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Jewish and Arab Neighbors Hold Hands for Peace Last Saturday 300 Jews and Arabs from the Wadi Ara region of Israel demonstrated against the harming of innocent civilians in Gaza and the surrounding Israeli region. The rally was organized by NIF grantee Awareness for You, which runs empowerment courses for Arab women in the village of Kfar Kara.
"I only expected about 90 people to attend the rally," explained Amna Ka'anana, "so I was surprised when we had 300 people all dressed in white and holding olive branches, about half and half Jews and Arabs. Many of the drivers who passed by, both Jews and Arabs, called out their support."
In addition to being a forum to voice concern over the conflict in Gaza, the rally was also an opportunity for the Jews and Arabs of Wadi Ara to come together. Among the many banners, one carried by an Arab read "Neighbors call for peace," while another carried by a Jew said "Jews and Arabs hand in hand."
Ka'anana said: "We sent a message of peace and coexistence to all of Wadi Ara, to all of Israel and to the entire world."
Ka'anana, who is an Orthodox Muslim, received NIF's London-Yaari Scholarship in 2007 for her work in women's empowerment. Last year she received the Knesset Speaker's Prize for Quality of Life.
When the fighting erupted in Gaza last month, she feared that the tensions could spill over into violent conflicts between Jews and Arabs in Wadi Ara. She invited several dozen Jewish and Arab activists to her home to discuss the situation, and they hit upon the idea of the Shabbat rally.
"I have always wanted to initiate social activities that bring Jews and Arabs together," explained Ka'anana, "so that we can understand one another's culture. Now the war has taken matters in a different direction. At the end of last week's rally many people started crying and that started me crying."
The rally ended with Jewish and Muslim prayers. Awareness for You plans similar peaceful rallies, with increased expected turnout, every Shabbat while the fighting continues.
barackobama.com sources:
1. http://arabamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3 2. http://jewishamericans.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3 3. http://faith.barackobama.com/page/community/post/president/gGxbx3
Also see Spirit of Reconciliation
So there is this guy, Guy Dubord, Who wrote a pamphlet named, "The Society of the Spectacle" http://library.nothingness.org/articles/SI/en/pub_contents/4 Wikipedia has an excellent overview of the pamphlet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_the_Spectacle Guy Debord and his group , the "Situationists" are pretty interesting and worthy of an afternoons reading but I digress.
I present this pamphlet because the points it makes are so relevant to culture today and ultimately our experience day to day. In it he asserts that, "All that was once directly lived has become mere representation." I spent a few weeks in the early Nineties going to various churches with my dear friend Linda who, by the way has recently lost her husband Victor; Jesus Linda what can I say. We were looking for Gospel of the homespun variety. What we found were churchfulls of people who participated entirely in the service. Although it is true that the "Spectacle" was present in the form of preachers and choirs and bands of various sizes doing their thing on risers above the faithful, the dynamic had a call and response feel in which the events on the stage served as foci from which a maelstrom of activity and emotional intensity emerged. This was not mere group participation. It was more like a merging.
I write about this because, A. It was beautiful and if you've not done it you should, and B. because it is an example, I think, of how the human spirit prevails within the context of the "Society of the Spectacle". Our very closest assumptions about culture and our places in it are formed in the thickest muck at the bottom of the lake of our collective subconscious. Those assumptions form the boundaries or parameters of our expectations of self and society. This lake of subconscious is ultimately fed and grows through streamlets and rivers of myth, ever changing and evolving. Myth is the story we tell ourselves over and over, the story that we tell our children. It is a recursive phenomenon. On one hand it may be presumptuous to think that "Spectacle" has any power over this process. On the other hand one might assert that our self image as a society is based on an assumption of passivity. An assumption that we are, if only until we get out our wallets, like princes and princesses in court fanning ourselves while a parade of spectacles parades before us.
"Ah Me!"
We are seduced by the spectacle while being entirely unaware that it is the spectacle insidiously that forms our definitions of self and society by replacing the function of myth within our society. We feel empowered by the parade but are constrained by it's very nature to not merge with it. It has become an industry, one that exists throughout the world and one that is, once seen for what it is, extremely interesting.
So what's it all about Alfie?
