Quote of the day
posted at 10:00 pm on May 3, 2008 by Allahpundit
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“That way faith loses its independence, Christians become ‘useful idiots’ for one political party or another, and the Christian faith becomes an ideology.”
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not for me, but whatever
windansea on May 3, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Here I thought it was a link to a DKos post plotting another insipid plot.
amkun on May 3, 2008 at 10:07 PM
It’s kind of like a “Blame America First” thingy wrapped in the cloth of religion.
Travis1 on May 3, 2008 at 10:10 PM
How many politicians can dance on a church alter?
SouthernGent on May 3, 2008 at 10:11 PM
There are a lot of vagaries in that story. I’ll think I’ll wait to see what it actually “declares.”
Weight of Glory on May 3, 2008 at 10:12 PM
I hate manifestos. The word is so pretentious; everybody has one, nowadays.
Christianity definitely influences my morality/politics/etc., but I wouldn’t consider myself an “evangelical,” which to me conjures up images of Huckabee and Dobson, both of whom I detest (Dobson for having no principles and revealing himself to be, at best, an opportunist).
Sorry to fly in the face of their “wide-range” desires, but the slaughter of the unborn and the protection of my nation are the most important issues, as far as I’m concerned. I guess I’m old-fashioned.
emailnuevo on May 3, 2008 at 10:13 PM
Nothing a modern replacement for Billy Graham wouldn’t cure.
Speakup on May 3, 2008 at 10:22 PM
The first three words are completely misleading as to who these people actually are. They aren’t conservative at all, they’re just Christian liberals trying to excuse their political ideology. This way they can be guilt free when voting for people who support abortion and gay marriage yet share their pacifist and socialist views.
The bonus? They can paint true evangelical Christians as intolerant at the same time.
lowandslow on May 3, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Speaking of ‘useful idiots’
Weight of Glory on May 3, 2008 at 10:25 PM
I would be perfectly happy if I never heard the word “religion” in a discussion about politics ever again.
EJDolbow on May 3, 2008 at 10:26 PM
OT but figured this is the place to post it.
Lost my #1 friend today. My 10 yo border collie, India, passed away just after 8pm. She damn sure could spell better then me, that’s a fact. Gonna miss her greatly.
Limerick on May 3, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Evangellyfish.
Akzed on May 3, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Limerick
You have my sincerest condolences.
“May flights of Angels sing her to her rest”
Janna on May 3, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Dearest Limerick, so sorry to hear about your loss. They should die at the same moment we do. My thoughts are with you. The good memories of India will be with you forever. There’s nothing like a good dog. Sincerely,
Entelechy on May 3, 2008 at 10:37 PM
That is just horrible! Few things hurt as bad as a good dog dying. You’re in my prayers tonight.
Weight of Glory on May 3, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Limerick, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.
There’s nothing else like the love of a good dog.
Pachyderm on May 3, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Condolences on the loss of India. Luckily all dogs go to heaven.
jdog on May 3, 2008 at 10:42 PM
there you go, we need an updated version of Graham
God is still good, and I share your loss Limerick
windansea on May 3, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Thank you all….gotta go for obvious reasons. Here she is cleaning my son’s ears…
India the Mom
Limerick on May 3, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Sorry Limerick.
Speakup on May 3, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Limerick
-very sorry for your loss…
My 15 y.o. husky, Storm, is trying to snack her way through her last days. She won’t eat her own food any longer, but she will take a nibble of my dinner.
AZCON
AZCON on May 3, 2008 at 10:44 PM
Most people who call themselves “religious,” who go to church or pray regularly need to understand that praying without LOVING their fellow human being is hypocrisy, a lie and dishonesty.
There are atheists who carry more love in their hearts for their fellow human beings than the followers of the Judeo-Christian faith.
To be a person of faith is to be HONEST with oneself, with God and with people.
For me, Honesty and Love cannot be separated.
I hate using terms of endearments if I don’t really mean it.
“I love you,” “Honey,” “Dear,” etc. if they don’t reflect what I really feel in my heart, I do not say them. And it comes naturally either way.
Love, Honesty, Telling the Truth, now that’s Christianity for those who are looking for a short definition of the Christian faith.
Indy Conservative on May 3, 2008 at 10:50 PM
Thank-you all.
