In the wake of Reformation Day, perhaps it's worth noting that, in this election cycle, we have had to deal with both a few Roman Catholic bishops and a few exciteable Evangelicals warning voters that they were imperiling their immortal souls by voting for Barak Obama. What century are we in, again?
I don't think that the increasing irreligiosity of society -- and persons identifying not only with no Christian denomination, but with no belief system in particular, is the fastest growing religious demographic in this country -- is much helped by paternalistic religious blowhards who treat their constituencies like errant children who can be scared into desired political behavior by bogus claims of divine authority and spurious threats of damnation. Thinking adults in contemporary society don't put up with this kind of crap. Come to think of it, they didn't put up with it during the Reformation, either.
5 comments:
Wow - I hadn't heard about the bishops. Where and when did that happen?
Maybe we should all make sure to read a copy of "How to Avoid Being Burned At the Stake" from the Lutheran Handbook? :-)
Well, it really is different in the UK. Any psospective candidate who was as openly "religious" as, say, GWB, would lose votes by the thousand. Declaring oneself to be a Christian as part of one's political manifesto would be death. to ones hopes.
Not sure if that is a good thing or not. But we don' take so long to elect a Government as you do a President, either ! ;)
Perhaps the prayers of the Christians in Kenya were heard over the prayers of the christians affiliated with FOtF.
Scott: The bishop of I think Kansas City was one of them:
Read about it here.
I think that bishop may have been placing his diocese tax exempt status in jeopardy.
On Reformation Sunday, I told my Sunday school students (high schoolers) that one of the greatest gifts of Luther's legacy is being able to ask questions about our faith and of our leadership. A questioning faith is a dynamic, growing faith, I think.
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