The people who run NOM are such bigots that if a being presented itself, proving it was the ruler and creator of the universe, and then proceeded to make an “It Gets Better” video for bullied gay teens, they would still reject the message and continue the hard work of hating gays 24/7.

As it is, Simon & Schuster made an “It Gets Better” video in the form of a cartoon, wherein God is saying just that: It Gets Better. Also, in this video God is saying that he has a crush on Ryan Reynolds. [Who doesn't?]

Here is “It Getteth Better”:

If you’re bored, here’s NOM’s whiny blog post about it, and as always with wingnuts, the comments section is the funny part.

[h/t Towleroad]

There was an interesting article in the New York Times detailing how some fundamentalists and Tea Party enthusiasts do not believe in Climate Catastrophe, which is backed by almost every real scientist in the reality-based community.

Exhibit A of this backwards mentality is Norman Dennison, founder of Indiana’s Corydon Tea Party. At a forum for Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.), the Tea Bagger chastised the congressman for supporting efforts to keep this planet from being ruined.

“It’s a flat out lie,” said Mr. Dennison, adding that he had based his view on global warming from the preaching of Rush Limbaugh and Scripture. “I read my Bible. He made this earth for us to utilize.”

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama liked to say, “We are the change that we have been waiting for.” In the parlance of these dangerous fundamentalists: “We are the apocalypse that we have been waiting for.”

Unfortunately, the rest of us have to live through the dire consequences of their delusional fantasy that  earth’s resources can mindlessly be exploited with reckless abandon. Indeed, in their warped worldview, God encourages, even applauds, when “God’s People” despoil precious resources.

When the polar bears eventually drown; when lovely homes on Florida’s coast wash into the sea; when drought, dislocation, disease and wretched refugee camps kill millions of people; when bloody wars are started over dwindling resources; when intense storms drown American cities; these fundamentalists should be blamed. Thanks to their remarkable ignorance, spiritual arrogance, and selfish disregard for their fellow man, we may all pay unthinkable consequences.

Isn’t it time that people take pause and ponder the viability of fundamentalism in modern civilization? What does it mean when a religious worldview is so neanderthal that it threatens the existence of humanity? How can America prosper and advance when leaders scorn science and potentially lead us off of a cliff at full speed? Is the majority just expected to sit around and reverently express our “respect” for such nihilistic beliefs?

No – we must speak out against such scripture-based suicide. Sure, fundamentalists have the right to believe such nonsense. But, we also have the right and responsibility to say such beliefs are destructive to the planet. It is our duty to do so, because we inhabit the planet their beliefs are strangling.

While our opponents like to idiotically say that marriage equality will end the earth, the archaic policies to keep the planet frying actually does present a genuine threat. These “moral” scolds love to talk a good game about “family values”, but what type of world are they leaving for the next generation and beyond?

The New York Times article listed recent polling data that shows the Tea Baggers are an unmitigated disaster for our planet and a threat to life as we know it.

Those who support the Tea Party movement are considerably more dubious about the existence and effects of global warming than the American public at large, according to a New York Times/CBS News Poll conducted this month. The survey found that only 14 percent of Tea Party supporters said that global warming is an environmental problem that is having an effect now, while 49 percent of the rest of the public believes that it is. More than half of Tea Party supporters said that global warming would have no serious effect at any time in the future, while only 15 percent of other Americans share that view, the poll found.

And 8 percent of Tea Party adherents volunteered that they did not believe global warming exists at all, while only 1 percent of other respondents agreed.

Someone has to say this: The Tea Baggers are by far the stupidest people in America. They operate in a blind, all-consuming rage, that includes not an iota of brain power. They consistently get suckered and duped into regurgitating lies from discredited sources.

For example, the Tea Baggers are the ones who are most likely to believe the garbage spewed by fake think tanks, funded by Big Oil money, that claim there is no such thing as Climate Catastrophe. They get their information from FOX News, which is a front for the corporate interests of the GOP and billionaire media baron Rupert Murdoch. What these pea-brained Tea Baggers don’t seem to comprehend, is that they are not working for “the people”, but doing the bidding of the royalists, such as Murdoch, and billionaire-brothers, David and Charles Koch.

With the elections only days away, our nation may be saddled with extremists placed in positions of power. Their retrograde policies will make us the laughingstock of the world, harm our national security,  and put The United States of America at an economic disadvantage. While our Tea Party leaders are living in the past — busily extracting and profiting handsomely from fossil fuels — countries like China, India and Denmark are busy investing in the clean alternative energy of tomorrow.

It takes brainpower to remain a superpower — which means that America will continue slipping if Tea Party con artists candidates are victorious on Election Day. Without enlightened policies, the only thing America will be number one at — is claiming that we are Number 1. (We’ve already seen a great erosion in our worldwide education rank — thanks to the glorification of ignorance, exemplified by the Tea Baggers)

I’ve said this before: The more fundamentalist a nation, the more anachronistic it is — and the worse it is economically, spiritually and culturally. If our nation embraces stupid politicians with dumb policies, there will be consequences. And if disaster strikes mankind, there are many of us who are keeping score and will hold these religious fanatics responsible for the living hell they brought to our planet.

