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"I think he's deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology," (James) Dobson said, adding that Obama is "dragging biblical understanding through the gutter."
And so another reasonable man attempting to rescue his faith from the clutches of the Biblical snake oil salesmen and charlatans gets shouted down for suggesting that people truly READ the book at the center of their religious faith.
Remember THINKING is bad, only BELIEVING is good.
I am studying to be a minister precisely because of these so called " Christians" who preach hatred and intolerance and obviously have never opend the Bible. They would be shocked to learn that the Bible tells us to take care of the sick, poor and to "Love your neighbor as yourself".
ReplyDeleteKeep em ignorant Dobson and the $$ will continue your way.
ReplyDeleteI think, if some believe in God, that God has turned it around on James Dobson. Dobson was using an offensive move to discredit candidate Obama then. James Dobson knew full well he had a candidate in his mind's eye, named Palin. He was playing a secular role in placing HIS candidate behind the scenes, while publicly judging the character of the other candidate (Obama) who he didn't want to win. And how did that turn out? President Obama won. So I think there is a divine hand at play, not because God is interested in politics, but because He sometimes has to show He isn't going to be misrepresented by people like James Dobson. All I know is what I read from the Bible, and it doesn't ask us to push a secular agenda on a government with a so-called christian candidate. All that does is place a person with flaws up on a spiritual pedestal, which is arrogant and self-serving.
ReplyDeleteThis is an affront to Christ. It's manipulation for personal gain, by using the bible as a bludgeoning device to whack the opponent with.
Since SP's rise, the christian right are the ones who brought the subject of 'christian candidate' on the platform. Instead of just being a living epistle, they chose to arrogantly talk about themselves. Self-serving ministries are the ones who proudly promoted their calves of gold on the altar of greed and power. Yet, they attacked those who wanted to make a change for the better and had the gall to accuse the opponents of 'using' OT biblical examples?
What's worse James Dobson? A man who uses an allegory of bibical teachings or a man of God who places a human being on a political platform to keep him and all his buddies in appointments of powerful position. If Jesus, who had all the power and the angels at his command, had wanted to come to earth in that fashion, he could have taken control of the Roman Empire and the world, if he had wanted. But that would have been the way men do it, by force. He said his Kingdom is not of this world.
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WELL SAID!
DeleteVery well said. I have studied the Bible for many years, and also don't remember the part where Paul decided that the best way to transform the pagan world was to run for a seat in the Roman Senate or promote himself for a powerful government position (Paul was a well-educated Roman citizen). Instead, he was entirely focused on living as Christ lived and, through that, changed the world of his time.
DeleteIt was satan who, while tempting Christ, "showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor" and said, "all of this (worldly power) I will give you if you will bow down and worship me." (Matthew 4:1, 8-9) The dominionists have everything turned on its head: it is the meek who will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) – not those who, like satan, try to take dominion over others. It is understandable why Dobson, et al, were outraged when then-candidate Obama suggested that Christians read their Bibles: if they did, most of their leaders would be exposed as the wolves in sheep's clothing that they actually are. Jesus continually said, "my kingdom is not of this world." What part of that sentence do they not understand?
Speaking from experience - you can have 12 different pastors (or any Christian) read and interpret a particular verse and you will get 12 different interpretations of that verse. The Lord uses scripture to inspire or direct us at different times in our lives as to the direction we need to take in a particular situation. The problem with so many Christians is that they tend to interpret scripture to suit what they want rather than truly seeking God's will. Thus we have presidential candidates who go crashing through a door that they perceive as being an open door when God has actually padlocked, triple chained it and built a brick wall against it. It truly breaks my heart that so many of us who proclaim to be Christians forget to live as Christ would. I don't think He is very happy with most of us.
ReplyDeleteWell, then my church is guilty of the same thing, and many of the Christian churches in my community.
ReplyDeleteThe true teachings of Christ are hard to live by, and our President knows this. James Dobson does not follow the true teachings of Christ. He is merely "famous", so we have to hear his ignorance and hate.
I can't say this enough times. Rightwing "Christians" are today's equivelant of the Pharisees who demanded Jesus's crucifixion.
ReplyDeleteOne of them has unintentionally admitted this. When asked about the crucifixion, Romney reportedly answered that he wouldn't have used nails. More to the point, the actions of the far right are far worse than those of the pharisees: the far right have the benefit of history and hindsight (and the New Testament), and the pharisees did not.
DeleteLet me declare my hand... I am a born again christain but I don't think that mean the same thing to your right wing christains as it does in my country- Barbados. I am having a very difficult time trying to figure out what Dr. Dobson mean by traditional understanding of the bible. Do we as christains follow the law (as in leviticus)ie. man's interpretation of such law? OR the radical new interpretation brought to us by no other person than Jesus?
ReplyDeleteYes sarah. Radical. The man that you purport to worship and are looking forward for his return was a Radical. I have a friend that always says that if Jesus was to return they (christains, religious people) would kill him again.
President Obama, by his utterings and actions understand the principles of Jesus's message more than Dr. Dodson could ever hope to.
Hello, Barbadian? Barbadosian?
Deletehow right you are. I teach in higher ed, and it is a lot of fun (in that surprised, genuinely awed way) to have students read some of Marx and unprompted, acknowledge the similarities between Marxism and the teachings o one Jesus Christ.
Did Latin American Liberation Theology ever make it to Barbados?
Barbadian or Bajan. And yes Liberation theology would be integral to any society that has evolved from colonialism. However, there is a separation of church and politics in Barbados. I don't think that we know how many of our politicians go to church on Sundays. I don't. Unlike alot of our neighbors Barbados was never a Roman Catholic bastion, however, in early days the Anglican church would have serve of that catalyst to move us towards social justice. They would have set up our educational system etc. But it was never a 'political movement' in the strict sense. Our swords are our voices. Many christains here believe that Jesus was a revolutionary. That he used people's words, actions and belief systems to trip them up. He took power from the law-makers and gave it to the poor. Caused them to understand that they are responsible for their own destiny.. 'work out your own salvation'. Today he would be condemned like he was in his day.
