Slog - Comments on The Department of Praying and Development

Comment by Mr. Poe

Mr. Poe — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:19:09 -0800

If something good happens, God did it. If something bad happens, God moves in mysterious ways. If something goes wrong here, Ken will sue your ass with his almighty churchgoers.

Comment by jewritto

jewritto — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:29:17 -0800

I am still wondering how many people have fallen for that by three give is one shareholder plan he cooked up. Let's get the gays out of Microsoft AND line our pockets in the name of the lord!

Comment by Mr. Joshua

Mr. Joshua — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:36:26 -0800

I think the point is you're not asking "God's help" in the sense that you assume he's not involved anyways. It's admitting that God can bless you or screw you over, and you'd really rather he show you the favor of softening the heart of your landlord so they don't decide to tear up your application because you're a homophobic bigot. Essentially, they could have turned the church down for any reason or no reason at all. Ken Hutcherson protests the day of silence, essentially planting himself squarely as pro gay bashing. It seems like he would need divine grace to get a lease anywhere.

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:36:40 -0800

Hutch, if the guy wants to meet you in his private bowling alley to discuss the big church donation, don't go! It's a trap!

Comment by COMTE

COMTE — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:36:59 -0800

I'm praying that Antioch's "new home" is owned by someone who once worked at Microsoft, and that they use the lease money provided by Rev. Hutch & Co. to buy even MORE MSFT!

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:39:53 -0800

Remember, God hates the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

But that's ok, since God is merely a figment of imagination by the FSM in the first place ...

Comment by apres_moi

apres_moi — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:41:02 -0800

I'd like to see an expose done by the Stranger on Antioch's finances and how much they get via "tithings" and NGOs. The rise of these mega churches is scary.

Comment by Mike of Renton

Mike of Renton — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:45:10 -0800

@4 It took me a second, but that was good.

Comment by Dave Coffman

Dave Coffman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:12:18 -0800

Upside is that he'll be out of the public high school gym. Downside is that he'll have qa space where he can spew every day of the week.

Comment by Bub

Bub — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:17:40 -0800

I think Rev. Hutcherson is due for a "Santorum" treatment. What say you, Mr. Savage?

Comment by scary tyler moore

scary tyler moore — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:51:04 -0800

fill me in on private bowling alley, pliss.

Comment by pox

pox — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:17:50 -0800

I know a woman who, when she goes shopping at the thrift store, prays beforehand that God will make the good deals be available, and also a good parking spot.

I told her that showed an appalling lack of faith. If she really believed, she'd ask God to deliver all the bargains directly to her house.

Comment by Sargon Bighorn

Sargon Bighorn — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:54:49 -0800

I don't think it's wise to dismiss Hutch as the nutcase that he is. He's a dangerous bigot with a rich and powerful following. He might appear to many of you to be a joke, but with out sounding too melodramatic he might hold a dagger behind his back while holding the Bible in the other. Those are the typical signs of real danger.

Comment by el

el — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:23:45 -0800

@11 Cf. There Will Be Blood

Comment by Y.F.

Y.F. — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:31:38 -0800

@10,

Santorum:1. The frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex. 2. Senator Rick Santorum.

Hutcherson:1. A bitter, self-loathing closet queen that denigrates his own kind in an attempt to convince himself and others he's 'better than those people'. 2. Rev. Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Washington.

Comment by Insecure journalist

Insecure journalist — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:00:35 -0800

There's a car with Arizona plates parked on the waterfront where the God Hates Fags truck used to park, with the following bumper sticker: "PRAY or become PREY."

Comment by Catalina Vel-DuRay

Catalina Vel-DuRay — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:07:56 -0800

"He's a dangerous bigot with a rich and powerful following. "

The first part I'll buy, but what "rich and powerful following" does he have? If he had influential people in his flock, they wouldn't put up with his ineffective theatrics, let alone the whole high school gym thing.

Hutch is a fool, leading fools. Nature always takes care of fools.

Comment by kayess

kayess — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:47:44 -0800

Of course, God is responsible for all. I have a relative by marriage who's an Antioch goer. (And that's actually one of the least bat-shit crazy things about him.) He offered a really long grace at a recent party for a 4 year old that included, "And thank you father for the swimming we enjoyed today." Really! NoF'nSh**? You needed devine intervention to decide to jump in a back yard hole filled with water?