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My faith values Jon Stewart's sanity
This weekend, Jon Stewart is holding "a rally to restore sanity" on the mall, two months after Glenn Beck's religion-infused "Restoring Honor" rally. Beck said he was called by God to hold the rally. Now atheist groups are planning to use Stewart's event to promote "reason." Are "reason" and "sanity" the opposite of religious belief? Is taking religion out of the political debate the answer for restoring reason? Or do we need more faith?
For me, to rally in support of sanity in the United States in 2010 is to put my faith in Christ into action. That's why this Saturday, I'll be waking up long before sunrise to catch a bus to Jon Stewart's rally to restore sanity in Washington, D.C. While I won't return home until way past my bedtime, the effort and experience will be well worth it.
Personally, I am happy to share a good spot along the reflecting pool with those my fellow "On Faith" commentator, Richard Dawkins, refers to as "nontheists." And I don't mind the Washington Coalition of Reason promoting "reason" because for me, there is no dichotomy between faith and reason. The Washington Coalition of Reason says it desires "wider acceptance of a more rational view of the universe and a more compassionate view of those who live in it," and so do I. It's just that I desire these things out of my faith in God who is the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sustainer.
The supposed conflict between faith and reason is a trumped up drama that has roiled Western culture since Galileo and Copernicus. It's a conflict that neglects, just as the religious powers of that time did, the fact that the scientific method arose from devout minds that saw God's creation as marvelous and so wanted to name it, categorize it and delve into it more deeply. This conflict continues to play out today, yet it's a fight akin to wrangling over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
Taking religion out of political debate is another exercise in tilting at windmills: It is impossible. People are involved in politics and people are religious. Everyone, even those who don't believe in God, believe in something, and bring those beliefs to their political positions. We probably would do well to take religious institutions out of the political debate -- I would submit that this is what the establishment clause in the First Amendment is meant to do -- but institutions like churches, banks, corporations, labor unions, and think tanks are Mormon-Tabernacle-deep in our political debate. That is not likely to change soon.
What we must have in our body politic is more sanity and Jon Stewart happens to be offering a good dose of it in this troubled time. My faith values that sanity and I hope I drink deeply of it on Saturday.
By
Janet Edwards
|
October 27, 2010; 11:58 AM ET
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Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 30, 2010 1:25 AM
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A religious pilgrimage to a nihilist-fest.
Meet you at the drum circle, Janet.
Mainstream religions (like academia and media) have been thoroughly subverted by progressive politics.
Posted by: happyacres | October 29, 2010 9:32 AM
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Janet, Janet, Janet....I too am a presbyterian, more of the conservative ilk, than you, I think. But it'll take a real LEAP of FAITH to put trust in J. Stewarts sanity. He exhibits so little of it. The never-never land he dwells in has NEVER existed and never will. This is the reason for salvation to begin with. But, as the words spoken in 'Song of Bernardette' so eloquently put it..."to a non-believer, no words or proof will ever be adequate, and to a believer, no words or proof are necessary"
Posted by: othimus | October 28, 2010 11:42 PM
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Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
Aummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Amennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.. AND now Sing
EKLAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht-i.
.
..
...
............................. ._.
........................ ._.|._.|._.
.................... , .|._.| .. |._.|._
.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |._.|
.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |. . |
.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |. . |
................ ._.| .|. . |. . |. . |. . |
........... | .| .) .\ . . ..^ ..^ ..^ . .|
........... | .| . .| . . . . . . . . . .. |
........... | .| . .| . . . . . . . . . .. |
........... |. | . .| . . . . . . . . . .. |
........... \ .\ . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
............ \ .\ . . . . . . . . . . . ../
............. ). \ . . . . . . . . . . .(
............ /. .. \ . . . . . . . . . . .\
.......... / . . . . \ . . . . . . . . . .. \
.......... . . . . . . \ . . . . . . . . . . .\
.......... . . . . . . . \ .. . . . . . . . . ..\
…
..
.
1) Inhale 'E' (sounds like HE/SHE slightly)
2) Exhale 'KLAH' (use 't' for stop-gap in 'time') pause in a Mini Second, THEN
3) Inhale 'i' (sounds like hhii).