DeleteBy the way for many of us here Marxism is not a bad word.
It is stunning when one finds out how many "Christians" have NOT read the Bible*...
ReplyDeleteand how many atheists have.
*Reading selected passages in Sunday school doesn't count:
only reading it from start to finish.
Have YOU?
(I have)
I have, more dozens of times than I can count. Moreover, I think it is stunning how many christian LEADERS have not read or studied the Bible. In many instances, the leaders are just as ignorant and narrow as those they are leading. They often deliver canned sermons that they get online or from other sources. As a result, their messages are DOA (dead on arrival). They are too busy being money and numbers' chasers to be well-read and prayed-up shepherds.
DeleteWhen Dobson attacked Obama for suggesting Christians read their Bibles, I knew Obama would never be accepted by or 'get a break' from America's xtians – a fortunate result, for Obama's sake.
This post has made me so mad. If Dr. Dobson and his cronies would follow the biblical principle of loving your neighbor this war on the female person would not now be happening. Women wouldn't have to fight for basic rights, i.e. having an abortion to save her life; having access to health care, etc.
ReplyDeleteGo back to your bible Dobson and try to meet the man that you profess to know. then tell the world whose theology was messed up.
Christianists such as Dobson and Franklin Graham are only interested in garnering and retaining personal power and wealth. If they truly cared about what Christ said, they would not have private jets, expensive suits, large bank accounts. They would be ministering to the homeless, the terminally ill, the druggies and convicts.
ReplyDeleteThey would give up their upper-middle class lifestyle and work to lift up those who are down-trodden. But, no, they won't ever do that. They are materialists, power brokers drunk on their own self-importance.
I feel sorry for them because they will perish. Their moment in the sun is a tawdry sparkle, to be extinguished by the truly faithful who serve but do not seek their own personal glory.
President Obama's word ring true. He lives his faith by looking for solutions for those who need help.
Why is it that people like Dobson focus on the Old Testament instead of the words of Jesus in the New Testament? Perhaps it is because Jesus would not tolerate their behavior. They bring shame to their faith.
ReplyDeleteA pastor who writes a column in our local paper addressed this issue. He said Jesus came only to fulfill the law, not to change it. Therefore, it's the Old Testament you must use. Forget about all that love stuff.
DeleteAnd that is especially true of the Roman Catholic Church Santorum belongs to. Catholics have always relied on the ignorance of their rank and file, thus making unhired, unelected, unvetted (pedophile) priests necessary. Catholics were (are? I don't know, I'm a recovering Catholic) actively discouraged from reading the Bible; previously, they were given something called "The Baltimore Catechism" in it's stead. This pope has approved new Mass language tat 90% of the congregation doesn't understand, and really, really, really wants to bring back the Latin Mass. This atheist would enjoy that, as I learned the Latin in public school.
ReplyDeleteI've said since i've moved down to the South that I have never met so many immoral people who claim to be religious. God wouldn't know them because they do not live by biblical teachings. I'm not saying everybody but there are very good ppl who go to church and very good ppl who don't go to church. When I was a Teenager dancingand music was of the devil, was a sin.Tthey wouldn't even show Elvis below the waist on the Ed Sullivan show. Then when Church membership was down it became okay. Then in the *0. (0's it was the words had special messages and if you played them backwards it was a message from the devil memebership down, it became okay if they just changed the words and threw in Jesus or God. How is it okay now to be married 2,3,4, times and have all thes the church make your marriage invalled like it never happened do you think that is in the bible no. So all these church members are F***** anyway( they don't know it because they don't know what the bible says)but they think if they cling to not letting abortion or use birth control be used, ( enless they might need one)All their sins don't count. These so called ministers twist and know how to lead their member to believe it's okay to lie cheat ( especially on taxes) and whatever as long as you follow what they tell you politically.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post! And I LOVE this line:
ReplyDelete"Remember THINKING is bad, only BELIEVING is good."
This publicly excommunicated, un enrolled and shunned Former Roman Catholic can't agree more. I read the Bible (including the books of the Apochrypha) cover to cover, along with Holy Books of other world religions, Marxist and Maoist writings etc. AFTER leaving the Church.
The only thing I can add to all the comments, is
Atheism doesn't exclude Spirituality nor Morality. Some "Christians" believe the three are mutually exclusive.
President Obama's deeds and words show he's more Christian then Dobson and his ilk.
Lastly, I admire true Christians who stand up and speak out, taking back the belief system they have every right to practice.
Did you know that you can buy ordination on line? You don't have to subscribe to any theology. You don't have to have any education. You don't have to take any test. You certainly don't have to read the Bible. You can just set yourself up as a minister, start a church, and make the theology up. You can perform weddings, baptisms and funerals. Some on line ordination sites also tell you what to preach - some of those put out pretty hateful stuff. You just have to pay for the paperwork, then register with your local authorities as required. Voila! Minister.
ReplyDeleteWe have one of these guys in town. He runs around with big signs on his car advertising his store bought ordination. He aligns himself with the most right wing church in town. He managed to get himself installed as the local police and jail chaplain.
A couple of years ago a friend's son overdosed on methadone. Our friend brought his son here earlier that year to try to help this kid with adjustment difficulties in college and with past drug problems. Instead this young man died. His death turned into a murder investigation. Our friend encountered that "chaplain" in the process and was treated shamefully. I thought the so-called chaplain should have been locked up himself for the way he treated our friend.