Think Progress

Religious right’s Family Research Council

appeals to prayer group for President Bush’s homophobic surgeon general nominee James Holsinger:

“Dear Praying Friends,

…[Holsinger] has been harshly condemned by pro-homosexual activists for a 1991 paper he wrote for the Methodist Church describing male gay sex as unnatural and unhealthy. … Holsinger is being subjected to character assassination for doing precisely what a Surgeon General should do, bring health facts to light. Pray that Dr. Holsinger will receive an honest and fair hearing from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.



52 Responses to “Religious right’s Family Research Council”

  1. gummitch says:

    As long as they stick to the praying, who cares?


  2. Ima Homo says:

    homo thread on nooooooooooooooooooooooo!


  3. VerbalKint says:

    Among other things, these people are serious dumbasses.


  4. Wayne says:

    Daryll posting rabid anti-gay stuff in ….. (3, 2, 1)


  5. unbelievable says:

    Yes – by all means – pray instead of doing anything. Because that is just so effective in having cured the world of cancer, AIDS, starving children, pedophilia, and a host of other forms of unnecessary and pointless suffering.


  6. Namtillaku says:

    Please lord, give me the strength to hate all those not like me. Forgive me for my temptations and sins, but smote the fuk out of the other guy (otherwise I will, and I’ll ask for forgiveness later).


  7. upside00 says:

    Wayne – Daryll is busy with his little boy friends out back playing Brokeback Mountain. Can he join your group another time?

    Daryll’s Mom


  8. unbelievable says:

    Daryll posting rabid anti-gay stuff in ….. (3, 2, 1)
    Comment by Wayne — June 21, 2007 @ 6:01 pm

    Daryll, Daryll, Daryll

    (Think that invoked him? :)


  9. unbelievable says:

  10. No Pardon for Treason. says:

    These guys should’ve prayed HARDER for the Republicans to not lose BOTH the House and the Senate in 2006. Hahahahahahahahaha!!!


  11. nanlichi says:

    Daryll has a little trouble reading and comprehending. When he was told to spread the words of Jesus Christ, what Daryll heard was “spread the cheeks of Jesus Christ”

    Thus Daryll’s fascination with topics of Jesus and butt sex.

    Also explains his strange fetish of masturbating with a crucifix as a butt plug.

    To each his own I guess, as long as the Xians keep their stupid myths out of science and government.


  12. No Pardon for Treason. says:

    Holsinger should be allowed to receive an honest and fair hearing . . . I’ll judge the fairness based on the hearings received by Guantanamo detainees. He’s f**ked.


  13. Jackie says:

    Yes let’s pray for Finger Foley too. As the Religious Church believes in this loyal Bushie who molest boys he picks out from his government website. Yes we will pray for the Bush Administration to continue to allow our soldiers to die in larger numbers. As long as the White House keeps lining the pockets of the Church the followers must pray. Question who are these Religious groups praying to. As we continue to pray for discrimination to other Americans who aren’t Republicans. Pray that Bush can bring back slavery. We should all follow the leadership of one of the
    White House’s leader of the Church. Yes pray with Rev. Ted Haggard confessed to sexual immorality he will follow God’s word and deliver us to what we should be doing. Oh when caught he will lie as the White House does. Now we know the church is following Satan and all those prayers are to Satan.


  14. Kenny says:

    Dear Baby Jayebus, please let Doc Goldfinger get a fair shake and get elekted to Sturgeon Genral. Don’t let the librul homasheckshuals stop him or give him a touch of the gays. Which can only be kured in yor nayem.

    Ahmen.


  15. No Pardon for Treason. says:

    #13. Too funny. Let us also pray for Jeff Gannon, the gay male prostitute who visited the White House regularly with no security background check.


  16. unbelievable says:

    To each his own I guess, as long as the Xians keep their stupid myths out of science and government.
    Comment by nanlichi — June 21, 2007 @ 6:09 pm

    Unfortunately, they don’t. And that’s why we have to fight them where they cannot win – on facts. I figure that if we can make it frustrating enough for them when they try to force it down our throats, maybe they will back off a bit. I doubt it, but I at least think that standing up to them is better than letting them ruin our country because we’re unwilling to call them on their nonsense.


  17. unbelievable says:

    why do liberals love gay anal sex?
    Comment by Chris — June 21, 2007 @ 6:15 pm

    Ahem… WE’RE not the ones obssessed with it. In fact, we’d appreciate if your side would to stop talking about it so much…


  18. Zooey says:

    Pray away kidlets!