(Amazing Grace: Muslim Is Blind And Now She Sees – Thanks to Jesus)

Apparently, so-called “ex-gays” are not enough to satisfy right wing extremists. According to the Christian Broadcasting Network, former Muslim rebels in the southern Philippines are “veering away from violence as they discover Jesus and experience his peace and miracles. Muslim Mariam Mendo is giving her testimony on how God healed her blindness.”

Of course, this must be true, because fundamentalist Christians are always peace loving and never violent.

Just as with the ex-gay ministries, fundies are promising miracles to Muslims. For example, Mariam Mendo, is allegedly giving her testimony on how God healed her blindness.

Mendo, a diabetic, testified she suddenly lost her sight after her blood pressure shot up. Her husband, Spider, who was a former commander of the Muslim rebel group Moro National Liberation Front, comforted Mendo and allegedly asked the pastors to pray for his wife.

“I was not afraid,” Spider said. “I know that everything is in the hands of God and that He will not allow my wife to go blind.”

According to CBN, one of the church elders, Primo Latada, says he was amazed at Spider’s faith.

“I did not expect Spider to have such a strong faith in God,” Latada said. “He said ‘Let us lay hands on my wife and pray for healing just like Jesus when He prayed for the sick in the Bible.’”

After two days, Mendo miraculously regained her sight! He also cured her diabetes!

“The doctor also told me that the diabetes is gone,” Mendo said. “Before, I did not believe in Isa, in Jesus, but now He is in my heart and I believe that He was the one who healed me.”

It was in 2008 when Medno husband, commander Spider, and other Mujahideen fighters heard the Gospel when Christian missionaries visited their training camp. And just recently, Spider underwent water baptism which signifies his total surrender to Jesus Christ.

This was tested when his goats and chickens were stolen.

“I wanted to run after the thieves,” Spider said. “I said nobody steals from me because the people are scared of me. But my pastor reminded me that I should forgive.”

Because of his newfound faith, Spider is persuading Muslim rebel groups to lay down their arms and surrender to the government.

This is truly an amazing story.

Jesus cured blindness and diabetes, converted angry Muslims, stopped Spider from whacking the guy who stole his chickens and caused violent insurgents to lay down their guns.

It seems the ex-Muslim ministries is working much better than the ex-gay ministries. Perhaps, they can share their secrets with the ever-struggling Randy Thomas and Alan Chambers – who can’t seem to “heal” their homosexuality.

In a dramatic move, University of Florida’s legendary football coach, Urban Meyer, abruptly quit the sport on Christmas Day. His decision came after a hospitalization for chest pains and a realization that he had nearly worked himself to death building a championship team. Meyer’s prodigious work habits included neglecting his family and e-mailing recruits in church.

“I’m a person of faith and I wanted to make sure I had my priorities straight,” said Meyer. “A lot of times, coaches do not have their priorities straight. You put business before God and family, you have a problem.”

Of course, this is wishful thinking. If Meyer had actually prioritized God and family before the pigskin, he’d make a fine deacon and a great father…..and a mediocre Division II coach. Those who reach the pinnacle in sports have a rare combination of natural gifts and an obsessive need to win. For example, the two most successful basketball players in my lifetime are Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant – both of whom are pathological competitors. Their need to win likely crosses over into a disorder – but that is what it takes to be a champion.

For all his talk about God, it was the text messages and e-mails from the pews that catapulted the coach into sainthood in Gainesville. The choice was to worship on Sunday or be worshiped by adoring fans each Saturday – and Meyer chose the latter. This is not a criticism, just a reality check on Meyer’s message that he could have reversed his priorities and still had the same successful career. I doubt he could have.

When Meyer announced his retirement, his 18-year old daughter hugged him and said, “I get my daddy back.” The coach said that he was retiring because God had told him to quit and his daughter’s reaction was confirmation of this divine intervention.

Two days later, following an afternoon on the practice field, Meyer changed his mind and switched his retirement status to a “leave of absence.” He expects to coach next fall.

So, did Meyer misinterpret God, confuse God’s voice with his own desires or is the coach defying His will by returning to the sideline?

In sports, it seems, God is always on the winning side, ready to snatch victory from the presumably heathen team, and deliver the game to the good guys. However, the notion is quite offensive and in some ways ruins the game. Why even watch, after all, if the sport is fixed and a victory is already preordained by God?

In any case, I think that athletes and coaches should get back to scoring touchdowns or drawing up plays on chalkboards. The whole “catch a ball for God” routine is getting quite stale. Just once I’d like to see an athlete say, “I dropped the ball because Jesus doesn’t like me.”

Why not? Does He not get the credit for touchdowns, with an increasing number of spoiled, solipsistic athletes pointing towards the heavens after each score?

It is also outrageous to think that God gives a damn about football when children are starving and wars are raging. On my block in New York City, there are about a half-dozen hobos who are exposed to the harshness of winter. I’d like to think that a just deity would end such injustice before traipsing off each Sunday to the New York Giants game.

