Last updated on 2014.01.11
Gordon Howie linklessly whines that "nasty bloggers" are "polluting the Internet." He doesn't name any nasties or give examples of the pollution that rouses his self-righteous ire. But I'll wager he'd want to point the finger at his fellow wingnut theocrat Bob Ellis, who runs on his American Carrion this tripe from William Federer about the spirituality of Helen Keller (who was born 132 years ago today):
Helen Keller stated:
"The Bible is one mighty representative of the whole spiritual life of humanity."
Helen Keller wrote:
"I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God."
Helen Keller concluded:
"Four things to learn in life: To think clearly without hurry...
"To love everybody sincerely...
"To act in everything with the highest motives...
"To trust God unhesitatingly."
[William J. Federer, "To Trust God Unhesitatingly," American Clarion, 2012.06.27]
Helen Keller was a Christian. She was also a committed socialist. She supported Vladimir Lenin and the Soviet Union. She co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union. If she were alive today, Helen Keller would provide Ellis and Howie with more wingut smear fodder than Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, and Van Jones combined.
Even Keller's Christian cred can cause question. Check out that top quote, about the Bible as "one mighty representative of the whole spiritual life of humanity." That quote comes from her 1927 book My Religion. Following this passage, Keller declares herself a dedicated follower of Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, whose presumption to reinterpret the Bible would give fundies like Ellis and Howie fits. But Keller calls him "a divinely inspired interpreter... a prophet sent from God."
Swedenborg also went into trances to speak with spirits from other planets. Angels and ministers of grace, defend us! South Dakota's theocratic blogosphere is turning to New Age Theocracy! Save them, Sibby!
Update 2012.07.03 10:54 CDT: From Phyllis Cole-Dai, Occupy Brookings:
The few own the many because they possess the means of livelihood of all ... The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labor. The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands - the ownership and control of their livelihoods - are set at naught, we can have neither men's rights nor women's rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease [Helen Keller, 1911].
Now that's what a Christian read of today's economy should sound like.
Good eye Cory. Glad to see you have been paying attention to my research. It is so easy to be deceived.
Here is more on Swedenborg:
The Enlightenment saw another occult revival, perhaps spurred by growing rejection of mainstream religion and increased democracy and freedom of conscience. The period saw the rise of occult fraternities, most notably Speculative Freemasonry and a revived Rosicrucian Brotherhood. Academic interest in ancient mystery cults such as those of Mithras and Dionysus began to develop. Emanuel Swedenborg pulled Christianity in a more mystical or occult direction, and Franz Mesmer provided a quasi-scientific method of thaumaturgy. While both these men had profound contributions to the Western mystery tradition, it appears neither was versed in it. The Count of St Germain, whose life and legends influenced Theosophy, lived during this period. Martinism also arose as an esoteric doctrine, as did various Rosicrucian orders.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_mystery_tradition
It is really astonishing to see who the Religious Rong tries to grab to support their idolatry. It's really astonishingly stupid.
D.E., I'd like say to all the right-wingers out there, "Keep your grabby hands off my socialist Helen Keller!"
Mr. Sibby does good analysis, and I wish he'd publish more, but nobody understands more than I the time constraints of being partially insane. A tie here is with Helen Keller and the Kiwanis who are guiding much of the global economy. Helen Keller founded or was instrumental in the founding of or a major meeting of the international Kiwanis that are pulling all the strings on society today.