Does size matter in comparing Gods? That might be the question if not for the fact that the entire line of attack based upon worshiping different gods is bogus. Pastor Arnold Conrad gave a rather disturbing invocation before Sen. McCain’s speech in Davenport, Iowa yesterday:
I also would also pray, Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their god–whether it’s Hindu, Buddha, Allah–that his opponent wins, for a variety of reasons. And Lord, I pray that you will guard your own reputation, because they’re going to think that their God is bigger than you, if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name with all that happens between now and election day.
The manner in which some Republicans claim to be the sole supporters of Christianity is amazing considering that two of the most openly religious Christians to run for office in recent years have been Democrats Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. This is all part of the campaign to portray Obama as different, and even a Muslim in order to influence the religious vote.
There is a legitimate question as to how much John McCain and the Republican Party can be blamed for statements made by others. I wouldn’t let them totally off the hook as they have been encouraging this type of thought. Marc Ambinder did receive this statement from a McCain aide, Wendy Riemann, Midwest Regional Communications Director:
While we understand the important role that faith plays in informing the votes of Iowans, questions about the religious background of the candidates only serve to distract from the real questions in this race about Barack Obama’s judgment, policies and readiness to lead as commander in chief.
Seems to me that it has primarily been McCain’s campaign and other Republicans who have been trying to distract from discussions of the issues by relying on personal attacks.
This election is revealing exactly how disturbed and dilusional the republican party is. No wonderour country is a mess. These are the geniuses who elected Bush twice.
I am a British citizen interested in your Presidential Race .Here no priest/pastor/rabbi/mullah would dare tell his flock how to vote only encourage them to study the policies on offer and vote how their conscience dictates .In a democratic society such as the UK and the USA there are active faith members in all mainstream politicaL parties so why should any pastor assumes that God supports any one political viewpoint .Not to the same extent but it reminds me of radical Moslem clerics stirring up hatred against people not in tune with their views
I am a Christian. And as such, I believe it is my duty to vote for Sen. Obama.
Indeed, as a Christian, I have a hard time understanding how any of my fellow Christians can and do continue to support the policies of President Bush … whose entire presidenial terms have been, in my view, completely at odds with the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Pastor Arnold and I read a different Bible. Mine says “love thy neighbor as yourself.” (BTW, #2 commandment by Jesus Himself) “Judge not less you be judged.” You will notice it is the politically conservative right Christians who are vocally most judgmental, who are the most self righteous and seem to believe that they are divinely inspired to tell voters how they should think and vote. If you don’t vote pastor Arnold’s vision, you must not be a Christian. Political or religious influence here? When politics and religion are mixed, politics comes out first. You do not see Billy Graham making such claims. Pastor Arnold would do well to take some lessons from a humble servant. Maybe he just trying to get his share of the spotlight….more fame, ,more power? Oops, now I am being judgmental–hate when that happens.
As the god of mischief, I am disturbed that Rev. Conrad did not mention me during his invocation. Especially since I wrote it.