Welcome to Doomsday by Bill Moyers

[whirlygigspin]

The New York Review of Books,
Volume 52, Number 5 · March 24, 2005

1.
"There are times when what we journalists see and intend to write about dispassionately sends a shiver down the spine, shaking us from our neutrality. This has been happening to me frequently of late as one story after another drives home the fact that the delusional is no longer marginal but has come in from the fringe to influence the seats of power. We are witnessing today a coupling of ideology and theology that threatens our ability to meet the growing ecological crisis. Theology asserts propositions that need not be proven true, while ideologues hold stoutly to a world view despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality. The combination can make it impossible for a democracy to fashion real-world solutions to otherwise intractable challenges."


http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17852


read on if you dare, oh my.

[Wilms]

1. .

"I confess to having always been an optimist. Now, however, I remember my friend on Wall Street whom I once asked: "What do you think of the market?" "I'm optimistic," he answered. "Then why do you look so worried?" And he answered, "Because I am not sure my optimism is justified."

I'm not, either. Once upon a time I believed that people will protect the natural environment when they realize its importance to their health and to the health and lives of their children. Now I am not so sure. It's not that I don't want to believe this—it's just that as a journalist I have been trained to read the news and connect the dots."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. people can act in an idiotic way

especially when they are trapped by relgious dogma and political ideology. But it still gets to me, because trashing the environment to the extent they are trashing it appears to mean we're all going to suffer-a lot- including those in power. Do they just not care, or are they that short-sighted?

[heidler1]

5. They believe that they will be in Heaven before it turns to shit.

I never believed in capital punishment, but I might make an exception for those who preach rapture. I suspect that those who buy into this crap are mentally incompetent. We seem to be capable of looking at Jim Jones as a nut, but the next guy that regurgitates the same crap is taken seriously.

[ixion]

3. a very heartfelt piece... right to the core

It makes me optimistic to see a member of the CMC speaking from the heart, speaking the truth, and removing the spin filter.

Then again, as quoted... I'm not sure that my optimism is justified, because these whackos will gleefully drive us over the edge all the while singing Battle Hymn of the Republic.

[Mari333]

4. The elephant in the living room.

Glad to see someone talking about it.
I was studying the rapture crowd before 2000 and the run up to their millenial angst, when I found that Boston U. was actually doing research on the phenomenon
www.mille.org
interesting, sad, and depressing. The rapture crowd is angry and needs scapegoats now because jesus didnt come back in 2000.

[BamaBecky]

6. This was excellent! I have L O N G been a fan of Bill Moyers! I did

enjoy reading this article. He makes so much sense!

[Kimber Scott]

7. Makes me want to cry. nt

[Beam Me Up]

8. This line says it all for me:

Once again, populist religion winds up serving the interests of economic elites.