Sound Off!: August 2008

Friday, August 29, 2008

The Religious Right Is Slowly Leaking

Subject: The Meaning of Rick Warren and the Obama-McCain Interview

Just wanted to pass along my appreciation for your article in this past Sunday's Daily Progress regarding the present Evangelical Movement and Rick Warren. I've been keeping tabs on this for quite a while -- since my teens -- and have been quite disturbed at how closely they have been tied with the political scene many of them have become. The Religious Right finally has started slowly leaking. Even though they have time and again proclaimed to be against theocracy, they have been a one-issue party, focusing nearly exclusively on pro-life. The emerging Evangelical movement is taking the baton, claiming to be a 'kinder, gentler' party, but still excluding many of those who Christ would have welcomed to his table. Many of us who are in our 20's and 30's are feeling excluded still and squeezed out of the church. This is why Christianity is losing ground in America and why, I believe, we will soon follow suit with Europe; we are 'Christian' in name alone here in America.

Many of us who are acting on our faith and beliefs -- a very small portion -- are gathering through a variety of websites, a 30+ year-old satirical magazine, and through Facebook. I'll blog periodically when I have the time/energy on religion, politics, current events, human rights... as I call it 'fashionable dinner conversation'. I have a few pastors who keep up with what I write and I love stirring the pot to show differing view points. It's what I've been called to do.

Again, keep up what you are doing. We need this.

Sara L .

$40 Billion Just the Start

Subject: Why Neither Obama Nor McCain Will Save Us

Your latest opinion piece is even more right-on-the-money than most of your things. Well done.

However, saying that Americans spend "in excess of $40 billion" annually on public education is a bit misleading. That represents, I suspect, the federal government's spending on public education, which covers something on the order of one-tenth of the cost of educating our children. State and local governments supply by far the lion's share of public education funding. In 2002, there were 48.1 million children in public schools (Pew Report). $40 billion is less than $1,000 per student.

Stu B.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Jesus Practiced Judaism

Subject: The Meaning of Rick Warren and the Obama-McCain Interview

Challenging essay, although I’m not so impressed by the alleged “substance” of Rick Warren. One correction, though. Your statement at the end, “In other words, the type of Christianity Jesus practiced,” is inaccurate. Jesus didn’t practice Christianity. Jesus practiced Judaism.

Mike M.

The Real Puzzlement

Subject: The Meaning of Rick Warren and the Obama-McCain Interview

Here is what puzzles me. The absolute, basic, non negotiable, doctrine of evangelical Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I have heard Senator McCain asked directly on two different occasions to talk about his faith, most recently at the Rick Warren forum. His answer both times was the same. He told a story about a prison guard he met who was apparently
a Christian. Senator McCain does not even claim a personal relationship with Christ in his answers. I will give him that this latest time he mumbled something about being forgiven. but he certainly did not "confess Me before men." The real puzzlement to me is that no one calls him on this. I suppose that the main stream media is not comfortable with and lacks the understanding to discuss spiritual matters in this sort of depth. It also appears that the Christian right is willing to give him a pass on this, because of his stand on the two major moral issues, abortion and gay marriage. I still hope for more intellectual honesty from the Christian right. Frankly, I hope for the sort of rigorous analysis I often find in Mr. Whitehead's work.

G.M.

A Two-Edged Sword

Subject: The Meaning of Rick Warren and the Obama-McCain Interview

I have to write to you in regards to your commentary about Rick Warren and the Saddleback Forum debate between Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain. I could not agree with you more on this issue. I have never considered myself to be a part of the Religious Right, even though I am evangelical preacher and have actually been involved in politics. My involvement comes from working for an elected prosecutor and running for judge on a couple of occasions. I have never tied my religious viewpoints to the political aspects, or vice versa, and am no longer involved in politics.

I also do not believe in being solely a 'feel-good Christianity' type of preacher, as you accurately described Mr. Warren. While I certainly applaud his stance on the poor, environmental issues, hungar and disease, I believe more needs to be done for the spiritual health of our nation as well as those around us.

The Bible descirbes itself as a two edged sword. We need to be socially involved in mission work, but we also need to preach the importance of obedience to God and the necessity of avoiding sin without condemning the sinner.

Maybe no one is able to master this very delicate balance, so no one tries. Certainly Jesus mastered that, and we, I feel, have been called to be Christ like, so we need to try to master the tight rope. I appreciate your call to find a middle as Christians and am proud to support your work.

Greg S.

Monday, August 18, 2008

American Businesses Should Keep Jobs In America

Subject: Is America Made in China?

I would agree almost everything we have comes from China. If American workers are going to be able to work & live then it seems to me that American Business should keep their jobs IN America. China is a severe Human Rights violator. Most of those same Chinese people are working under horrendous conditions. This includes children. Why should a country that support human rights do business with a country that abuses the rights of its own citizens? American based businesses should keep their jobs in America.

Candice H.

The Strength of Non-Violence

Subject: The Revolution That Changed Us Forever

Mr. Whitehead, that was an excellent essay. It's the best statement on the power and strength of non-violence since "Turn the other cheek."

We keep looking to killing each other as the way to solve our problems and that way keeps failing to work. I'd sure like to try a different approach.

The analysis of The Beatles and the message they brought reminded me of my formative preteen and teenage years and how big a part The Beatles played in that period of my life. I remember being 11 years old and watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. My dad hated the haircuts, didn't really comment on the music.

That was good enough for me!!!

Thanks for your thoughts here, sir. Non-violence definitely is one way of speaking truth to power and it's a way that takes guts. When you use that method, you're always going to be perceived as weak by those who fail to understand the power within the gentle way. I like to say, "Nice guys finish last... but that's still the way to run the race."

Joe J.
Helena, MT