In my latest for the Guardian, I take a look at the theocratic threat posed by Tim Pawlenty (“God’s in charge”), Mitt Romney and other potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates.
Tags: Guardian, Mitt Romney, religion, Tim Pawlenty
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Depends on what you consider freedom. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, for example, blamed the 9/11 attacks on homosexuals, feminists, and the ACLU.
So, a few Christians said some stupid things.
This resulted in … what? Absolutely nothing.
I’m Catholic, but I’m pretty ecumenical. I attended a Baptist church for a few years because the music was great, and I liked playing in the church band. I sometimes go with my neighbors to a completely neutered Methodist church in Woodstock, because they’re old and they want some company.
I’ve never heard in any of these churches a call to harm homosexuals, feminists or the ACLU. In fact, I’ve never even heard a discussion about homosexuals, feminists or the ACLU.
The Jihadis murdered almost 3,000 Americans. Now, that’s a threat to freedom. Geert Wilders is on trial for daring to make a movie criticizing the Jihadis.
The founding document of our country specifically evokes the Deity:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
It’s been fun, boys. Gotta to back to work.
@Stephen — It is too simplistic to say that we need to defeat Jihadis. I used to think that way, but it is plainly obvious that this “war” would be endless. We need to do our diligence, but this “war” is sapping our military and distracting is. When Palin says “we win,” she can’t define victory, because we will never fully eliminate the “they” or the “lose” in “they lose.”
Obviously, Stephen Thomas has never been to, or heard of Georgeotwn, Delaware.
“It is too simplistic to say that we need to defeat Jihadis. I used to think that way, but it is plainly obvious that this “war” would be endless.”
When do we begin the “war on automobiles?” Tens of thousands killed senselessly every year, far more than are killed by Muslim extremists.
Or how about a “war on guns?” Tens of thousands of innocent civilians are gunned down every year throughout our country.
Yes, Virginia, there are far more things to be terrified of than Muslim extremists.
“Obviously, Stephen Thomas has never been to, or heard of Georgeotwn, Delaware.”
Or the State of Texas.
@Stephen: “So, a few Christians said some stupid things. This resulted in … what? Absolutely nothing.
Think again. Civil rights in this country are a sham. Homophobia is rampant — one need only look at your rantings to know that. Doctors who perform abortions are attacked, shot at, bombed, etc.
And from the Muslim POV, Christians have been murdering their sons and stealing their wealth for centuries.
To use a favorite “logic” of the gun-nut crowd, more people died from car accidents last year than were killed in 9/11. So maybe we should ban cars, not Jihadis.
And btw, my creator was my mom and dad.
Cool, we’re gonna get a Dylan anecdote!
Wait, what?
That’s it. I hope you have a good lawyer. I’m suing you for whiplash. See you in court, buddy.
@BP – My faith informs my world view. My Bible informs my faith. So do my religious leaders, who, I trust, are better informed than I am on these matters. Both the Pope and the Bible tell me to comfort the afflicted, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc. On Sunday my priest gave an excellent homily on freeing the oppressed. My point is that the two are not so easily separated.
I, too, like “rational thought and logic and things that are provable.” However, I understand the limits of these things. Prove to me that a mother loves her child. That this flower is beautiful. That there are such things as soul mates. Of course, none of these can be proved with science, but we all know them to be true, and not just in a truthiness kind of way. Logic has its limits.
“My faith informs my world view. My Bible informs my faith. So do my religious leaders, who, I trust, are better informed than I am on these matters.”
I might tell you that mine does as well, and that I agree with you.
But I won’t.
Because I have no interest in interjecting my own personal religious faith into a discussion about politics or the media.
See? It’s not hard at all.
@BP: Perhaps if some of our political or media or financial or [take your pick] leaders brought their faith with them into the Congress or board room or [take your pick] then we wouldn’t have as many of the scandals that we do today.
@Brian: You are confusing morals and ethics with faith. One does not necessarily follow the other. You can be moral, ethical and atheist.
@Stephen
Just 2 things. Your quote is from the Declaration of Independence, a magnificent piece of rhetorical and political acumen that, nevertheless, does not have the force of law. Only the Constitution governs law in this country, and it is not in the least theological. And your quote says “their Creator” but fails to identify which Deity that might be. Which is why we enjoy the right to worship any god from Ahriman to Zeus, or Reason, or evolution if we have a mind to.