Theological (Glenn) Beckism

by Chris Dierkes on September 15, 2009

Not that I/you should expect much in the way of logical rigor from Glenn Beck, but is anyone else a little confused by Principles 2 & 4 in the 9/12 Project:

I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

Of course according to principle #2, God is (or rather should be) the ultimate authority, not the government nor you and your wife (sorry honey).

Plus, why is God #2 when God is the center of life (supposedly) and principle #1 is:

1. America Is Good.

Meaning actually America is God , I mean, good.

If God were the center of one’s life, wouldn’t God come before America being good?

I realize this isn’t exactly The Summa Theologica, but still.

{ 17 comments }

1 Katherine September 15, 2009 at 9:45 pm

Pretty accurate description of the doctrinaire Republican mentality, actually: the Nation as Idol.

2 Chris Dierkes September 16, 2009 at 8:49 am

sadly all too much.

3 Ken September 15, 2009 at 10:05 pm

Not theological, but this:

It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
On your right to disagree “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington

. .. is very odd as a “9/12″ principle, given the strong sentiment against dissent after 9/11 (a sentiment strongly pushed by Glenn Beck’s ilk).

4 Chris Dierkes September 16, 2009 at 8:46 am

that plus–maybe I’m reading too much into this–but what’s with this being the only one written in double negative? I mean it should read: “It’s American to disagree with authority and share my personal view.” But that would conflict possibly with #1 America is Good.

I suppose the way to square that circle is to say that the government of the United States is not really part of America in this idea.

5 Nob Akimoto September 15, 2009 at 11:12 pm

Glenn Beck incoherent? That’s not possible! You’re simply not able to read it properly because you’re not like the majority of REAL Americans!

6 Chris Dierkes September 16, 2009 at 8:47 am

true. I married a person from and moved to the dreaded demon socialist country to the north, so what do I know?

7 ChrisWWW September 16, 2009 at 4:05 am

Chris,
Why do you hate America, God and families? Are you some kind of socialist?

P.S. Keep government and Obama bin Laden out of my Medicare!

8 Chris Dierkes September 16, 2009 at 8:47 am

see previous reply to nob ak.

9 Kyle Cupp September 16, 2009 at 5:10 am

If America is Good, then are other countries good in so far as they participate in the Goodness of America? Is evil then “un-American-ness”?

10 Chris Dierkes September 16, 2009 at 8:48 am

America=Form of the Good.

11 Rep. Joe Wilson September 16, 2009 at 6:39 am

YOU LIE!

12 MF September 17, 2009 at 8:52 am

Best. Reply. Ever.

13 F-T-S September 16, 2009 at 4:10 pm

The Jefferson quote in Beckism #9 also kinda clunks into #4. Either way, there’s lots of BeckTalk of authority and not much about liberty.

14 Cadmus September 16, 2009 at 4:11 pm

ChrisWWW wrote: “P.S. Keep government … out of my Medicare!

That is precious. May I recommend you have your doctor perform an assessment for dementia on you old coot. Do you fail to understand even the simplest concept that Medicare is government, and if you “keep government our of Medicare,” its NOT your Medicare anymore.

15 Chris Dierkes September 16, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Cadmus,

ChrisWWW was being sarcastic. One clue to that might have been his addition that we keep “Obama bin Laden” out of our healthcare as well.

Also he said (mockingly) that I must hate God and families, which is (meant to be humorous) given A)I’m married and B)studying to be a priest.

16 Zach September 16, 2009 at 7:45 pm

honesty *and* sincerity. gotta get to 12 somehow.

17 Neurotic Ninja September 17, 2009 at 7:37 am

Though I haven’t read all the 9-12 clap-trap, has anyone pointed out how this also seems to be some effed up re-tooling of the 12 steps and 12 traditions found in most programs of recovery? They at least make a little more sense (and were themselves lifted from other sources).

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