Limerick on May 3,2008 at 10:43PM.
Limerick: Sorry to hear about your dog,was it a Border
Collie,we lost ours 3 years ago,was with our
family for 14 years,her name was Mindy.
And yes I understand,I still miss her.
canopfor on May 3, 2008 at 10:53 PM
My sympathies, Limerick. I know how bad you must feel, but she’s in the area of heaven where the mountains are made of biscuits, the trees grow rawhide chew bones, the water is always cold. India will be happy there while she waits for you.
Dusty on May 3, 2008 at 10:55 PM
An incredibly hopeful sign. Good work.
ronsfi on May 3, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Sorry for your loss, Limerick. I had a dog when I was a kid and yet today I still think about him. Shep was part collie and part mongrel, but what a dog.
cjs1943 on May 3, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Sorry to hear it, Limerick.
LegendHasIt on May 3, 2008 at 10:58 PM
Most People…
Indy Conservative on May 3,2008 at 10:50PM.
Indy Conservative: Hey Indy,I’m sittin on the border
waitin,and its cold,when you movin
to Canada! Ha ha
canopfor on May 3, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Egads! Not an ideology! Anything but that! ( Must become mush….must become mush…
Jeesh! This is the same group that is big on global warming.
Quick! Everyone become a liberal and then it will all be fine.
Asshats.
thatcher on May 3, 2008 at 11:02 PM
That photo is priceless :) A very sad loss, but I’ll bet you’ve a lifetime of beautiful memories to cherish.
LimeyGeek on May 3, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Religion and politics are like gas and water, they don’t mix well. The problem is compounded by those in the pulpit who tell their flock how to vote instead of thinking for themselves.
Hog Wild on May 3, 2008 at 11:03 PM
That’s a good link. I really don’t exactly know what the true definition of an “evangelical Christian” is, but I always assumed it was a protestant who was not part of the mainline denominations - which is why I consider myself one. I grew up in a mainline protestant church and it was a never ending stream of left-wing politics being spewed from the pulpit.
I have attended many different evangelical churches since that time and have never seen politics spoken from the pulpit, although there are plenty of organizations that operate outside to church services to deal with such issues. My experience has been that socially conservative churches are much less political than the leftist ones.
When I left home I also left the offensive church. Some of us don’t have to wait 20 years.
Nosferightu on May 3, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I met many of those churchgoers of priests and pastors. None gave me a good impression about what a true Christian should be. I hope they learned something from me.
And as for Canada, soon.
I’ll probably wait for my favorite season: Winter.
Florida is too hot for me, all year. I can’t wait for ice fishing and hitting deers while jumping in the road, that’s how I hunt them.
Indy Conservative on May 3, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Why is it when the election cycle rolls around all the Religion stories and bashing comes out,like the never-
ending CNN hit stories on Mormonism as an example,like
making sure the planet knows of Mitt’s faith!
And all the positive stories come out like talking how much
Religion means to Liberals or how Hillary is such a church
goer,like what church meant to Bill on Easter Day as Bill
later on was being serviced by Monica! Jus sayin!
canopfor on May 3, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Religion is just like any other philosophy that informs one’s decision. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t affect ones political views, the any church that makes a specific political cause or party part of its official teachings risks alienating a lot of people.
Nosferightu on May 3, 2008 at 11:11 PM
Limerick, sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful dog.
This “manifesto” just substantially increases the degree to which religion is politicized. It seems to me to be a load of thinly disguised PC foolishness. It looks like an attempt at emotional blackmail. Anyone who presumes to speak for Jesus on any political issue is suspect and sows confusion. The same applies to those who attempt to impeach Christianity based on questionable statements made by Christians.
snaggletoothie on May 3, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Maybe some self reflection wouldn’t be a bad idea..
Land and Dobson(while good people), obviously do not want to lose what “power” that they now have..
Similarly to what Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson do.. just in a different way.
Chakra Hammer on May 3, 2008 at 11:17 PM
I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the “lower animals” (so called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me.
- Mark Twain
My father was a Saint Bernard, my mother was a Collie, but I am a Presbyterian.
- Mark Twain
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
- Mark Twain
The dog was a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.
- Mark Twain (Letter to W.D. Howells, 2 April 1899)
Your dog was a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.