Well first of all, I think, we gotta yell in church. Second of all we gotta not abandon the root of our myth as served up by our predecessors because it is only through evolution that myth can change. Third we gotta mix it up and see what comes. Most of all we gotta see the process for what it is and know that life is far richer than we are led to believe, that the sky is the limit. K.
The Pickens Plan: For those who would like to become an active participant in a solution for our nations energy needs I urge you to join with T.Boone Pickens in his quest for a cleaner planet through alternative energy.
Also see Green Wave Energy: Green Wave was founded by Mark Holmes and was formulated for viable alternative energy solutions. Green Wave Energy is promoting state-of-the-art energy-saving products and services throughout the country.
Green Wave Energy understands alternative energy technology will become “main stream” when
Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.
Alternative EnergySource: David Apperson
url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy
When asked by FRANKLIN GRAHAM whether Barack believed Jesus is the only way to salvation, Barack eloquently stated, ‘Jesus is the only way for me. I’m not in a position to judge other people.
It is the duty for every believer to help reconcile this nation and this world. To do this we must first reconcile ourselves as children of the Eternal Spirit, and reconcile ourselves as brothers and sisters in faith.
Ancient Tribal Belief - NATIVE SPIRITUALITY
Rather than going to religious services, we attend a sweat lodge; rather than accepting bread from the priest, we smoke a ceremonial pipe to come into communion with the Eternal Spirit; and rather than kneeling with our hands placed together in prayer, we have sweet grass feathered over our entire being for spiritual cleansing and allow the smoke to carry our prayers into the heavens. - Mi'kmaq
And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of them toward the Dead Sea and half of them toward the Mediterranean Sea; In both summer and winter it shall occur. And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be - The Lord is one, and His name one. - Zechariah
Therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new. And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To know, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the message of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray for you in Christ's stead, you be reconciled to God. For He has made Him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. - Paul
O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may learn not to blaspheme. - Muhammad
??? - Other Belief Systems
Email David - yofast@gmail if you have ancient written text that you believe proclaims a better day for your children's children. When your submission has been confirmed it will be posted in this location.
The tiny flame that lights up the human heart is like a blazing torch that comes down from heaven to light up the path of all mankind. For in one soul are contained the hopes and feelings of all mankind. - Kahlil Gibran [ submitted by Susan Slotter ]
source: http://kids.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/G-d
I am getting reports from Americans abroad that the VATICAN is calling loyal members of God's universal church 'heretics and sinners' for voting for Barack Obama as President of the United States.
GOD BLESS AMERICA - This is why we have separation of Church and State in our political system.
The real sin is the fact the Vatican allowed child molesters to reach their highest ranks of ministry. Where were the shepherds during this period? Where were the Bishops? Where were the Cardinals?
In the eighties, POPE JOHN PAUL II, in a speech given to faithful Catholics around the world, stated; "THE NEXT POPE WILL BE THE ANTICHRIST." The pope he was referring to is known today as POPE BENEDICT XVI - a NAZI DURING THE HOLOCAUST.
Perhaps John Paul was right. Who knows? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, my message to Benedict is "Leave this country in peace. You have no authority here. This is not a Roman Catholic Empire or a Vatican mini-kingdom. THIS IS AMERICA - A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, DEFEND WITH THEIR VOTE, THE RIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE TO BE FREE."
For those who were hurt by the words of this pope and other high-ranking roman catholic bishops, MAY I REFER YOU TO THE 2000 YEAR-OLD TEXT WRITTEN BY THE APOSTLE JOHN - 1 JOHN 1:1-4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and demonstrate to you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested to us;)3 That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.4 And these things we write to you, that your joy may be full.
May all understand that Jesus did not come to judge, but to save the world. Use of sin as a method to control people with fear was abolished at the resurrection of THE JEWISH MESSIAH - YEHOSHUA; known as MELCHIZEDEK; son of ELOHIM; of the seed of DAVID; and powered by THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE MESSENGER
"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA
"Today we begin in earnest the work of making sure that the world we leave our children is just a little bit better than the one we inhabit today."
PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA
RSVP MIDNIGHT PRAYER AND CELEBRATION - 31 DEC 2008
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS OUR NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
We invite everyone breathing, or not, the opportunity to show global unity and dedicate three [ 3 ] minutes of time on News Years Eve to thank God for President Obama and ask the Creator of All Things for a GLOBAL BLESSING for ALL NATIONS, PEOPLES, AND TONGUES.
