Pat Robertson recently endorsed Rudy Giuliani. ? I've read the Bible quite a bit. From cover to cover several times over. Looking to the history of Israel, which I know interests Pat Robertson, I see only one perspective of what brings blessing or curses to a nation. That is the moral standards of its people, most notably the ruler.
Robertson as a religious leader has sold his soul to politics. Admittedly the abortion issue is mute considering Giuliani's promise to appoint constructionist judges. But the idea that a supposed Evangelical Christian leader would support someone who believes in government sanctioned homosexual unions and has a personal life far from the standards the Bible promotes for leadership is akin to other churches that have fallen to the wayside under the same agenda.
Islamo-fascists? OK. The endorsement of Giuliani on this single issue suggests that Robertson believes waging war is the only way to deal with terrorists. Hello crusades. While the fight may be necessary does not a true Christian vision imply something deeper? Was the lack of terrorists attacks after 9/11 under the Bush administration the result of intelligence expertise or, as the Bible suggests, the result of a leader who humbles himself before God? Under that logic, which I presume Robertson would share, a Giuliani Presidency may open the door to more attacks. I'm sure he will do an excellent job fighting back.
If Giuliani is the Republican choice in 2008 I myself would vote for him. He has shown himself a capable public servant with the necessary experience. I cannot speak to his personal relationship with God and he may accommodate the conservative support that would give him the Presidency by not pursuing his liberal social ideology. But what Robertson has done as a minister looks to be aimed at impeding the campaigns of those whom he will not support because of their religion.
The role of religious leaders in politics is not to qualify, or disqualify, a candidate based on his religion. It is to call on our leaders and the public in general to live good and upright lives that God can bless our nation. Lives that are promoted by all religions and people of conscience.
That would strongly suggest Governor Huckabee or Mitt Romney as a logical choice for Robertson's endorsement. Perhaps he couldn't stomach the idea of open borders under Governor Huckabee letting all those Catholics into the country or the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Only Pat Robertson can answer that. The reality is he didn't have to endorse anyone. I wasn't waiting for one.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
There is Nothing New under the Sun
Mitt Romney’s Faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) is a dark cloud not over Romney as a candidate but our nation. Some argue he must address the issue, as did John F. Kennedy with his Catholicism. Let us be honest. We can reflect on how civil the media was in the past, not taking apart the personal lives of public figures in tabloid fashion, but did anyone really believe J.F.K. had any interest in anything the Pope said?
There is no reason to believe that Mitt Romney is not in good standing with his faith. A Newsweek poll suggests that 28% of the public refuse to vote for Romney based on his religion. To the point many consider the Mormons a cult. Christianity itself was considered a cult at its formation. Romans believed they sacrificed children and practiced cannibalism. God sacrificing His own son and the eating of the body and blood of Christ telling them all they needed to know. It is the same in depth analysis groups labeled as cults receive today.
As one local radio talk show host observed the derision strikes strongest against any group with a nontraditional view of Christ or one that relies on additional scripture, as does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many apparently irreconcilable views of Christ existed among early Christians. The major division was between Christ as God or a man unlike us all. At the Council of Nicea the issue was resolved by labeling those who believed Christ’s beginning being His birth on earth as a man as heretics. Later advancing to putting heretics to death. The crusades in which it was ones Christian duty to destroy the infidel were followed by a series of Inquisitions for which Pope JohnPaul II apologized in 2000. Amidst this struggle for a correct faith came the Reformation and the Thirty Years War (or wars), a religious conflict that devastated the populations of Europe, leaving the victors, or those most efficient at destroying their opposition, to divide the spoils in the Treaty of Westphalia of 1648. By these standards of faith we should all convert to Islam, and most would have had the Moorish invasions of the past succeeded.