- Mark Twain (Letter to Mr. Limerick, 3 May 2008)
MB4 on May 3, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Florida is too hot..
Indy Consevative on May 3,2008 at 11:10PM.
Indy Conservative: I’ll give you some hunting advice,rent a
5 ton moving truck and stalk the highways
That way,it should guarentee your survival,
unless you smack into a Moose,and for G-ds
sakes keep an eye out ever so vigil for
those nasty Canadian Finches,the Finches
can be as deadly as the Moose! Ha Ha.
canopfor on May 3, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Yep Goldwater warned us long ago about all of this stuff….
Chakra Hammer on May 3, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Same here. Would never even occur to me; also, I sense insincerity from a mile away.
My beloved grandma, who was spiritual but not the overly church-going type, always said “beware those street angels, they’re the worst house devils”.
Just clarifying - what’s the difference between “Honesty” and “Telling the Truth”?
p.s. leave those deer alone, unles you’re hungry.
p.p.s. deer is not part of Chinese buffets.
Entelechy on May 3, 2008 at 11:22 PM
I agree with the quote. I see so much political action on which Chrisitianity is claimed the basis of, but the political action has little or nothing to do with Christianity: abolish the death penalty, abolish abortion, no gay marriage, end the war, socialized medicine, and so forth on both left and right.
Christianity would be more appealing to more people if it weren’t used to argue for public policy on the basis of a shallow interpretation of three or four verses stripped of any context, as is true in every example I gave above. While Christianity can furnish stories relevant to our everyday life, it doesn’t tell us whether green house gases are a problem for the environment or the precisely right tax rate on income tax. Can’t we respect the Bible for what it is? It’s not the answer for everything. It tells us neither the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus or the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Why does it make sense to look for every answer in the Bible? Bibliolatry?
thuja on May 3, 2008 at 11:22 PM
In other news, in a surprise press conference today from St. Peter Square in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said that after watching how Human Beings whom He created to love Him and one another, are hating and killing each other, He changed His mind and decided not to come back to the Earth.
And when St. Paul asked him about the good ones who kept His Commandments, he replied “Screw it, I ain’t going there again. I’ve had enough of them all, let’s them bring their End to themselves, they don’t need me.”
This is not for being funny.
Just think about it.
Indy Conservative on May 3, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Limerick, sorry to hear of your loss. It’s so hard to lose a dog.
inviolet on May 3, 2008 at 11:25 PM
You can tell the truth without being honest about it.
Because you can tell the truth to get something for yourself, because there is something in it for you.
Got it?
Hey, I can make Buffets of deers, and they will include Chinese food too.
Notice how I typed ‘Buffet’ with a capital ‘B’ because, for me, ‘Buffet’ is a term of endearment.
Indy Conservative on May 3, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Since they are tax exempt, in the moment the preach whom to vote for, or they accept candidates as visitors, they should be forced to pay taxes. Either they are exempt (separation of state/church), or not.
MB4, you managed brilliantly to bring the thread on topic, while addressing Lim’s tragic loss too.
Entelechy on May 3, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Oh I’ll get a monster truck. I love trucks.
Finches?
Sorry buddy, I like to keep my feet on the ground.
Indy Conservative on May 3, 2008 at 11:35 PM
Indy, I’ve commented before that if god is benevolent he says “I think my experiment went sour”, and if he’s malevolent he watches in awe and amusement how we behave.
p.s. I don’t know if god is a “he” or a “she”.
p.p.s. I don’t know way more than that.
Entelechy on May 3, 2008 at 11:41 PM
Your dog was a real lady; I hope to go to her heaven, not mankind’s.
- Mark Twain (Letter to Mr. Limerick, 3 May 2008, 8:45pm))
MB4 on May 3, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Lame. I got a better “Quote of the day” for driving a wedge between the unwashed and the enlightened:
ScottMcC on May 3, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Well you are one step ahead of most then.
Holmes on May 3, 2008 at 11:47 PM
maybe everyone here can agree
dogs are better than men
but men are good because they take care of dogs
windansea on May 3, 2008 at 11:47 PM
Just clarifing-what’s the difference between”Honesty”
and “Telling the Truth”?
Entelechy on May 3,2008 at 11:22PM.
Entelechy:The difference is Ronald Reagan to a Bill Clinton!
canopfor on May 3, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Limerick,
Sorry for your loss. That’s a great big hole in your heart when you lose a good friend…..