May we agree that 2009 can be a year of healing for the nation and the world as we celebrate this historic election. All faiths are encouraged to join the festivities. LET US GO DOWN TO THE RIVER AND PRAY.
Text translations of the readings supplied by GOOGLE TRANSLATE through GLOBAL BIBLE STUDY.
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, OF BARACK, of Samson, of Jephthah; and David also, Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had test of cruel mockings and scourgings, yes, moreover of chains and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were cut in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered around in goatskins and sheepskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise:God having provided something better for us, that without us they would not be made perfect.
Text is available in 35 GLOBAL LANGUAGES
UPDATE: 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and THE GOVERNMENT OF CHANGE
October 26, 2008
There are many issues on the ballot in California that concerns life in general.
Among them, the contentious issue has been the Proposition 8.
What is Proposition 8?
http://www.noonprop8.com/about/fact-vs-fiction - Thank you.
“Fact: Prop 8 is simple: it eliminates the rights for same-sex couples to marry. Prop 8 would deny equal protections and write discrimination against one group of people—lesbian and gay people—into our state constitution.”
In simple terms, Proposition 8 is a State Constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
The Separation of Church and State in the Constitution clearly defines the role of State and the jurisdiction within.
Simultaneously, the religious institutions like Church have a specified function as the non-profit organizations with tax-exempt status.
Although, it appears from the news articles… that Church functions beyond its jurisdiction and exercise liberty on moral issues.
By taking advantage of the ambiguity in the IRS code for tax-exempt status, Churches donate money to a ballot initiative like Proposition 8 without endangering status-quo.
However, the IRS restriction applies to any major activities by the Church in the legislation.
Since, the Church is involved in this particular issue, it deems right to highlight the fact that,
“God created all equal.”
Every one of us regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and socio-economic background are entitled to the same rights, privileges and benefits in a democratic society as well as from the religious standpoint represented by God.
It is presumptuous to perpetrate such inhumane, unethical and undemocratic treatment towards gay and lesbian people, who are also beloved children of God.
The discriminatory practice is a human analogy to enforce one’s own orthodox in the name of religion.
It would be inappropriate to reference God in this equation.
If the reason behind such activities to ban same-sex marriage were from the preconceived notion,
That it would negatively influence young minds then,
All those religious institutions have adequate work to do within their own premise…
As children been the victims of highly immoral conduct by the religious order since the birth of religions.
To quote the article in San Jose Mercury News, October 25, 2008 – Thank you.
The Rev. Rick Mixon, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palo Alto has eloquently summarized the solution to the vigorously debated issue of Prop 8:
Pastor Mixon said –
“The state should protect civil rights and civil contracts like marriage, while the church should be blessing and supporting all manner of loving relationships and families.
He further added –
“I just said, “Where would Jesus be on this?”
“It’s pretty clear to me where he’d be. He’d be in support of anybody who was trying to create loving, caring, compassionate relationships.”
The Gospel Truth delivered.
Prior to being judgmental, it is important for all human beings to view from the opposite angle for a rational thought, as human tendency is to love thyself before friends and neighbors.
The gay community deserves respect, love and honor.
Please VOTE NO ON PROP 8.
Thank you.
Padmini Arhant
P.S. The article titled “Separation of Church and State” featured under Spiritualism category in www.padminiarhant.com , strictly relates to the theme “references to God in the public square”. The presentation is not for others to misinterpret or distort the message to convey their viewpoint to Vote for Prop 8 or other issues.
The dawning of a new day is here, both for America as a whole and for those who call ourselves "compassionate conservatives," a code name for politically active Christians.
It's a time when our nation has the opportunity to break from the tradition of the past--from racial and class division, from partisan politics, from us against them--and to ride into a bright, new future of unified effort for the good of all Americans, truly non-partisan policy making and cooperation in Washington.
The undeclared but clearly evident leader of this new effort is Barack Obama, an American of mixed racial background (half white, and half black), and of mixed socio-economic background, a recent graduate from the struggling middle class to the echelons of upper class America. He is the leader we need right now not just because of superior intellect, highly effective communication skills, and his high level of educational attainment, but also because of the character and the temperament with which he has been divinely blessed. Character he has demonstrated in this election in quite distinct contrast to his Republican contender, John McCain.
