Is this legal?

[caraher]

There's right-wing "Christian" site that uses an altered version of the US Presidential Seal for its logo. I'm no lawyer so I wonder whether this use runs afoul of federal law. According to a heraldry web site, 18 USC 713 governs use of the Presidential Seal:

"There are actually bits of heraldic legislation in the US, and an instance of protected arms, as well. The seal described above is in fact protected by law: whosoever displays a likeness of the seal, or of the seals of the President or Vice-President, "for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States or by any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be fined by not more than $250 or imprisoned not more than six months, or both." The manufacture and sale of such likenesses is likewise prohibited except under circumstances defined by executive orders of the President. ( 18 USC 713)."

Quite apart from whether their modified seal runs afoul of the law (and personally, I would love for someone from Worldview Weekend to spend 6 months in jail for that!) the "worldview test" offered through that site would be pretty laughable if it weren't also scary. The chief function of the test is clearly to harvest email addresses to which to send promotions for the organization's books and events, but its subsidiary function is to imply that deviation from their prescribed right-wing political agenda is a moral failing.

The test itself calls for you to agree or disagree with a series of statements. Here are some of my favorites, with commentary:

George W. Bush is the President of the United States of America.

Ummm... what can I tell ya?

If the research and theory of a group of scientists contradicts the Word of God, the error is with the scientists, not the Bible.

Both Secular Humanism and Marxism are religious worldviews.

Biological evolution (life from non-life to human beings) runs contrary to reason, science and history.

It is the responsibility of the federal government to create wealth.

Do you smell a "straw man?"

All forms of government-sponsored Socialism stifle economic growth and prosperity to one degree or another.

As opposed to corporate socialism? That's right, shoveling money blindly to Halliburton is the best path to growth and prosperity!

The Bible states that money is the root of all evil.

Implicit message: since the Bible does not say this, we should turn a blind eye to evils committed by money-hungry Bible believers.

The original intent of our founding fathers was a form of government that was free to set its own policy only if God had not already ruled in that area. Our founders believed that our man made laws were not to contradict the laws of God.

Ideas have consequences.

Now there's a uniquely Biblical viewpoint. Certainly only a Bible-believer would think ideas have consequences...

Pastors should not be allowed to preach against homosexuality from the pulpit and if they do it should be considered hate speech.

It's so sad that so many pastors are being prevented from preaching against homosexuality by the mob calling for their prosecution for engaging in hate speech.

While there is evidence for the defense and reason of a biblical worldview and the claims of Christ and Christianity, it is impossible to please God without faith.

There is no evidence for a world-wide flood.

The federal government should require students to pass a national test before graduating from high school.

Making the incomes of its citizens as equal as possible should be one of the top priorities of any legitimate government.

Yup, lots of people saying this...

The most biblically based tax system would be one based on a flat tax system where everyone pays the same percentage of their income in taxes.

"A reading from the Book of Forbes..."

The Bible states that the government does not bear the sword in vain. Numerous verses throughout the Bible make it clear that capital punishment administered by the government, for those that have committed capital crimes, is biblically acceptable.

[Oreo]

1. AHHHHH!!!!! Wolfman!!!!

Ken Ham
President.
Answers in Genesis
Answersingenesis.org
* One of the most in-demand Christian conference speakers in the United States.
* Each year he gives dozens of faith-building talks to tens of thousands of children and adults (he receives about 500 invitations to speak annually) on such topics as dinosaurs, creation vs. evolution, the reliability of the Bible, the origin of 'races' etc.
* Author of many books on Genesis, including the best-selling "The Lie: Evolution" and a number of children's books ("D is for Dinosaur", "A is for Adam", etc). His most recent books are "One Blood--the Biblical Answer to Racism" and "Dinosaurs of Eden", and in 1999, he co-authored the updated and expanded "Answers Book". Ken is also featured in the acclaimed film "The Genesis Solution", which was nominated as 'Best Christian Film - Documentary.'
* Ken is heard daily on the radio program "Answers...with Ken Ham" (broadcast on more than 500 outlets worldwide), and is a frequent guest on nationwide US talk show programs.

[mutus_frutex]

16. He is an absolute disgrace..

This guy is almost single-handedly responsible for most of the stupid creationist stuff you can find out there.