.
.
PEACE,PAZ,SHALOM,SALAAM,AHIMSA,MIR, ZHINGYU..
.
..... Credit "JJ"
http://onwapo.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/w-e-l-c-o-m-e/
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 28, 2010 1:27 PM
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It Appears? That the Middle-East & Nearer East via [NATO] Offensive or Counter was based on a "BIG LIE" (something That Governments Do Well in their bags of "WORD-MERCHANTizing" War Games. And So
NOW, It is Time To END those "Big Lie"s With [OUR] Truth, Not Theirs!
Behold: Even Governments Must get on Their Knees or Spread EAGLE & 'REPENT'? i Say!
O' Evil Nations, Whom Know What They Are Doing, Bow Down to YE/YO Holyi EKLAHt-i, and ask the Miraculous "IT" for 'FORGIVENESS', Ask not for 'SALVATION' alone.
Note: SALVATION is Never ever by the JEW's! Not The iSHLAMi's! Nor The ESAUi's! Nor The >a>XRSTIANi's! Nor via the MORMONi's! Nor The HUNDUi's! Nor The BUDDHAi's! Nor The SEIHKi's & Other {HUMAN} PRE-APOCALYPTARIANi's {unlike Us APOCALYPTARIONi's, aka HUUMATES of} crawling on OUR (not Their) HOLYi S.Pace-S.hip momma/poppa EARTH, aka S.S. GEOiD, S.S. GAiA, S.S. TELLUSng something.
OyeVazemeer! eye givolt! Amazing, NO Grace!
As Predicted & Expected via "iNSIGHT & PATTERN RECOGNITION" abilities (power), THAT
The "Pre-Apocalyptic Run "JPOST", aka the "JERUsalem Post" [NOt The Original Secular 1] played into US hands and is once again 'falsley' & WAR-BLESSINGLY, instead-Of-PEACE-BLESSINGLY, creating artificial [intel] News or Stretching the TRUTH (opposite Myth) by attempting to COUNTER the real REVEALATION (opposite Secret or Hidden Manna, aka Hidden UMMAH or Hidden Karma..) or get boldly contrary to thee Fact THAT: Satanic VersUS Lover & Gods player OSAMA BIN LADEN IS TRULY DEAD! Nice Try!
Pleazza see This
'France says Bin Laden tape appears? authentic'?? .. in a new-tape?, al Qaida leader threatens to kill French citizens because of their support for war in Afghanistan and new law banning burkas.
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=193123
OYEVAY(O' Lordy)! FarVoos(Why)? FarVoos "IT" (G_D, Not A HE nor a SHE)?
SEcret (opposite Revelation) Note: This is the 4th Time or 5th that some Syndicate (can't Mention now) who've Responded with some 'Bin Laden's Message (not Messenger) within a 24/72 hour period!
Talkin about Counter INTELi, Pleazza!
Note: This NOt a 'wicked-Leak' copycat (un)kinda thing.
THE WORLD WILL KNOW THE TRUTH [About the Death Of Bin Laden & how He Died with PROOF, beyond a Reasonable Doubt!!!) So Help me/i EKLAHt-i!
As a Duty; It's A SCOUTS PROMISE (of the Dispensation) Especially to me/my/OUR Dear Fellow sweet sweet AMERICAN(s) et al!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!..
SHAME on 'JPOST" & CO. (Sorry WAPO but you should spank ye little sister/brother Sin-dicate. sorry for telling!)
Praise The Holyi NO MAN/WOM! Praise "IT"!
HAiLAYOUYA to "i[WE] the People", a/k/a Automatic Born Citizenz/Denizens of Blue.Dot
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 28, 2010 1:11 PM
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So let me get this straight. You say you have much in common with those who apply reason, yet you seek those ends through faith.
This doesn't in any way prove your assertion that there is no dichotomy between faith and reason. Faith, either in the absence of evidence OR in the blatant disregard of contrary evidence, is the definition of irrational.
Your position only shows that your decency is aligned more with non-believers who care about this life, than with those who choose to focus on an imaginary after life and its putative "Lord."