It is for this reason that I, a social activist at heart for the poor and for the good of all men, and a Christian conservative as it relates to the two most pivotal moral issues of our time--abortion and homosexuality--have decided to vote for Senator Barack Obama to become the next president of the United States.
Though the Republican party may attempt to portray it--God is not the God of one political party. He is not more concerned about small government than he is about helping those in need. He did not only send His Son to die for upper class and upper middle class whites. He does not want us to lock-up first time, young non-violent offenders for most of their young adult lives and throw away the keys. He does not want us to ignore the social causes of crime. He does want his people involved with both parties so that both parties ultimately represent His interests, which are the best interests of us all.
This is our opportunity. In this election, we have the ability to show the rest of America that "conservative Christians" can make a balanced, intellectual, and still spiritual choice for President. We can choose to vote for Barack Obama, not because we agree with him on every issue, but because we agree with him on many. And we can make our voices heard during his administration to affect the way he governs on issues with which we do disagree.
Make the change. Take the leap. Make a new choice, and encourage other like minded people to make this choice as well--praying all the way for Christ to grant Sen. Obama the wisdom to make the right decisions at the right time, not swayed by what's popular, but based on the right foundation--God's Word--at "such a time as this" in our nation's and the world's history.
--Pat Perry
Let me start off by saying that I do have an issue with Sen. Obama's support of abortion rights. However, this election has always been so important, that we CANNOT allow failed policies to continue because of a difference of opinion of such a divisive issue, with so many other issues to worry about.
Today, I was at church. It was a Catholic church, not some "witchcraft healing" pro-Palin church, but a church which is supposed to encourage independent thought. Although the Church itself has an issue with Sen Biden supporting abortion and remaining an active member, Church policy is clear that as long as abortion is not the deciding issue, a "good Catholic" can vote for the candidate of his choice.
When the speaker took the alter for a post-homily speech, I thought nothing of it. Yes, we often hear about the evils of abortion, and regardless of your stand on the upcoming vote of Washington's assisted suicide bill, you would expect the Church to be vocal in its opposition to it.
I sat there dumbfounded as the guest speaker (a prominent member of the medical field, a doctor who dealt with family issues) not only expressed his support for Sen McCain, but indicated that anyone who couldn't vote for Sen McCain should "find something else to do" on election day.
Now, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who takes the right to vote more serious than me. I have encouraged countless people to register and vote. My overriding view on this is, I don't care WHO you vote for, but if you do not excercise this right, you have no business complaining about the state of..... well, anything. I am very clear in my beliefs. I would assist someone in voting for the opponenet of my favoured candidate, because I feel the right to vote is that important, and belongs to everyone, even those who I disagree with. That is one of the most profound and beautiful things about this country; that your vote is secret, and yet you have nothing to fear by discussing this vote.
The idea of someone speaking from the pulpit, and endorsing disenfranchisment left me cold. Is not the support of a candidate from the pulpit a violation of Church and State, and grounds for losing tax-exempt status?
What to do? If this is happening in progressive Oregon, I can only assume it's going on all over the country.
I can across a discussion of Joe Biden's Catholic faith in Michael Paulson's Articles of Faith (and more specifically the comments section) on Boston.com. I was shocked to see the discussion unfold about whether or not Joe Biden is "properly Catholic." I'm deeply hurt by the knee-jerk reaction of the commenters who claim to be more Catholic because they support the pro-life movement. I was shocked to hear them clamor for Joe Biden to stand up against Roe v. Wade, against the legislation in place to allow every American to have no fear of religious persectuion for prescription. It is truly awful to read, Catholics denouncing Joe Biden with no knowledge of him and the way he lives his life. This is not the Church I grew up in.
I think Pope John Paul II may be shaking his head right now, somewhere...
