Comments on: Blog Against Theocracy http://gawilli.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/blog-against-theocracy/ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:15:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: gawilli http://gawilli.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/blog-against-theocracy/#comment-4982 gawilli Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:03:48 +0000 http://gawilli.wordpress.com/?p=1059#comment-4982 Well said, WT. Betty, I actually think Obama has been relatively transparent about his faith. While reading his book I visited the website of Trinity Church and am not the least bit surprised to hear the text of the sermons of Pastor Wright that have been played and replayed on the news and in the blogosphere. Our pastor has taught us that you have to experience things through the lens of the teller, understanding their audience and their history. With that in mind, it does not shake me like it did some. I found it (the media attention) more as an attempt to question Obama's patriotism than his faith, as he has made his religious beliefs fairly clear. His response, with a focus on race, was succinct. I would have been disappointed had it been anything more, or less. Well said, WT.

Betty,
I actually think Obama has been relatively transparent about his faith. While reading his book I visited the website of Trinity Church and am not the least bit surprised to hear the text of the sermons of Pastor Wright that have been played and replayed on the news and in the blogosphere. Our pastor has taught us that you have to experience things through the lens of the teller, understanding their audience and their history. With that in mind, it does not shake me like it did some. I found it (the media attention) more as an attempt to question Obama’s patriotism than his faith, as he has made his religious beliefs fairly clear. His response, with a focus on race, was succinct. I would have been disappointed had it been anything more, or less.

]]> By: Betty http://gawilli.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/blog-against-theocracy/#comment-4979 Betty Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:57:48 +0000 http://gawilli.wordpress.com/?p=1059#comment-4979 I think we need to stop all the discussion about everyone's religion, and get on with the election. All the stories about Barack Obama's minister are nothing but a thinly-veiled attempt to call Barack a non-Christian, when you get right down to it. I don't understand how anyone can expect him to denounce his lifelong ties to his church, the church his family has attended, because of the ugly remarks of a minister who obviously is caught in a time warp. If I denounced everyone who had wrong-headed attitudes and refused to have anything to do with them ever again, I would be pretty lonely, because everyone says things at one time or another that seem unwise or just plain wrong. I am not responsible for setting them right - it probably can't be done, anyway, so I just accept them for who they are and go on with my life. I think we need to stop all the discussion about everyone’s religion, and get on with the election. All the stories about Barack Obama’s minister are nothing but a thinly-veiled attempt to call Barack a non-Christian, when you get right down to it. I don’t understand how anyone can expect him to denounce his lifelong ties to his church, the church his family has attended, because of the ugly remarks of a minister who obviously is caught in a time warp. If I denounced everyone who had wrong-headed attitudes and refused to have anything to do with them ever again, I would be pretty lonely, because everyone says things at one time or another that seem unwise or just plain wrong. I am not responsible for setting them right – it probably can’t be done, anyway, so I just accept them for who they are and go on with my life.

]]> By: Willowtree http://gawilli.wordpress.com/2008/03/22/blog-against-theocracy/#comment-4978 Willowtree Sat, 22 Mar 2008 21:48:56 +0000 http://gawilli.wordpress.com/?p=1059#comment-4978 You probably already know this, but the term Fundamentalist was first coined in America. However, when Fundamentalist Islamic groups became the prime candidate for villain status (to replace the Ruskies), the fundamentalists in America changed their name to Evangelists. Whether Christian or Islamic, a fundamentalists by definition have little regard for humanity, and thanks to Dubya they have a much wider reach into government than is healthy. This has to change. You probably already know this, but the term Fundamentalist was first coined in America. However, when Fundamentalist Islamic groups became the prime candidate for villain status (to replace the Ruskies), the fundamentalists in America changed their name to Evangelists.

Whether Christian or Islamic, a fundamentalists by definition have little regard for humanity, and thanks to Dubya they have a much wider reach into government than is healthy. This has to change.

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