three of you do the exact same thing.
The Mayflower Compact states that the first settlers undertook their voyage “for the glory of God and the advancement of Christian faith”. Have you ever read Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789? Read it some time. He also said “To the distinguished character of patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.” James Madison conceived the 3 branches of government in our country from reading scripture! Isaiah 33:22 reads “For the Lord is our judge (judicial), the Lord is our lawgiver (legislative), the Lord is our King (executive). He will save us.” As president, Thomas Jefferson start holding church services in the capitol building, the Department of Defense, AND the Department of the Treasury! Weird for someone who supposedly favored the idea of separating church and state, don’t you think?
Stop rewriting our history, and learn the truth. It WILL set you free.
How could Jefferson promote prayer services in the “Department of Defense” when that department didn’t even EXIST until the 1940s?
Isaiah 33:22 reads “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King.”
I believe any credible theologian will tell you that statement merely argues that the Lord is supreme in the Bible.
If you want to discuss Madison, I suggest you read primary documents he wrote:
“The experience of the United States is a happy disproof of the error so long rooted in the unenlightened minds of well-meaning Christians, as well as in the corrupt hearts of persecuting usurpers, that without a legal incorporation of religious and civil polity, neither could be supported. A mutual independence is found most friendly to practical Religion, to social harmony, and to political prosperity” (Letter to F.L. Schaeffer, Dec 3, 1821).
“Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and Government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together” (Letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822).
By the way Ed, the Department of Defense was created by Truman in 1945. Perhaps the ghost of Jefferson held church service there?
The Mayflower voyage happened 150 years before the creation of the US. What its compact has to do with the Continental Congress is beyond me. That would be like pulling a quote from 1860 to justify the political mindset today.
You’re calling me revisionist, but notice that I have actually not “revised” anything. Please support with primary sources, not circumstantial anecdotes.
OK — you got me on a technicality; in Jefferson’s time, the DoD was known as the War Department. As far as the Isaiah verse, the parentheses were my addition to make sure someone reading it knew which branch each line referred to. And I wasn’t trying to say that the verse was biblical prophecy or anything, his idea for the 3 branches was conceived, as in inspired by, the verse. Madison is a fun guy for both sides to quote in defense of their positions about the faith of our founding fathers. When he was a younger patriot, he shared the kind of views I quoted above — as an old man, his opinion on religion changed to sound more like your kind of guy. I suggested you read this heavily footnoted and sourced article by David Barton, written about 8 years ago at the height of Michael Newdow’s 15 minutes of fame. Feel free to check them out.
http://faithandthelaw.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/james-madison-and-the-importance-of-religion-in-the-public-arena/
If you truly don’t see how the Mayflower Compact, and the people who wrote it, led directly to the Revolutionary War, than I might as well eat a banana. The revolt against Great Britain and King George didn’t just happen overnight, with a couple of patriots waking up one day and deciding that they must be sovereign; the ideas of liberty and freedom were birthed in the colonies long before the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord. Reverends and preachers were including statements like “No Taxation without Representation” in their sermons 100 years before the Declaration of Independence was written.
If you want a quote from the late 1800′s to hang your hat on, how about this one; “Our laws and institutions must be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind.” — a ruling from the Supreme Court in 1892.
Don’t get me started on what’s inscribed on the Liberty Bell, or the cap of the Washington Monument.
Mr. Fulop, you are a prime example of why we have our problems today.
Like in this blog, you have no problem with lying to the youth of America. Then can’t understand why they grow up with the opinions they do when they realize they where lied to by people as yourself.
Here’s a quote from Daniel Webster in the 1800′s: “I’ve escaped heart ache, I hope you have as well.” Told to his good friend Peter Harvey.
When and why did Daniel Webster tell this to his good friend Peter Harvey?
Sir, Mr. Fulop, you are misinformed. People in the Boston Neck where being killed by the British for no reason. In 1769 my tavern was a meeting place for the American Patriots you are referring. Several factors take place to why people in Boston took arms.
When a prominent Boston family’s son was murdered without a trial is when fighting broke out. The Mayflower had not one thing to do with it.
You disgrace all the memories of those people with such foolish and uneducated statements.
Ed I think you should do some research on David Barton before taking his views on American history so seriously.