Posted by: beyondbelief007 | October 28, 2010 12:09 AM
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The majority of the World's Religion espouse the similar values of caring for others when stripped to their essence. Reasonable people of faith espouse those core values along with the principle of trust, generosity, truthfulness and compassion. These are sadly absence in our public discourse and the current economic downturn would not have happened if bankers and corporate giants practiced these virtues.
Posted by: anne15 | October 27, 2010 5:01 PM
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One of the problems with religion is that there are many religious people like you who have more in common with non-believers than with smugly self-righteous religionists like Jordan Sekulow who seems to think that only conservative religious people are religious.
Posted by: david6 | October 27, 2010 2:42 PM
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IN "MATHEMATICS & PROBABILITY'...
HOW To Catch FRANCE, Israel, England and now U.S. in a B I G -- L I E!
Psychologically spakething; Suddenly ALL Before The Elections:
First it started with a FALSE & phony, concocted 'Bin Laden message [WHO is In Fact DEAD; an they know this] message BUT YOU (voting Suckers) DON'T] now
Pleasa Oyevay!
Another BIG LIE!
"Cargo-plane bomb plot alert: w/photos of self-serving explosive devices 'designed to harm US synagogues'" Oye...!??
[Self Serving] BOMBS Found In or near Borack Obama's Home Town... la la, but Obama is Not Afraid to gout on the campaign trail. Oye...!????
Found Bombs at or Near Sinagogues, lalala Oye...!???
CIA Head? Said, lalala... Oye...!???
[Coalition Created] Al Qaida; from YEMEN did it etc.. etc.. OYE...!??
like the IShlami's are really coming at US (Keffirs) All at Once?? as forewarned? Pleazza!
Oyevayzmeer!! Weak Weak weak!
Nice Try OBAMA Admin & Desperado's!
Shame on MEDIA involved!
__
Note: Between this Hour & by Monday There will be More BOMB, TERRORISTS stuff Fed to Unsuspecting Voters!
Maybe Prez Obama will be Assassinated by an "inside-Job" before Tuesday? Now In AMERICA (The 1 We used to know) Anything is Possible!
This Time, Shame on The U.S. Government & CO!
END the lies lies lies! yet More Lies r aComing ye/Yo ways! (not OUR way).
VOTE: GOOD RIDDANCE! BOY/Gal who Cried WOLFE!
VOTE: NO D-E-M-O-C-R-A-P-S Party!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, EXPOSE THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!..
__
Remember: PRE- ELECTION -- P-R-O-P-A - G-A-N-D-A
BIN LADEN ids DEAD!
BIN LADEN is DEAD!
BEN LADEN IS DEAD!
BEN LADEN IS DEAD!
America created Him, Now They created other's Bin Ladens??: O' Shame on DEMOCRACY!
Vote: HELL-NO DEMOCRATS! NO To ENGLAND'S QUEENS & KINGS Yoke!
The BRITISH [r the Biggest Trouble Makers on Earth; Not JU's/Israel, Not MUSLIMS!]
VOTE: BRITISH must GO not Come here! Let Them (Includes Australia & New Zealand) Fight the New Bin Ladens & Extinguish their Lamps!
NO MORE USA!
AMERICA 1st!
ENGLAND LAST!
_
POiNT: ISLAM will Defeat ITSELF in near Time:
WE[i] VOTING AMERICANS {The Real JURISTS} Don't Need to see The LIE's Perpetrated by "Democracy's! Current ADMIN?
Their Act & Behavior Is Blasphemous and an Abomination on a National/Conscious Level: Hint: It will surely Boomerang with a Vengeance!
BEHOLD: The Great OIL EMBARGO IS COMING! And Revolution In Many Nations! Thank You OBAMA! Thank You CLINTON's! Thank You PALOSI's, BIDENS, SCHUMER & Evil Officials, aka Satanic VersUS Lovers!
YE art Surely gonna Shoot Selves W/out shooting a Shot. And it will start in Ye/Yo SLEEP! Ye/Yo Will Be talking in Tongues, like the folks of Sodom & Babel did long long ago!