More on the Jewish conspiracy to make you believe the Earth moves

In previous posts, we dealt with a controversial memo put out under the name of Georgia Congressman Ben Bridges -- a memo which claims that both evolution and the doctrine that the Earth rotates around the sun are the product of malefic Jewish Kabbalists. The memo, we later learned, received wide distribution via a Texas state legislator named Warren Chisum, about whom Molly Ivins once had some amusing words.

We have learned more about these "fixed earthers," who seem to be making headway in Congress and in the larger fundamentalist community. Gary at Covert History has uncovered this:

Nonetheless, geocentricity seems to be making a small come back among creationists. There is even one astronomer, Gerardus Bouw Ph.D, who holds to the geocentric position, according to his website, which calls itself the official geocentricity website. Dr. Bouw is, of course, a religious nut. Now, before anyone takes offense, I respect all religions (except Scientology) but if your religious beliefs lead you to believe that the Sun orbits the Earth, or that the Universe is 6000 years old, you are a religious nut, and you might as well wear the label proudly.

Here is the Official Geocentricity Website. Remember: It's official! There is also the Gallileo Was Wrong site, which offers T-Shirts, mugs and hats, and the Geocentric Bible site. Judging from the links, Geocentricism is a growing movement in Fundamentalist wacky-land.

Incidentally, the Gallileo Was Wrong site features the work of two PHDs. And Dr. Bouw is an actual astronomer who also holds a PHD. If we apply "tranny" standards, then the case for Geocentrism must be considered conclusively proven!

Nevertheless, it moves...

Slactivist has a fine expose on "Georgia vs. the Elders of Zion." The essay begins with a declaration of affection for classic American kookiness, an affection I heartily share. But that affection does not extend to Marshall Hall, the man behind the www.fixedearth.com web site, where you can

Read all about the Copernican and Darwinian Myths (and their many ramifications going all the way to Kabbala-based Big Bangism!) IN OVER NINETY LINKS BELOW....:

Marshall Hall BELIEVES IN CAPITAL LETTERS almost as MUCH as he BELIEVES in JESUS! He also LIKE EXCLAMATION POINTS!! His WRITING style reminds ME of a certain CLASSIC ADVERTISEMENT!!!

Here's the Slacktivist response:

Unfortunately, three things prevent me from finding any of this amusing: 1) Hall's pervasive anti-Semitism; 2) a legislative emphasis that seeks to make his goofball ideas the standard curriculum for American schools; and 3) Hall's demonstrated ability to have his theories respectfully heard, approved of and disseminated by actual officials who have the power to legislate No. 1 and No. 2 above.

Let's take these in order. In big red letters at the top of Hall's Web site, he warns against "Kabbala-based Big Bangism!" He uses the word "Kabbalist" a lot in a sweeping way that seems to mean both "Jewish" and "occult." He uses the word "Pharisee" as a synonym for this term as well, and not in the usual sense of "pharisaical" meaning sanctimonious or hypocritical. In his mind "Pharisee" seems to signify "Christ-killer."

Hall believes "Copernican and Darwinian" science is false, so he concludes it must be a deliberate Satanic deception. Who could be carrying out this grand conspiracy of deception as Satan's foot soldiers? Twenty years ago Hall might have said the Communists, but since they're not around anymore, he figures it must be the Jews. His main point is not "Jews are evil," this is just something he assumes is well-accepted.

And how did that fine congressman from Georgia, Ben Bridges, get involved with all this?

Remember that Hall came to our attention because his wife, Bonnie Hall, is the campaign manager for Republican Georgia State House Rep. Ben Bridges. Set aside, for the moment, all of the "fixed earth" nonsense and just consider this: Bridges' campaign manager is married to someone promoting virulently anti-Semitic ideas on the Web and through his self-published books. This isn't some intern or lower-tier staffer, and it's not just a matter of some salty language directed toward the consequences of some church teaching. Bridges' campaign manager is married to an anti-Semite...

Neither Bridges nor his campaign manager seems to think Marshall Hall is loony. That's also a big problem, because none of what he argues makes any sense unless you accept his premise about an evil Jewish conspiracy.

The memo is here. As you can see, it clearly comes from Representative Bridges, and carries the signed approval of Warren Chisum.

The theory promulgated in this diatribe is that "evolution science" has a "very specific religious agenda" -- that agenda being the Jewish conspiracy -- and can thus be "expelled" from our schools. Jews of a neoconservative bent, happy to pal around with the Christian Zionists, may want to reconsider the alliance. The Christian Zionists can and will transform overnight into believers in Jewish conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world laughs at our barbarism.