Southern Poverty LIE Center
Until now I've tried to ignore the bantering and perpetual whining of the Southern Poverty Law (or Lie) Center. They are by far the most notorious left-wing windbags spouting the most extreme theocracy conspiracy theories anywhere. They could use a personal visit from Chip Berlet and Fred Clarkson on how to properly dialogue with religio-political opponents.
One entry from the SPLC "Intelligence Report" is supposed to be some sort of expose on Chalcedon's 40th anniversary conference held last September at Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Cumming, GA. A brief look at this sophmoric hit piece demonstrates the difficult task I have as communications director.
This article is entitled "Casting Stones: An Army of radical Christian Reconstructionists is preparing a campaign to convert conservative fundamentalist churches." The author is David Holthouse who in my opinion was either not in attendance or listening to an iPod during the sessions. Listen to how he describes Mark Rushdoony:
For anyone who knows Mark Rushdoony you probably just spit out your mouth full of water reading that. "Stark black suit." Ooooh, how scary! I guess you can't wear black these days. "Rushdoony thundered." That takes the cake. Mark is one of the most soft spoken people I know. In addition, it took a bit of arm twisting just to get him on the platform. In short, Mark doesn't thunder.
What's horrible though, is Mr. Holthouse is lying. Mark never said ANY of the above mentioned diatribes. We've had posted the complete transcript from Mark's message and you can read for yourself that those comments or any like them are not featured. Holthouse continues:
Followers from four states? I spoke with people from Canada, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, California, Texas, and Illinois. I don't know what conference Holthouse was attending, but it certainly wasn't ours. And again, what he claims Mark said is no where found in his message.
Holthouse continues to spew more lies in the following paragraph:
First of all, it was "I" who discussed the speaking tour -- not Morecraft -- and DeMar was not included in the travel plans as Holtouse alleges. Secondly, Holthouse said we would be "traveling to non-Reconstructionist fundamentalist Christian churches." I said nothing of the kind. In fact, I said we would likely rent small hotel conference rooms in regions of the country where our supporters were. Thirdly, Holthouse said the effort was to "convert already conservative congregations to full-blown Reconstructionism." Nonsense! The point of the mini-conferences was get out with our readers and supporters for some face time and provide an environment where they are there friends and loved ones can ask questions and learn more about Chalcedon. Besides, no non-reconstructionist church would ever allow us to hold conferences at their respective churches unless they were reconstructionist!
There's more but I won't bore you with it. I think you get the point.
I've come to one of three conclusions about Mr. Holthouse and the SPLC:
1. He's a moron and he works with morons
2. He's intentionally lying and works with liars
3. He's a part of the left-wing "controlled opposition" of the global elite
This was a hit piece, plain and simple. It's designed to create outrage and fear. It's lying and that removes any credibility, integrity, or moral standard from the SPLC -- not that it ever had any in my mind.
Our opponents lack reason. They lack an old-fashioned work ethic and the professional integrity to read our materials to determine the context and accuracy of our views. This is too much for them. Lying is easier, quicker, and carries a greater punch.
One entry from the SPLC "Intelligence Report" is supposed to be some sort of expose on Chalcedon's 40th anniversary conference held last September at Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Cumming, GA. A brief look at this sophmoric hit piece demonstrates the difficult task I have as communications director.
This article is entitled "Casting Stones: An Army of radical Christian Reconstructionists is preparing a campaign to convert conservative fundamentalist churches." The author is David Holthouse who in my opinion was either not in attendance or listening to an iPod during the sessions. Listen to how he describes Mark Rushdoony:
Draped in a stark black suit with a shiny gold cross pinned to its lapel, Mark Rushdoony peered down from the pulpit through glasses tinted the color of hellfire.
"We are authorized by God to challenge all that is not godly!" Rushdoony thundered. "God is angry with the wicked every day, and the sins of the wicked deserve the infliction of God's wrath in this life as well as the life hereafter!"
For anyone who knows Mark Rushdoony you probably just spit out your mouth full of water reading that. "Stark black suit." Ooooh, how scary! I guess you can't wear black these days. "Rushdoony thundered." That takes the cake. Mark is one of the most soft spoken people I know. In addition, it took a bit of arm twisting just to get him on the platform. In short, Mark doesn't thunder.
What's horrible though, is Mr. Holthouse is lying. Mark never said ANY of the above mentioned diatribes. We've had posted the complete transcript from Mark's message and you can read for yourself that those comments or any like them are not featured. Holthouse continues:
"To oppose us is to attack God's law," Mark Rushdoony testified to nearly 200 followers from four states, "and to attack God's law is to attack God himself!"
Followers from four states? I spoke with people from Canada, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, California, Texas, and Illinois. I don't know what conference Holthouse was attending, but it certainly wasn't ours. And again, what he claims Mark said is no where found in his message.
Holthouse continues to spew more lies in the following paragraph:
Morecraft said the September conference was a preview of a planned speaking tour of Reconstructionism's leading voices, including Rushdoony, Selbrede, and DeMar, that will be traveling to non-Reconstructionist fundamentalist Christian churches around the country beginning this winter as part of the Chalcedon Foundation's missionary effort to "convert" already conservative congregations to full-blown Reconstructionism.
First of all, it was "I" who discussed the speaking tour -- not Morecraft -- and DeMar was not included in the travel plans as Holtouse alleges. Secondly, Holthouse said we would be "traveling to non-Reconstructionist fundamentalist Christian churches." I said nothing of the kind. In fact, I said we would likely rent small hotel conference rooms in regions of the country where our supporters were. Thirdly, Holthouse said the effort was to "convert already conservative congregations to full-blown Reconstructionism." Nonsense! The point of the mini-conferences was get out with our readers and supporters for some face time and provide an environment where they are there friends and loved ones can ask questions and learn more about Chalcedon. Besides, no non-reconstructionist church would ever allow us to hold conferences at their respective churches unless they were reconstructionist!
There's more but I won't bore you with it. I think you get the point.
I've come to one of three conclusions about Mr. Holthouse and the SPLC:
1. He's a moron and he works with morons
2. He's intentionally lying and works with liars
3. He's a part of the left-wing "controlled opposition" of the global elite
This was a hit piece, plain and simple. It's designed to create outrage and fear. It's lying and that removes any credibility, integrity, or moral standard from the SPLC -- not that it ever had any in my mind.
Our opponents lack reason. They lack an old-fashioned work ethic and the professional integrity to read our materials to determine the context and accuracy of our views. This is too much for them. Lying is easier, quicker, and carries a greater punch.
