Political Quotes: Holy Hyperbole

[rattlesnakeroot]

No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.
~ The Constitution of the United States, Article VI, section 3I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of

Comments

[melusin_79]

the words 'jumbo' and 'mumbo' spring readily to mind.

[rattlesnakeroot]

LOL ~ you are SOOOOO right!

[wobblerlorri]

This disgusts me. When did the issues surrounding this election cycle change from the economy and jobs to reproductive rights and who's a better (or "real") Christian?

This holier than thou attitude is part of what made me decide I'm an atheist.

[rattlesnakeroot]

Well, as a Christian it is driving me completely out of my mind. I swear, Santorum has crossed the line into Bizarro World. I wasn't raised with the idea that Christians from other denominations were "wrong" in their beliefs - merely different. And Franklin Graham was just evil, as far as I'm concerned. It's insidious - he was basically accusing Obama of persecuting Christians in other countries through indifference. Ugh - he makes my skin crawl.

You are right - we have got to get back to the issues, and stop caring what the Pope thinks or what any religious leader thinks. None of this should matter!

[exhpfan]

Excellant post! I understand the desire of a preacher to guide his flock in a way that encourages them to lead a moral and fruitful life as Jesus preached. Too often IMO, however, these preachers believe that the correct way to lead their flock is through condemnation and fear instead of LOVE. It is time for the Democratic Party Preachers to preach back to these far right preachers. For too long these far right Evangalitical Preachers have taken the position that only they can speak for all Christians. Well President Obama is a Christian and they don't speak for him. I am a Christian and they don't speak for me. This discussion doesn't belong in the Political arena. It belongs in the Religious arena.

My only question is: Where are the Democratic Preachers?"

[rattlesnakeroot]

Good Question!!! Where are the moderate clergymen? Are they afraid to speak out right now because their congregations are more conservative than they are

[rattlesnakeroot]

One more thing - I think this all goes back to the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention by right wingers. Things were not as heated as this when we were kids. People were much more live and let live. I just can't believe the scorched earth religious rhetoric going on right now. You're right - it's just fear mongering.

[wobblerlorri]

The Democratic preachers are exactly where they are supposed to be: being preachers and not politicians or trying to control a political party. Democrats for the most part understand what "separation of church and state" means, and at least respect it. Conservatives don't get it, and if they do, they hate it.

Which is why you will likely never see a liberal, left-wing, moderate or centrist religious type being as shrill and overtly controlling as any of them right of center.

[exhpfan]

I have had JFK's speech on religion saved on my favorites list for some time and find myself quoting it many times. It is posted here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16920600

Here is the quote I want to bring to this conversation:

"But let me stress again that these are my views. For contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president, who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.

Whatever issue may come before me as president - on birth control, divorce, censorship, gambling or any other subject - I will make my decision in accordance with these views, in accordance with what my conscience tells me to be the national interest, and without regard to outside religious pressures or dictates. And no power or threat of punishment could cause me to decide otherwise."

[rattlesnakeroot]

That is a wonderful quote! If I had known it, I would have included it in my post!

[suo_gan]

I'm a Catholic, albeit a very, very progressive one and I assure you, Rick Santorum doesn't speak for me or for the 98% of Catholic women who have used birth control. For most of us, men in big fancy hats have nothing to do with our bodies, case closed. As for him, he's a hypocrite pandering to the worst, most extreme element of the right wing, as he was pro choice before his 'Come to Jesus' moment around 2010

[rattlesnakeroot]

I was telling my daughter that I honestly can't believe that we are facing a war on contraception in the 21st century. I can't believe that anyone from the Baby Boomer generation - our generation - which should be the most educated and enlightened in history, could expect women to vote for men like this.

I don't know what offends me more - the Catholic/Protestant/Mormon debate - or the contraception debate. I told my daughter it's like watching a parade of Mad Hatters dancing around spouting nonsense!

The good news is, women fought back in Virginia and got them to table their draconian bill till next year. I just don't understand why they want to ruin our country by denying women basic civil rights?