Too Much "God" in our Politics

[Johnfromokc]

:willy_nilly:Gawd....anybody else as sick of these asshat zealots as I am? This article addresses it. Some snippets in quotes below:

http://www.alternet.org/story/15368...cratic_plan_for_the_2012_election?page=entire

He’s been married three times and is an admitted adulterer, features that would seem to make Newt Gingrich an unlikely standard-bearer for the hyper-moralistic brigades of the Religious Right. But with a little mental gymnastics, all things are possible.

In an unusually religion-soaked primary season, faith has been front and center for months, as a crowded field of GOP hopefuls seeks to assure conservative Christians that they’re ready to hoist the banner for faith and family, as the Religious Right defines those terms.

“I had to do a lot of praying for this one, more praying than I have ever done before in my life,” Cain said. “And when I finally realized that it was God saying that this is what I needed to do, I was like Moses: ‘You have got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?’… Once I made the decision, I did not look back.”

But there was a problem: Cain was the fourth Republican candidate to claim God’s blessing. The deity also convinced U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) to run and gave a green light to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. For good measure, God assured Karen Santorum, wife of former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, that her husband should also be in the race.

 

[Accountable]

I'm surprised you didn't include Santorum's claim that federal law must comport to God's Law.

Today's so-called Christians forget that salvation is a personal decision, not a behavior to be forced through legislation.

 

[Panacea]

I was listening to a piece on Gingrich and his moaning about America moving towards secularism and just thought of this. Get the southerners are riled up, ignore the facts. Status quo.

 

[Alien Allen]

The religious right make me wanna puke

 

[BornReady]

My wife told me some people gave Obama a hard time last November because he didn't thank God in his Thanksgiving post on his blog. Give the man a break.

 

[Stone]

Yes. Religion trumps common sense for too many people.

Fundamentalism-----indeed.......from politics to education.

 

[All Else Failed]

America, despite its high identification with Christianity, is probably one of the least Christian countries in character.

 

[HK]

America, despite its high identification with Christianity, is probably one of the least Christian countries in character.

Oh I don't know. You can't judge the moral fibre of millions of people just on the actions of some of their prominent figures. For every high-profile adulterer making the news, there's still going to be thousands of citizens who do follow Christian values.

 

[Joe the meek]

I'm surprised you didn't include Santorum's claim that federal law must comport to God's Law.

Santorum scares the living crap out of me. I also find it so ironic how he portrays himself as a "Washington outsider" here for the common man LMAO.

 

[All Else Failed]

Oh I don't know. You can't judge the moral fibre of millions of people just on the actions of some of their prominent figures. For every high-profile adulterer making the news, there's still going to be thousands of citizens who do follow Christian values.

Actually, I'm not.


most Americans probably actively engage in anti-Christian behavior every day of their lives in the things they consume, do, say and just how they probably ignore basic tenets of Christianity in favor of modern pleasure.

 

[anathelia]

Actually, I'm not.


most Americans probably actively engage in anti-Christian behavior every day of their lives in the things they consume, do, say and just how they probably ignore basic tenets of Christianity in favor of modern pleasure.

"Basic tenets of Christianity"...would that not be the 10 Commandments?

I don't really know that I agree that most Americans even spend every day lying, stealing and coveting, let alone killing, sleeping around, or worshiping false prophets. And I certainly wouldn't go looking beyond the ten commandments for basic tenets of Christianity, because the book is so incredibly outdated that you are absolutely right and every single person on this PLANET is ignoring Christian rules.

 

[All Else Failed]

I don't really know that I agree that most Americans even spend every day lying, stealing and coveting, let alone killing, sleeping around, or worshiping false prophets.

They....don't?

Also, I was also talking about our shit culture, which encourages sinful behavior and is even championed and rewarded now.

because the book is so incredibly outdated

If you are a Christian, the divinely inspire word of god and the teachings of the early church fathers is *NEVER* outdated. There are only modern people making up excuses not to pay attention to it in favor of pleasure.

 

[Siphorous]

They....don't?

Also, I was also talking about our shit culture, which encourages sinful behavior and is even championed and rewarded now.




If you are a Christian, the divinely inspire word of god and the teachings of the early church fathers is *NEVER* outdated. There are only modern people making up excuses not to pay attention to it in favor of pleasure.

A truer thing was never more succinctly put.

 

[All Else Failed]

inspired*

 

[BornReady]

The majority of people I know, Christians and otherwise, are good people.

 

[The Doc]

I mean lets be logical about it. The people who created this country were christians.... therefore Christianity makes its way into the government. You can argue that its not right, it shouldent be that way, whatever.... It is what it is. There is Religeon in politics. If you dont like it write a letter to your congressman, and i am pretty sure he wont write you back.

 

[Joe the meek]

I mean lets be logical about it. The people who created this country were christians.... therefore Christianity makes its way into the government. You can argue that its not right, it shouldent be that way, whatever.... It is what it is. There is Religeon in politics. If you dont like it write a letter to your congressman, and i am pretty sure he wont write you back.

Most of the men who "founded" our government (AKA the "founding fathers") were not Christians, but deists. I would like to think that those men who founded our government realized what could happen when you put religion and politics together.

 

[Accountable]

Joe's right, and even the Christians agreed that the federal gov't should not be a theocracy. For the individuals to be religious & moral is good and even desirable, but for them to presume that their own version(s) of how a person ought to live should be expressed in federal legislative mandates is going too far. Thus the First Amendment. Unfortunately, those against religion ignore the fact that the amendment applies to them as well.

 

[The Doc]

I am not saying it should be a theocracy. Freedom of belief is a great thing. Even though i might not believe in what you do, you still have the right to believe in it. If its harry potter and his witch spells then so be it. What I am saying is in a majority christian country you will have christian influence on the government. Believe it or not, There are religeous people who WANT there to be religeous people in charge.... and thats alright because they have the right to nominate and elect that person. Thats your conservative/republican party. If you dont want or like christianity then stray from the conservatives. Easy.

 

[BornReady]

I would like to think that those men who founded our government realized what could happen when you put religion and politics together.

Yep. The catholic vs. protestant wars in Europe taught them freedom of religion was the best policy. That was what they were aiming for here.

For the individuals to be religious & moral is good and even desirable, but for them to presume that their own version(s) of how a person ought to live should be expressed in federal legislative mandates is going too far.

:thumbup