My latest column is now up on AlterNet, Notable (and Hilarious) Examples of the Christian Right’s Failed Prophecies. In it, I examine the track record of religious-right culture warriors who’ve claimed that their correct understanding of God’s will gives them insight into the future. While some have prophesied the coming apocalypse, others have staked a claim to advance knowledge of worldly events. Needless to say, most of them haven’t done all that well. Read the excerpt below, then click through to see the rest:
The Christian right in America, like all organized religions, claims to have a correct and exclusive understanding of God’s will. To hear them tell it, the almighty creator of the universe has strong opinions about corporate tax rates, firearm ownership and what consenting adults do with their genitals, and he’s delegated them to speak on his behalf.
But if they want us to believe they have this authority, it seems only fair to consider their track record. After all, the Bible itself tells how to identify false prophets, saying that if they’re not really speaking for God, their predictions won’t come true — a very sensible test!