I think that everyone can agree that people will weight anything towards their own ideas. I also hope that everyone can agree that this country has gotten out of control with its lack of values, lack of responsibility, and general feeling of being owed something. Americans are basically spoiled. I know it when my son comes home from school and kids (this particular child’s parents came from Cuba) say they hate this country and they want to move to Ukraine. One of my employees happens to be from Ukraine, now a US citizen, and she would be the first to tell him what a fool he is.
Glenn Beck is a fraud, and people who follow him are sheep looking for someone to lead them. I listened to him in Tampa years ago , he had no qualms making fun of minorities on the radio , so what all of a sudden he is born again?He is this so called expert on just about everything. I don’t think so. My father told me years ago never to trust a religious fanatic , and he was the smartest most honest man I ever knew, and he believed in God. I think what motivates Mr. Glenn Beck is the almighty $, as they say ever so quaintly in the vernacular, “he is laughing all the way to the bank.”
“Mary Cecil” Alot of us think Prez Obama is a fraud and Biden a idiot!
I ask many Obama supporters this ? Besides wanting change from the way Bush ran the country,What does Obama bring to the table?
And most give the same answer ” We needed change”
Mike, really the only reason you feel that way. You dislike Black people. You’re bothered that a Black man went to college when you didn’t. You’re bothered because a black man got a law degree, that you could not hope to achieve in your life time.
By the end of the day your opinion is a product of hate and insecurities about yourself. Not a product of idealism based on experience or knowledge.
Like most in the Tea Party, it’s all about hate. The local Tea Party mine as well rename themselves the South Florida KKK.
The document written “under” Washington in the “user comment” is the “using examples to manipulate the primary source document”…
Anyone who reads primary source documents will see that the Founding Fathers were of Christian faith.
Glenn Beck is extremely fair and is very sincere- I have grown to really appreciate his style (thought it was odd at first). He cares about all people, and sometimes the truth hurts, but it makes us all wake up.
I am reading one book he recommended… “American Black and White” and it is phenomenol.
Ask most people if they thing the words sep of church and state is in constitution… then, hand them a Constitution and ask them to find it. Then, the twist of history was how they tried to use Jefferson’s letter to prove it and that was true twist.
We all know the game here. I think the issue is people are starting to see, but some people are afraid of standing up to friends who are not as educated. Just tell them to read these books and give them a fair shot… that is all we need… balance and open minds.
Good day to everyone! :)
If Glenn Beck (or any other TV host) gets Americans to read, form opinions and ideas about America and her future and to discuss American and her future with others, he is more than doing his job. We can argue the details of facts, history, intentions of our founding fathers, etc….the bottom line is: we ALL need to care about our country, keep it based on its founding principles, protect our constitution. It is what makes us unique. If people do not like it, there are many places to go where the government may be to their liking. Socialism does not produce a robust country with innovative ideas and strong defense (see Europe).
wow. glen beck likes the ‘founding fathers’ and wants other americans to read books he suggests — and this gets a spot on the pbp website because…? i thought this was a NEWSpaper. i have given up that this rag will ever be more than a tabloid / info-tainment paper — at best.
On every one of his shows Beck tells his audiences not to trust all he says or opines. He tells the audience to do their own research and come to their own conclusions.
Jim–You are exactly right. Beck tells his viewers/listeners to do the research and determine the findings. Obama and our government says don’t do any research (like on the healthcare bill) we are doing what is best for you…don’t worry or question it. Too bad there are so many American’s that are blind sheep and get behind a logo…it got us a president with no experience doing anything.
Chris, you area an example.
Can you answer the question about why the Son’s of Liberty stole cannons from the British in 1773?
Our current president knows the answer, because he’s Harvard Alum., and understood Harvard Historical Society’s mission.
I believe in the seperation of church and state and I know its not in the Constitution. Even if the founding fathers didn’t think of it, I believe it is still a good idea. Without it, our country would be on that slippery slope to theocracy. Sure, it might work out. People would behave better and everything would be great. Or we could end up a Christian version of any number of Muslim countries – punishing non-believers and sinners. It’s funny how people like Beck are anti-government when it comes to their wallets but don’t mind the government in their bedrooms and their family. It’s easy for Beck to push for us to be a “Christian Nation” because he is Christian. What about the other faiths? And even if the founding fathers said we were a Christian Nation they also said blacks were only 3/4 a man. They didn’t always get everything right.
