Saw something that really baffled me the other day

[Orrex]

While shopping for groceries, I was crossing the parking lot and approached a minivan positively emblazoned on the front and left side with ribbon-magnets declaring that "Jesus is Coming -- Soon!" and "Washed in the Blood of The Lamb," and the like. A quick count put the total at somewhere between fifteen and twenty, with several repetitions of each magnet.

I am ashamed to admit that I made the stereotypical snap-judgment and assumed that it was a RW Fundy's van.

As I passed, I looked back to check the rear of the van and saw well over a dozen "OBAMA 08" bumper stickers.


I was frankly amazed.


So I'd like to thank the anonymous owner of that van for shaking my complacency and unseating some of my preconceptions. Whatever else might be true of that person, I can't say that his/her political views matched my expectation.

[Fresh_Start]

1. you must have missed the Obama

campaign materials about being 'called to serve'.

He gets the fundies and the atheists which means there are some very confused people.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Not necessarily confused at all.

Some people who are very religiously conservative run to wildly radical politics. Check out Sojourners Magazine. Check out the Catholic
Workers.

Catholic Workers live a simple lifestyle in community, serve the poor, and resist war and social injustice. Most are grounded in the Gospel, prayer, and the Catholic faith, although some houses on this list state that they are interfaith. Each Catholic Worker house is independent and there is no "Catholic Worker headquarters".

Income for Catholic Worker houses can come from outside jobs held by members or by cottage industries developed by the community, but most houses survive on donations. Every Catholic Worker house can use donations of money and/or specific items like food, clothing, etc...Most can also use volunteers from the surrounding community to help with the work. If you feel called to do something about poverty and homelessness in your community, your local Catholic Worker house would be a great place to start. This is a list of all the Catholic Worker communities that we know about, indexed by state or country.

http://www.catholicworker.org/communities/commlistall.cfm

[Orrex]

6. Why does it suggest confusion?

You're implying that there's some contradiction in having a message that appeals to believers and non-believers, which is only true if one's message is one-dimensional. A more diverse and broad-reaching message can appeal to voters on many levels regardless of religious views.

[Fresh_Start]

8. because the atheists believe he's an atheist

wearing the cloak of a Christian for political reasons.

[Orrex]

10. Not this atheist, nor any atheists I know

Political reality and the bigotry of the electorate require even the most hardened atheist to accept that an "outed" atheist has even less chance to be elected than does a Mormon or a woman or an African American. As such, the hardened atheist has to make electoral decisions based on factors other than religion.

Perhaps this is why it seems confusing to you. Atheists have a lot of practice at dealing with this multilateral political reality. It would be a lot simpler if we could just check the box for "CANDIDATE WHO IS JUST LIKE ME," but that's not how the system works.

[tkmorris]

13. Ummm, no we don't

[Fumesucker]

9. Obama distinctly does not appeal to this atheist..

Just to allay any suspicions, neither does Clinton..

The Jebus-pandering has just gone too far with both of them.

[Orrex]

12. And with just about every major candidate in the past several decades, more or less

Have you withheld your vote in all elections, or have you voted for a less popular candidate who shared your views more closely? That's an entirely valid choice, and I don't mean to seem as though I'm denigrating it.

I just can't think of a major candidate (ie., having a real chance to be elected) who didn't make a big demonstration of religious affiliation.

[Fumesucker]

18. I had no problem voting for Jimmy Carter

Once he said that he had "lusted in his heart" I knew him to be the real deal and not some poseur.

No problem with the real deal, I have a great deal of problems with pandering poseurs.

[frebrd]

16. He doesn't appeal to this atheist, either...

nor does Clinton , and I agree that both have done way to much pandering to the xians.

However, I believe Clinton learned years ago that displays of "faith" were required to get along socially or politically, and that very pragmatic habit has served her well.

In Obama's case I believe that, far from being an atheist, he actually drinks the Koolaid.

[Fumesucker]

17. I disagree

Obama had no problem at all throwing Rev Wright under the bus when it became politically expedient to do so.

A true follower of the words of the Christ would not do such a thing for mere political advantage.

Not to mention that a true follower of the words of the Christ would not advocate throwing people in prison for doing something that they themselves had done in the past.

That whole "as ye do unto the least of these, so do you unto me" thing..

[global1]

2. Show Me A Picture And I'll Believe You.......nt

[Orrex]

4. Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me

But I agree that it's one of those seeing-is-believing moments.

[deaniac21]

3. Repukes will be switching to Obama left and right.

[wuushew]

7. Are you implying that such views are not shared by most American Xtians?

Christianity is an advertising based religion. I can only assume people who don't emblazon their personal property are either more modest or have a superior sense of aesthetics.

[Orrex]

11. All I'm implying is this:

Every other time that I've seen a vehicle festooned with religious slogans, the accompanying political slogan has always been pro-Right.

[madinmaryland]

14. Midlodemocrat had bunco night in your area?

:wtf:

[YankeyMCC]

15. I haven't seen such an extreme display

but I do see a lot of Obama stickers on vehicles with the "fish" or xian religious slogan ribbon magnets in my area - Around Boston, MA