JK2000 Posted August 16, 2008 Posted August 16, 2008 http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jws4AA6...3tZ-GAD92JH6580 Does it bother anyone else how politicians need to be able to express their faith in order to be elected? Wouldn't it be great if McCain or Obama got up there and said, "Look Rick, I only go to church every week because my wife makes me but I'd really rather be home watching NFL Countdown. I don't need to be lectured every sunday on how I'm going to hell." They'd have my vote!
John Adams Posted August 17, 2008 Posted August 17, 2008 That the candidates both feel the need to give JC a public BJ is horrific. We've had non-Christians, non-practicing, and probably borderline atheists as presidents before. Some were our best presidents. Hard to believe we've slipped into these dark ages.
buckeyemike Posted August 17, 2008 Posted August 17, 2008 I like this forum idea...but I don't like the pandering. As a person of devout faith, I think it's important to know the faith of someone who I would vote for. It is not the be-all and end-all, but it is one element. Worship is, by and large, a private matter, but I do feel the responsibility to share my faith. Through my actions, much more so, than my words. It would be great if the candidates could be more honest (like the "NFL Countdown" reference), but we're not going to get that out of any political candidate...and I honestly believe McCain is the one who would come the closest to saying that. The founding fathers were deists, by and large (comparable to modern-day Unitarians), and many of those who were evangelical of the day (circa 1776) were actually against the formation of the United States, stating that it was not our place to separate from England, go our own way, and become our own nation. The evangelical churches of that day were far more concerned with the salvation of mankind than of forming a "Christian nation". Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but it wasn't founded by Christians. There's a difference. Look at the Constitution and the Declaration of Indepence, which recognize a "Creator" but don't mention God by name.
John Adams Posted August 17, 2008 Posted August 17, 2008 I like this forum idea...but I don't like the pandering. As a person of devout faith, I think it's important to know the faith of someone who I would vote for. It is not the be-all and end-all, but it is one element. Worship is, by and large, a private matter, but I do feel the responsibility to share my faith. ... Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but it wasn't founded by Christians. There's a difference. Look at the Constitution and the Declaration of Indepence, which recognize a "Creator" but don't mention God by name. I've seen you post here before and expected the exact opposite response to this thread from you. That's a logically well-stated position. Not one I'm in 100% agreement with but it's sensible and I wish other Christians mimicked you instead of others.
UConn James Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 One of Alan Alda's best roles.... I wish we had a candidate like this. Link. Shorter clip w/ most pertinent lines, but by all means, watch the longer version for teevee at it best
olivier in france Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 That the candidates both feel the need to give JC a public BJ is horrific. We've had non-Christians, non-practicing, and probably borderline atheists as presidents before. Some were our best presidents. Hard to believe we've slipped into these dark ages. What's scary is that for a lot of believers (whatever their faith may be), there is no way someone not sharing their faith may have the good values and/or qualities to be a good President...
Cornerville Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 "Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church & State."
billsfanone Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Don't know why some are so scared by religion. The candidates chose to participate, they weren't forced to.
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Don't know why some are so scared by religion. The candidates chose to participate, they weren't forced to. Religion was at the root of 9/11. Pardon me if I'm less than thrilled by it.
BillsNYC Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 I have to give credit to Obama for participating, it was like walking into the lion's den as a liberal and he also prob p!ssed off a bunch of liberal supporters (who will vote for him anyways) but in the end I don't think he prob helped himself much, if anything McCain prob strengthened his "base". In the end, although he can show his faith, Obama is a liberal that stands for issues that tick off evangelists. Then again, maybe folks turned the TV off after Obama and went to bed.... Biggest Gaffs: Obama - after being asked why he wants to be president...10 seconds of "uh...uh...uh" McCain - When talking about Russia, he kept screwing up the countries, making him look old and forgetful Obama - Saying Clarence Thomas didn't have the qualifications to be a Supreme Court Justice...uh...folks say the same about you... McCain - Pandering faith...he was a little too over the top and you could tell he was trying to push faith, where Obama was much more natural.
Cornerville Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Religion was at the root of 9/11. Pardon me if I'm less than thrilled by it. Radical religion was yes, but no need to paint 'religion' with a broad brush
JK2000 Posted August 18, 2008 Author Posted August 18, 2008 I think Obama crushed McCain. Considering the circumstances I think Obama did as well as he could have but McCain was the winner saturday.
John Adams Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Don't know why some are so scared by religion. The candidates chose to participate, they weren't forced to. I'm scared by people who feel need to parade their religion publicly. I'm also scared by an electorate that wants to know its public officials religious views, and have those views paraded publicly.
billsfanone Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 I'm scared by people who feel need to parade their religion publicly. I'm also scared by an electorate that wants to know its public officials religious views, and have those views paraded publicly. If you're so scared, move to another country that prohibits religion.
John Adams Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 If you're so scared, move to another country that prohibits religion. Way to miss the point.
K-9 Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Religion was at the root of 9/11. Pardon me if I'm less than thrilled by it. Politics was at the root of 9/11. Politics and all it touches for people in the the M.E. Religion was just a tool to recruit those to carry out a political agenda.
JK2000 Posted August 18, 2008 Author Posted August 18, 2008 I'm scared by people who feel need to parade their religion publicly. I'm also scared by an electorate that wants to know its public officials religious views, and have those views paraded publicly. You know what's weird is that on Wikipedia politicians have their religion listed in their little data box thing like football players have for their college and draft history.
olivier in france Posted August 18, 2008 Posted August 18, 2008 Considering the circumstances I think Obama did as well as he could have but McCain was the winner saturday. what do you mean by "considering the circumstances"?
JK2000 Posted August 18, 2008 Author Posted August 18, 2008 what do you mean by "considering the circumstances"? He was defending his positions on abortion, gay marriage, and stem cells to an audience of Evangelicals.
Recommended Posts