Hening on May 3, 2008 at 11:52 PM
It cannot be avoided that the aims of any ideology (religion among them) can be better represented in one political philosophy or another.
AbaddonsReign on May 3, 2008 at 11:54 PM
Not sure that I “got it”, but I’ll think about it more. I don’t think that I could tell the truth, without being honest. Here’s what others say about me “Your candor is your splendor”. Of course, some don’t like that. They probably fall into the category you describe.
Entelechy on May 4, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Indy, I think that Obama thinks that we buy his baloney about the 20 years…Either he believes that, and is dishonest with himself, or he doesn’t and thiks we’re fools. You explain it to us.
Entelechy on May 4, 2008 at 12:07 AM
It baffles me how people can hate someone they know little or nothing about. Dobson shares a few political opinions (some of which I disagree with), & he’s universally accused of trying to be a “kingmaker” or “opportunist”. Mr “emailnuevo”, are you an opportunist for sharing your views?
jgapinoy on May 4, 2008 at 12:17 AM
It also baffles me how some people think that everyone has a right to share political views except evangelicals.
jgapinoy on May 4, 2008 at 12:19 AM
I’ve been in church about twice a week for almost three decades, & I’ve never experienced anything remotely like this.
I suspect it’s only the left that does it.
jgapinoy on May 4, 2008 at 12:23 AM
His son Franklin is a chip off the old block.
jgapinoy on May 4, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Hmmm…
Religion… a system of belief and rules which teach Right and Wrong..
Politics in a Democracy… a system of belief where you can VOTE on what you consider Right and Wrong…
How can these ever be truly seperated?
Romeo13 on May 4, 2008 at 1:25 AM
First of all I didn’t read much of the article but from what I saw I think those leaders are right. Christians have let ourselves be led to primarily one party and that party doesn’t care about us at all outside of getting our votes. That’s why I refuse to vote for Republicans (never would vote for a Democrat anyway).
Every time an election comes up the Republicans try to get us riled up over abortion but the truth is that even if they had complete control of the government they wouldn’t do a thing to change the current law. Having it there is a useful tool to stir up our votes whenever they need it. The Democrats have started using the Patriot Act the same way. They keep voting for it then go on about how evil it is to stir up the left for votes. They’ve been doing that with old people and social security for years.
It’s stuff like this that makes me believe nothing meaningful will change in this country until the voters take it upon themselves to abolish the two party system we have.
Benaiah on May 4, 2008 at 1:49 AM
In a matter of political perspective and history, religion has always been the catalyst shaping social behaviour and will continue to influence public policy.
That all changed when I discovered Alter Wine could be purchased without a blessing.
Kini on May 4, 2008 at 1:53 AM
I’ll take it a step further than you friend. When you have the majority, of both houses, and in the White House, no liberal agenda items should even be considered, yet that’s just what we did for the first six years of W.
Instead of Conservative issues, we tackled campaign finance, which of course helped the Liberals by giving the Press way too much sway over the public opinion. Then we gave a big nod to the country club Republicans with Bankruptcy Reform.
We were too cowardly to attack the things that mattered. The core Conservative Beliefs that managed to get them elected. Now, the Republicans are sinking like rocks in water, and we hear how we Conservatives have to support the Republicans, or we’ll lose the court.
Didn’t need the court, we could have passed an amendment banning abortion and left it up to a majority of the states. It probably would have failed at the state level, but the point is the people would have had a say instead of the court. John McCain is one of those who opposed that idea. We can’t trust the people to choose for themselves.
Nope. I’m not marching this year. I’m going to sit back and watch the show. I’m sending money to Hillary, because the one thing that will bring the Republicans back to Conservative Ideals, that they rejected when they were in the majority, is a Clinton in the White House.
No, I’m going to sit and enjoy the left tearing itself apart, because it will have a majority in the Senate, perhaps even the sixty votes required. Even if they’re a vote or two shy, with McCain there, they’ll have sixty. A majority in the house and Senate and Hillary in the White House? Well perhaps next time the Republicans get the majority they’ll remember why and what. Why they got it, and what they’re supposed to do.
