The crumbling wall between church and state
I have had a number of political rants I have almost given, but kept my peace. This time, I've finally had it enough to write about it. Skip this if you want to avoid politics.
A few days ago, the Bush campaign came under fire for encouraging churches in Pennsylvania to distribute campaign materials in the churches. This is illegal, and a violation of the churches (and all other 501(c)3 organizations) tax-exempt status, and potentially could cause the group to lose their tax-exempt status. Instead of being apologetic over being caught encouraging law-breaking activity, House Republicans have quietly introduced a measure, as part of the huge corporate tax restructuring bill, called Safe Harbor for Churches. It will allow religious organizations a small number of violations of these political activity restrictions without endangering their tax-exempt status. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/08/politics/08church.html (yeah, free reg required and all that)
So not only are they encouraging law-breaking behavior, not they are changing the law to excuse law-breaking behavior! What-ever happened the the "law and order" mantra of the Republicans?
And even better whatever happened to churches and church members _living_ the teaches they supposed hold so dear? "What would Jesus do?" Jesus would not be encouraging law-breaking. He would not be supporting tax cut for the rich at the expense of services and support for the poor. He would not be fighting a war on terror, he would be turning the other cheek, taking it all in stride as a test of his faith and his beliefs!
And what ever happened to following the Beatitudes? (Matthew, chapter 5, verses 3-10) Concepts like "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land". No support for invasions of foreign countries there, or the threat of force to get one's ways. "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." No classifying investigations in the name of national security there, or stonewalling investigations in the first place. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." And instead we have the religious right wing calling for more military intervention, more bombs to be dropped on civilians, more bloodshed. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Peacemakers? With two wars underway, saber-rattling against Iran, Syria, and North Korea? With an eagerness to use military force to get our way in the world? "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Look who gets persecuted these days: anyone who tries to hold the government responsible for their actions, for trying to find out the truth about the September 11 bombings, about the threat Saddam Hussein present. And the result: complete vilification from the right, from most media outlets.
If you get right down to it, the teachings of Christianity are liberal. Support for the poor, the unprivileged, the weak. Living a life of simple means, of giving all wealth beyond your basic needs to charity, a life of humility, of compassion. A very hard life, where aggressors take advantage of you. "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes the sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall of the just and the unjust. " (Matthew 5, 43-45) This view is much more in live with what the liberals and Democratic party advocate, not the Republicans. It could be argued that it is the message and methods of Satan which is being put into practice by this administration, in the name of Christ. How could anyone who claims to be a good Christian support it?
A few days ago, the Bush campaign came under fire for encouraging churches in Pennsylvania to distribute campaign materials in the churches. This is illegal, and a violation of the churches (and all other 501(c)3 organizations) tax-exempt status, and potentially could cause the group to lose their tax-exempt status. Instead of being apologetic over being caught encouraging law-breaking activity, House Republicans have quietly introduced a measure, as part of the huge corporate tax restructuring bill, called Safe Harbor for Churches. It will allow religious organizations a small number of violations of these political activity restrictions without endangering their tax-exempt status. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/08/politics/08church.html (yeah, free reg required and all that)
So not only are they encouraging law-breaking behavior, not they are changing the law to excuse law-breaking behavior! What-ever happened the the "law and order" mantra of the Republicans?
And even better whatever happened to churches and church members _living_ the teaches they supposed hold so dear? "What would Jesus do?" Jesus would not be encouraging law-breaking. He would not be supporting tax cut for the rich at the expense of services and support for the poor. He would not be fighting a war on terror, he would be turning the other cheek, taking it all in stride as a test of his faith and his beliefs!
And what ever happened to following the Beatitudes? (Matthew, chapter 5, verses 3-10) Concepts like "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land". No support for invasions of foreign countries there, or the threat of force to get one's ways. "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied." No classifying investigations in the name of national security there, or stonewalling investigations in the first place. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." And instead we have the religious right wing calling for more military intervention, more bombs to be dropped on civilians, more bloodshed. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." Peacemakers? With two wars underway, saber-rattling against Iran, Syria, and North Korea? With an eagerness to use military force to get our way in the world? "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Look who gets persecuted these days: anyone who tries to hold the government responsible for their actions, for trying to find out the truth about the September 11 bombings, about the threat Saddam Hussein present. And the result: complete vilification from the right, from most media outlets.
If you get right down to it, the teachings of Christianity are liberal. Support for the poor, the unprivileged, the weak. Living a life of simple means, of giving all wealth beyond your basic needs to charity, a life of humility, of compassion. A very hard life, where aggressors take advantage of you. "You have heard that it was said, 'you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes the sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall of the just and the unjust. " (Matthew 5, 43-45) This view is much more in live with what the liberals and Democratic party advocate, not the Republicans. It could be argued that it is the message and methods of Satan which is being put into practice by this administration, in the name of Christ. How could anyone who claims to be a good Christian support it?