  19. nanlichi says:

    unbelievable,

    I am always surprised at how many people are willing to accept some fairy tale when they have to ignore facts and reality to do so.

    Your part of the country is one of the worst, hang in there.


  20. unbelievable says:

    I am always surprised at how many people are willing to accept some fairy tale when they have to ignore facts and reality to do so.

    Especially when the alternative of non-belief is soooooooo much better. We don’t have any threats of eternal damnation or reward to coerce us into hating, judging, fearing, wanting, self-destructing, and all those other good family values the religious majority represents :D

    I was miserable 90% of the time living like they do. And now, I don’t do miserable at all. Sure there are occasionally bad days, but nothing like when the ‘love of Jesus’ is upon you…

    Your part of the country is one of the worst, hang in there.
    Comment by nanlichi — June 21, 2007 @ 6:36 pm

    That it is. The fact that a blue state will be in my near future is the only thing keeping me hanging, frankly :D Thanks. I appreciate the support…


  21. Krazny says:

    Come to western Washington, a blue area, and pretty relaxed most of the time =)


  22. unbelievable says:

    Come to western Washington, a blue area, and pretty relaxed most of the time =)
    Comment by Krazny — June 21, 2007 @ 6:53 pm

    After graduate school, that is EXACTLY where I’m heading. :D


  23. jake3988 says:

    ‘Bring health facts to light’

    Oh Puleeze. I have mean and nasty things to respond to that but the censors wouldn’t like it.

    So… all I’ll say is “That’s not true. Go away.”


  24. Daryll says:

    The Religous Right group is doing the right thing by praying on the situation. Libs, we will not be defeated. I claim approval from the Senate on behalf of Dr. Holsinger, in Jesus name.


  25. RUCerious says:

    They could also pray that Faux News becomes a fair and balanced source of real news.
    Yeah, right.


  26. RUCerious says:

    You claim approval?
    Is that like picking up your hat from the check girl at the night club?
    What were you doing with Jesus hat anyway?


  27. RUCerious says:

    Hey Daryll!
    Worked on any top secret email deletion software for the DOJ lately??


  28. Wayne says:

    I claim approval from the Senate on behalf of Dr. Holsinger, in Jesus name.
    Comment by Daryll

    bwahahahahahahaha
    You’re always good for a laugh, Daryll


  29. spit take says:

    I claim approval from the Senate on behalf of Dr. Holsinger, in Jesus name.

    Comment by Daryll — June 21, 2007 @ 7:00 pm

    Good luck with that.


  30. unbelievable says:

    The Religous Right group is doing the right thing by praying on the situation.

    Because that works? It doesn’t work. But, by all means, keep at it – it keeps you from bothering us for all of 10 minutes.

    Libs, we will not be defeated.

    You were defeated. November 2006. It’ll be worse in 2008 even with all your vote stealing tactics.

    I claim approval from the Senate on behalf of Dr. Holsinger, in Jesus name.
    Comment by Daryll — June 21, 2007 @ 7:00 pm

    So you are now Jesus’s spokesman? What’s that take? Inhaling a bottle of antifreeze?

    LOL. Thanks for dropping by Daryll. No homosexual thread could be official without your seal of approval.


  31. Emerald says:

    By all means-pray our nation can be dragged back to the middle ages. “Health facts”-the paper this “physician” wrote in ‘91 is seriously flawed, as is his church that tries to turn gays straight.

    We need some church or agency that will help turn these ignorant religious regressives into thinking people. Reclaim them for civilized society, as it were.


  32. upside00 says:

    The Religious Right group is doing the right thing by praying on the situation. Daryll

    Hey Daryll, didn’t you mean that the Religious Right group is doing the right thing by PREYING on the PAGES????

    This matches most of the religious right, as they are hypocrites and closet gays, so they should just come out, so to speak.

    ……….Daryll…………. still there? Daryll???


  33. Flaco says:

    Especially when the alternative of non-belief is soooooooo much better. We don’t have any threats of eternal damnation or reward to coerce us into hating, judging, fearing, wanting, self-destructing, and all those other good family values the religious majority represents :D

    Comment by unbelievable
    ————————————————————————————

    Hating, judging, fearing, wanting, self-destructing, family values?
    What cult/chruch did you belong to? It is good you got out and now can hate, judge, fear, want, self-destruct on your own.


  34. Flaco says:

    unbelievable lives in a bubble.


  35. Flaco says:

    Science will save you unbelievable.


  36. dixie blood says:

    Yes – by all means – pray instead of doing anything. Because that is just so effective in having cured the world of cancer, AIDS, starving children, pedophilia, and a host of other forms of unnecessary and pointless suffering.

