Christian Leaders Refute Religious Right's Claim that Bush is God's Candid

[Nambe]

US Newswire

More than 40 Christian leaders and 40,000 faithful citizens signed a petition declaring that "God is not a Republican...or a Democrat" and that the Religious Right does not speak for them. The petition refutes claims by Jerry Falwell that "Evangelical Christians...need to get serious about re-electing President Bush" and by Pat Robertson that "George Bush is going to win in walk...the Lord's just blessing him." The petition calls for all Christians to take back their faith and appears as a full-page ad in Monday's The New York Times, paid for by nearly 3,500 supporters of Sojourners, the national Christian magazine and organization that initiated the petition. ..

Due to an outpouring of responses from people across the nation, the petition is also appearing as a full-page ad this morning in The News & Advance (Rev. Falwell's local newspaper in Lynchburg, Va.) and The Virginian-Pilot (Mr. Robertson's local newspaper in Hampton Roads, Va.). In response to thousands of individual donations, Sojourners is also establishing a fund to help people of faith place the ad in their hometown newspapers.

Rev. Brian McLaren, popular Christian author and pastor of Cedar Ridge Community Church in Maryland, described the petition's purpose this way: "The Religious Right has a powerful hold on many individuals and churches in our country. Many of them have never even heard a responsible counterpoint expressed by thoughtful, biblically rooted Christian thinkers and leaders."

Placement of full-page ads on the first day of the Republican National Convention follows the delivery of a similar message by Rev. Wallis to the Democratic National Convention in an address to a luncheon on faith and politics in Boston that week and in a Boston Globe op-ed in which Rev. Wallis declared that "the best public contribution of religion is precisely not to be ideologically predictable or a loyal partisan." ..

[otohara]

1. But, But, Jesus Was A Liberal

and if he were still around, he would have been marching yesterday with the protestors in NYC.

[ItsMyParty]

2. I am so pleased to see this - it is about time

One phrase that caught my eye in this piece was "thoughtful, biblically rooted Christian thinkers and leaders." Amen. These freaks that have hijacked the Christian religion in this nation are neither biblically rooted nor thoughtful. They are con men who have re-written the Bible, twisted it, and used it as an unholy tool to pry money from their faithful and to be the bedfellows of corrupted politicians. It's time a movement started by 'mainstream' religion to pry religion out of the hands of these perverts.

[Rebellious Republican]

20. Spot on ItsMyParty, well said! N/T

:hi:

[struggle4progress]

3. Great petition!

... Do the candidates' budget and tax policies reward the rich or show compassion for poor families? Do their foreign policies include fair trade and debt cancellation for the poorest countries? (Matthew 25:35-40, Isaiah 10:1-2) ...

Do the candidates' policies protect the creation or serve corporate interests that damage it? (Genesis 2:15, Psalm 24:1) ...

Do the candidates' policies pursue "wars of choice" or respect international law and cooperation in responding to real global threats? (Matthew 5:9) ...

How do the candidates propose to change the attitudes and policies that led to the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners? (Genesis 1:27) ...

Do the candidates adopt the dangerous language of righteous empire in the war on terrorism and confuse the roles of God, church, and nation? Do the candidates see evil only in our enemies but never in our own policies? (Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 8:12-13) ...

Do the candidates' positions on abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, weapons of mass destruction, HIV/AIDS-and other pandemics-and genocide around the world obey the biblical injunction to choose life? (Deuteronomy 30:19) ...

[istruthfull]

5. Action

Action speaks louder than words. I heard, again I say that I heard Roberson, Hinn and an other one say, "A vote for Kerry is a vote for terrorism". Man, that pissed me off to no end. Just how much money did they get back with thier tax breaks?

[tlcandie]

4. Expect he and his church to be smeared in the near future ...

coming to a tv screen near you!! We will hear all kinds of horrible info on this man, his church, and connections!!

[AspenRose]

6. Yes, yes, a thousand times YES

TAKE OUR FAITH BACK, indeed....it's been hijacked.

[silverweb]

7. About time.

n/t

[Indiana_Dem]

8. Yes!

I was one of them that signed it!

[EST]

37. You are to be honored and respected.

n/t

[BootinUp]

9. My Dad offered to get me a subscription

to Sojourners, I haven't checked it out yet but sounds damn good to me so far.

[calico1]

10. Very good!

I guess with all these religious right fanatical politicians--and dizzy followers it never really occurred to me that there are Christians out there that are really offended by all this and who do not blindly believe in all of Bush's policies or believe that their faith should be used as a political tool. This is nice to see!

[BeHereNow]

15. You have no idea...

Just how offended we are.
These people blaspheme on an hourly basis-
True Christians know exactly who these people are.
BHN

[tanyev]

23. Amen, BHN!

I am so sick of these people using their twisted version of Christianity for the purpose of manipulation. It's not what Jesus would do.

tanyev

[calico1]

24. Thanks for saying that.

I will definitely be careful not to make generalizations about Christians.

[Just Me]

11. Cool. I signed this fabulous petition!

I am sick and tired of those who act as though they hold the copyright, patent & trademark on The Almighty!!!