All good men, such as JohnPaul II, recognize that such struggles are not part of the true Christian vision but have we learned from the past? Unlike Europe the United States was founded under very different processes. We honor the Pilgrims, who landed in present day Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day to acknowledge the religious roots of our nation. Many also came for opportunistic reasons as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. In fact the Pilgrims and others were religious outcasts themselves, many having previously fled to Holland to escape religious and the corresponding financial oppression. They came to the New World to freely practice their faith. In the War for Independence they revolted not on religious grounds but in response to an unjust judiciary and suppressive taxation, being denied a voice in either. The history of the Mormons parallels that of the pioneers of this New World. They faced extreme persecution and fled to a new land for religious freedom under the threat of death.
To say the United States is founded on Christian principles is incorrect if you regard Christianity as Puritan, Protestant, Catholic, or Evangelical but not if you consider Christianity as a culture such as Hindu, Buddhist or Confucian. The diverse and often divided Christian communities came together under a common vision that went beyond denomination but which was purely Christ centered. Strong morals and ethics that nearly all religions unanimously agree on being prominent unlike the relativism some teach today. What is not part of this Christian culture envisioned by our founding fathers is the qualification for basic human rights or involvement in the federal government being based on ones religion.
Mitt Romney embodies such moral and ethical ideals. He also worked hard in his political career to keep true to his own faith but never forgetting that he had a duty to his constituents to represent their political opinions. Some may call his becoming Governor of Massachusetts political genius to overcome the obvious religious bigotry he must endure, others the promotion of a hidden agenda which seems to be the essence of all those labeled as part of a cult.
I am not a Mormon and myself find their beliefs unattractive and even strange but they are good upright citizens who contribute greatly to our society. They are not alone as targets of fear and hate. Many with wholesome upright beliefs who practice product lives for the larger society face even greater obstacles than current day Mormons who have met with great success in witnessing efforts over the last 100 years.
Oh, am I out of line? Fear? Hate? It’s not like we are massacring religious believers. ? So what about Waco? You are free to believe it was suicide or unintentional but what about the mass destruction of evidence after the fact that no one denies? Were not the rights of those who died and the survivors completely disregarded? And was anyone punished for the debacle and the obstruction of justice?
Many in society labeled a cult can attest to the dark reality in this nation. Books or magazines are burned. Can anyone honestly say they believe no copies of ‘The Book of Mormon’ were burned this year? Businesses or positions are targeted resulting in great financial hardship. A rumor use to circulate in the past that Reverend Moon bought Entemann’s Bakery. It wasn’t started to promote sales. (Reverend Moon never bought Entemann’s. He bought UPI.) The further stereotype for those in a cult is they are weak minded or have psychological problems many having been kidnapped by family members under the guise of being mentally incompetent. Whether it is the Pentecostals (Holy Rollers) or Jehovah’s Witness the experiences are not new or uncommon.
Does his religious background make Mitt Romney the best candidate for the Republican Party? It certainly puts him in a position to understand what this country represents, despite its faults, and the value of our Constitution. His personal morals and ethics are as good as you can get and he has shown himself extremely capable as Governor and in saving the Salt Lake City Olympics. There is absolutely no reason outside of outright religious bigotry that he would not be an exceptional choice.
Many argue Mitt Romney must address the controversy over his faith. I say he already has through his record as Governor. Religious people tend not to only turn the other cheek but treat their enemies with charity. It is not Mitt Romney who should be speaking out against those who would seek to disqualify him because of his faith. It is the job of our pundits, journalists, and people of a true faith to stand together against an obvious evil rather than side with or sit back and watch those whose tactics more resemble those of a stalker unjustly malign a man’s life. You cannot protect our inalienable rights by not protecting them for all. Yet most all standby and do nothing though knowledgeable of obvious bigotry and discrimination, fearing the fire.
Happy All Saints Day!
There is no reason to believe that Mitt Romney is not in good standing with his faith. A Newsweek poll suggests that 28% of the public refuse to vote for Romney based on his religion. To the point many consider the Mormons a cult. Christianity itself was considered a cult at its formation. Romans believed they sacrificed children and practiced cannibalism. God sacrificing His own son and the eating of the body and blood of Christ telling them all they needed to know. It is the same in depth analysis groups labeled as cults receive today.
