Holy crap, cheering the ouster of a senator in church What did Daschle ever do to these guys? You'd think he was an agent of the devil or something. With stories like that, how can anybody of sound mind not understand our fear of these people?
It's the great divide Oski.....unfortunately, it will be up to the Liberals and moderates to build that bridge without much help from the radical Christian right.
man....me too I especially hate the blatant labeling of liberals as being people who hate Jesus....what a huge steaming pile of dogpoop... I lean a little liberal myself, and I believe Jesus was possibly the greatest man who ever lived...and I know some that are full out liberal and think the same... there are other parts of that letter I shudder at...but aint even gonna dignify them with a response... also...I wonder...is it the Southern Baptists and the ones of their ilk that are the most venemous and poilitcally active? The Catholics and other religions dont seem to be as active in pushing for a religious agenda in politics...
Yep. My wife and I told our friend who works for the church leadership in a polite way, If they bring that up in church and we will walk out in the middle of service and not come back. The state must stay out of religion and religion out of state.
I think some of you guys are missing my point, which is...politics is a process of decision-making. Elections are part of that process, but the day to day decisions in our government ultimately travel down a bi-partisan road. You can have voice in that process. Get organized, invest your treasure and your time, and you can have an influence. Because one presidential candidate or another was elected doesn't pre-determine the course of every governmental decision. Some of you are so hysterical that you are suggesting that moral tyranny is a foregone conclusion. That's not realistic. Once the hyperbole of the campaigns wears off, the day to day, give and take, rough and tumble madness we call the American government will convene. Fairness is not guaranteed, but it is always possible.
We've seen Dead Kennedys, Flaming Lips, and more in this thread. That's great even though the ideas of Falwell are scary. Falwell and others are discredit to the religion I practice. I don't believe what they do represents the teaching of Christ in the slightest, and is often contrary to them. This kind of thing helps me understand at least a fraction of what many Muslims must feel when when they see Islamic religious leaders speaking out and getting publicity for their religion in a way that doesn't represent what they believe the religion truly stands for. It is frustrating beyond belief when Fallwell gives people in general a backward look at the religion I practice, and makes it fodder for derision, scorn, laughter, and even worse, fear. Falwell has advocated bigotted segregation in the past, is preaching the same type of nonsense about different groups today. I will make the same call I hear others make to moderate muslims when the muslim extremists declares unholy things in the name of Islam. Why aren't the moderates speaking out and doing more to stop them. Where are the moderate Christians, who aren't threatened by science, rational thought, peace, love, goodwill, leading by example, etc.? Why aren't we doing more to stop people like Falwell? Many people have asked the more moderate muslims to take back their religion, but what are the moderate Christians doing to stop our own extremists?
My feelings on this issue can be best expressed by the following song lyrics. Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl with yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there she would merengue and do the cha-cha and while she tried to be a star Tony always tended bar across the crowded floor, they worked from 8 til 4 they were young and they had each other who could ask for more? CHORUS: At the copa (CO!) Copacabana (Copacabana) the hottest spot north of Havana (here) at the copa (CO!) Copacabana music and passion were always in fashion At the copa.... they fell in love His name was Rico he wore a diamond he was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancing there and when she finished,he called her over but Rico went a bit to far Tony sailed across the bar and then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two there was blood and a single gun shot but just who shot who? REPEAT CHORUS At the copa... she lost her love Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl, but that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show now it's a disco, but not for Lola, still in dress she used to wear, faded feathers in her hair she sits there so refined,and drinks herself half-blind she lost her youth and she lost her Tony now she's lost her mind REPEAT CHORUS At the copa... don't fall in love don't fall in love Think about it. The parallels make my blood run cold.
Don't equivocate. Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ. I bet my Jesus can take their Jesus in a 2 out of 3 free for all. Any bets?
That would be very difficult. I don't know what the future holds, but I believe in the things Jesus taught, and his philosphy, and that the idea of putting into practice loving your enemy is against human nature, and above it that it must be divine. Human nature is to strike back when you are attacked, to go after items stolen from you and get them back. Jesus said don't strike back, love the person that has done harm to you, and give more to the person who stole from you. That kind of thing is so far above what most people including myself are capable of, yet I can clearly see it's a better way. That which is above humanity is surely divine. Like I said I haven't been able to always follow those teachings, but I wish I could. I don't see how any other religion could show more divinity than that. I will listen to, try to understand, and study anybody's religion, but I feel firmly committed to my own faith. There might come a time when I stop going to church all together(I rarely go now). But I will continue to go bible studies, read the bible, research, talk to clergy etc. about the Christianity.
oh great.....now Im gonna spend the rest of the day tryin to figure out what the lyrics to a bad Barry Manilow song has to do with this issue... thanks alot ima...
well obviously. what i dont want is fundementalist Christianity dictating our policy. that's not what the founders intended. like was stated earlier, what's the difference between the fundementally Islamic run Iran and a fundementally Christian ran US?
the only difference is perspective any policy based on the supernatural is imprudent gay-marriage and the like are issues where the only basis for it to be "immoral" is a book of myths, written by ignorant - power-hungry men 2000 years ago - is this really the way to base policy?
Careful Chump...or Herr Falwell will send his jack-booted soldiers of the apcolypse to your door and cart you off to the Ministry of Love for your brazen heresy.
I wrote my feelings on a comment card and have not heard anything. It is a large Southern Baptist church on the northwest side and I do not expect to hear anything back on it. We love the church but I dont like them trying to tell me how to vote. That isnt their business nor their place. I believe that if they teach the values of God, the message of God, and how we can apply it to our lives, we can then, as Christians, with the guidance of a relationship with God, make our own decisions on what we feel is best for our nation. There are plenty of liberal christians out there. It is not an oxy moron. Calling me a liberal is not a put down. I am not ashamed of what I think and feel. I feel like I am an intelligent person and I can make up my own mind on what I feel is the right decision and what is not. My pastor is a smart man and I value his opinion but I only want it when I ask for it. On this matter I dont want it. Stop trying to shove your agenda down my throat.
We're going to have to find a way to keep these evangelical Christians from peacefully assembling. If we leave them alone, they may organize and use their voting rights to make the government responsive to the will of the people. That's not what our Founding Fathers built this country for.
I'm a BIG fan of dry sarcasm...and I'm pretty sure that I detect it in your last post...I dunno, I can be a bit dim witted at times... I understand your view, but I think you are purposefully missing our point(s). That is, any movement in this country by those who most DEFINITELY have the right to vote and peacefully assemble but are pushing an agneda seeking to curtail rights that this country was founded on, will be met with opposition and attack from Americans who fear amending our Counstitution to excude segemnts of the population. Don't get no more simple than that. I can't speak for Thomas Jefferson, but I sure hope he agrees!
Where I'm from, yes but I can't speak the same for all Southern Baptists. In my town and state everybody wants to know what is your stance on religion more than anything else. They couldn't care less about fiscal policy, education, etc. they want to know where your morals are and if you don't reveal what they are then you won't win, hell you won't even have a shot.