    Comment by unbelievable — June 21, 2007 @ 6:03 pm

    Right on point…Let me add…that people of ALL religions ON THE ENTIRE FACE OF THE EARTH have been PRAYING FOR WORLD PEACE and NOT ONE GOD OF ANY RELIGION HAS EVER STEPPED UP AND GOT’ER’DONE!!


  37. Markus says:

    Calm down people.

    What’s with all the vitriol against prayer?

    There’s a 30% change the prayer will be answered in their favour:

    a.) God answers prayer.
    b.) God ignores prayer.
    c.) God waits.

    Even Vegas doesn’t afford you such great odds.


  38. dixie blood says:

    Science will save you unbelievable.

    Comment by Flaco — June 21, 2007 @ 8:27 pm

    That’s a really stupid statement ‘roun’ here!!!

    I know unbelievable and you don’t know sh!t!!

    This is not really a fair fight for a moron like you!! But, good luck there pal!!


  39. Chris says:

    this is boring lets be good liberals and go have anal sex


  40. Devil's Advocate says:

    The FRC is on its way out. As for this Holsinger creature, he should have had his medical license yanked long ago. He is a qwack, a religious bigot, and an altogether unsavory person. No wonder Boy George nominated him… They both trump science in favor of ideology.

    We are “governed” by Neanderthals.


  41. Roket says:

    “Pray that Dr. Holsinger will receive an honest and fair hearing.” By all means. This means that if Dr Holsinger is not approved by the committee, this crowd will interprit that to be the will of God. Or was that a “24” episode. Sometimes I get confused.


  42. Wayne says:

    There was a study done with heart patients & Prayer.

    In total, complications occurred in 59 percent of those who were prayed for, compared with 51 percent of those who received no prayers, a significant difference.

    Deaths during the 30 days after surgery were similar across groups, 13 and 16 in the prayed-for group, 14 in the no-prayer group.

    The big mystery is why there was an excess of complications in patients who knew all those people were praying for them. The researchers admit they have “no clear explanation.”


  43. upside00 says:

    #40 The researchers admit they have “no clear explanation.”

    Comment by Wayne

    Kinda sums up Daryll and his fellow trolls here ……….. there is no clear explanation.


  44. chingebush says:

    Wayne,

    If it happened to the control group who were doubly blinded, my guess is that there was no effect, maybe too small of a population.

    If it happened to the group who KNEW that they were being prayed for, maybe the stress of not failing their fellow Christians was a contributing factor. Rather than having a calming effect, that you would expect if they truly believed the prayers helped, it would be a test of their faith. And they failed big time.


  45. mike says:

    So they’re afraid of failing the prayers of their friends?

    That’s nice… they lose because they know prayers are being offered on their behalf and fail for the same reason.

    Talk about having it both ways…


  46. unbelievable says:

    Hating, judging, fearing, wanting, self-destructing, family values?

    You are projecting again… Those are all your values.

    What cult/chruch did you belong to?

    Christianity.

    It is good you got out and now can hate, judge, fear, want, self-destruct on your own.
    Comment by Flaco — June 21, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

    Yes, I can choose those things. What’s even better is that I don’t.

    The truth isn’t always pleasant. Just because I point out the unpleasant truth does make me anything other than the messenger. Try shooting me all you want, but I’m not going to stop speaking the truth just because you don’t like it.

    unbelievable lives in a bubble.
    Comment by Flaco — June 21, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

    Yes – planet Earth. It is a ‘bubble’ of sorts because it’s a system.

    Science will save you unbelievable.
    Comment by Flaco — June 21, 2007 @ 8:27 pm

    And when you eventually have that impending stroke or develop cancer, it will also save you Flaco – that is if you and your ilk don’t stop fighting it…


  47. unbelievable says:

    Right on point…Let me add…that people of ALL religions ON THE ENTIRE FACE OF THE EARTH have been PRAYING FOR WORLD PEACE and NOT ONE GOD OF ANY RELIGION HAS EVER STEPPED UP AND GOT’ER’DONE!!
    Comment by dixie blood — June 21, 2007 @ 8:32 pm

    You’re right – not a one… Which looks to me like proof of no gods, since these same gods promised to answer prayers.

    In fact, in the bible, Jesus many times said that if you prayed, you’d get what you asked for. And the OT god was prolific in granting all sorts of violent prayers for smiting, abortions, and such… Yet he cares not about starving children in Africa, SARS, or curing cancer…


  48. unbelievable says:

    What’s with all the vitriol against prayer?
    Comment by Markus — June 21, 2007 @ 8:37 pm

    Not vitriol – truth.

