Post by Tzalaran on Oct 25, 2008 8:02:02 GMT -6
The 'moral majority' has recently pushed out a number of doom and gloom messages that are designed to paint a bleak future in the event that Obama is elected.
Here is an article that outlines some of the things they are saying:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27369927/
Logically, these arguments do not pass the validity test because they are extreme examples of slippery slope arguments, but they are certain to inspire the desired effect on low information voters who haven't taken the time to research the true platforms. It highlights the fear of this group in losing their political power, but what i really want to focus on is the messages, and how they contrast with the tenets of their religion.
"The supreme court will make gay marriage the law of the land, and force homosexual scoutmasters into boy scouts." What a lie this is, and from what i remember of christian tradition is breaking the 8th commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. There is no desire by Obama to force gay marriage, and in fact he doesn't support an amendment that gives homosexual's marriage rights, but instead supports civil unions that give gay couples the same rights to property, hospital visits, and estate transference that hetero couples receive. This is not directed to redefine marriage as the domain of gays and lesbians, but designed to allow them the same liberties that all people should receive. Sexual preference is not the 'reefer madness' bogeyman of the new century that the Christian conservatives wish to make it out to be. The vast majority of these individuals are honest, hardworking, accepting people who do not wish to push their lifestyle onto others, but instead just wish to have the right to choose who they love, and that is one decision that the government has absolutely no power to decide. This country was founded on the tenets of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people. It is a tragedy that any group would attempt to remove these rights from another group, and attempt to vilify the group in a modern day witch hunt.
They are also claiming that an Obama presidency will cause terrorist attacks in the U.S. and across the world, and that Al-Qaida will conquer Iraq. The fact of the matter as it stands is that the world is tired of the Fundamentalist hypocritical christian ideology displayed by Bush and now endorsed by McCain, and if we were to continue on this path there is no way that the international community will continue to accept American leadership. The entire free world supports Obama in staggering numbers, yet we here in the states are the only ones who get to choose that leader. This is a disservice to the free world, and for us to not take their opinions into account highlights our arrogance and displays a valid reason for them to no longer look to America if we elect McCain.
Nationalized Health care is something the christian conservatives should agree with in order to raise the standard of living for all citizens and allow our citizens to live in better health. health care for the wealthy only is against all principles that Christ laid out. The hypocrisy of this statement is appalling, and it shows that their interests are not along with what the tenets of their religion preach.
i love Christ. there is no historical figure that i would choose to have a philosophical discussion with over an evening above Christ. The problem is that so many christians are so unlike Christ. (thanks Gandhi). Your message has deterred from the principles that Christ laid out, and until this message has returned to the moral standing that is put out by Christ, they should shut up and focus on themselves. You have no right to push your views when you don't practice what your religion preaches.
Abortion seems to be their biggest political play, and somehow they feel that their Pro-Life message on this front makes up for their warmongering and holy war against Muslims. This is a direct affront to the founding fathers who, although christian, were persecuted for their beliefs and believed that all men should be able to pray as they will. The government has no right to impose a state religion, and this country's freedom of religion is not limited to Christianity's subsects. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism, ZoroAstrianism, Judaism, and agnosticism are all accepted religions and none of them have the definite way to salvation. All religions were formed by men, and their holy books were written by men. claim divine inspiration for these works, the facts can never prove the intersection of a transcendent being during the writing of these, and they mimic many philosophical works throughout human history. This alone should prove the need for a bit of tolerance when dealing with those of other faiths, not the stubborn belief in "true" religions and the "chosen ones" mentality that they create.
The chrisitian conservative movement has lost its moral standing, lost its persuasive arguments and moved towards fanatical zeal that hasn't been seen since the crusades. This is evil, and until this is changed the people looking to gain power through the holy war against radical Islam need to rethink how they are living the faith as Christ preached, providing the example of love instead of promoting extremist values.
Let us not forget, Hitler used the christian faith as justification to torture Jews and blacks. The direction of the current day christian conservative movement is showing scary ties to this type of fanaticism, and i pray that they will scale back the rhetoric and focus once again on the tenets of love and peace that Christ stood for.
