Evangelicals (and Catholics) for Bush
This is a must read by Steven Waldman on George Bush and Christians on National Review Online.
Though the focus is on Evangelicals here, much of this applies to Catholics who support the President.
Though the focus is on Evangelicals here, much of this applies to Catholics who support the President.
Conservative evangelical Christians (and Catholics) have many reasons to be disappointed or even furious with George W. Bush. During his presidency, there have been roughly five million abortions. He has focused on partial-birth abortions, but the courts have held up the law.
What's more, I believe the Bush presidency will be viewed as a boon for gays (the Federal Marriage Amendment is headed where?). And when faced with slight resistance, Bush threw overboard his dramatic proposal to fuel "armies of compassion" by allowing non-itemizers to deduct charitable contributions.
Yet despite all this, his support among evangelicals is absolutely undiminished.
So why do Evangelicals and Catholics support the president? It comes down to "persecution, transformation, calling, and clarity." This makes sense to me. It probably will not do Kerry Catholics.
posted by David at 8:56 AM
Track with co.mments
Rate this post:
5 Comments:
Even George H. W. Bush speculated that perhaps he needed to be defeated so that his son might become president. "If I'd won that election in 1992, my oldest son would not be president of the United States of America. ... I think the Lord works in mysterious ways."Wow GW 41 certainly thinks in mysterious ways; he certainly didn't lose because his tax cuts for the wealthy left such a HUGE deficit he HAD to raise taxes to not COMPLETELY make our government insolvent. Hmm, GW 43 has racked up a crapload of debt too, but he's no dummy, he won't raise taxes like his pa, he'll try to cut taxes for the wealthy again and stiff entitlement/social programs to try to make up some of the difference.
This notion was strengthened after 9/11 when Bush so clearly rose to the challenge. That fed the evangelical view that his election was part of God's mysterious strategy.Wow, the Lord does work in strange ways! God killed 3000 people so that GW could turn around and kill 15000 more people. Cool Beans! At least someone got something outta the killings.
Finally, there is the war on moral relativism. For many evangelicals, the root of all Baby Boomer evil is moral relativism, the sense that there is no good or evil. So when Bush so clearly and frequently uses those terms, it has resonance well beyond foreign policy. Moral clarity is essential for fighting not only terror but also American cultural rot.Thank Ja! GW is fightin his way through baby boomer evil, terror, moral relativism, and culture with his superior moral clarity, touching everything he does with his enlightened ways, spreading his Liberty. I'd like to leave this sermon with a quote from GW himself:
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."
"God loves you, and I love you. And you can count on both of us as a powerful message that people who wonder about their future can hear."
"More Muslims have died at the hands of killers than—I say more Muslims—a lot of Muslims have died—I don't know the exact count—at Istanbul. Look at these different places around the world where there's been tremendous death and destruction because killers kill."
"[W]hether they be Christian, Jew, or Muslim, or Hindu, people have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be called themselves."
"My answer is bring them on."—On Iraqi militants attacking U.S. forces
"We must all hear the universal call to like your neighbor just like you like to be liked yourself."AMEN
Lots of anger from the above commenter. Lots of emotion. Emotion clouds the minds.
Most Catholics would appreciate the idea of mystery. Our Faith is full of them, thus we can appreciate the former president's and the current president's thinking in re: to God having a hand in the elections of 1992 and 2000. Can you prove that he did not? We look so hard at the world that we are blinded by the spritual mysteries. Explain the Trinity. Or the Immaculate Conception. Do you completely understand them? But, as a Catholic, you still believe them, do you not?
I can see how it must be difficult for non-Christians to understand faith. But for so many Christians who do understand it, it is refreshing to have a president who also does.
"Can you prove that he did not?"
Can you prove that he did?
"Explain the Trinity. Or the Immaculate Conception. Do you completely understand them? But, as a Catholic, you still believe them, do you not?"
Yes, do you completely understand them? I guess both of us are clueless, but we believe that which we don't understand completely, or something like that, right? By the way, prove that monkeys don't fly outta yer but when yer not looking.
"I can see how it must be difficult for non-Christians to understand faith. But for so many Christians who do understand it, it is refreshing to have a president who also does."
Hehe, you sure did present a compelling case for the president. I think I initially misunderestimated your sincerity. You certainly addressed all the points in the previous post. Labelling someone as angry and emotional is the most effective way to argue your point. Why not just state that I must be on the rag? Emotion and used pads cloud more than just one's mind.
"Can you prove that he did? ...do you completely understand them?"
No, that is why they are called MYSTERIES.
My comment about your emotion was an observation. I do not see that as a basis for my argument. Take it or leave it but you have done little to make a case the other way. Instead, you use emotion and answer my questions with questions. I do enjoy these exchanges.
"No, that is why they are called MYSTERIES."
It's also a mystery why monkeys fly out of butts.
If you wish to use logic instead of emotion to argue your points, let me know when we should start.
Post a Comment
<< Home