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Religion See other Religion Articles Title: Glorification of War from the Hagee Stage Glorification of War from the Hagee Stage Scotland on Sunday Oct 31, 2006 CHRIS STEPHEN IN SAN ANTONIO THE lights were down in the giant amphitheatre of Cornerstone Church, Texas, as last weekend's Feast of the Tabernacles got into full swing. An orchestra, backed by a several hundred-strong choir, is belting out biblical hymns. Centre stage, two camouflaged figures embrace, one dressed as an Israeli soldier complete with machine gun, the other his US army counterpart. George Bush may be facing defeat in the upcoming mid-term elections from an electorate alarmed by Middle East wars and ballooning federal spending, but one corner of the country remains firmly behind him - the Christian right.Fully one quarter of Americans describe themselves as Evangelical Christians, and their support for the president remains rock solid. Cornerstone Church, a vast squat white temple in San Antonio, is rapidly becoming the movement's epicentre, thanks to the charismatic founder, Pastor John Hagee, the rising star of America's TV evangelists. For these evangelists, the war in Iraq is not a disaster, but the beginning of the fulfilment of biblical prophecies that culminate, possibly very soon, in a mighty struggle between good and evil at Armageddon. This belief lies at the core of the teachings of the bespectacled pastor, who argues that Christians and Jews must make common cause against forces of darkness he identifies as Arabs, Russians and even a future president of the EU. Christians who fail in their duty will be "left behind" when the obedient are summoned to heaven. "Listen up, president of Iran," booms the pastor. "We are going to be your worst nightmare, Mr Ahmadinejad. The pharaoh threatened Israel, he ended up fish-food in the sea. When you say Israel is going to disappear in a sudden storm you may be predicting the way you disappear." The 5,000-seater church, patriotically decked out in red carpet, white walls and blue seats, is packed and the crowd are immediately on their feet, arms raised, shouting hallelujah. While mainstream churches across the land struggle to attract congregations, Cornerstone and hundreds more so-called Mega Churches are packed week after week, forming the last remaining bastion of support for the troubled Bush presidency. Hagee set up his church 28 years ago and sits through services on a throne, in suit and tie, facing his son, Mathew, who he has appointed as his deputy. "When you get the sin out of your life you get happy," he tells the congregation. "What we are doing is righteous." By taking the bible as literal truth, these evangelists argue that Israel can do no wrong because their enemies are, by definition, forces of darkness who can be disposed of. His stance has brought the pastor powerful friends, among them disgraced former House of Congress majority leader Tom Delay and ex-CIA chief James Woolsey. Hagee is rapidly taking the place as top TV preacher from fellow Evangelist Pat Robertson, who has lost support after angering Bush by using one of his sermons to call for the assassination of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. "Pastor Hagee is experienced, charismatic and efficient, and his message is simple," says writer Victoria Clark, who is researching a history of Christian Zionists. "Hagee preaches that if Americans want God to bless America then Americans had better bless the Jews." Yet despite the fervour, clouds are appearing on the horizon. Bush, the country's first Born Again president, is in deep trouble. In a fortnight's time, barring a miracle God seems disinclined to grant, the Republicans will lose one, possibly both, houses of Congress, blunting their foreign policy and the cause of the Christian Right. Meanwhile, mainstream churches worry about the absence in the pastor's fiery sermons of more traditional Christian fare such as forgiveness. And liberal American Jews accuse the pastor of ignoring divisions raging within CHRIS STEPHEN IN SAN ANTONIO THE lights were down in the giant amphitheatre of Cornerstone Church, Texas, as last weekend's Feast of the Tabernacles got into full swing. An orchestra, backed by a several hundred-strong choir, is belting out biblical hymns. Centre stage, two camouflaged figures embrace, one dressed as an Israeli soldier complete with machine gun, the other his US army counterpart. George Bush may be facing defeat in the upcoming mid-term elections from an electorate alarmed by Middle East wars and ballooning federal spending, but one corner of the country remains firmly behind him - the Christian right.Israel about how to treat its Arab neighbours. But none of this can shake the devotion of Pastor Hagee's flock, whose hefty donations have given him a reported personal income in excess of a million dollars a year. One devotee, tourist office supervisor Liz Andrews, grew tearful as she said: "I hope America stands by them [Israel] because I think that if Americans don't, something bad will happen to us. I don't want to be one of the ones left behind. I don't want to endure what's going to happen." Another follower, teacher Patrick Hewitt, said the pastor will shortly post instructions, on his website on how parishioners should cast their ballots for the mid-term elections. "I'm going to vote the way he tells me," he said.
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#3. To: Red Jones (#0)
It's the church of Mars and Mammon.
#4. To: bluedogtxn (#3)
I remember we read an account of a christian gathering in Pennsylvania where they had thousands of young people attending, and they brought out a man dressed as a soldier with his weapon came out to the stage and was glorified before the young people.
That's good.
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