As one local radio talk show host observed the derision strikes strongest against any group with a nontraditional view of Christ or one that relies on additional scripture, as does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Many apparently irreconcilable views of Christ existed among early Christians. The major division was between Christ as God or a man unlike us all. At the Council of Nicea the issue was resolved by labeling those who believed Christ’s beginning being His birth on earth as a man as heretics. Later advancing to putting heretics to death. The crusades in which it was ones Christian duty to destroy the infidel were followed by a series of Inquisitions for which Pope JohnPaul II apologized in 2000. Amidst this struggle for a correct faith came the Reformation and the Thirty Years War (or wars), a religious conflict that devastated the populations of Europe, leaving the victors, or those most efficient at destroying their opposition, to divide the spoils in the Treaty of Westphalia of 1648. By these standards of faith we should all convert to Islam, and most would have had the Moorish invasions of the past succeeded.
All good men, such as JohnPaul II, recognize that such struggles are not part of the true Christian vision but have we learned from the past? Unlike Europe the United States was founded under very different processes. We honor the Pilgrims, who landed in present day Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day to acknowledge the religious roots of our nation. Many also came for opportunistic reasons as we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. In fact the Pilgrims and others were religious outcasts themselves, many having previously fled to Holland to escape religious and the corresponding financial oppression. They came to the New World to freely practice their faith. In the War for Independence they revolted not on religious grounds but in response to an unjust judiciary and suppressive taxation, being denied a voice in either. The history of the Mormons parallels that of the pioneers of this New World. They faced extreme persecution and fled to a new land for religious freedom under the threat of death.
To say the United States is founded on Christian principles is incorrect if you regard Christianity as Puritan, Protestant, Catholic, or Evangelical but not if you consider Christianity as a culture such as Hindu, Buddhist or Confucian. The diverse and often divided Christian communities came together under a common vision that went beyond denomination but which was purely Christ centered. Strong morals and ethics that nearly all religions unanimously agree on being prominent unlike the relativism some teach today. What is not part of this Christian culture envisioned by our founding fathers is the qualification for basic human rights or involvement in the federal government being based on ones religion.
Mitt Romney embodies such moral and ethical ideals. He also worked hard in his political career to keep true to his own faith but never forgetting that he had a duty to his constituents to represent their political opinions. Some may call his becoming Governor of Massachusetts political genius to overcome the obvious religious bigotry he must endure, others the promotion of a hidden agenda which seems to be the essence of all those labeled as part of a cult.
I am not a Mormon and myself find their beliefs unattractive and even strange but they are good upright citizens who contribute greatly to our society. They are not alone as targets of fear and hate. Many with wholesome upright beliefs who practice product lives for the larger society face even greater obstacles than current day Mormons who have met with great success in witnessing efforts over the last 100 years.
Oh, am I out of line? Fear? Hate? It’s not like we are massacring religious believers. ? So what about Waco? You are free to believe it was suicide or unintentional but what about the mass destruction of evidence after the fact that no one denies? Were not the rights of those who died and the survivors completely disregarded? And was anyone punished for the debacle and the obstruction of justice?
Many in society labeled a cult can attest to the dark reality in this nation. Books or magazines are burned. Can anyone honestly say they believe no copies of ‘The Book of Mormon’ were burned this year? Businesses or positions are targeted resulting in great financial hardship. A rumor use to circulate in the past that Reverend Moon bought Entemann’s Bakery. It wasn’t started to promote sales. (Reverend Moon never bought Entemann’s. He bought UPI.) The further stereotype for those in a cult is they are weak minded or have psychological problems many having been kidnapped by family members under the guise of being mentally incompetent. Whether it is the Pentecostals (Holy Rollers) or Jehovah’s Witness the experiences are not new or uncommon.