They aren’t supposed to be Democrat Lite, Liberal Lite, or Moderately Liberal. They’re supposed to be Conservatives. If you don’t represent the ideals of the population of this nation, you can’t expect them to take time to vote for you, much less send you a single dime. If the Republican Party is no longer going to represent the views of the Conservatives, we’ll just wait until someone does. Perhaps we’ll start taking over the Democratic Party, and stick you all with the left wing loonies you’ve been kissing up to.
Imagine that, we have a party two thirds full of Zell Miller Democrats. Now that would be a nice day indeed. Bad thing is, we don’t have anyone as conservative as Zell Miller anymore, they’re all wrapped up in McAmnesty, and McGlobal Warming.
Snake307 on May 4, 2008 at 2:25 AM
Authors must like to use the word ‘evangelical’. In this very short article, this author used the word 11 times (not including the time in the title). I guess it’s just the only 5 syllable word that they feel they have a green light to use.
Again, I say again, evangelical is ONLY a theological term meaning to spread or preach the gospel. It is NOT a group of people. Southern Baptists are Christians who are not Catholic - so they are Protestant (or Baptists).
It’s such a meaningless word that I don’t understand why journalists and media insist on using it to describe a particular group of people. Dobson (supposedly an evangelical) and some other supposed evangelical were not even contacted about this. There must be several evangelical subgroups I guess. I don’t have any idea what group the article is about when it starts talking about ‘evangelicals’ instead of Protestants or merely Christians. But I guess since it is a 5 syllable word that people know and have heard, they’ll use it whenever they want and expect the reader to be able to figure out what particular group they are describing.
ThackerAgency on May 4, 2008 at 3:32 AM
This is so transparent. Obama 08.
pat on May 4, 2008 at 3:43 AM
Or he’s irrelevant and snoozes most of the time. He is an old man…jussayin.
ronsfi on May 4, 2008 at 4:10 AM
Is it possible to be ‘evangelical’ and not political?
Kini on May 4, 2008 at 4:21 AM
Evangelical isn’t even a political view. It’s an idea of actively spreading the Gospel in the world.
But the last time I checked, it’s just you and the Almighty in the voting booth, so why should being Evangelical even come up?
Still, since far too many Americans don’t make up their own damn minds about who to vote for, I suppose there are worser places than the pulpit to get your political views.
Spc Steve on May 4, 2008 at 4:21 AM
I’m sorry, Limerick. India was a member of your family–and, if you’re like the rest of us, sometimes the easiest family member to get along with. Entelechy is right, there is nothing like a good dog. God bless you both.
DrMagnolias on May 4, 2008 at 6:15 AM
Let me expand a little bit.
For example, in court, when you swear to tell the truth -while in the real world you’re a liar and a dishonest person- you’re just doing it to get something for yourself which is not getting in trouble for lying under oath.
See, honest and telling the truth might look the same, but in reality, honesty is a natural-born virtue. Telling the truth can also be a natural-born virtue or it can be faked momentarily.
You can be honest and tell the truth all the time.
You can be honest all the time but you can tell the truth in some circumstances and situations where you have to, specially to avoid trouble, or if it benefits you.
For me, honesty and telling the truth are natural-born virtues, they go together, they can’t be separated.
I hope I made myself clear.
Indy Conservative on May 4, 2008 at 6:46 AM
God created Human Beings and gave them freedom to do whatever they want. And that’s why God doesn’t intervene when Humans kill each other. It’s their choice.
The thing is, God answers those who sincerely and honestly pray to Him.
Jesus promised to return to see what His Creation did.
Did they obey or disobey His commandments?
I don’t think His commandments are such a burden for Humans to reject them.
Love, Faith and Hope. Is that too much to ask?
Indy Conservative on May 4, 2008 at 6:55 AM
Limerick, very sorry for your loss! Losing a pet is terribly hard! Hope you have great memories and get a new dog in the near future to share your life with!
So what exactly is an Evangelical? I’m a Christian but I don’t recognize myself in the preachers I see on TV. I”m a Lutheran who doesn’t buy the “rapture” and believes that we are saved by what Christ did on the cross, not by what we do ourselves. I love the work of Chuck Swindol, Dobson and others to help people but am frustrated with the Republican Party which I believe to be very liberal right now. So, who speaks for me? Nobody, that’s who! Sigh…
sabbott on May 4, 2008 at 7:09 AM
That’s exactly their point, emailnuevo. The word “evangelical” is now taken to describe the politically active group of culture warriors you dislike, when in truth it means those who follow the Great Commission and spead the word of Jesus.
