Yes, Beck is the new Bull.
So there’s this guy, right? His name is Glenn Beck.
After a lifetime of low-level debauchery — divorce, drug abuse, flirtations with suicide, and alcoholism — he cleans up his act and gets a TV show.
He also does something interesting: He becomes a Mormon, joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October 1999.
What’s interesting about this choice is that he joined a faith that many other Christians despise and discount.
The Southern Baptist Convention has described Mormonism as “a cult,” a “polytheistic” faith, and theologically non-Christian.
This from a 2007 Christian Post article titled “Mormons are not Christian.”
Mormons believe in a false gospel and are not Christians, concluded one of the nation’s preeminent evangelicals in what appeared to be the close of an online debate over Mormonism.
“Here is the bottom line. As an Evangelical Christian – a Christian who holds to the ‘traditional Christian orthodoxy’ of the Church – I do not believe that Mormonism leads to salvation,” wrote Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on Wednesday evening.
“To the contrary, I believe that it is a false gospel that, however sincere and kind its adherents may be, leads to eternal death rather than to eternal life,” he stated.
In the 19th century, Mormons fled to Utah after being persecuted in the East and Midwest, including violent pogroms.
But in our modern secular democracy, Beck’s faith is protected. His freedom to worship is protected.
So when Glenn Beck’s supporters attack the lower-Manhattan mosque and when he attacks Barack Obama’s Christianity, saying “it’s not Muslim, it’s not Christian” and describing it as “a perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ as most Christians know it,” Beck has no excuses.
He understands what religious intolerance means.
The members of his church teach the history of ugly and violent divisiveness that intolerance brought to their doorsteps.
And yet he still wields that sword for political gain.
By any measure, Mr. Beck is an ugly sort of leader for any movement to take up. His history is checkered, his rhetoric is muddled, and his motives are questionable.
But at least this weekend’s event in Washington clarified one thing. He went to the nation’s capital to claim a part of Martin Luther King’s mantle.
Instead, he came away wrapped in the spirit of Bull Connor.
Your point that he is a hypocrite is taken Brian but the comparison to Bull Connor is a tad over the top. Admittedly I did not watch Glenn Beck’s “rally” but I heard no mention of fire hoses or tanks in the post rally reports. The reports I read compared his rally to a church picnic and it seemed to get about as much coverage as a church picnic.
Becks statements are very good for america. It just appears from
this veiwer that the left is over jealous and disgusted that he is
very popular.
With all due respect, is The In Box just going to become just another blog that obsesses about national politics? Lord knows Glenn Beck deserves all the scorn he gets and then some but the reason I like NCPR is because it focuses on what makes it distinctive: covering and fostering conversations about this region. If this blog is going to become the 38,100,495th to yammer on about the same national stuff making the same points and provoking the usual scripted, overheated criticism, I’ll just un-bookmark it. Once in a while is tolerable but it’s becoming way too much.
Brian, the above poster, makes a good point.
There were several people from Potsdam, Canton, and surrounding communities at the rally. I did not attend, but I know several who did.
Why not interview someone who attended. Ask them why they went. Ask them what they got out of it. Ask them why they felt it was important enough for them to take the time to be there.
Since when do we need Glen Beck to sanctimoniously stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and declare that HE is bringing honor back to America! Who the heck is Beck to declare what is and is not honorable about our nation? Who exactly is he suggesting he and his minions are taking back ‘our country” from? The people that he his cohort don’t approve of? That would mean the rest of us? Newsflash Mr. Beck: IT’S OUR COUNTRY TOO! This whole charade was nothing more than putting a warm cuddly face on this seething sub-grouping of angry, narrow-minded, intolerant and bigoted Tea Partiers that a wealthy bunch of Fat-Cats created to “Swiftboat’ the nation in the aftermath the ’06 congressional turnover, Barack Obabma’s election and now the mid-term elections. BUYER BEWARE!
Glenn Beck’s theology is based on First Century Christianity, not Fourth Century Creeds. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) views on Baptism, Lay Ministry, the Trinity, Theosis, Grace vs. Works, the Divinity of Jesus Christ comport more closely with Early Christianity than any other denomination. And Mormons’ teenagers have been judged to “top the charts” in Christian Characteristics by a UNC-Chapel Hill study. Read about it here:
http://MormonsAreChristian.blogspot.com
Those who would denigrate Glenn Beck’s religion, usually have an ulterior motive. 11 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were non-Trinitarian Christians. Those who insist on a narrow definition of Christianity are doing our Republic an injustice.
Dumb, dumb, and dumber. I’ve officially given up on this blog and donating to NCPR. Equating Beck w/ Bull Connor is, how do I say it, dumb.
Hi folks –
A couple of thoughts based on the comments here. We do try to keep a mix in the In Box of regional and national conversation.
Sometimes it tips one way or the other.
The current line-up on the front page includes two discussions of regional issues (North Country hospice and cigarette taxes) and two discussions of national politics (Fox News, Beck)
Comments and interest seem to be strong on both — 45 comments for the national stuff, 27 comments for the regional.
