Bill O'Reilly's narcissism knows no bounds. In addition to congratulating himself over imaginary victories in his annual exercise of angry and paranoid bullying, otherwise known as the war on Christmas, he has brought in, for two straight years, a Christian wingnut pastor to provide him with the validation that he so desperately seeks. Last year, anti-Islamic and homophobic Texas pastor Robert Jeffress appeared on the Factor to echo Bill's claim that Christian clergy aren't doing enough to fight the war on Christmas and, of course, to provide a hearty amen to Bill's delusional claims that he is saving Christmas. This year, Jeffress returned for more of the same and a little fire and brimstone to add to the mix.
Before I begin - a little background on Jeffress. He once said that Catholicism is a "Satanic, Babylonian mystery religion" and that Mormonism is "from the pit of hell." After last year's election, he opined that Pres. Obama is "paving the way for the future reign of the anti-Christ." He claims that "Islam supports pedophilia." He links homosexuality to pedophilia and has prophesized that "homosexuality will lead to an implosion of our country." One of his more interesting quotes compares homosexuality to "plugging a TV into a 220-volt power outlet rather than the recommended 120 outlet." There are lots of other gems which time and space do not permit. You get the drift...
Wednesday night, Bill asked if Jeffress' congregation agrees that there is a war on Christmas. Jeffress said that they do because they're "well informed." He added that anybody who ridicules Bill "for waging a phony is either extremely naive or intentionally deceptive." Jeffress demonstrated either his paranoia in stating that "the war on Christmas is real but it is part of a larger war against Christianity." While he noted that American Christians are not suffering the same type of persecution as Christians in other countries, he said that the war on Christmas is part of a larger persecution against which Christians need to push back.
O'Reilly asked Jeffress "who is behind the movement to diminish Christianity." (Atheists and Jews?) Jeffress said - wait for it - "the kingdom of darkness, Satan." He accused Satan of using "misguided judges who pervert the First Amendment" and blithered about how the First Amendment doesn't say "freedom from religion." He whined about pastors, obviously on the fast track to hell, who are saying that there is no war on Christianity. Jeffress gave O'Reilly credit for his "teachings against the war."
Jeffress said that atheists should celebrate Christmas because nobody influenced the world more than Jesus Christ and even atheists have benefited from this. (Muslims, Jews, "heretics" not so much) Jeffress referenced hospitals, orphanages, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross) He asked if Bill could name one atheistic organization, that in the name of their unbelief, has ever done anything comparable for the benefit of humanity." Bill couldn't. (Perhaps Bill should check out this article about how contributions by such atheist groups are being rejected by Christian and secular organizations.)
So Satan is behind Bill's bogus war. Seriously, what can you say?
2/21/18 update: Video is no longer available.
Cromwell saw Christmas as a “foppish” control tactic of the Catholic church.
The disfavourment of Christmas was led by pastors of denominations that are constantly in a war of words with Catholics. Who’d they blame?
Alexander Bislop had a following in America for a long time, they were all protestants that sounded like Jeffres here.
American Christian League? Jack Chick? The Moral Majority? Peter Brimelow? Regardless of who they blamed as their primary enemy, Catholicism was never far down the chain, and at times, was the primary target, with who they blamed politically being an afterthought.
And, to me, that’s what makes O’Reilly’s version of it so weird- You’d think that, being a Roman Catholic, he’d know toxic and ineffective this campaign is. But, not only does he not seem to care, he’s desperate enough that he’s starting to bring in the people who blame his church for wars on religion.