Not having seen the actual text of the document, I can’t endorse it, but as it was reported in the article I think I agree.
joewm315 on May 4, 2008 at 8:26 AM
My condolences. I’ll make sure I throw the Frisbee for my BC more than usual today. Next time I see a rainbow I’ll think of you.
Oldnuke on May 4, 2008 at 8:27 AM
The pawn of grand puppeteer analogy permeates our entire American culture. That American Christianity recognizes where things have gone politically is good news, as the meaning of “common good” can only be determined a posteriori, not a priori. Even the prophets of old would take a break from civilization to go ponder the meaning of life and reality while in the desert or upon the highest mountain.
I was reading this morning turn of the 20th Century politics, and forgotten Republican Presidents preaching pluralism.
Republicans are the party of pluralism, the “Big Tent” of the Grand Old Party. Pluralism has been the tenet of the party since it began given the specific exclusion of slavery and polygamy. However, now Conservatives no longer hold strength of sway over the GOP gone RINOP just as the Classical Liberals lost sway within the DNC to the hard-ultra-left progressives. BOTH parties have been overrun well by the persistent progressive agenda over a century now, that with lip service toward pluralism seduces the citizenship into the suffocating totalitarian fascist embrace.
Time for all Conservatives to draw a line and take stock.
maverick muse on May 4, 2008 at 8:42 AM
You can withold the truth without necessarily lying which is dishonest. Its better to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
aengus on May 4, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Conservatives need to define themselves rather than allow opponents to skew with assertions the self realization liberals espouse but withhold and deny to conservatives.
Draw the line as to what one is and is not and do not let the opponent define one to the world.
Evangelicals are conducting serious self awareness of what all that they have accomplished and all that they have become, in their own minds and in the minds of others. Christianity has a history of 2000 years during which empires have come and gone and transitioned. Hope to God they neither succumb to self depricating annihilation nor overlord self-righteousness.
Isaiah Berlin wrote much on positive vs. negative liberty, and the effects of the Counter-Enlightenment vs. the Enlightenment that deals with this current evangelical dilemma.
maverick muse on May 4, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Limerick on May 3, 2008 at 10:29 PM
Dogs go to heaven. Would that we could join their company when our time comes. Condolences.
maverick muse on May 4, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Os Guiness is hardly a liberal. That aside, this “manifesto” does sound about as political as the politicking it condemns. They should know that such a letter would be used as a weapon.
spmat on May 4, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Bingo.
Contending that Christians shouldn’t take sides in the culture war is like saying they shouldn’t be judgmental about values and morality. Pure PC poppycock.
petefrt on May 4, 2008 at 10:46 AM
My heart goes out to you, Limerick. I lost the best pup I ever had just a couple of months ago, so it’s fresh in my mind that it’s a tough loss to overcome.
petefrt on May 4, 2008 at 10:51 AM
You mean… like Jeremiah Wright’s liberation theology reduces Christianity into a subservience of Marxism?
petefrt on May 4, 2008 at 11:02 AM
My collie says:
As for you AllahPundit, who do you think you are? Indiana Jones? Dredging up ancient artifacts like the political corruption of Christianity. Why post stories on HotAir that are nearly 17 centuries old? Politics overwhelmed the original Christian church when Constantine declared in the official religion of the Roman Empire. It was the worst event in all of human history. From that day forward, the organized religion of humans commonly referred to as Christianity became ALL about the temporal, political, carnal things of man, and almost nothing about the spiritual, eternal things of God.
Fortunately, there IS hope. The church that Jesus spoke of is a spiritual entity, and it is not diminished or corrupted in any way by the political activities of foolish human zealots. His Word stands, He continues to reign His Kingdom, and the gates of hell will not prevail against the True Church.
CyberCipher on May 4, 2008 at 11:12 AM
You did, and we are in complete agreement.
Indeed. Look how many politicians get in trouble for the cover-up, and not for their follies, necessarily.
Entelechy on May 4, 2008 at 12:58 PM
No. Dobson sat on the sidelines and refused to endorse a political candidate, saying that there was nobody, I mean nobody, who satisfied his Christian character; he threw a temper tantrum and hinted he might not vote. After Huckabee gained some traction, guess who Dobson endorsed?