[ktowntennesseedem]

2. OMG, they have a link so that you can submit your favorite recipes!

I think I'll send them my wife's recipe for "Better-Than-Sex" cake!

[caraher]

5. Gotta have something for the womenfolk, too, eh?

It's also interesting to note that among their 29 front-page featured speakers are just two women and three identifiable (to me at a quick glance, anyway) racial/ethnic minorities. Not surprising, mind you...

[ktowntennesseedem]

14. Yeah, real diverse cross section of humanity, huh?

Welcome, caraher!

[everythingsxen]

3. Cool...

Your classification is: Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker

Your score is: -40 points of 170 possible, -23%

I've never been so complemented!

[dubyaD40web]

4. I got a -25 of 170 possible for a negative 14%

My classification is: Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker

Kinda makes me proud.

[chemp]

6. my favorite...

If God does not exist, all things are permissible.

So many people I Have worked with thought, since I am athiest, I could kill someone without remorse. Very logical people, these.

[Tux]

7. They're godless

None of my open source browsers for Linux will run the test. It just keeps asking me to register. Heatherns!

[chemp]

9. did the same for me

until I put in a e-mail address
moses_t_hillclimber@yahoo

[caraher]

11. yeah, they mostly just want the email address

it'll run whether the info you feed is valid or not. But if you use a phony email they won't be able to email you your copy of the certificate if you get a high score (which is very easy to do, just apply your worst fundamentalist Republican stereotype's answers to the question and you too can win!)

The certificate reads:

(your name here)

You Took The Challenge And Put Your Worldview To The Test
And
Worldview Weekend & Worldviewweekend.com

Certify That You Scored the Highest Level Possible On Our Worldview Test

Strong Biblical Worldview Thinker

We Commend You On Having A Biblically-Minded, Christian Worldview

I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:4-8

[Tux]

10. Idiot me

I did get the test to work. I had to fill out the questions for registration.

Here is what I got: Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker.

OK. Let's see. I don't support communism, Marxism does help explain sociocultural change as class conflicts, socialism is good as long as it's controlled and allows for captialism, and I'm not really a secualr humanist. Great job, guys. Very accurate.

[Q3JR4]

8. -72 out of 170, -42%.

I'm a proud Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker.

[mutus_frutex]

17. Your score is: -80 points of 170 possible, -47%

Hehe.. But some of the questions are asked in such a biased way that they are difficult to answer..

[seaj11]

19. Exactly.

Some were self-contradictory. I usually said "No Opinion" on those.

[chemp]

12. no opinion on everything except

Gay issues and abortion.

Your score is: -165 points of 170 possible, -97%

[elwoodblues6986]

13. Huh....

I only scored a -2. I'm still "evil" I suppose, but I guess my belief in a God hurt me a little. It might also be I used a lot of "tend to agree" or "tend to disagree" instead of picking a side. Oh well.

[Broca]

15. I lied about my age too so subtract more I suppose.

Your classification is: Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker

Your score is: -52 points of 170 possible, -30%

Hey I got almost the same score my worthless state assemblyman gets on his conservation ratings.

[seaj11]

18. Contradiction alert!

This test makes me realize how contradictory fundies' thinking is. And I thought it was kind of funny how they'd ask your opinion on a fact, such as "The words 'separation of church and state' do not appear in the Constitution." That's true. But I have "no opinion" on it. WTF? Oh, but I got the answers "wrong" on so many questions. I guess my opinion's wrong.

I got a -43 out of 170. Oh my God, I'm a commie! :o

[Bolo Boffin]

20. Your score is: -33 points of 170 possible, -19%

Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinkers of the World Unite!

Solidarity!

[Bill McBlueState]

21. whoo-hoo! -28%

First off, what the hell does a negative percentage even mean?

But I think I would have been even more negative, except I just don't give a shit about a lot of their questions. There's a lot of magicalistic mumbo-jumbo in there that assumes you care about the existence of God in the first place.

I'm a Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker!

:toast:

Apparently, I hate both America and Jesus.

[Dogmudgeon]

22. From "Christian Comedians" Rick and Mick

This is a duo listed on the World View Weekend website at www.worldviewweekend.com/bio.shtml#vigneulle . And quite a stellar line-up of Christian Conservative Celebrities do they share a space with. (Sorry, but DU's link function can't decipher the octothorp operator.)

