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From: Rocket Scientist (dialup-4.228.147.34.dial1.denver1.level3.net)
In Reply to: Interesting article posted by EC on December 24, 2004 at 11:18 pm:
Interesting, maybe, but not too useful. I am not fond of political wrangling of any kind, and that is exactly what he's doing: he's using Christmas as a way to beat up on Bush. I have little patience for any beating up of political figures, regardless of how I personally feel about them. And what is really, incredibly ironic is that he is mixing up what I see as two opposing forces. He's implying that religion should dictate politics - for all practical purposes, a church state. It's a concept most Americans don't like, but there's been a church state in Britain for hundreds of years, so I guess it's a different perspective. He also claims that there's no politics in Christianity, even though Christ had strong political messages. I have to disagree with his claim of no politics in Christianity. Earlier this year, I made a concious decision to leave a faith I've loved for many years (I won't say which one) because some of the church officials were publicly declaring that members were obligated to vote a certain way, and if they didn't, they should be denied certain sacraments. The implication was, "Vote for Joe, or you can't be part of this community." I don't know how you can get more political than that. It is my feeling that this is entirely inappropriate for a Christian church, and I will have no part of it. It may be that what I have observed is just an American phenomenon - the author of the article is British, so maybe it's a different ball game there. RS
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