[BeHereNow]

16. How do I add my name?

I want to make sure they can find me
when they round us up for being true Christians.
BHN

[thecrow]

19. Here's the link

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/takebackourfaith

[BeHereNow]

21. THANKS!

So very much...
BHN

[Kimber Scott]

12. The Religious Right is equal to the Taliban,

or any other Fundamentalist religious organization. They are attempting to hijack Christianity in the same way Radical Islam has appropriated Islam. I'm glad to see the opposition stepping forward to rebuff this attempt on the Christian faith. Maybe, the idea will take hold in other religions as well.

[Tempest]

13. An example of why Repugs can be compared to Nazis

"God gave the savior to the German people. We have faith, deep and
unshakeable faith, that he was sent to us by God to save Germany."
--Hermann Goering, speaking of Hitler


"The Lord has just blessed him," Robertson said of Bush. "I mean, he
could make terrible mistakes and comes out of it. It doesn't make any
difference what he does, good or bad, God picks him up because he's a
man of prayer and God's blessing him."
-- Pat Robertson, speaking of Bush

[Stuckinthebush]

14. How do they know?

I mean, clearly God isn't a Republican, but I'd assume she is a Democrat...right?

[RedEarth]

17. "What's Wrong with the Christian Right" is an excellent book...

I had the opportunity to see the author speak and was very impressed. Regarding the Christian Right, Jan Linn(the author) says "the Christian right that Falwell represents is neither." Below is a link to amanzon....

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1581124244/qid=1093897323/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-9086493-1076046?
v=glance&s=books

[Dudley_DUright]

18. I guess Iowa state GOP chair Leon Mosley did not get the memo

Soon after Hagel spoke, the acting state Republican chair--an African-American man in a white cowboy hat named Leon Mosley--urged his delegates, "Let's remember what's paramount in our life: God ... This is the GOP: God's Official Party." At that, the room burst into sustained applause. Behold, the Republican base. :eyes:

http://www.tnr.com/blog/rnc?pid=1972

[Disturbed]

22. Christian Right

They are not Christians and not Republicans. They are anti-Christ Fascists.

The Christians who are not in this mass cult of the anti-Christ Fascists have been speaking out for a few years but that msg. has been lost due to the overwhelming money that the anti-Christ Fascists have been pouring into their campaign of dominating Amerika. Bill Moyers, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton among others have been speaking out against these anti-Christ Fascists. Those that do not wish to have the anti-Christ Fascists dominate must work harder against them.

[savistocate]

25. God's Own Pretenders more to the truth of it Mosely

Didn't have to bend my arm to sign this petition.

[freestyle]

39. God's Official Party = Hezbollah

I wonder if these people realize that terrorists usually claim to be representing God. Islamic fundamentalism is not the only religious fundamentalism that is a threat to the world. These people are a danger to the world.

[karlrschneider]

26. Thanks, sojuourners...It might help a little, but fundies are in a world

unto themselves...their minds are made up and they don't want to be confused by facts. :eyes:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Note that the full-page ad appeared

in the Republican Convention supplement of the New York Times. :7

[Only Me]

28. I am so pleased to see this ad. I greatfully signed it. n/t

[eagler]

29. If many of the Christians realized that their GOP candidates were

being bankrolled by Reverend Moon ( who is referred to as God by his followers and sends millions to Falwell),they would have no choice but to turn away from these phonies.

[GOPBasher]

30. I hope this changes some minds.

The only reason the GOP has such a huge base is because of the Christian Right. Almost half of the people in the country consider themselves to be evangelical Christians. Most of them are great people who are being duped into thinking that they should support the Repug party. That's the only reason the repug base is so large.

[joanne]

31. Definitely glad to see real Christians fighting back

At long last. :)

[jackieforthedems]

32. I Just Tried To Sign The Petition

but it says the site may have been removed.

[mimitabby]

34. try again, i was able to sign it

[Tsiyu]

33. kick

:kick:

[sangh0]

35. Yes!!!

We are SO-o-o tired of being lumped in with those hypocrits.

[BiggJawn]

36. Gonna take more than a full-page ad...

Good start. OK, so all I've been saying is when are the "good" Christians gonna take back their religion from thems what hijacked it.

This is a good start. hope it's not too late...

[EST]

38. Kick this thread!

:kick:

[LittleWoman]

40. I signed this petition also.

The content of this petition provides a starting place for those who may be open to a reasonable discussion. Another is "Christian Principles in an Election Year" put out by the National Council of Churches.
Main points:
1. War is contrary to the will of God.
2. God calls us to live in communities shaped by peace and cooperation.
3. God created us for each other, and thus our security depends on the well being of our global neighbors.
4. God calls us to be advocates for those who are most vulnerable in our society.
5. Each human being is created in the image of God and is of infinite worth.
6. The earth belongs to God and is intrinsically good.
7. Christians have a biblical mandage to welcome strangers.
8. Those who follow Christ are called to heal the sick.
9. Because of the transforming power of God's grace, all humans are called to be in right relationship with each other.
10. Providing enriched learning enviornments for all of God's children is a moral imperative.
These points are expanded at the link and there is also a study group study guide.

[EST]

41. good

[demgrrrll]

42. Did anyone see the photographs of the podium at the convention

with the Christian crosses wood design? The story is under Jesus Wept in today's blog. (Atrios) A great big Neo Whoa on that one.

[porkrind]

43. Personally, I don't think SHE (The Goddess) likes *.

:)