Sorry for the rambling – it’s early.
Glenn Beck should re-visit the archives in Boston, New York, and Virginia. We have many original writings from the Son’s of Liberty, John Adams and his son, George Washington, and many more that have never been open to the public.
Glenn Beck actual picks books that were written in a time with not as much access to information like today. Much of these book’s theories can be dis-proven or revisited based on even more information today.
Anyone can view direct quotes through historical newspapers housed in databases in most US library’s from 1760-1800. Quotes not altered by someone’s opinion 200+ years later.
Let’s see how many Beck followers actual know US history.
Why did members of the Son’s of Liberty steal cannons from the British in 1773?
This was a major trigger in the Boston Neck.
The answer today will come from a direct descendant of a Son of Liberty by a artifact that was saved and pasted down by 6 generations.
Not a fake wannabee as Glenn Beck pretending like he knows our roots!
Anyone or anything that provokes the thought process and the quest for knowledge by the citizens of this great country is a good thing.
Everyone loved oprah’s book club process, so why do some dislike Beck’s book procees, could it be personal biases?
Manipulation is much different then personal biases.
Provoking thought is a good thing. Provoking thought by manipulation is not.
Hitler provoked thought by manipulation. Do you think that produced a good result?
Mr. Beck could easily instruct his followers to Boston Public Library’s, or New York’s, or Virginia’s to the historical newspaper’s databases, where they will get a wealth of direct opinions from all walks of life. People that actual lived in those times. Information not accessible by most of these books authors in the times these books were written.
So why do you think Mr. Beck does not direct followers to more correct and complete information?
Well, I must say that I am very surprised to see a column, in the PBP, that is dedicated to explaining the views of someone who espouses the core values of conservatism.
Good writing from the PBP for a change.
Does the P.B. Post have any connection to Beck’s publisher? Just asking……
To give Glen Beck Page time on your Newspaper is disgusting despicable and feeds the unethical fire of the Extreme Right Wing that your newspaper continue to perpetuate. These people ought to read some Real history no revisionist bullcrap.
American of yesterday should have something to do with what it will be tomorrow. But I feel what Americans today need to realize is. That American of today and tomorrow is not for our founding fathers. And it’s not for our elected officials. And it’s not for big corporations. It was and must be again for We The People. And history of the world has shown that socialites based on the beliefs that the majorities support. Are what makes a great country.
Mr. Beck here has much self-educed passion for his ideas. And I think what most can agree is that a new idea of what American needs to be next. Is an open question today. And being American has so much free thought instilled into us all. I expect we all will many different ideas for change. And this is where history of our nation can help. The idea of freedom for all is a solid foundation for an idea to be created on. And next I feel we need to find the sticking point that is crimping the ability for our nation to grant the majority more freedom.
From my view special interests and embattled political parties are our biggest threat for ensuring the interest of the majority is reflected in new laws. If I had one shot for change it would add a no confidence vote beneath all the candidates names on every ballot. I feel this would give the people another choice besides the lesser of the evils some may feel at times of voting. And this would add risk to both parties when ignoring the peoples will and giving themselves added value to the lobbyists. This is just one of many ideas that can be created by We The People. And we must remind OUR government that it is just that. It’s We The People that gives the power to OUR officials. And giving ourselves power to take it away should I feel be a part of American tomorrow.
This is already a Socialist Country since the late 60′s now it is becoming a totalitarian communist regime.
Most of you are ignorant of past history and one day will realize of the naked truth told by Glenn and it will be too late.
I can tell you that from direct experience I lived under the Soviet regime. I know!
You Americans are fooling yourselves by allowing the left wing ideology brainwash your minds and destroy the backbone of America’s civilization.
Glenn Beck is brilliant, and a blessing for America.
His recent program on Saul Alinsky’s book,”Rule for Radicals”, the book that is the guide for Progressives such as President Obama and Sec. State Hillary Clinton, was an eye opener for me.
Beck points out that Alinsky dedicates his book to the first radical, Lucifer. WOW.