    Prayer does not work.

    The Christian bible repeatedly declares that the prayers of their followers will be heard and answered. It even offers numerous examples of specific prayers that have been answered. In fact, many of those answered prayers refer to the health of others.

    Psalm 102:17 (New International Version): He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.

    Matthew 7:7-8 (NAB) Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

    John 14:13-14 (NAB) And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.

    James 5:-14:15 (ASV): Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.

    (In fact there were 365 passages that contained the word ‘pray’ in a word search at the online BibleGateway.com)

    In spite of these overt promises for divine intervention in times of need, a Duke University study on prayer, conducted solely by people of faith, found otherwise. The study was conducted with coronary patients over the course of a 3-year clinical trial. Its published results had to conclude, based on their findings, that prayer has no significant consequence on a patient’s health, despite copious biblical quotations to the contrary.

    Its double-blind trials divided patients awaiting angioplasty surgery, who were selected at random by a computer, into two groups – those who received intercessory prayer from 12 different religious organizations across the planet (but did not know that they were being prayed for), and those who did not (and did not know that they weren’t being prayed for). The resulting health of the patients who received intercessory prayer was essentially the same as those who did not – which were overall similar to the usual and expected results in health of all such angioplasty patients.

    Link: http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=9136

    Additionally – in the STEP (Study of the Therapeutic Effects of intercessory Prayer) Project, a 10 year long clinical trial authored, conducted and funded by physicians and foundations of faith, in collaboration with six medical centers (including Harvard and Mayo Clinic), the “power of prayer” was the basis for another scientific test that concluded in 2006.

    In double-blind studies, 1802 CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) patients were randomly selected and divided into 3 groups: 604 patients who received intercessory prayer after being told that they might or might not receive prayer during their surgery and recovery; 597 patients who did not receive intercessory prayer after being told that they might or might not receive prayer during their surgery and recovery; and 601 patients who received intercessory prayer after being told that they definitely would receive prayer during their surgery and recovery. At the end of the study, it was determined that the group of 604 patients had 52% post-operative complications, the group of 597 patients had 51% post-operative complications, and that the group of 601 patients had 59% post-operative complications.

    The published conclusion reported that their study could not only not show that prayer improves a patient’s health, but, in fact, that in those patients who knew they would be prayed for, the risk of complications was highest.

    Links:

    http://web.med.harvard.edu/sites/RELEASES/html/3_31STEP.html

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16569567&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum


  49. unbelievable says:

    The researchers admit they have “no clear explanation.”
    Comment by Wayne — June 21, 2007 @ 11:42 pm

    And what’s interesting is that these studies are conducted entirely with religious people.

    Funny that they are demonstrating why blind faith is necessary to be a believer…


  50. bitblt says:

    #46 and others

    You plead well for meaninglessness.

    Do you recommend it?


  51. bitblt says:

    #46 and others

    Hebrews 11:6


    6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

    Don’t believe a scientific experiment to validate this is what was intended by the Hebrews writer.

    You may read the rest of the chapter to understand why Christianity is not a blind faith – the cloud of witnesses, but something tells me you’ve already read this.

    It is not faith in Jesus Christ that leads to evil action.


  52. Parrotlover77 says:

    There was a study done with heart patients & Prayer.

    In total, complications occurred in 59 percent of those who were prayed for, compared with 51 percent of those who received no prayers, a significant difference.

    Deaths during the 30 days after surgery were similar across groups, 13 and 16 in the prayed-for group, 14 in the no-prayer group.

    The big mystery is why there was an excess of complications in patients who knew all those people were praying for them. The researchers admit they have “no clear explanation.”

    Comment by Wayne — June 21, 2007 @ 11:42 pm

    I’m not a churchy, but the likely explanation is a statistical anomoly. Remember that although it is unlikely, rolling the same number on a die ten times in a row is possible, just not probable. Same with this study. The significant portion of the study is that time and time again (study after study), these praying studies show no difference between each group. Humans like order so we tend to think there is a reason for that anomoly, but really it’s just because the random selection of patients happened to place a few people who were actually sicker in one group. It just proves there’s no difference. Imagine if that anomoly went the other direction? We wouldn’t hear the end of it from the mega-religious, even if no other study could replicate the findings.

    Of course, that didn’t happen and now the religiously devout will say that god doesnt respond to canned prayers for the only purpose of studying him (i refuse the capital “H”) or something to that effect. it’s always a clever excuse why we can’t find real evidence. Carl Sagan said it best when he talked about the invisible dragon in his neighbor’s garage. :-)



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