The fact is, it is the Church's responsibility to reach out to the people around it. They do a very good job of that, at least they did in my neighborhood. But if you take away people's right to chose their religious values and their right to chose the way they live (which you are essentially doing if you are passing laws limiting the way they live their lives based on a personal religion), that's just coercion and control and it results in their false morality. If you want people to make the right choice, reach out to them, show them the way you would want them to live. But by trying to force them to live the way you live, this to me is violating the precepts of our Faith. I remember growing up in a Catholic Church of tolerance, understanding, and love. You should always stand up for what is right in the world, yes, but you also have to respect other people's rights to live the way they choose. You can reach out to them and teach them the Way, but they have to choose to take it. And for Senator Biden to support legislation that made the choice for these people, that took away the opportunity for their moral struggle... that would be unCatholic. Joe Biden would essentially be applying his own religion to the entire US, religious or not. And perhaps some think everyone should be Catholic. But Pope John Paul II and I both agree: you have to let them make that choice. Or it isn't real.I'm appalled we're even talking about whether or not he is Catholic "enough." Same argument going on with whether or not Obama is "black enough." I'll tell you what: they are AMERICAN enough, and they are able to have the vision to live faithfully to their beliefs and still promote equality and pursuit of happiness for every human being, seeing past religion, past party lines. If you think abortion should not happen, reach out to the mothers with gentle words (as Christ would have done, and JPII would have done!), show them their options, support them and love them and show them that things can turn out okay because they will have a support network at all times, and a God who loves them no matter what. Joe Biden knows his faith in his heart, and it is very, very dear to him. When did seperation of church and state become so passé???
My Church is the Church of love, and of choosing to have a close relationship with God. It is not about choosing one's religious values like one chooses fruit at the grocery store, and this is NOT what Senator Biden is doing in his political positions. It's about reaching out with love to the people who do not know how to make the "right" choice (whichever choice you find that to be), and showing them light. Not outlawing their moral dilemma entirely. Or are we supposed to be enacting mass conversion of Jews, Protestants, Muslims, Atheists, like we did to the unsuspective natives of South America, or in the Spanish Inquisition? I believe the Catholic Church has learned from that mistake. We are a new Church, we have grown from the ashes of bloody revolution into a place where people can find comfort, joy, a home. I hope to see more understanding, more reason in the coming weeks, and less of this spiteful drivel. Because of people like this it was very hard for me to grow up being Catholic, and I don't want that for my children. We can be a people of faith and of fairness. We can help people find their own way. I believe in the strength of heart, the fairness of spirit in every Catholic, and I believe in Joe Biden as a strong Catholic who will do right by this country, for every man and woman, Catholic or otherwise. And to me that is beyond "Catholic enough."
Just as seven years ago the Foundation condemned Pres. George W. Bush's creation of his misguided "faith-based initiative," today the Foundation protests the shortsightedness of candidate Barack Obama in endorsing its continuation.
This is the wrong direction for our country. The next president should have the integrity and courage to back off from Bush's fiasco and abolish the so-called faith-based initiative. It has been a waste of taxpayers' money, has injected religion into politics, deprived needy clients of the best help, and has punched a huge hole in America's vaunted "wall of separation between church and state."
It's lovely to say, as Obama does, that "I believe deeply in the separation of church and state." But actions speak louder than words. There is negligible difference between Obama's and Bush's stated provisos on the faith-based initiative. Like Obama, Bush claimed the faith-based initiative would not allow religious groups to use public grants to proselytize or discriminate against clients, and that public money going to places of worship was only to be used for secular programs. But there is no accountability and no monitoring provisions, as the GAO audit of 2006 documented.
It's also fine for Obama to say the government and its recipients are going to follow the law. But every day at the Freedom From Religion Foundation, we field complaints about violations of the separation between church and state even over established law, such as school prayer. Obama offers no plan for monitoring the constitutional pitfall of a "partnership" between religion and government.
The Foundation has taken and won many court challenges against the faith-based initiative. For instance, a federal judge in our Faith Works case in Milwaukee ruled in 2002 that $800,000 in direct federal subsidy to a ministry that existed to "bring homeless addicts directly to Christ" was unconstitutional. The funds were spent (and wasted) by the time we won the case. In 2005, we halted the final federal grant to MentorKids USA, in which volunteer mentors had to sign a statement that they believed literally in the creation story before they could go on to openly proselytize children of prisoners. We stopped a "parish nursing program" in Montana in 2003, and in 2007 a "chaplaincy" in Indiana set up to minister to state employees. Important and pioneering as our legal cases have been, they are a mere drop in the bucket in terms of the public financing of proselytization under the faith-based scheme.
