Frank and Ernest by Thaves for November 25, 2023

Truer words my friend. Truer words.

The smeller’s the feller?

To borrow a word from Dennis the Menace, what happens when everyone stops sinning…… what will the pastor do?

You must confess he hears a lot about it.

His sinapses are firing.

Well, you always want to hire someone with relevant experience.

Some preachers have done a lot of sinning before they converted.

Two bits Frank and Ernie are heading off to the tavern to continue their conversation…!

years of study plus also being human and having human weaknesses

Considering that almost anything qualifies as sinful these days, a ham and cheese sandwich is the only safe choice, and even that is under suspicion by some.

Well, he does know the Bible front to back; so he knows everything about how to manipulate what’s in it…

Sadly, too many clergy (in lots of different denominations) are using thier church positions as cover for criminal activities. Some of the worse of which are child sexual abuse. There should alwaye be a report to the police whenever child abuse is suspected. Church bureaucracies should NOT be allowed to hide criminals.

Far, far, FAR more than they want to admit…

I heard a minister preach from the perspective of the brother of the prodigal son. He didn’t leave his father, but when his brother came back he pointed out the shortcomings of his brother. The preacher pointed out that the brother suppressed his desire of wild living that the prodigal fulfilled.

That’s from experience…

He has had a lifetime of study – just like all of us. So depends on how long you’ve lived and what you choose to specialize in as to how much knowledge of your subject you have. js

Well that’s all religion is isn’t it? Perpetual guilt, instilling incessant fear, and proselytizing nonstop about how out of all the gods created by man this is the correct one. Religion is living in a cave and blaming the misdeeds of people for natural disasters and pandemics. Join the 21st century and wake up. There are no gods. No heaven. No hell. Religion is designed to keep the sheep’s heads bowed and saying baaaa everytime they say Amen.

“He no playa the game, he no maka the rules.”—Earl Butz, 1974

Experience maybe?

That was the secret of the clerical detective Father Brown, revealed in the first story featuring him. “Has it never struck you that a man who does next to nothing but hear men’s real sins is not likely to be wholly unaware of human evil?”

He’d heard a lot of confessions from actual criminals as well as merely naughty people. In the process, he learned how to spot and even use criminal techniques. So when a brilliant thief stole a valuable relic, Father Brown stole it right back – and meanwhile was creating a trail that led the police to their confrontation.

Why do think he smiling.

Practice makes perfect.

He knows about sin?

Absolutely. That’s what you punish other people for doing.

And MONEY! He knows about money! And private jets.

He should know, after all his paid job is to stand up there in front of everyone every sabbath, telling the congregation that it is a sin to work on the sabbath

One man’s sin is another man’s pleasure…

Experience. I know a retired pastor who had a church in Kentucky where they not only believed the doctrine of total depravity, but the members practiced it regularly.