The Sojourners simply is a counter group to the "religious right". They have their own political agenda that they are framing as "religious issues". To that end, their hands are just as dirty as the "religious right".
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?Just because a Religious Right has fashioned itself in one predictable ideological guise does not mean that those who question this political seduction must be their opposite political counterpart. The best public contribution of religion is precisely not to be ideologically predictable nor a loyal partisan. To raise the moral issues of human rights, for example, will challenge both left- and right-wing governments who put power above principles. And religious action is rooted in a much deeper place than ?rights"?that being the image of God in every human being.?
nbcrusader said:Reading their "religious position" statements (with bible references!) is nothing more than a counter to Bush.
We believe that poverty - caring for the poor and vulnerable - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2)
We believe that the environment - caring for God's earth - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1)
We believe that war - and our call to be peacemakers - is a religious issue. Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9)
We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue. Do the candidates tell the truth in justifying war and in other foreign and domestic policies? (John 8:32)
We believe that human rights - respecting the image of God in every person - is a religious issue. How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27)
We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue. Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13 )
We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue. Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS-and other pandemics-and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Elvis Presley said:I cant say that I disagree with the stuff below however....
nbcrusader said:
But to claim they are "religious issues" with biblical references is abusive.
LOL. Thanks for initiating the discussion, EP.Elvis Presley said:
A Christian counter to Bush. Blasphemy!
Just kidding of course.....
pub crawler said:By the way, the quotes from Falwell and Robertson on the Sojourners page are outrageous. I hadn't seen those quotes before.
Honestly, I wonder if many Americans realize what kind of right wing fanatics are backing the right wing extremist Bush administration?
Crazy.
nbcrusader said:Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. Romans 13:1
Klaus said:That dosn't mean that every governing authority is a good one (Stalin, Hitler etc) Romans 13:1 is easy to abuse and has to be seen in context.
Of course I agree that not all of Bush's supporters are fanatical. That goes without saying. I, like most people, run with Republicans, Democrats and people of other political persuasions within my circle of friends. None of my Republican friends are "fanatics." They are cool guys and we enjoy each others' company when we go out for a beer together.Elvis Presley said:
I think those quotes do two things.
1) they make Fallwell and Robertson look bad
2) they make Bush and his supporters look fanatical, when they all are not