God Is Not A Political Pawn
God Is Not A Political Pawn
Yesterday, Rep. John N. Hostettler (R-IN) stood on the floor of the House of Representatives and said: “Like a moth to a flame, Democrats can’t help themselves when it comes to denigrating and demonizing Christians.”
Outrage ensued, obviously. But Hostettler’s hateful statement shouldn’t have come as any surprise; for months right-wing radicals have been leading an ugly, ugly campaign to disparage the religious beliefs of liberals ane paint them as somehow “anti-God.” Remember:
During the election, Republicans in West Virginia and Arkansas were caught mailing out flyers that said liberals wanted to ban the Bible. The pamphlets actually featured a photo of the Bible with a big, red “BANNED” stamped across the front.
After the election, Jerry Falwell said Americans who didn’t vote for George Bush did not “take the Bible seriously.” He also told CNN Democrats were on an “anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-religion kick.”
Rush Limbaugh opined liberals “don’t like God.”
Evangelical leader Bob Jones told conservatives “you owe liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ.”
Joe Scarborough attacked liberals for “taking solace” in “bigoted anti-Christian screeds.”
As religious leader Jim Wallis has said, ‘there are millions of Christians who want the nation to know…that Jesus isn’t pro-rich, pro-war and only pro-American. We don’t find that Jesus anywhere in the bible. ” It’s time for right-wing extremists like Hostettler to stop trying to use God as a political pawn.
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It’s pretty sickening what these bigots will do for their own ends. But I think what’s worse is the dumb saps who believe what they say hook, line and sinker.
Remedial Politics for Dumbshits….
June 21st, 2005 at 10:58 amThe right-wing drones should READ the Bible (once again, SLOWLY IF NEEDED) so they have a chance of realizing their having been duped by the Hypocrites who have read it in order to twist it.
June 21st, 2005 at 11:06 amBeing what I am, a secular person, I can’t talk in religious terms, but I want a large inclusive tent so Christians and all faithful are welcome. On the other hand, if I were a Christian, I’d be fighting to take back my religion from those wackos, manipulators, distorters, liars, and haters. It’s about time that the progressives take back their highjacked faith. Jim Wallis is a great person and an activist, but we need more like him. Where are they? It is ridiculous that the Repubs have political bases in ..churches accross the country.
June 21st, 2005 at 11:07 amThey have the Bible, we can have ..Jesus!
I think the best approach is to show that although they talk about the Bible, they are anit-Jesus! It’s sad that so many people of the lower classes consistently vote against their own interests because some shrewd person waves the Bibble… We have to ..preach against false prophets and talk more about what Jesus taught and stood for!
Could we have a conversation about how this all has to to with keeping the influences of ALL religeons out of the “states” arena? If a little boy comes to school and insists he be able to read verses of the Koran…if a mom goes to the School Board to raise a stink about how her daughter couldn’t bring a Shinto Prayer Wheel into show-n-tell…where would the Christian right fall on these expressions of religeon in the schools? They have no IDEA the can of worms they’d be opening if they had their way, in the modern society we live in…This “liberals hate Christians” is just SO whacked out…they simply don’t get it…and prolly never will…
June 21st, 2005 at 11:08 amKindness,
Well that’s the crux of the matter! Although, I believe there are many who would come over to our side because they’re open to communication, but many others are what they are….
One of the reasons I vote Democratic is because the arguments make more sense…. We have several people in our ranks who are articulate and can present a reasonable thesis… not simplistic slogans heavy on emotional appeal….
Unfortunately, not all people have the same skills to think an argument through, see the fallacies, use reasoning, and even question the premice! So, some people could never be convinced because they simply can’t change.
Have you ever wondered why there isn’t a Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Scarborough, Robertson, Fallwell, and the likes on the progressive side? (using the same language/arguments)…..
You know the answer….. we are much better at detecting bullshit!
June 21st, 2005 at 11:18 amYea, you’re right. One would think that you could approach folks of all walks of life and religions, and talk freely about it. But this is one (small but very powerful) group that get’s amped up by the idea that they are being belittled and denied if you suggest that others have just as valid ideas and beliefs. It’s the knee jerk/us against the world that has us dismayed. Sometimes when you look at what they say, they aren’t all that far removed from the David Koresh’s of the world.
June 21st, 2005 at 12:00 pmMost of the neocon evagelicals read the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse). They no little of the Four Gospels which are truly the heart of the Christian message. This is why you never find them quoting Jesus…they don’t even know Him! If they read the Gospels, reflected on them, and applied them to their own lives, they wouldn’t stand where they do, and make fools of themselves every time they open their mouths.
June 21st, 2005 at 12:18 pmAll one can do is feel sorry for them. As the old expression says…”more to be pitied than picked on.”
Pity them as they throw us to the lions.
June 21st, 2005 at 12:29 pmSadly, the so-called “Christians” that have decided to embrace politics (or perhaps it is the politics that have embraced the so-called Christians?) clearly haven’t a clue as to what it actually means to follow the teachings of Jesus.