After that shocking realization, what else can I say except I can see November 2010/2012 so much clearer thanks to American Hero, Glenn Beck.
For comment made by Mason – Like all liberals when you you have no reasonable response to an opposing view, you just try to demonize them, in Obama’s case calling anyone not in awe of this incompetent fraud ‘racist’. Quite frankly it’s become very tired on no longer holds water. As for Beck, I used to enjoy his radio show then tv segment, but unfortunately the mighty dollar has gotten the better of him and he now uses his shows as a 1 hour infomercial to pitch his ‘latest’ book. He does get one thinking though, so that’s a good thing.
Frankly we are not of a party. But it’s easy to spot racist remakes.
If Obama is a fraud tell us why?
I’m a Doctorate of Law so I’ll clearly understand. When your responding, state your highest education level completed.
Hitler got people thinking as well. Would you condone the product of that stage of “Getting People Thinking”? Looks like you would. Getting people thinking is a good think. Manipulating people into a pattern of thinking is not. Using material that can be clearly shown produces a manipulated pattern of thinking does not benefit anyone. That leads things like WWII.
Demonize people for there owe thought segments that are clearly a breach of the public good. Does not bother me one bit. To not demonize someone who’s intent is to reverse civil right’s is a crime of humanity.
In palm beach county 19 members of the local GOP condoned racism to the core.
I’m not bothered in anyway to show those scumbags the door, and as harshly as we can.
Makes sense if you remember ‘recent’ Palm Beach County history that Mark Foley would include ‘watching’ children in his comments praising Beck! Suggest that some Beck followers wake up and include some of Howard Zinn’s books on peoples history of the USA to see how the Beck wealthy ‘patriots’ have exploited the ‘huddled masses’ in our nation! Beck probably doesn’t want you to read about the history of ordinary working people because he wants to keep those parts of history secret unto those such as he as a roadmap to manipulate us today! Why go back to the founding fathers? Is it so we can forget that at one recent point in our nation’s history that statements such as: “A Communist is anyone who asks for twenty cents and hour when the boss is paying fifteen.” from The Grapes of Wrath is still likely heard today. Remember that in 1914, not that long ago if you follow Beck timetable, women and children were burned to death in a strike of miners against a Rockefeller owned coal mine in Colorado. So even today our USA has members of the Republican party denying unemployment benefits to citizens of the USA at the same time our USA is sending money and troops to nation build other parts of the world to compete with manufacturing and productions of products that put our own citizens out of work. Beck’s crowd says unemployment benefits for our citizens are wrong but how can creating and protecting jobs in other parts of the world be right?
Howard Zinn cannot be taken seriously by most Americans. He was clearly anti-American and anti-Christian.
Smartest thing or idea anyone has ever thought of. I’m not being serious!
Why is he clearly Anti-American? I can’t wait to see your response.
Glenn Beck is nothing more than a shock jock 80s televangelist. He deals in the culture of fear, and is laughing all the way to the bank because of gullible suckers. Speaking of gullibility, it’s shocking to think that people so easily accept his “information” considering he’s Mormon. There as “out there” as Scientologists. Have you actually looked into Mormon beliefs? It’s some seriously strange and obviously untrue cult nonsense. I wouldn’t trust anyone with such a bizarre devotion.
But by all means, communism is coming, and your guns will be taken away. FEMA camps, here we come!
I don’t know what you’ve read about mormon beliefs, and I am sorry if you have been mislead.
Some main points I would like to get across that are fairly prevelant rumors are:
1. The rumor that we practice polygamy. This is completely untrue. This rumor has perpetuated mostly because of a very old split off our church whom we are not affiliated with who practice polygamy.
2.The rumor that we do not believe in Christ. This is also completely untrue. We read the Bible and the Book of Mormon and believe them both to be the word of god. Also, the official name of our church is “The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints.” As a matter of fact, he is the basis of out church.
3. This isn’t so much a rumor as something I’d just like to say. Before you talk about any group of people in a negative way, please at least try to make sure what you’re saying is true. False rumors can be hurtful and misleading. I’m sure that after further research into the LDS church on our own, true, websites, you will find that there is nothing about our church that deserves negative commentary.
Please, if you really wish to learn about the beliefs of our church, visit http://www.lds.org or contact a local church leader who can refer you to one of our missionaries.