For selfish reasons, as a University of Florida alumnus, I am glad Meyer is returning. I like to win and gator chomp and it makes me feel good to marinade in victory. It was exhilarating to crush Cincinnati 51-24 in the Sugar Bowl.

But can we finally keep God off the goal line and have a separation of sports and Scripture? Can former Gator quarterback, Tim Tebow, an incredible athlete and a seemingly decent person, complete one sentence without mentioning Jesus and turning it into a prayer?

The fact that an athlete is gifted, does not mean he is God’ gift to the universe. Fundamentalist athletes and coaches alike aren’t special and should stop acting like Moses, just because they get to appear on ESPN’ Sports Center.

Although, after watching Tebow pass for a career-high 482 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 51 yards against Cincinnati, I wouldn’t rule out that he could part the Red Sea.

Our friend Mike Tidmus reports on his blog about an ad campaign by the American Humanist Association. The effort seeks to help people “come out” about not believing in God. The ads have been under attack from intolerant fundamentalists who believe they are superior to other Americans and want to undermine our nation’s commitment to genuine liberty.

Whether one believes in God, or not, is irrelevant. What matters is the necessity of continuing America’s commitment to ensuring a tradition of freedom of conscience. If fundamentalists have a problem with such campaigns, the answer is to exercise their First Amendment rights and make a more persuasive case for faith in God. If they fail to do so, that is a consequence of living in a country that thrives because of its free marketplace of ideas.

Sadly, there are people who prefer to bully, threaten, deface and destroy messages, and even the messengers, when they feel their religion is faced with competition. This, in my view, shows a lack of true faith on the part of such angry fundamentalists. They fear doubt will creep into their minds and undermine their narrow worldview. In trying to protect their fragile faith, too many people are willing to undermine the Constitution and destabilize democracy.

If America is to remain a free country, then all people must be able to form their own belief systems without fear of being ostracized or persecuted. The greatest monument to religious freedom in America remains that a person can openly choose no religion at all.

The moment such liberty is lost (hopefully never), is the moment the “Welcome Mat” has been placed to greet tyranny. On this Thanksgiving, let us thank God, or not, that we live in a nation where such ad campaigns can occur.

In a Nov. 26 press release, ex-gay ministry network Exodus International says it’s “disappointed” and “saddened” that matchmaking company eHarmony is launching a dating site for GLBT singles.

Now, we’ve heard a lot about eHarmony of late: The site founded to serve Christian unmarrieds in 2000 initially discriminated against gays and lesbians seeking mates. Recently, the company announced plans to open CompatiblePartners.net, a companion site that will serve the GLBT community. Some have reacted with glee, while others find eHarmony’s separate-site approach to attracting gay dollars offensive. Still, this is the first time we’ve heard an entity admit to feeling sadness over the matter.

Exodus had wanted the issue surrounding eHarmony’s former no-gays-allowed policy settled by a judge. Two years ago, a gay man filed suit, claiming the company’s old plan violated New Jersey’s anti-discrimination law, which covers sexual orientation. (Exodus, interestingly, felt the need to surround the words “sexual orientation” with quotation marks.) Rather than risk a negative outcome in court, eHarmony decided to found CompatiblePartners.net as a way to settle the legal complaint.

This makes Exodus President Alan Chambers sad.

“Raising a white flag of surrender over foundational Christian principles cannot be an option when we truly believe that such truths are the gateway to freedom and new life,” Chambers said in the release. “The Bible is clear that homosexual relationships were never part of God’s creative design for humanity, nor is it His best plan for individuals. Those of us who have experienced the emptiness of gay life know that promoting it will inevitably lead to more heartache for many.”

What this has to do with the way in which a business chooses to operate escapes us. And what does eHarmony’s outreach to prospective gay and lesbian clients have to do with Exodus’ work? The group leadership says again and again that ex-gay ministries and likeminded reparative therapists exist to help those seeking relief from unwanted same-sex desires. In order to make a profit, eHarmony seeks to serve those looking to act on those desires. How does this threaten the work of Exodus and its hundreds of affiliates?

Chambers should take comfort knowing that eHarmony’s new GLBT-focused site may clear the decks, so to speak, so he can avoid wasting time on happy gays and more easily locate and “save” those not so accepting of their sexuality. And he shouldn’t take the existence of gay men and lesbians being happy and well-adjusted as a cause of misery — that’s just… sad.

Focus on the Family plucked a video from its Web site today that urged people to pray for “rain of biblical proportions” during Barack Obama’s Aug. 28 appearance at Invesco Field at Mile High to accept the Democratic nomination for president. This, of course, would be about as effective as their attempts to have people “pray away the gay” at their “ex-gay” Love Won Out freak shows.

“If people took it seriously, we regret it,” Minnery said Monday.

Who is Focus on the Family kidding? They are a nasty group that portrays God as a right wing bully who is molded in James Dobson’s dictatorial image. The only joke here, was that Focus on the Family is covering up their true colors by portraying their ugliness as a parody.

You can only feel bad for people who have such an authoritarian, hideous view of spirituality. I hope, even pray, that they get the help they need to escape this miserable mindset in which they are trapped.