Religion and government

Obama made a speech awhile back that has totally riled up the Dobsons of the religious right. He said that this is not a Christian nation. whoops. He went on to explain that we are a nation founded under a constitution where we use logic to make our laws not expect it to come through leaders speaking directly to god or interpreting an ancient holy book for current laws. He was trying to explain the difference between faith and government. Faith can inspire someone to righteous living and laws that make for good communities but those laws will make sense and be logical not dependent on something nobody can see to test.

How do you make laws today based on the Bible? Perhaps where Jesus said if you have two coats give away one? Maybe the Old Testament where it dictated don't wear fabric of several sources? Could it be where you stone a disobedient child? How about when Jesus said to judge not lest ye be judged? Or where he said pay your taxes as in render unto Caesar what is Caesar's.

Pieces from Obama's speech on religion and government-- YouTube




Bush got a lot of folks to vote for him based purely on his saying god told him to run. Then he said that he consulted god instead of his own father for guidance. In any normal look at that, people would think the man was schizophrenic because his life shows such a contradiction between his words, but he was just fine with Dobson and the religious right.

Dobson is coming down on Obama like at ton of bricks because unlike McCain who walked away from his own wisdom in order to be nominated (remember what he used to say about christianists?), Obama is standing up for what is sensible and good. Maybe that loss of wisdom comes from too many years in DC-- that lack of experience pundits are trying to get people to worry about so much.

Not expecting divine words to decide how to vote might enable people to use their own wisdom. It could. Some links follow:

Bill Press-- God Bless Barack Obama

Frank Schaeffer-- Dr. Dobson Just Handed Obama Victory

The truth is Christianists like Dobson do not really want the words of Jesus to dictate their political positions. They are picking and choosing what suits them which is their business until they say the Bible is the basis for our government. It's not and Obama had the courage to say as much. I just hope he sticks with it because like so many other things-- he's right. (As in correct, not on the right.)