Thank you for your understanding.
Absorbing piece. The article was to the point and just the information I was looking for. I can’t say that I agree with all that you said but it was definitely enlightening! BTW…I found your site through a AOL search. I hope you’ll allow me to post a link to a site germane to the Obama quote discussed in your blog post. I’m an occasional visitor to your blog and will be backsoon.
Believing in Jesus Christ is not the argument between Christians and Mormons, it is WHAT do you believe ABOUT Jesus Christ that separates us completely.
If you put the Book of Mormon on the same level as the Holy Bible you are already acknowledging you are NOT a Christian. Christians hold no other book authorative or Holy, inspired by God Himself, than the Holy Bible.
Mormons do not believe that Jesus is the Son of the living and true God of the Holy Bible (read Psalm 2, although there are many other Messianic prophecies in the Holy Bible).
In the Kabbalah, or the Hebrew or Jewish oral tradition (which at some point in history were written down, we find they actually did believe God was manifest in three persons. The will vehemently deny this of course as all skeptics and unbelievers do and will until they meet their judge Himself).
Point is, Mormons are not Christians.
Glenn Beck does seem to have an uncann knack for reading history and discerning from it what is bound to happen in the future. He has a lot of people behind the scenes doing massive research into American history and is able to find how history is repeating itself, which they say is bound to happen if we do not learn from it and act to prevent it (of course, I mean, when it is bad, like Nazism or Communism, etc.). He is not a prophet by any means, but he is a good discerning of the times as this is what he delves into and hones in on like a laser beam. It is good in a way, but then the summary of it, that our “salvation” in in the Constitution is wrong. The Jew had the Law of God going for them, and were chosen by Him as His people, but they failed to obey Him and lost their land, their spiritual inheritance from God.
America is bound to do the same as she is placing her hope on man, i.e., the Constitution of the United States of America…and not the Living and True God.
Okay, I will admit that I don’t know much so don’t pummel me (if anyone ever scrolls down so far to read this.) The most annoying thing I read was Mason calling people racist. I for one am very proud that we have elected a black president (sorry if I’m not P.C. enough for you either), because I feel it shows how far we have come as a nation despite what people say about “The Man” keeping people down, but it doesn’t mean I think he is the greatest president since sliced bread, and I am certainly not racist. To assume that someone is jealous and uneducated is completely childish and, while I am not saying that a degree isn’t impressive, it does not imply that you are a better person or wiser. There are people who study in many things but have not applied themselves to achieve a certain degree. To study for the sake of knowledge is a wonderful opportunity that we have. Whether it’s in an institution or self discovery; reading, traveling, researching, discussing, etc. I feel there is also wisdom in the knowledge and respect of others and their opinions. You don’t have to agree with them.
Now separation of church and state, you can all claim that we were or were not founded on a Christian basis. The founding fathers could have been Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim for all I care. The point is religion was not intended to be a government entity meant to control and dictate the people, it’s a right and freedom to al. They bible gave us judge, jury, and executioner, okay maybe. It also gave us thou shall not kill and steal. If the bible had never existed, I should hope that at some point someone would have thought “Man, that’s really messed up” and thought to right these things down as we evolved in society. Which is why I personally believe they were…in the bible. Just like Red Riding Hood was written for stranger danger. To be religious you have to have morals, to be moral you don’t have to be religious. I am not religious, burn me at the stake if you must. I recognize morals and wisdom from wherever I choose and from what I see and feel. Yes, I read the Jefferson quote in Beck’s book, I am lazy and using Google “But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg” Whatever you use to become a good person and get’s you through your day is fine by me, but respect me as well.
To compare Beck to Hitler is, in my opinion, ridiculous. In my limited experience with Beck, he is NOT trying to take control and brainwash. He wants We The People to arm ourselves with information. If he’s in it for the money, good for him, I don’t care. If he is skewing the data and history, he is also encouraging people to go find it for themselves! Research! Read! Think for yourselves! Look for facts. Learn the opinions of many and form your own. The message I get is look for fine print and hidden numbers, take nothing at face value, from our government or him. I agree that finding our foundation, our fathers’ intent for government to fear the people, is a wonderful place to start.