That said, we welcome your feedback and I’ll keep these views — that the blog is focusing too much on generic-national stuff — in mind.
Brian, NCPR
Two things that I came away with from the speeches (I read the transcripts but only heard snippets):
1 – In the call for a Return to faith-based values, there’s an implication that our current leaders don’t have them. While this may be true of some in government, the broad brush can be a dangerous instrument to wield.
2 – Following on your post, Brian, pointing out that Mr. Beck is a LDS member, the “Call to Traditional Faith-Based Values” lends itself to all the variations on faith. Each denomination and belief system has its own way of observing, many of which are dismissive or intolerant of “others”. Sad to say, much of the rhetoric flowing from those mouths tend in the direction of intolerance.
When I listen to what usually comes from them, I hear Pharisees, not saviors.
Regarding Bull Connor. Of course, you’re right, in a way. It is hyperbole.
But Glenn Beck is stretching one way, attempting to mingle his political and cultural identity with that of Martin Luther King.
I am arguing that when Beck leads a movement based around specious theories of white victimhood, where he flirts regularly with narratives of violence and persecution, and when he condemns other people’s faith and values as “perversion,” he is actually mingling his cultural and political identity far more closely with that other famous civil-rights-era leader.
–Brian, NCPR
I didn’t know about the drug abused and divorce history.
I have always thought that the guy might have a personality disorder.
I’ve got a copy of the Book of Mormon. Trying to read it without laughing is really quite difficult. The story of Joseph Smith portrayed on South Park was more accurate than inaccurate.
I see Beck as a combination of Oral Roberts (senior) and Joe McCarthy. Basically, he is a 21st century con man, and a very successful one.
I like this blog. A lot. Nothing needs to be changed. This is an election year, so of course national politics are going to come up often.
As for JDM, I’ll be more than happy to add more to my yearly NCPR donation since he is giving up on this blog and we won’t be hearing from him anymore.
I don’t have a problem with the Book of Mormons or the faith itself. However if words do have any meaning they could not be considered Christian in any traditional sense. Islam is actually much closer to traditional Christianity (based on either scripture or Church teaching), than Mormonism.
Which is kind of ironic given some of Mr. Beck’s rantings.
I don’t see him as any sort of overt racist/white supremest though so I think that comparison is pretty bad actually. He is certainly no more overtly racist than Harry Reid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBD_d9SZYnw&feature=related
Could you please quote the racists statements you claim Mr. Beck to have made?
Why shouldn’t Brian M. comment on Beck’s disgusting display? Everyone in the country should stand up against his demagoguery. It’s just as important for an Adirondacker to call out Glenn Beck as it is to discuss the proper size of boathouses or the struggles of Saranac Lake’s downtown. Beck is not Bull Connor. He is a significantly more dangerous critter — not a bull, but a weasel, full of lies and misdirection, undermining our better instincts and appealing to our worser with flattery and implication, not with the easy-to-spot violence of a Bull Connor. Beck pretends his snapping German shepherd is a sheepdog, his firehose an olive branch. He cloaks his hate in words of love, pretending to honor King while he smears him. Everyone who calls him out is doing a public service.
I’d love to know how much of a change has happened since names were required for adding a comment on the Inbox. It appears to me that it has reduced the contributors to a select group who have loads of convictions, confidence, and opinions. Has it narrowed the comments, or not? What’s the feeloing at ncpr- has it made a change, and if so, is it the change you hoped to see?
PNElba:
Save your money and look again. Someone who goes by JPM made that comment.
It’s too bad that you think silencing opposing voices is a good thing.
Glenn Beck and Keith Olberman do their jobs very well. Whip people up into a frenzy and then sit back and react and make commentary. This stuff sells.
Brian, time to back up your statements-
“But Glenn Beck is stretching one way, attempting to mingle his political and cultural identity with that of Martin Luther King.” Please provide proof of this in context. Beck has for several years espoused the better side of Dr Kings campaign. “Character” for instance. Please back up your claim.
“I am arguing that when Beck leads a movement based around specious theories of white victimhood, where he flirts regularly with narratives of violence and persecution…” Again, you’ve made this type of statement before and I’ve provided dates and times in which he lays out his complete refusal to engage in violence. Back your claim up Brain because I’ve been listening to his radio show for years and he has repeatedly called for an end to violence.
As for the rest of your… post, I find it reprehensible that I can find more compassion in my cold conservative heart for people repenting and redeeming themselves than the open minded, caring liberals here. You people had no issue with Ted Kennedys murder of a young woman, no problem with your beloved President Clintons dalliances and you completely ignored charges of rape against him. You ignore the current Presidents buddy Bill Ayers murder history and his association with racists.
Hypocrisy? Please….
JDM, sorry for the typo. But please explain how I am trying to silence opposiing voices.
How rich has Glenn Beck gotten? What did Jesus say about rich people camels and needles?