Does his religious background make Mitt Romney the best candidate for the Republican Party? It certainly puts him in a position to understand what this country represents, despite its faults, and the value of our Constitution. His personal morals and ethics are as good as you can get and he has shown himself extremely capable as Governor and in saving the Salt Lake City Olympics. There is absolutely no reason outside of outright religious bigotry that he would not be an exceptional choice.
Many argue Mitt Romney must address the controversy over his faith. I say he already has through his record as Governor. Religious people tend not to only turn the other cheek but treat their enemies with charity. It is not Mitt Romney who should be speaking out against those who would seek to disqualify him because of his faith. It is the job of our pundits, journalists, and people of a true faith to stand together against an obvious evil rather than side with or sit back and watch those whose tactics more resemble those of a stalker unjustly malign a man’s life. You cannot protect our inalienable rights by not protecting them for all. Yet most all standby and do nothing though knowledgeable of obvious bigotry and discrimination, fearing the fire.
Happy All Saints Day!
Friday, October 26, 2007
My Tax Plan
This week on ‘The Nightly Business Report’ Irving R. Levine gave a commentary on the tax gap. That is taxes owed that are not paid for a variety of reasons. The main reason he describes, and who wouldn’t agree, is the complexity of the tax code: 66,000 pages. His solution is a national sales tax, which is front and center in the current tax reform debate. I would also support a national sales tax and you cannot deny that it would be almost impossible to escape, until the lobbyists and politicians work their magic that is.
The assault on the limited government our founding fathers envisioned has no greater enemy than our current system of taxation. Attempts at simplification are nothing new, the results undeniable. Russia suffering from an extreme tax gap brought that gap to almost nothing by instituting a flat tax. Tax reform movements are growing demanding simplification and accountability from our politicians with no tax increase pledges. The best congress has to offer to date has been a simplification plan introduced by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
What is my tax plan? A Constitutional Amendment requiring the entire tax code, tariffs, entitlement taxes, telephone and utility taxes, fees, penalties and all moneys received by the federal government in any form be contained on 1,000 8 ½ x 11 pages, plain English, 1.5 spacing, 12 point times new roman font. Excluding fines contained in the criminal code. All appendixes, indexes or supplemental of any kind must be contained within the 1,000 pages.
Yes, I will be writing about Mitt Romney.
The assault on the limited government our founding fathers envisioned has no greater enemy than our current system of taxation. Attempts at simplification are nothing new, the results undeniable. Russia suffering from an extreme tax gap brought that gap to almost nothing by instituting a flat tax. Tax reform movements are growing demanding simplification and accountability from our politicians with no tax increase pledges. The best congress has to offer to date has been a simplification plan introduced by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
What is my tax plan? A Constitutional Amendment requiring the entire tax code, tariffs, entitlement taxes, telephone and utility taxes, fees, penalties and all moneys received by the federal government in any form be contained on 1,000 8 ½ x 11 pages, plain English, 1.5 spacing, 12 point times new roman font. Excluding fines contained in the criminal code. All appendixes, indexes or supplemental of any kind must be contained within the 1,000 pages.
Yes, I will be writing about Mitt Romney.
Friday, September 21, 2007
My Healthcare Plan
Some years ago I was diagnosed with a very severe sleep disorder. All my organs being stressed and on the verge of heart failure the treatment improved my life. Further reliance on spiritual healing, for which my job was terminated and I lost my health insurance, significantly reversed certain conditions. The medical process was expensive and follow-ups left me with bills beyond my immediate means.
We never received food stamps or government assistance but I did apply to the hospital for debt relief. It was a complicated detailed procedure that required a significant investment of time. I detested the process and shrugged off the lurking feel of entitlement. After all I had to do a lot to get the relief. It covered my future medical expenses for the next six months and issues existed for which I could have gone through testing but I stayed away from the doctor and refused to milk the system. I take supplements and spend up to ten hours a week in a variety of fitness activities for my health and even compete.