Obama praises Take Youth Education for Tomorrow, a program run by churches and church schools to teach reading after school and during the summer, largely in church settings. Churches and the offices of religious organizations are innately coercive environments. What about parents who don't want their children to have to go to church in order to get reading help? When taxpayers are footing the bill, such programs should be held in a neutral setting--there is, after all, no shortage of public schools, already tax-supported!
It is not only the 16% of the population who is nonreligious who is offended. Many Muslims are forbidden to enter Christian churches. Jewish children may not feel comfortable entering a Christian church. Even many Christian sects are uneasy about adherents entering churches run by competing denominations. The idea is fraught with practical and constitutional peril.
Weirdly, Obama criticizes Bush for failing to reach out to faith-based groups about how to apply for federal dollars. Yet this was a cornerstone of Bush's faith-based initiative. At countless regional and federal faith-based conferences, hands-on technical support at public expense (including "free lunches") is exactly what the Bush Administration has offered churches and religious agencies for seven expensive years!
Obama says "we all have to work together--Christian and Jew, Hindu and Muslim; believer and nonbeliever alike--to meet the challenges of the 21st century." True, even laudable. But that does not mean "we" should all be taxed to support churches or religious agencies. Many Americans proudly are descended from immigrants who came here to escape mandatory tithes and taxation in support of churches against their consent.
Obama's tone is more balanced than Bush's. But he spoils the effect by criticizing those "who bristle at the notion that faith has a place in the public square." Secularists have never said faith can't be displayed in public. We do insist that faith should not be part of government, subsidized by government or promoted by government. The genius of the founders of our secular republic was to recognize that keeping religion and government separate is the way to prevent religious corruption and coercion.
Obama's reference to needing "people of faith on Capitol Hill"--as if Capitol Hill weren't at the moment dominated by "people of faith"--is both a naive platitude and exclusionary. How would religionists feel if Obama had said: "We need people without faith on Capitol Hill"?
Let's abolish the faith-based initiative and go back to the days before John Ashcroft first proposed so-called "charitable choice." Religious social services have always been free to bid for social service grants, but they were expected to create a secular arm, keep separate books and take their crosses down. A return to the status quo is the simple answer to the mess created by Bush's faith-based initiative.
Obama's Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships is merely a renaming of Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Ironically, nearly everything Obama criticizes Bush's initiative for ("it was used to promote partisan interests," "it has to be a real partnership--not a photo-op") can be said of Obama's plan and his "photo-op" speech today. Same taxi, different driver. Where's that vaunted "change" that Obama's campaign has been promising?
On a related topic, we are appalled at the arrogant, presumptuous hubris of politicians who claim to know "God's will." Obama joins an unfortunately long line of political candidates and public officials (which includes more than its fair share of despots), who talk about "fulfilling God's will" and "doing the Lord's work." Why are these politicians so special that they possess a direct pipeline to a divinity? The presidential candidates have crossed the line between acknowledging sincere personal faith to wearing faith on their sleeves and unapologetic political pandering. Both John McCain and Obama have been burned by their past close associations with pastors. Why can't they see that religion mixed with politics is always a combustible mixture?
--Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, The Freedom From Religion Foundation.
All evening I've watched the latest news clip of Sarah Palin, from June 2008, speaking in her church and flagrantly blurring the lines between religion, politics, and the Alaska pipeline.
I respect people of all faiths, creeds, colors, and backgrounds. Each and every one of us has the right to practice what we believe, including Sarah Palin.
My concern is that our political leaders, who choose to run for, and are elected to, their positions, need to be able to separate their personal life from their public life, and be able to represent all Americans, of every faith, creed, color, and background, without using their own religion as prominent basis for their words and actions.
Seeing and hearing Sarah Palin, Governor of the State of Alaska, invoke her religion into her politics is not a separation of Church and State.
Palin's lack of foreign policy experience is troubling enough in its own right. But if McCain wins the election and Palin is called upon at some point to assume the role of president, how would she handle Israel and the Middle East? Is she even capable of making unbiased decisions of behalf of people of faiths other than her own?
This is frightening to me beyond all measure.
See Video At: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-wilson/sarah-palins-churches-and_b_124611.html
Sarah Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young "Joel's Army" to take dominion over the United States and the world.
CHICAGO -- Declaring that clergy have a constitutional right to endorse political candidates from their pulpits, the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund is recruiting several dozen pastors to do just that on Sept. 28, in defiance of Internal Revenue Service rules.