So, Bret, who is it you trust, who are these true conservatives that you trust.Me? no one in gov’t.
I have never seen Glenn Beck as a racist it is a pretty wild accusation actually. A strange guy maybe, but a racist I just have never seen any evidence that would suggest that. Or even this whole idea that Beck has “hate” what does that mean? Does that mean anyone who actually can score some good points against the Democrats or the so called progressive agenda is full of hate?
Turd is correct though this is about whipping people up and that is what sells, so what?
I don’t think anything is accomplished by picking on Glenn, Rush, etc. The more they are picked on, the more people who start listening to what they say.
to give a partial answer to some of the points bret raised, i don’t know if it’s fair to say that beck is trying to mingle his political and cultural identity with that of mlk, but beck unabashedly wrapped the banner of mlk around his rally and what it was supposed to stand for.
as for beck flirting with violence and persecution… well yes, i think the onus is definitely on brian to back that up. i don’t even own a tv, so who am i to say anything, but my sense is that at least the persecution stuff shouldn’t be hard to make sick. as for the violence part, let me again say that brian should back up his claims, but i’ll just point out that flirting with violence out of one side of your mouth and putting it down out of the other are not mutually exclusive things.
finally, bret’s comment about a lack of compassion for beck is right on (well, except for the ridiculous hating on liberals, but that’s par for the course with bret). who cares what beck’s past is like? if you want to paint an unflattering portrait of him, there’s plenty to work with that he’s doing right now.
I don’t agree with Brian.
I don’t think Glenn Beck’s personal failings are of interest. Beck’s understanding of religious intolerance is far more important.
It’s the most interesting part of Sunday’s rally, which was partly an attempt to push against the pendulum that’s been swinging away from faith-based thinking.
We should recognize that the rally was brilliantly timed: 47 years – to the day – since Martin Luther King stood a couple steps higher and sounding like the preacher he was, forced the nation to question its attitudes about race. Sunday’s rally gave Beck the opportunity to co-opt King’s message that religion would end racism.
But Beck wants to end something else. He believed a massive rally on the Washington mall could spark a national movement to embrace religion as the tool to end the nation’s problems.
And, as Beck says repeatedly, government is the problem. But he doesn’t want to end government, just the terms of those office holders currently in the majority: Democrats.
So, distilling Sunday’s message, we’re left with this:
“Religion will end Democrats’ hold on government.” November’s elections may prove this accurate. Winning or losing won’t make it moral, though.
Using religion to further political goals is pretty standard stuff in the U.S. Both major parties – and lots of people operating outside politics – are guilty of it.
And it’s one reason why that pendulum keeps swinging away from faith-based thinking.
After all, Dr King was wrong. Religion doesn’t end racism. To the contrary, it is often very useful in pitting one group against another.
And I think Glenn Beck knows this.
Jonathan, NCPR
Jonathan, did you attend or watch the rally or listen or read the speeches? Apparently not. It wasn’t about politics, it was about faith, decency, character, hope. But you guys go right on gettng your 5 seconds sound bites from MSNBC and taking you cues from Journolist. Sadly, it makes you look like fools.
I’d like a few examples of which national problems religion could solve.
FYI- the date chosen for the rally was done months before hand and was the date that the site was available and Glenn could be there. It wasn’t done “on purpose” and wasn’t noted until Alveda King, MLKs niece, contacted Glenn in support, she spoke at the rally. Yeah, he’s a racists all right.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/alveda-king-speaks-glenn-becks-dc-rally/story?id=11504453
It seems no one – and I do mean No One – wishes to follow the old rule of thumb: don’t talk about religion or politics.
One of my FORMER likes about the US of A was they way most people avoided talking about religion and politics. Now, you can’t get away from the junk.
Did I say junk? Yes because there are more important things than religion and politics. Religion should be a private thing limited to an hour or so once a week. Politics should be limited to a couple of minutes when you vote your choice. That should be it for both of those things.
I don’t care what religion you have or don’t have. Couldn’t care less and please don’t bother me with what you believe. I don’t care.
I also don’t care how you cast or don’t cast your vote.
All I ask of anyone is to please not commit murder, rape or robbery upon me or anyone I care about.
With respect Pete, and more than a little agreement, this is the political blog of NCPR….
wrapped in a flag carrying a cross, that everyman, Glen Beck.
Let me ask a question, what exactly is wrong with the idea of demanding the Federal and State governments start exercising some fiscal discipline and responsibility, that politicians be held to a standard worthy of their pay grade, that deficit spending and absolutely obscene national debts are not a good idea, that personal responsibility and community responsibility are admirable traits, that people should be able to see their children live a better life than they did, and that the basic tenants of most faiths that call for faith, hope and charity, a willingness to help others and to do no harm to them are decent morally correct ideals to live by?
That’s what you are fighting.
Do you feel better now?
So Brian Mann, where’s the proof of your statements?
Still waiting Brian. Time to put up or shut up.