We currently cannot afford health insurance. My condition makes me ineligible for personal health insurance and would need to enter an insurance company pool policy at about $700/month to cover only myself. The policy does not allow me to create a Health Savings Account (HSA). People comment there are all sorts of ‘programs’ but I find the whole process corrupting and just hope nothing will come up that we need to look for assistance.
This qualifies me as one of the unfortunates the democrats cry over and say insurance must be provided for. So let me give you the plan I want to see. I wouldn’t be surprised if something similar has already been proposed somewhere and it can be compared to the idea of just giving the Katrina victims mass pay outs rather than running relief programs. I imagine it is like one of those inventions where everyone says I had that idea. Here it goes and I’ll take the democrat approach that the government must force people to have health insurance and spend a lot of money doing it.
It allows everyone to have an HSA. For those of low income the government can provide matching funds up to $50 mth/person (a family of four could receive up to $200/month). For those under the poverty level just put $100/month in their HSA. Half the population could be covered for less than the cost of Hillary’s plan. This would create funds that could be claimed by hospitals for emergency care even if they couldn’t collect the full cost per lack of funds or federal guidelines.
In fact force everyone from the age of 18 to start in the program. If they are not working I’m sure mommy and daddy would be happy to contribute on their behalf and a minimum of $5/month would qualify. The matching fund level would increase with inflation but not for those who rise above a certain income level. Those of the next level of income would be required to purchase catastrophic insurance from the government to keep receiving the locked in matching funds. Ala Mitt Romney these policies would be negotiated by each State.
If we go to a national sales tax this creates incentives to contribute to HSAs and eliminates the need for additional bureaucracy, a new job for the IRS. Income would still need to be monitored and the funds distributed. The IRS could also investigate medical fraud that is costing all of us as well as frivolous lawsuits. Why don’t we see those caught in medical fraud made an example of in the courts and media as Martha Stewart was for lying to investigators where no underlying crime existed?
Why would people buy private insurance? The federal program would allow only an interest bearing account. By dropping the government catastrophic policy, loosing the matching funds, purchasing a private policy would open the account to greater investment tools to achieve a higher gain. In fact the HSA can double as a retirement account with a provision that after reaching a prescribed age, up to 5% of the fund could be removed annually for personal use. With a national sales tax the incentives for retirement accounts become obsolete.
OK that’s a lot of money going to a lot of people who will misuse and abuse the system. The costs would be high and improvements to the system small for years to come, but what happens after 20 years, 30 or 40 years? You will have tens of millions of consumers, if not more, with massive amounts of money under their own control shopping for medical services. It’s a good thing.
And that’s all I ever wanted was an HSA. Why? Because it would be mine.
We never received food stamps or government assistance but I did apply to the hospital for debt relief. It was a complicated detailed procedure that required a significant investment of time. I detested the process and shrugged off the lurking feel of entitlement. After all I had to do a lot to get the relief. It covered my future medical expenses for the next six months and issues existed for which I could have gone through testing but I stayed away from the doctor and refused to milk the system. I take supplements and spend up to ten hours a week in a variety of fitness activities for my health and even compete.
We currently cannot afford health insurance. My condition makes me ineligible for personal health insurance and would need to enter an insurance company pool policy at about $700/month to cover only myself. The policy does not allow me to create a Health Savings Account (HSA). People comment there are all sorts of ‘programs’ but I find the whole process corrupting and just hope nothing will come up that we need to look for assistance.
This qualifies me as one of the unfortunates the democrats cry over and say insurance must be provided for. So let me give you the plan I want to see. I wouldn’t be surprised if something similar has already been proposed somewhere and it can be compared to the idea of just giving the Katrina victims mass pay outs rather than running relief programs. I imagine it is like one of those inventions where everyone says I had that idea. Here it goes and I’ll take the democrat approach that the government must force people to have health insurance and spend a lot of money doing it.
It allows everyone to have an HSA. For those of low income the government can provide matching funds up to $50 mth/person (a family of four could receive up to $200/month). For those under the poverty level just put $100/month in their HSA. Half the population could be covered for less than the cost of Hillary’s plan. This would create funds that could be claimed by hospitals for emergency care even if they couldn’t collect the full cost per lack of funds or federal guidelines.
