If you ever needed to know why I didn't vote for George Bush -

[kyburg]

The solutions to the social issues used to manipulate good, decent people have no resemblance to how Jesus responded to the social concerns of his time. He never once mentioned the “right to life” the year he was born King Herod ordered the execution of all babies. (Matthew 2:16). He knew that passing laws does not change the heart. As a follower of his teaching I believe in the right to life, including the children in Iraq who stumble onto land mines, cross the street at the wrong time, or who are snuggly tucked within the warm bellies of their wounded or grieving mothers as US fighter jets fly overhead. These are living, breathing children. The killing of these little ones are never even reported, and our tax dollars pay for these bombs. I believe in the right to life for those in the United States who are unwanted and impoversihed. I believe in the right to life of the naive kid who was promised by the recruiter they could choose a desk job and still get their education paid or could see the world or could accelerate their life or could play a very realistic video game from a cockpit.

Comments

[murphymom.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing this -

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

I'm Christian. These bastards can take my country, but they can't. Take. That.

Sojourners. And christianleft. We exist.

[inagawayuu.livejournal.com]

Yes, we do.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Tradition! (Jeez, I need to go get a copy of Fiddler on the Roof again - )

[bigbigtruck.livejournal.com]

Ooh - thanks for the community link.

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

Not very active, but that might change - kynn is another one you might like.

[digitaldraco.livejournal.com]

Small world indeed.

I used to game with Kynn a year or so back.

[lilikoica.livejournal.com]

Why is it that people think that if you don't support Bush, you aren't Christian? I very much believe in God, Jesus and the bible, but from what I have read and learned from going to church the things we are doing are wrong.

Thank you for posting this.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Why? Two primary reasons.

First, because that's what they've been hearing, at a steadily increasing level, every Sunday in church for 25 years. The identification of "Christian" with "Fundamentalist neo-con" with "Republican" started during the Reagan era and has been slowly ramping up ever since. Bush II was terrifyingly overt about it -- his campaign actually requested church membership lists for his fundraisers to use -- and there have been reports of people being TOLD FROM THE PULPIT that if they voted for Kerry, they would go to Hell. (This last is anecdotal, unverified data -- but the membership list request hit the national news.)

The other reason is related, but more subtle. Right-wing, fundamentalist sects routinely exaggerate one particular facet of Christianity: the one that says "We are the One True Way". Specifically, they teach that only their sect is the One True Way, and that other sects are NOT REALLY CHRISTIANS, no matter what they call themselves.

In practice, they make common cause with each other, so that (for example) Southern Baptists and Church of Christ refrain from preaching hellfire and damnation at each other -- but either one is likely to tell you that Jehovah's Witnesses aren't Christian, that Methodists are dubious, and that Catholics are idolaters, completely beyond the pale.

It's an ugly idea and not an easy one to stomach. But the thing is that it's becoming pervasive -- these people are well on the way to hijacking the word "Christian" just as they've already hijacked "morals" and "family". Last week, someone on a friend's friends page asked why there was such hostility to seeing "an admitted Christian" in the White House. Now, think about that. Think back 50 years. Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton. Were any of those men NOT "admitted Christians"? And Kerry is Catholic! But only Bush II counts as a Christian, because he's the only "born-again" in the bunch.

They've stolen our country, and they're well on their way to stealing your religion. You have my sympathy, but I have to admit it's tempered with just a touch of "welcome to the club".

[lilikoica.livejournal.com]

What frightens me the most about what is happpening is the similar characteristics of how Nazi Germany evolved. I was reading about a book on the antiwar community about the book. I truly don't understand the rather lassez faire attitude some people have regarding politics. Apparently they have never heard that the price of democracy is eternal vigilance.

I am truly worried about the future of our country.

[sylvia-says.livejournal.com]

I bookmarked that, because I want to go back to it again and again. What a very powerful article.

Most "Christians" truly do not get it.