Oh. My. God.

Well, the girls have finally started preschool.

They love it and are learning a lot already. The school itself is run by a church here in Kennewick so the girls do prayers before snacks, but mostly phonics assignments throughout the day with art projects mixed in.

The girls love it so much that we actually went to service last Sunday so that the girls could go to Sunday School.

When we pulled up to the church I was surprised at the amount of noise. Then we went inside. The sound was deafening. We checked the girls into what was nothing more than a daycare.

Then we wandered past the children's church for those of a brainwashable age, then past the Holy Grounds coffee and gift shop and finally found the concert/service going on.

As we entered Robin and I looked around and immediately became horrified. We were at one of those militant bible churches. You know like the ones you see in movies like Jesus Camp and Saved! And on Dateline NBC anytime there is a clinic bombing.

Everybody stands and sways with their arms raised in the air as the band plays REALLY LOUD as a very expensive lazer and light show beam the words onto a huge screen above the stage.

No cross. Just big Roman columns with a drapery on each side of the stage.

We are ushered to an open row and proceed to stand for twenty minutes while everyone sings and sways NONSTOP. It's the longest jam session since the last Allman Brothers concert, but instead of stoner southern rock it's nonstop Jesus-freak pseudo-rock.

I look around and see a cross section of America. Latinos, whites, blacks, Asians, gays, and doctors and lawyers, and pierced and tattooed guys that look like they should be at a bar watching football.

I am scared completely shitless. These are the exact people that are ruining this country and electing assholes like Dubya, going on so-called missions to South American countries once a year spending all day exploiting the poor then spending all night drinking margaritas.

Then after twenty minutes of the incredibly loud music the pastor gives a five minute speech about how we are required to tithe just as certainly as we are required to pay taxes to Caesar.

I pass the bucket anyway.

Then we listen to testimonials of crazy people who went to Brazil and embarrassed our country in the name of Jesus. Of course, one happened to be schizophrenic and talked to Jesus about the trip.

Needless to say, my belief in the absolute evil of religion was intensified. Not to mention my fear of the voting power these nutbags possess and the future of this country.

The things they were saying were unbelievable. I am always astonished at the stupidity and gullibility of some people.

Still, I'm still certain that this school is good for the kids. I have sat in on classes and think they do a really great job preparing kids for kindergarten and elementary school.

But I will never go to church there again. Especially since the girls hated the so called Sunday School.