Joe Conason: Chick-fil-A: Pigging Out On ‘Biblical Principles’

[babylonsister]

http://www.nationalmemo.com/chick-fil-a-pigging-out-on-biblical-principles/

Chick-fil-A: Pigging Out On ‘Biblical Principles’
August 4th, 2012 12:24 am Joe Conason


Watching the political pig-outs and kiss-ins at Chick-fil-A, a National Memo reader writes to ask exactly how a fast-food franchiser became a national symbol of religious devotion. He wonders why Dan Cathy, the Chick-fil-A chief who claims to operate his company according to “biblical principles,” and his supporters on the religious right focus so exclusively on the prohibition against homosexuality in Leviticus.

snip//

Of course, America’s cafeteria Christians have long obeyed or ignored the Bible on a highly selective basis. They feel perfectly comfortable ignoring God’s often-stated preference toward the poor, worshipping gold just as they were commanded never to do. While obsessing over gays and lesbians, they brush aside the rest of Leviticus entirely.

What about God’s commandment that men grow beards? Dan Cathey appears to be clean-shaven. But do his cattle graze with other cattle? Does he grow more than one crop on the same field? And does he wear garments woven from more than one fabric? I suspect all these fundamentals are violated by him and his minions at Chick-fil-A every day.

Indeed, if America’s religious rightists were living strictly by the Bible, then they would have had to put Newt Gingrich (and Callista) to death by stoning years ago, rather than entertain the silly notion that he should be president. According to Leviticus, the same penalty ought to have been inflicted on many, many other self-proclaimed “Biblical” conservatives, including about a substantial number of the Congressional class of 1994 that took over under the leadership of Gingrich.

Let’s not get too far into Deuteronomy, except to note that it dictates he biblically correct treatment of anyone sufficient misguided to follow another religion (such as Mormons, for instance). If the Republicans took its commandments literally, Mitt Romney could not become their nominee for President – because he would have been executed along with everyone else in the Church of Latter-Day Saints, including their children and their animals.

Perhaps we should be thankful that these phonies don’t really mean it. They do enough harm as it is. But there is a term describing people who advertise their strict adherence to religious law (even when they don’t exploit that status to oppress the innocent or to boost fried chicken sales). It’s synonymous with self-righteous hypocrisy.

[superstring1]

1. Chick-fil-A made a mint on this 'episode,' thanks to Mike Huckabee's timely intervention

I wonder how much Chick-fil-A will 'contribute' to Mike's various enterprises in appreciation for Mike's day of 'appreciation.'

[lunasun]

2. what is a true biblical marriage? I am betting it includes multiple wives or handmaidens or no

divorce..... at the least, women for chattel or maybe I am way off

Also,is a biblical marriage about Adam And Eve?? I know from signs outside churches it is not Adam and Steve......
or what does that mean >biblical marriage?
The Chic filA guy said he believes in a true biblical marriage or something like that...just wondering
And this Leviticus dude - was he an old testament prophet or what??
Can you help us non bible folks -you seemed to know enuf to say BS on them about all their bible hooting
i just figured you could help me understand WTF they are referencing
I heard the bible endorses slavery - is it true + does that include Jesus??
Was Jesus out there becuz he did not marry or beget sons??

An inquiring mind wants to know

[David Zephyr]

3. Thanks for posting the Conason article.

And helping expose the hypocrisy behind their "biblical principles" marketing ploy. Excellent!