In fact force everyone from the age of 18 to start in the program. If they are not working I’m sure mommy and daddy would be happy to contribute on their behalf and a minimum of $5/month would qualify. The matching fund level would increase with inflation but not for those who rise above a certain income level. Those of the next level of income would be required to purchase catastrophic insurance from the government to keep receiving the locked in matching funds. Ala Mitt Romney these policies would be negotiated by each State.
If we go to a national sales tax this creates incentives to contribute to HSAs and eliminates the need for additional bureaucracy, a new job for the IRS. Income would still need to be monitored and the funds distributed. The IRS could also investigate medical fraud that is costing all of us as well as frivolous lawsuits. Why don’t we see those caught in medical fraud made an example of in the courts and media as Martha Stewart was for lying to investigators where no underlying crime existed?
Why would people buy private insurance? The federal program would allow only an interest bearing account. By dropping the government catastrophic policy, loosing the matching funds, purchasing a private policy would open the account to greater investment tools to achieve a higher gain. In fact the HSA can double as a retirement account with a provision that after reaching a prescribed age, up to 5% of the fund could be removed annually for personal use. With a national sales tax the incentives for retirement accounts become obsolete.
OK that’s a lot of money going to a lot of people who will misuse and abuse the system. The costs would be high and improvements to the system small for years to come, but what happens after 20 years, 30 or 40 years? You will have tens of millions of consumers, if not more, with massive amounts of money under their own control shopping for medical services. It’s a good thing.
And that’s all I ever wanted was an HSA. Why? Because it would be mine.
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Pope's Nuts
As Pope Benedict the XVI insults Islam with Byzantine references, proclaims some are simply destined to eternal hell fire, throws the Church back into the dark ages by reviving the Latin rites and now declares only Catholics have the 'means of salvation', one must wonder whether he is all there. Does he want to throw the world into a multifaceted religious conflagration? What could he possibly be thinking? In fact attacks on the Pope and Catholics have only risen in the blogoshere.
I am not a theologian and am hardly in a position to scrutinize centuries of writings by great minds in the Catholic Church or Christian tradition but problems with Christian thought in general are apparent. As people of faith decry the devaluation of human life legalized abortion has created (something the Catholic Church absolutely opposes) every time a newborn is killed by its mother or animals gain more sympathy than ones fellow man, do they realize how their own beliefs shape society?
The idea that eternal hell fire is preserved for some, and for those who believe in absolute predestination guaranteed, has immense implications for world peace that contradict the Christian vision. The very idea nurtures an inherent inequality among humankind, and though a Catholic belief many protestant churches take it to a much greater extreme. It is no wonder Christians become a target and people feel they want to force their beliefs on others as they stand before the lost sinner with absolute faith that they are going to heaven and the unbeliever to an eternal lake of fire. A good percentage of Christians spending much of their time deciphering exactly who will go to hell.
In the same vein how can there be any resolution between Judeo-Christian tensions or the current struggle with Islam that our President describes as taking decades but which has been on going almost since its inception. It is easy, very easy, to criticize the teachings of Islam as fostering violence and intolerance when not a Muslim. It is far more difficult to criticize ones own beliefs especially if those who would criticize you are conveniently damned for eternity or simply an anti-christ. Or are Christians asking Muslims to do what Christians cannot? Can Christianity work for peace while predicting Armageddon?
