PZ Myers Just Discovered Vision Forum

[tehgoobster]

It's funny because he seems shocked that a group like Vision Forum actually exists in this day and age. That's how I felt when I first heard about Vision Forum, SAHDs, the whole shebang, too. Anyway, his blog has TONS of readers, so I'm glad that he posted what he did. The more ordinary people learn about the patriarchy/dominionist movement, the less likely they'll be to view it as benign. Here's the link:

http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ ... are-truth/

ETA: For those of you who don't know, PZ Myers is a prominent biologist who often clashes with creationists. He is also a well-known atheist blogger whose blog has received millions of views.

[uber frau]

Ahhh. Goody.

[ophelia]

really interesting and thank you for posting.

[debrand]

How would you explain Vision Forum to someone who has never heard of them? At first, they might seem innocent to some people. After all, wanting your children to sit with you in church doesn't sound horrible. Yet, there is so much more to their belief system than that.

I wouldn't even know where to begin

[ophelia]

I would probably start with explaining the whole SAHD-thing because it covers a lot of things like patriarchy, submission, etc. and then get over to child education. I would probably need a glass of wine and a few cigarettes while explaining it and then it would end up in a thirty-minute monologue with a lot of bad words and curses. But it's still hard. Since I study theology and have some friends (including my boyfriend) who study that too I often talk about christian fundamentalism with them and sometimes it's really hard to know where to begin and where to end.

[MamaJunebug]

How would I explain VF, Etc.?

Just as the above poster did: start w SAHD. I was telling a very devout, happy Christian person something about my wedding-attendance ;) and mentioned the couple's ages and why they were marrying "late" -- and my audience's attitude changed to one of genuine mild horror.

She even wondered aloud if SAHDs were abused.

So, yes, starting w the idea that a girl child is born into a life of subjection - that can be a good attention-getter to introduce people to this particularly foul heresy against my beloved religion.

[slickcat79]

I'm glad PZ has expanded from scienceblogs. And I love the crocoduck.

Hope VF appreciates the new web traffic too :D

[VodouDoll]

I'd start with SAHDs too, and then explain that Vision Forum is a huge company that makes a ton of money marketing this cultic lifestyle to keep its founder in fancy dressup costumes and homosocial vacations, which he blogs about extensively.

[aerynoctober]

Too busy to do this myself, but maybe someone with less on their plate today can do it.

Send PZ something short about Doug being the single most obviously gay man ever. IMO, the three best pieces of circumstantial (since that's all we have) evidence are the blog post for his anniversary where his wife gets about a tenth as much "ink" as his best male friend, the picture of him and the younger man on the pew in each other's laps looking intimate, and the Amazon manly romp trip. Send him links. Also include the wedding picture where his legs are farther apart than the width of his shoulders, which screams "overcompensation!!!!"

THis could be good. Heh. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

Gotta run..someone do this, please!!

[atheistjd]

Love this quote from Butterflies and Wheels (which - hello - how have I never found this website! Love!), from whence PZ found VF. http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2011/purdah-in-texas/

"The biblical vision is and always has been one of little white girls with long hair in ribbons and long pastel dresses with lace and ribbons and poofy sleeves, crowding around a pretty suburban mommy in a blue shirt and a long navy skirt (or could those possibly be trousers? no of course not, stupid question). Biblical; totes biblical; nothing to do with Victorian illustrations or Little House on the Prairie or nostalgia or anything like that; it’s all right smack straight out of the biblical bible."

Aside from all the head-exploding misogyny and evil-ness at VF, the utter ridiculousness of their lifestyle and the bizarre ways in which they try to make their role-playing game biblical (and thus mandatory for modern Americans who don't want to go to hell) is just unbelievable.

[hoipolloi]

Excellent!

And you know this means that at least one outraged editorial is coming soon from Dougie & minions!

[AnnoDomini]

I'd start with SAHDs too, and then explain that Vision Forum is a huge company that makes a ton of money marketing this cultic lifestyle to keep its founder in fancy dressup costumes and homosocial vacations, which he blogs about extensively.

Homosocial?

[jenny_islander]

Homosocial: looking exclusively to one's own gender for social interaction, affirmation, and so forth. Homosocial people don't necessarily have sex with people of their own gender, but their relationships with people of their own gender can resemble crushes, love affairs, etc.

Short version: All grown up and still acts as if girls have cooties, except possibly in bed with the lights off.

[jenny_islander]

How I would describe VF to people who never heard of it: They believe that American civilization--ALL OF IT, emphasize what "dominion" actually means--should be reduced to a short list of strictly defined roles (provide quick outline) with them, naturally, on top. They stack the deck by insisting that their vision of the future is supported by their holy book, which is one specific translation of the Bible. They would like to destroy anyone who doesn't fall into line (provide quick outline of things they've actually said). They employ nice-sounding jargon to camouflage what they are doing (provide examples). And they sell a lot of product guaranteed to bring people into their multi-generational vision. Here is a link to (some particularly un-self-aware page by a VF star or wannabe). Here is a link to a description of what it's like to be a footsoldier in this shambolic army (link to a page by somebody who got out and realized they were messed up).

If in conversation, I would just describe what the VF wants to do to America and memorize a short link to a page that describes their big vision in their own words. And I would offer the names of politicians and pundits who have gone on record in support of dominionism.

There are people arguing right now that dominionism is a strawman of us mushy-headed liberals (see the Slacktivist's blog for a roundup of links). It's just so deeply irrational, so utterly wrong-headed--Joe and Jane Average American just can't grok that these people want to be the government. We need to get the word out!

[debrand]

I'd also point to the movie, Divided as an example of their propaganda. They are getting very good at hiding their agenda behind the correct words and slogans.

[finleeport]

Good! let's spread the word of the perverted nature of Vision Forum, SAHD, etc.

[Visionoyahweh]

This is great news. I hope he gets to hear all about Gothard, QF, and Ray Comfort/Krik Cameron along the way too.

[Guest Anonymous]

Someone should e-mail him the LoLDoug thread.

[Witsec1]

Lissar - yes! I discovered Butterflies and Wheels a bit before she started doing the Dominionism series. She is good!