Dobson claimed to be fighting evolution, fighting against same-sex marriage, and fighting for a Christian morality - three issues on which Huckabee is and was disastrous. So he’s an opportunist.
I am not an opportunist because I did not say “There’s NOBODY in the WORLD who can satisfy my Christian character…” and then wait for a few polls to come in and say, “Wait a minute, yes there is!”
P.S.
Amen.
emailnuevo on May 4, 2008 at 1:00 PM
It doesn’t go away completely, ever. Lim’s India, your pup, and so many others, are with my beloved departed dog. They are the best given to humans. If only all humans w/b good to them. Yes, getting another, or having others, is the best to move on.
Entelechy on May 4, 2008 at 1:02 PM
emailnuevo on May 4, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Indeed. From different perspectives, Rush was no better. For the sake of maintaining listenership (for which I don’t blame him from a Capitalist’s standpoint), he maintained neutrality, until it was too late. Now he’s trying to be ‘relevant’ again, with Operation Chaos, which might bring us Hillary and backfire on Rush, and us, royally.
Watch what you wish for, you might get it. Or as some would say, god will grant your wishes.
Entelechy on May 4, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Rush did disappoint me on that. No one thought McCain would take it, so why not play it safe?
But Rush is a little different. He has always maintained that he is, first and foremost, an entertainer. Choosing a candidate in the primary might alienate his audience, like you said. He does not have the moral haughtiness of a James Dobson, who is considered and calls himself a culture-warrior and major Christian figure and, most importantly, not only an entertainer, but instead, a spiritual leader. Rush also didn’t he endorse someone who ran completely contrary to his own beliefs once it became politically viable (Huckabee on Lawrence v. Texas, Huckabee on evolution-in-schools,etc.).
I’d much rather have Hillary than Obama, as long as we can get a Republican Congress; I’ve sworn hostility to McCain, because I don’t trust him. That leaves me stuck with Hillary as my favorite (I love her faux-”Watch out Iran!”), but man, we really messed ourselves up this time.
emailnuevo on May 4, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Good luck with that…plus a more liberal Senate…
Entelechy on May 4, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Sorry to read that…that is the problem with those darn dogs, you get to attached to them.
Let me suggest a great replacement, a mini-aussie. I’ve had standard aussie, corgies, shelties, and borders (I love those herding dogs). About 35 lbs of activity (not as much a your border collie), I know your loss, but do it quick. Nothing like a little puppy to realize that the cycle is a natural one. A puppy needs a great home.
right2bright on May 5, 2008 at 8:42 AM
I agree with the concept of the manifesto…nowhere does it even hint that Christ wants the church leaders involved in politics. In fact quite the opposite, despite the words of Christ about keeping your eyes on God, not having two masters, letting government rule, etc., Christian (leaders of all faiths), keep injecting politics into sermons, or worse get involved in politics at local and national level.
I quit my last church because the pastor couldn’t lay off the politics, and I supported those politics.
Dobson, Warren, and the other so called church leaders; their ego’s are bigger then there faith.
Good to see Dr. Mouw of Fuller Seminary (I may have spend some time there), stand by the principles they have always taught.
right2bright on May 5, 2008 at 8:50 AM
Hit the nail on the head
This Manifesto should be correctly labeled a Confessional.
Confess to anything you want but do not imply you are speaking for any Evangelicals other than yourselves.
That of course is the foundation of Christianity, evangelical or not. It is a good thing they just noticed. Even the big dogs need to fight sin and temptation
Sounds like Rev. Wright to me. Is that who they were talking about?
entagor on May 5, 2008 at 1:19 PM
I guess I have to give up my first ammendment rights to expression as a Christian? It never ceases to amaze me that non-Christian people think we should stay out of politics because we believe in a Supreme Good. Should we leave politics for just the athiests?
From someone above in the comments, whose name I have no desire to learn: There are atheists who carry more love in their hearts for their fellow human beings than the followers of the Judeo-Christian faith. Are you nuts? Three years ago, with a combined income of less than $50,000 I gave five times as much to charity than did BHusseinO. Is that the kind of HOPE and CHANGE you are looking for?
TimothyJ on May 5, 2008 at 1:31 PM