So many of them love to toss out the “eye for an eye” argument as a biblical justification of warfare. Unfortunately, they must have missed the part of the Bible where Jesus refutes the old “eye for an eye” justification, and clearly states that if you are struck on the cheek to turn the other one also.
But unfortunately, the sheep – or rather goats – that follow the Falwells and Dobsons of the world have likely never taken a moment to read their own Bible and reflect upon it themselves. Rather, they prefer to be spoon-fed the false interpretations of the man at the pulpit in his $2000 suit sporting the Rolex.
To me, these people couldn’t be the FURTHEST thing from Christians than a Satan worshipper, but unfortunately they have so successfully draped themselves in the mantle of the false identity that they wear so proudly that the casual observer cannot tell the difference.
It is really simple though…if you do not try to emulate the life and teachings of Jesus, then you are NOT a Christian.
So the next time a right-wing Republican touts himself as thus, ask yourself if Jesus (the historical figure) would have been pro-war, pro-gun or pro-death penalty.
Then you will know who you are REALLY dealing with.
June 21st, 2005 at 12:53 pmAs wacked out as the book is, Revelations tells of the Beast duping people in the name of God/Jesus. It’s been applied towards the Pope at times through history, but it couldn’t be translated into this modern day fiasco now, could it?
Reflect on that sermon for a while…
June 21st, 2005 at 1:07 pmDeism do not believe ‘revealed religion’, i.e. The Revelations.
A natural God and natural law.
Religions of prophets and saviors cause a lot of strife and misery.
For Heaven’s sake, forget about ‘revealed religion’. It ain’t worth it.
June 21st, 2005 at 1:51 pm‘Deists’ do not believe
June 21st, 2005 at 1:52 pmSkid-
A very excellent point you bring up there, as I have pondered on it quite alot myself.
Revelations certainly does warn against false religion and those that claim to be doing the work of “God”.
Can that apply to today? Probably more than ever. Everytime I hear about Bush, Frist or whoever wrapping themselves in a cloak of relgiosity, that is the first thing that comes to mind…
Even though I am a “godless” liberal.
June 21st, 2005 at 2:00 pmChurch and State. Shouldn’t they be separate in the US?
I suspect that if these wind-bag self aggrandizing Christians ever saw the face of God, they’d instantly realize they’d constructed a separate reality that had nothing to do with God or Jesus or anyone or anything else they imagine religion to be. They probably couldn’t handle the Truth.
June 21st, 2005 at 2:17 pm“I’m tryin’ REAL HARD to be the shepperd…”
June 21st, 2005 at 2:25 pmThe ‘War President’ uses God to further his madman megalomaniac agenda. However, I think it is the god of oil that he really worships.
When it comes to the god of oil, George Bush prays with all of his might.
When members of Congress are accusing other members that they aren’t godly enough, they need a wake up call. Surely, they must have better things to do.
Good God.
June 21st, 2005 at 2:45 pmI’m trying to be the shepherd REAL HARD, too, Ringo…
And here’s a line from the good book that these “Christians” seem to loathe:
Render Caesar’s things unto Caesar, and God’s things unto God.
Sounds like a pretty good case for separation of Church and State, doesn’t it?
June 21st, 2005 at 2:56 pmI saw at intersting interview one time with (of all people) Axl Rose. One of the questions that was aked was on the subject of heavy metal/hard rock music inspiring people to violate basic human principals. His response (while I’m no big fan of Axl the person) was ingenious…without being able to quote it verbatim it went something like… well if you want to have that discussion with me then please lets include the fact that people have committed more atrocities against humanity in the name of God than perhaps all of the other crimes against humanity combined.
June 21st, 2005 at 3:00 pmSome thoughts on religion:
Every religion is true one way or another. It is true when understood metaphorically. But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble. – Joseph Campbell
Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, then that of blindfolded fear. – Thomas Jefferson
A religion true to its natures must also be concerned about man’s social conditions. Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and eternity. Religion operates not only on the vertical plane but also on the horizontal. It seeks not only to integrate men with God but to integrate men with men and each man with himself. — Martin Luther King, Jr
In the long term we can hope that religion will change the nature of man and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this respect. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars. — Richard Nixon
June 21st, 2005 at 5:55 pmand trust me, I’m surprised to find myself quoting Tricky Dicky.
June 21st, 2005 at 6:01 pm“As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;…”
-Treaty of Tripoli Article 11 – George Washington (Signed into law by John Adams)
This treaty passed congress UNANIMOUSLY with NO objection to the above clause. What could be a clearer message from our founding fathers?
June 22nd, 2005 at 10:27 amApparently, the skies need to part in Monty Pythonesque fashion, and a Terry Gilliam cutout of God needs to appear and start booming in a British accent:
Stop involving Me in your messes. The silly things that you do are not for Me, nor are they called for by Me, so KNOCK IT OFF!
Short of that, I think the message is still a bit too murky for many on the Christian Right.
June 22nd, 2005 at 10:36 amThose of you interested in the religion and government debate may want to take a look at the following website: americasrealreligion.org
June 22nd, 2005 at 10:43 amWhich Way is Up
Another confusing day. Lots of contradictory quotes floating around. That’s just part of what we feature on the WB42 5:30 Report With Doug Krile.
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