Deep East Texas notes, part 2

It’s time for another blog post about truth vs. fiction on religion here in Deep East Texas.

I’ve blogged elsewhere about how there is no statistical difference on divorce rates and adultery rates between conservative Christians and the general populace. There’s less clear evidence, but I suspect there’s also little difference in the two populations, in “setting up house,” per the rest of the old phrase, “without benefit of marriage.”

And, here, that relates to an online-only media outlet in this area. The boyfriend and girlfriend are “housekeepers.” And, she, at least, is definitely a conservative Christian.

Indeed, they recently did a website upgrade — mainly I think on making it load faster, as it doesn’t look much different, or much better, than before. That’s the set-up.

Anyway, she had a post on there, talking about the upgrades, about how she had “prayed over it.” Really? I’m sure the upgrades didn’t cost that much money. But, that’s that type of mentality. 

I know that the Sixth (or Seventh) Commandment, depending on your variety of Christian or Jewish poison, talks about adultery. It’s clear that is extramarital, not premarital, sex. However, various aspects of both the Jewish Tanakh/Christian Old Testament and the Christian New Testament condemn all sex outside of marriage, whether premarital or extramarital.

Indeed, Jesus said, “He who looks at a woman who is not his wife with lust in his eye …”

So, sorry, folks. Like on other matters sexual, you, like other conservative Xns, are hypocrites. Shock me.

Oh, and don’t try the “it’s like marriage.” First, ancient Israel and the secular society of ancient Christianity recognized formal, legal marriage. Second, yes, Texas has common-law marriage, but both partners have to hold themselves out as husband and wife. (Of course there’s no gay or lesbian common-law sex in Texas.) And, I don't know if they're actually living together or not, but according to that itinerant Jew, even that doesn't matter.

Then, in a recent trial here, the state DA used the old “do you go to church” rhetorical question of a witness to allegedly establish his honesty. Well, we know churchgoers — and church leaders — lie, and even lie with impunity. Witness the papal sexual abuse scandal.

Besides shock me, infuriate me. The old acronym, IOKIYAR, is used by many political conservatives to excuse GOP behavior, or by non-Republicans to mock that. Maybe we need to change the R to a C.