Or how can we bring religious and other freedoms to communist China and divert a real possibility of cataclysmic war? Communism with its ideology of social justice for all rolled over Christian cultures. Even now can we say the presumptive declaration of victory over communism had anything to do with Christian thought or even practice? Or did communism implode of its own inherent flaws? Well there were those Catholics again in Poland which may well have prevented the communist block from seeking a military solution to its problems but was not the reason for communism's failure; just look at South America or current day Russia. Without God the ideals of communism quickly turned to elitism with a ruthless ruling class. Without its inherent elitism, combined with practices inspired by a living relationship with Christ, how far could Christianity go? If the devote Christian finds the idea that the likes of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin will eventually enter Heaven irreconcilable with their beliefs do they really know God as the ultimate parent? If we cannot accept the fact that God created all, the suicide bomber and those he killed, to enter heaven together in love and harmony how can we understand the true tragedy of the event?
When Galileo proved the earth revolved around the sun disrupting Catholic doctrine eventually changes had to be made. Yet Christian teachings are put forth with an absoluteness that has and does justify continuous evil deeds against ones fellow man to a lesser or greater degree though out history. No reconsideration of the validity of said beliefs required. All from a book filled with parables and metaphor with thousands of interpretations.
The United States was founded on the Christian faith of its founding fathers. It was a faith that did not ignore the naturalism of the day. Their faith reached beyond denominationalism uniting together colonies often divided by religious affiliation and if there was any significant influence it was Universalism, the belief that all are some day destined to Heaven or a more liberal Unitarianism. The issue of slavery finally boiled over in the Civil War showing our nations Christian emphasis on social justice. ‘Manifest Destiny’ was the cry that took the United States to its present boundaries as a continuation of a strong belief in providence that filled the Christian faith of our nation from its founding; not exactly Deism which revisionists claim as a predominant influence.
In our modern age the League of Nations and eventually the United Nations were formed centering on the United States under the auspices of world peace. Is it any wonder that many in the United States see no value in our participation in the UN? While Christian missionaries went forth with a fervor to reach the far corners of the earth, now that its been done where has the passion gone? If a prominent Christian such as Franklin Grahm proclaimed a campaign to bring peace and prosperity to all men wouldn’t he be ridiculed by other Christians? As history moves forward and we literally have the ability, the technology and economic resources, to feed the world, cure disease and to give everyone a comfortable life Christianity teaches the goals are futile. Rather than believing in the reforming powers of Christ and trying to convert the UN into an instrument of Christian charity they seem intent to wait for the last day that appears imminent and exclusive.
Perhaps not as clear as the models and calculations of Galileo, but does not God’s work in history give evidence to His greater plan? Are the great blessings upon the United States where all men are created equal merely a coincidence? What kind of mind does God have to give man everything he needs to solve the problems that have plagued him since the first human family only to bring destruction to His children and this world, as if the creation ever did anything wrong? I guess this is just the point God has been waiting for to bring down His judgment and end it all. End meaning eternal hell for many. Did God preserve Himself a front row seat? Crazy me, who am I to think I could possibly understand God.
As far as the Pope, he is very different in character than his predecessor but I believe an equally good man, which is important for a church that puts all its eggs in one basket, declaring one individual the standard bearer for the entire faith. I'd stand clear of any Catholic tour buses but this Pope has done what too few do, clearly express the beliefs of his faith and is willing to take the heat for it. It takes courage and conviction, and contrary to appearances stimulates thought. Benedict the XVI has a real pair.
I am not a theologian and am hardly in a position to scrutinize centuries of writings by great minds in the Catholic Church or Christian tradition but problems with Christian thought in general are apparent. As people of faith decry the devaluation of human life legalized abortion has created (something the Catholic Church absolutely opposes) every time a newborn is killed by its mother or animals gain more sympathy than ones fellow man, do they realize how their own beliefs shape society?
The idea that eternal hell fire is preserved for some, and for those who believe in absolute predestination guaranteed, has immense implications for world peace that contradict the Christian vision. The very idea nurtures an inherent inequality among humankind, and though a Catholic belief many protestant churches take it to a much greater extreme. It is no wonder Christians become a target and people feel they want to force their beliefs on others as they stand before the lost sinner with absolute faith that they are going to heaven and the unbeliever to an eternal lake of fire. A good percentage of Christians spending much of their time deciphering exactly who will go to hell.
