John Shelby Spong: Good Show, Poor Theology (Saddleback Forum)

[IndianaGreen]

Good Show, Poor Theology

John Shelby Spong

The Saddleback Forum was good theater, but it was theologically naïve. The questions asked reflected an evangelical world view that is one to which educated people today cannot relate. It did reveal that evangelical Christianity is broadening in its interests to concerns about life after birth and the environment, but part of that is because the old hot button issues of abortion and homosexuality are simply fading in importance. Everyone knows that abortions can be greatly reduced by competent sex education in the public schools and by the wide distribution of safe contraceptive devices. The pity is that the same people who fight against abortion also fight against sex education, birth control and the availability of safe contraceptives. It is not a surprise, therefore, that abortions have risen rapidly during the administration of pro-life George Bush.

Homosexuality is also fading because the pejorative definition of homosexuality as either a mental illness (the liberal evangelical position) or a chosen act of moral depravity (the conservative evangelical position) are both dismissed today as incompetent among educated scientists and doctors.

Homosexuality is no more a choice for gay and lesbian people than heterosexuality is a choice for straight people. It takes a while for that knowledge to trickle down to the masses. Prejudice lives only in the untrickled down gaps. The condemnation of homosexuality as a sin or as a distortion by the hierarchy of the Vatican or the leaders of evangelical Christianity is simply a sign that both groups live in the backwaters of knowledge and education. As this knowledge spreads, those groups will look like what they are - dated people similar to the members of the Flat Earth Society.

At Saddleback both Senators Obama and McCain pandered to the religious mindset. One should not expect politicians to be either competent theologians or biblical scholars and quite obviously neither candidate is. So they contented themselves to toss around the religious jargon. "Jesus saved me," said Senator McCain. "Jesus died for my sins," said Senator Obama.

Rick Warren, satisfied that the religious mantras had been stated, did not ask what each phrase meant. If he had, we would have had glazed-eyed candidates.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/john_shelby_spong/2008/08/saddleback_forum.html

[Adsos Letter]

1. ...

""Jesus saved me," said Senator McCain. "Jesus died for my sins," said Senator Obama.

Rick Warren, satisfied that the religious mantras had been stated, did not ask what each phrase meant. If he had, we would have had glazed-eyed candidates."

No kidding...the various Christian denominations argue about the actual definitions of what those statements mean. Anything deeper and the Christian community would divide over the candidate's definitions. Not exactly conducive to the unified voting bloc they are trying to appeal to.