They call themselves "The Twin Towers" because they're about 5'4" each. Not exactly a gag in good taste, but I've heard far worse, even from other "Christian Comedians".

However, I did find the following gem on their website.

Fun Things to do at Wal-Mart


1. Set all the alarm clocks to go off at ten minute intervals throughout the day.

2. Walk up to an employee and tell him in an official tone, "I think we've got a 'Code Three' in housewares," and see what happens.

3. Tune all the radios to a polka station; then turn them all off and turn the volumes to "10."

4. Challenge other customers to duels with tubes of gift wrap.

5. Put M&M's on layaway.

6. Move "Caution: Wet Floor" signs to carpeted areas.

7. Set up a tent in the camping department; tell others you'll only invite them in if they bring pillows from Bed and Bath.

8. When someone asks if you need help, begin to cry and ask, "Why won't you people just leave me alone?"

9. Look right into the security camera, and use it as a mirror while you pick your nose.

10. Take up an entire aisle in Toys by setting up a full scale battlefield with G.I. Joes vs. the X-Men.

11. Ask other customers if they have any Grey Poupon.

12. While handling guns in the hunting department, suddenly ask the clerk if he knows where the anti-depressants are.

13. Switch the men's and women's signs on the doors of the restrooms.

14. Dart around suspiciously while humming the theme from "Mission Impossible."

15. Set up a "Valet Parking" sign in front of the store.

16. Hide in the clothing racks and when people browse through, say things like "pick me! pick me!!"

17. When an announcement comes over the loudspeaker, assume the fetal position and scream, "No, no! It's those voices again!"

18. Go into the dressing room and yell real loud..."Hey, we're out of toilet paper in here!"

Maybe there's some hope for them after all.

Naah.

--p!

For it's "God damn him" an' "God damn her" an' "God, kill all the gays"
But it's "Jesus, I'm a Righteous Man" when comes the End of Days
An' it's "Jesus this" and "Jesus that" an' anything you please
But Jesus ain't a f*ckin' fool -- you bet that Jesus sees!
(after Rudyard Kipling, Tommy)

[caraher]

23. Rick and Mick on marriage...

The last one is insightful... the rest is the usual "take my wife, please" shtick. Good thing these folks are keepin' the gays from chipping away at that most sacred of all institutions... gays clearly don't have the same respect for the God-ordained "one man and one woman" institution that these Godly comics do (preserved by their opening disclaimer, of course!)


THE FACTS OF MARRIAGE
These are only jokes...you know...Humor....laughing...


The last fight was my fault. My wife asked, "What's on the TV?" I said, "Dust!"

- - - - - - - - - -
In the beginning, God created earth and rested. Then God created man and rested. Then God created woman. Since then, neither God nor man has rested.

- - - - - - - - - -
My wife and I are inseparable. In fact, last week it took four state troopers and a dog.

- - - - - - - - - -
Why do men die before their wives? They want to.

- - - - - - - - - -
A beggar walked up to a well dressed woman shopping on Rodeo Drive and said "I haven't eaten anything in four days." She looked at him and said, "Man, I wish I had your willpower."

- - - - - - - - - -
Do you know the punishment for bigamy? Two Mother-in-laws.

- - - - - - - - - -
Young Son: Is it true, Dad, I heard that in some parts of Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?
Dad: That happens in every country, son.

- - - - - - - - - -
A man inserted an 'ad' in the classified: "Wife wanted". Next day he received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."

- - - - - - - - - -
The most effective way to remember your wife's birthday is to forget it once.

- - - - - - - - - -
First guy (proudly): "My wife's an angel!"
Second guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."

- - - - - - - - - -
1st guy: My wifes an Angel
2nd guy: Why's that?
1st guy: She's always up in the air harping about something

-------------------
How do most men define marriage? An expensive way to get laundry done for free.

- - - - - - - - - -
Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.

- - - - - - - - - -
If you want your wife to listen and pay undivided attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.

- - - - - - - - - -
Then there was a man who said, "I never knew what real happiness was until I got married; and then it was too late."

- - - - - - - - - -
A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" And the father replied, "I don't know son, I'm still paying."

- - - - - - - - - -
The bumper sticker read: "I lost 250 pounds in one day, I divorced her."

- - - - - - - - - -
Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are beautiful.