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Pious Rhetoric Wins Votes, Not Souls
I doubt if it will change it much. All it demonstrates is that religion is important to a significant part of the American population and no serious candidate for the presidency will ignore that block of voters. Hot button issues like abortion and homosexuality have been used primarily by the Republicans to bind working class Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants to their banner.
God, however, is not in the service of any party and the excessive religious claims of Republicans, particularly on such issues as Terri Schiavo, the war, and limiting the availability of approved birth control medications and attempts to amend the Constitution to discriminate against homosexual people has already convinced most Americans that they do not want either party pretending that their policies and God’s policies are identical.
I recall that in the election of 1980 each of the three candidates, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and John Anderson, campaigned as “born again” Christians. That proved nothing about the candidates’ faith, but only that being “born again,” was believed to be a positive vote getting device.
I, for one, would far rather have a thorough going secular humanist in the White House who would respect the varieties of religious experience in this nation and guarantee freedom of religious expression to all, than I would want a practicing Christian who wanted to impose a particular religious viewpoint on the entire nation. I would never vote for a Roman Catholic who announced his or her intention to make the anti-abortion position of that Church the law of this land. I would also never vote for a Protestant Christian who, on the basis of his or her religion, sought to make assisted suicide illegal, to declare homosexuality to be a sin or to oppose the teaching of science where it conflicts with the Bible. I will look at the values of our candidates far more than I will look at their religious assertions.
The quality of the questions asked on the CNN program were incredibly naïve by any competent theological standard. The answers were little more than pious rhetoric.
By
John Shelby Spong
|
June 11, 2007; 6:29 PM ET
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Posted by: pjrcg hjwmbk | July 10, 2007 3:46 PM
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G'day,
I understand what you are saying but I do not agree with your opinion that he has anything to repent for.
He is talking about the same god as you and I worship and I feel that that our god will discuss issues with one and all when we get there.
It is not up to you and I to tell people how to think but rather be tolerant of others.
Hooroo for now,
Joe
Posted by: Joe Costello | June 19, 2007 5:40 PM
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Mr Costello,
This canard has been refuted countless times before. Agape love doesn't mean you feel affection for someone, it means you act in their best interest, and desire what is ultimately in their best interest.
This is what I am doing- I am pointing out his egregious errors in the hope that he will at last recognize them and repent.
Posted by: WHY SPONGIANS MUST REPENT OR PERISH | June 18, 2007 12:12 PM
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I may be reading your email all wrong but there seems to be alot of hate towards John Shelby Spong, may I ask why ? I hear no hate in what he preaches. Hooroo for now, Joe
Posted by: Joe Costello | June 17, 2007 9:45 PM
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*sigh*. Spong, Spong, Spong... Thank you for your brilliant observation that politicians are insincere, opportunistic slime, I never would have figured out for myself.
There's still time for you. You must leave behind this nonsense that Rowan Williams refuted many years ago in his response to your 12 theses. You must peel off the accretions of pride, habit, fear of change, fear of your fellow man (disapproval, broken friendships, hostility) and see your worldview for what it is. You must see abortion and sodomy for what they are. Then you must repent and trust in the Saviour.
God has wrought miracles in worse specimens of humanity than you. I haven't give up hope.
Posted by: WHY SPONGIANS MUST REPENT OR PERISH | June 13, 2007 11:33 PM
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Mr. Costello
Just by your comments alone leads me to believe that you have no concept of biblical Christianity if you are in any way on the side of the opostate heretic John Shelby Spong. The anti-Christian reteric that spews from his mouth would make Satan himself stand up and notice, perhaps that's his motive. To make the statement that Spong worships the same God as everyone else is nieve at best. Perhaps reading the bible would help you to see the the truth.