Here is an article that outlines some of the things they are saying:
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27369927/
Logically, these arguments do not pass the validity test because they are extreme examples of slippery slope arguments, but they are certain to inspire the desired effect on low information voters who haven't taken the time to research the true platforms. It highlights the fear of this group in losing their political power, but what i really want to focus on is the messages, and how they contrast with the tenets of their religion.
"The supreme court will make gay marriage the law of the land, and force homosexual scoutmasters into boy scouts." What a lie this is, and from what i remember of christian tradition is breaking the 8th commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. There is no desire by Obama to force gay marriage, and in fact he doesn't support an amendment that gives homosexual's marriage rights, but instead supports civil unions that give gay couples the same rights to property, hospital visits, and estate transference that hetero couples receive. This is not directed to redefine marriage as the domain of gays and lesbians, but designed to allow them the same liberties that all people should receive. Sexual preference is not the 'reefer madness' bogeyman of the new century that the Christian conservatives wish to make it out to be. The vast majority of these individuals are honest, hardworking, accepting people who do not wish to push their lifestyle onto others, but instead just wish to have the right to choose who they love, and that is one decision that the government has absolutely no power to decide. This country was founded on the tenets of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people. It is a tragedy that any group would attempt to remove these rights from another group, and attempt to vilify the group in a modern day witch hunt.
They are also claiming that an Obama presidency will cause terrorist attacks in the U.S. and across the world, and that Al-Qaida will conquer Iraq. The fact of the matter as it stands is that the world is tired of the Fundamentalist hypocritical christian ideology displayed by Bush and now endorsed by McCain, and if we were to continue on this path there is no way that the international community will continue to accept American leadership. The entire free world supports Obama in staggering numbers, yet we here in the states are the only ones who get to choose that leader. This is a disservice to the free world, and for us to not take their opinions into account highlights our arrogance and displays a valid reason for them to no longer look to America if we elect McCain.
Nationalized Health care is something the christian conservatives should agree with in order to raise the standard of living for all citizens and allow our citizens to live in better health. health care for the wealthy only is against all principles that Christ laid out. The hypocrisy of this statement is appalling, and it shows that their interests are not along with what the tenets of their religion preach.
i love Christ. there is no historical figure that i would choose to have a philosophical discussion with over an evening above Christ. The problem is that so many christians are so unlike Christ. (thanks Gandhi). Your message has deterred from the principles that Christ laid out, and until this message has returned to the moral standing that is put out by Christ, they should shut up and focus on themselves. You have no right to push your views when you don't practice what your religion preaches.
Abortion seems to be their biggest political play, and somehow they feel that their Pro-Life message on this front makes up for their warmongering and holy war against Muslims. This is a direct affront to the founding fathers who, although christian, were persecuted for their beliefs and believed that all men should be able to pray as they will. The government has no right to impose a state religion, and this country's freedom of religion is not limited to Christianity's subsects. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism, ZoroAstrianism, Judaism, and agnosticism are all accepted religions and none of them have the definite way to salvation. All religions were formed by men, and their holy books were written by men. claim divine inspiration for these works, the facts can never prove the intersection of a transcendent being during the writing of these, and they mimic many philosophical works throughout human history. This alone should prove the need for a bit of tolerance when dealing with those of other faiths, not the stubborn belief in "true" religions and the "chosen ones" mentality that they create.
The chrisitian conservative movement has lost its moral standing, lost its persuasive arguments and moved towards fanatical zeal that hasn't been seen since the crusades. This is evil, and until this is changed the people looking to gain power through the holy war against radical Islam need to rethink how they are living the faith as Christ preached, providing the example of love instead of promoting extremist values.
Let us not forget, Hitler used the christian faith as justification to torture Jews and blacks. The direction of the current day christian conservative movement is showing scary ties to this type of fanaticism, and i pray that they will scale back the rhetoric and focus once again on the tenets of love and peace that Christ stood for.
