What do you think about this individual's “solution” to dealing with atheism and homosexuality in America?

True Christians are supposed to love thy neighbor and not be hate mongers.
I have no opinion, nor do I even think about someone that spreads such vicious hate.

He’s an idiot. A few Christians said AIDS was God’s way of killing off the gay people in the world. That’s their schtick, fire and brimstone. AIDS did attack the gay community in a big way compared to other people, so that was easier to sell. Ebola? I don’t get using that as an example of God’s wrath.

#godwinning

Memes aside, obviously the guy is frakked up. But the Hitler analogy is flawed. It’s tempting to relate everyone we don’t like to Hitler, but the fact is that Hitler was not simply stupid and crazy. He was a strategist. He fed off the hatred of the masses to increase his personal power. This person is just trying to keep enough people interested in his church to keep them paying enough tithes to fund his (probably extravagant and not nearly as moral as he’d like you to think) lifestyle.

Preachers have been blaming natural forces on “sinners” for hundreds of years. This is nothing new, and has nothing to do with gas chambers.

It’s more accurately the thought process plague doctors had when they burned Jews during the Black Death.

Really, Jews have been getting the short shrift for a long time

Solution looking for a problem.

One might say, let a few ebola mosquitoes loose at the church coffee of those who think that public health is God’s judgment.

He’s another nutcase with a following that makes the world around us just a little more shittier. I hope he lives long enough to realize his negative contribution to the greater good. I sometimes find it extremely difficult to take a passive attitude toward people like this.

Ebola is not capable of choosing its host based on religion or sexuality.
This degree of scientific illiteracy makes me furious.

Well..a rope, an oak tree and a big stout horse could solve the problem of fundamentalist fanantics as well. Yee Haw!

America has a problem with Atheists??? Why wasn’t I told???

@Seek is correct. This preacher is merely trying to keep his offering plates full. He is not interested in God.

@ragingloli I don’t know, it kind of amuses me somewhat haha

@Seek The reason behind the Hitler analogy was to directly contrast between Hitler wanting to annihalte the Jews. Wiles wants atheists and homosexuals to be annihilated via the Ebola virus. Obviously that would never happen. Bud the same level of sadistic narcissism is present in the mind of Hitler and Wiles. It’s not a matter of me simply disagreeing with him.

I’m with @Seek, Hitler is not a very good analogy to this guy. He is making false promises. He is more like a cult leader or a snake oil salesman. Promising that faith in God and following his lead will save the people who do as he says. Basically, worship him (not Him) and open their wallets. Jews had no such option during Hitler. Born a Jew you were a Jew. Do you think Hitler cared if you denied your Judaism? No. You couldn’t shed your Judaism, there was no way out.

@JLeslie Ok fair points to you and Seek

How do you become a ‘pastor’ in the United States? Do you have to have a few screws missing or is it just coincidence?

You basically have to say to yourself, “Do I want to take money from poor people by lying to them?” and then fill in a form to get a tax exemption.

That’s basically it.

@Seek Surely some sort of qualification is required?

Like John Oliver’s church “our lady of perpetual exemption”.
(he shut it down because people sent in actual sperm)

@flutherother
unfortunately, not really

@flutherother – Welcome to freedom of religion.

I hope everyone knows my response was sardonic not necessarily serious.

At 21, I sent my $17 to the Unitarian Universalist Church for my ordination papers so I could perform a nude wedding for a couple my friends in front of the nude wedding party on a secluded beach near Cape Canaveral. A Redstone Rocket (I think) was supposed to be shot off when we got to the “I do’s.” They couldn’t find an ordained preacher to do it and the parents insisted it be performed by an ordained minister. We had a good time and the parents were happy to see an official document complete with old fashioned filligree from the State of Florida certifying that the marriage had actually taken place.

Here the Christian National Church offers ordination papers for a price, but they are very circumspect in their add as to what that price is. Here are their requirements for ordination:
(1) You must believe in God as the one true God.
(2) You must accept Jesus Christ as our true and holy savior.
(3) You must pray for the forgiveness of your past sins.

In return for signing off online of the above, and a check for an undisclosed amount, you get this:
(1) Printed ordination documents endorsed by the Christian National Church
(2)A printed letter of good standing.

Additional materials such as wallet ID cards, books, and certificate framing are available for purchase separately.

You can now counsel others using the Bible as guidance and perform weddings. They are careful to point out that any money spent toward your ordination or any of their other products are not tax deductible.

The fact is that anyone can perform a wedding of any kind. All that is needed is the signatures of the intended couple and two witnesses on the State application with a check attached for the and a nominal State registration fee sent to the courthouse or some other corresponding State office.

Here is a site that reviews the many, many “Churches” that offer “state-recognized” ordination papers. No “beliefs” required in many cases and whether or not you are baptized as a Christian is “between you and God.”