In the same vein how can there be any resolution between Judeo-Christian tensions or the current struggle with Islam that our President describes as taking decades but which has been on going almost since its inception. It is easy, very easy, to criticize the teachings of Islam as fostering violence and intolerance when not a Muslim. It is far more difficult to criticize ones own beliefs especially if those who would criticize you are conveniently damned for eternity or simply an anti-christ. Or are Christians asking Muslims to do what Christians cannot? Can Christianity work for peace while predicting Armageddon?
Or how can we bring religious and other freedoms to communist China and divert a real possibility of cataclysmic war? Communism with its ideology of social justice for all rolled over Christian cultures. Even now can we say the presumptive declaration of victory over communism had anything to do with Christian thought or even practice? Or did communism implode of its own inherent flaws? Well there were those Catholics again in Poland which may well have prevented the communist block from seeking a military solution to its problems but was not the reason for communism's failure; just look at South America or current day Russia. Without God the ideals of communism quickly turned to elitism with a ruthless ruling class. Without its inherent elitism, combined with practices inspired by a living relationship with Christ, how far could Christianity go? If the devote Christian finds the idea that the likes of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin will eventually enter Heaven irreconcilable with their beliefs do they really know God as the ultimate parent? If we cannot accept the fact that God created all, the suicide bomber and those he killed, to enter heaven together in love and harmony how can we understand the true tragedy of the event?
When Galileo proved the earth revolved around the sun disrupting Catholic doctrine eventually changes had to be made. Yet Christian teachings are put forth with an absoluteness that has and does justify continuous evil deeds against ones fellow man to a lesser or greater degree though out history. No reconsideration of the validity of said beliefs required. All from a book filled with parables and metaphor with thousands of interpretations.
The United States was founded on the Christian faith of its founding fathers. It was a faith that did not ignore the naturalism of the day. Their faith reached beyond denominationalism uniting together colonies often divided by religious affiliation and if there was any significant influence it was Universalism, the belief that all are some day destined to Heaven or a more liberal Unitarianism. The issue of slavery finally boiled over in the Civil War showing our nations Christian emphasis on social justice. ‘Manifest Destiny’ was the cry that took the United States to its present boundaries as a continuation of a strong belief in providence that filled the Christian faith of our nation from its founding; not exactly Deism which revisionists claim as a predominant influence.
In our modern age the League of Nations and eventually the United Nations were formed centering on the United States under the auspices of world peace. Is it any wonder that many in the United States see no value in our participation in the UN? While Christian missionaries went forth with a fervor to reach the far corners of the earth, now that its been done where has the passion gone? If a prominent Christian such as Franklin Grahm proclaimed a campaign to bring peace and prosperity to all men wouldn’t he be ridiculed by other Christians? As history moves forward and we literally have the ability, the technology and economic resources, to feed the world, cure disease and to give everyone a comfortable life Christianity teaches the goals are futile. Rather than believing in the reforming powers of Christ and trying to convert the UN into an instrument of Christian charity they seem intent to wait for the last day that appears imminent and exclusive.
Perhaps not as clear as the models and calculations of Galileo, but does not God’s work in history give evidence to His greater plan? Are the great blessings upon the United States where all men are created equal merely a coincidence? What kind of mind does God have to give man everything he needs to solve the problems that have plagued him since the first human family only to bring destruction to His children and this world, as if the creation ever did anything wrong? I guess this is just the point God has been waiting for to bring down His judgment and end it all. End meaning eternal hell for many. Did God preserve Himself a front row seat? Crazy me, who am I to think I could possibly understand God.
As far as the Pope, he is very different in character than his predecessor but I believe an equally good man, which is important for a church that puts all its eggs in one basket, declaring one individual the standard bearer for the entire faith. I'd stand clear of any Catholic tour buses but this Pope has done what too few do, clearly express the beliefs of his faith and is willing to take the heat for it. It takes courage and conviction, and contrary to appearances stimulates thought. Benedict the XVI has a real pair.
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