The Prophet Jeremiah

The Question: Jeremiah Wright's sermons continue to be an issue in the presidential campaign. Why? What do you think of his preaching style? What do you wish you understood better about it?

In these days of YouTube, we can revisit the famous quote about there being various kinds of lies -- with statistics being one of them. Today, video snippets are used to lie. Such is the battle plan being carried out against the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, erstwhile pastor of Senator Barack Obama.

I am concerned that right-wing political forces in the United States continue to impose norms that come from theocracy and go against the grain of democracy. Simply put, it is both unconstitutional and un-American to use a religious test for office. If the theology of Rev. Wright leads him to curse the United States, that is his constitutionally protected right for the free practice of his religion. The prophets in the Bible, notably his namesake Jeremiah, were the most vocal of history in cursing Israel (Jer. 4:7-29, 6:8-30, etc.). Jesus cursed Jerusalem and willed its destruction by the Romans (Mt. 24, etc.). No doubt, the right-wing YouTubers of today would classify the Bible as “Anti-Semitic.” Based on such logic, they are free to make personal choices like repudiating Christianity, denouncing the United Church of Christ, or not to put money in the collection basket of the Rev. Wright: they have no constitutional right to tell the rest of us what we may or may not believe. Still less have they the moral authority to impose voting based on “guilt by association” with a theology they don’t understand.

As the lengthy interview in late April with Bill Moyers showed and was again demonstrated in televised addresses to the NAACP and the National Press Club, the Rev. Wright is a theologian of consequence and learning. In cautioning Christians against violence and revenge after 9/11, he showed how hatred – even from believers -- can lead to damnation. Of course, his critics know little of theology and are not interested in being balanced and fair. So battle will be waged during this presidential campaign between people of faith, who make no false idols of government, and those who use religion to further political gamesmanship. (And by the way, if it’s permissible to quote snippets out of context, Sean Hannity said, “G-D the United States.” It’s on a 2 second video tape!)

Ironically, this election also resurrects the religious issue in the presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy. In 1960, it was a question of whether or not Catholicism would be accepted as a legitimate expression of Christianity. In 2008, it is a question if the country can overcome prejudice and accept the faith-based theology of African-American Christians, the most church-going segment of the population.

By Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo  |  May 1, 2008; 10:21 AM ET  | Category:  Religion & Politics Save & Share:                 
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