Archive for Friday, June 13, 2008
Obama fails Christianity test
June 13, 2008
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Barack Obama's presidential campaign plans to strike at the heart of the Republican base by attempting to woo Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics to his side.
The Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody first broke the story on his blog "The Brody File." Obama's campaign for the conservative Christian vote, which has largely gone to the Republican presidential candidate in recent elections, has been dubbed the "Joshua Generation Project." Joshua, Moses' successor, led the Israelites into the Promised Land. It wasn't the group that fled Egypt in the Exodus, though. They died in the wilderness, lacking faith in God's promise. It was the next generation that Joshua led into Canaan. Apparently, if we have enough faith in Obama, he will lead us all into a new America, but if we vote for John McCain, we will demonstrate a lack of faith (in Obama) and die in the political badlands.
Obama is better at biblical language and imagery than any Democrat in modern times. He certainly beats Howard Dean, now the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, who once offered Job as his favorite New Testament book. This is cynical manipulation of the devout and it is no better when Democrats do it than when Republicans use religious language for partisan advantage.
Obama has declared himself a committed Christian. He can call himself anything he likes, but there are certain markers among the evangelicals he is courting that one must meet in order to qualify for that label.
Some insight into Obama's "Christianity" comes from an interview he gave in 2004 to Chicago Sun-Times religion editor Cathleen Falsani for her book, "The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People."
"I'm rooted in the Christian tradition," said Obama. He then adds something most Christians will see as universalism: "I believe there are many paths to the same place, and that is a belief that there is a higher power, a belief that we are connected as a people."
Falsani correctly brings up John 14:6 in which Jesus says of Himself, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That sounds exclusive, but Obama says it depends on how this verse is heard. According to Falsani, Obama thinks that "all people of faith - Christians, Jews, Muslims, animists, everyone - know the same God." (Her words.)
Evangelicals and serious Catholics might ask if this is so, why did Jesus waste His time coming to Earth, suffering pain, rejection and crucifixion? If there are many ways to God, He might have sent down a spiritual version of table manners and avoided the rest.
Here's Obama telling Falsani, "The difficult thing about any religion, including Christianity, is that at some level there is a call to evangelize and proselytize. There's the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven't embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they're going to hell." Falsani adds, "Obama doesn't believe he, or anyone else, will go to hell. But he's not sure he'll be going to heaven, either." Again, that is contrary to what Evangelicals and most Catholics believe.
Obama can call himself anything he likes, but there is a clear requirement for one to qualify as a Christian and Obama doesn't meet that requirement. One cannot deny central tenets of the Christian faith, including the deity and uniqueness of Christ as the sole mediator between God and Man and be a Christian. Such people do have a label applied to them in Scripture. They are called "false prophets."
Cal Thomas is a columnist for Tribune Media Services.
13 June 2008
at 6:09 a.m.
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bondmen (Anonymous) says…
This is a good story to explain the truth about hell:
http://www.av1611.org/hell.html
Barack Hussein Obama's belief hell doesn't exists doesn't make it so!
13 June 2008
at 6:30 a.m.
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Daytrader23 (Anonymous) says…
Yes and McCain obviously passes the evangelical Christian test since he divorced his wife to marry a wealthy women 30 years younger. I thought only God was allowed to jude people. Hmm, it seems a certain group must think they are God and they can judge “how Christian are you?” Hypocrites.
13 June 2008
at 6:52 a.m.
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dulcinea47 (Anonymous) says…
Last time I checked, Christians, Muslims, and Jews *do* believe in the same god.
13 June 2008
at 6:52 a.m.
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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…
Everyone knows that Obama is a Muslim in hiding and his wife refers to European Americans as “whitey.”
His name is Barack (Muslim name) Hussein (Muslim name) Obama (Muslim name). End of story.
Should this guy REALLY try to court the Christian right when his big financial backer is open society moveon . org George Soros, the hedge fund manipulating socialist who gives us high gasoline prices?
13 June 2008
at 6:56 a.m.
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bondmen (Anonymous) says…
McCain sadly is mum on his religious beliefs, not unlike many in that generation. Christians all are sinners, just like those they live around. The big difference is Christians admit (confess) their sin and believe they need a Savior. Furthermore they believe Jesus Christ is that Savior.
It is true sinners are hypocrites but Christians would never let a hypocrite come between them and their Savior Jesus.
It is time to refresh.
What Do Christians Believe?
http://www.afcministry.com/What_do_Ch…
13 June 2008
at 7:07 a.m.
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Mr_Nancy_Boy_To_You (Tom Shewmon) says…
The Audacity of Fraud. No amount of fraudulence could hurt Obama now. Obamania has reached fever pitch. Campaign on corrupt liberal media!
13 June 2008
at 7:19 a.m.
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Oracle_of_Rhode (Anonymous) says…
Cal Thomas obviously fails this simple Christianity test…
“Do not judge, lest you too be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” [Matthew 7:1 & 2.]
13 June 2008
at 7:24 a.m.
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max1 (Anonymous) says…
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwor…
Fervent e-mails and blogs have buzzed since late May with “news” that a videotape would emerge of Barack Obama's wife spewing the racial epithet.
Blogger Larry Johnson apparently launched the rumor of a whitey “rant” on May 26. A few days later, Johnson promised an update. Only one thing remained absent — proof. That didn't stop talk-radio gasbag Rush Limbaugh from reporting rumors of a tape of Michelle Obama ragging “whitey” from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ.
Indeed, the Obama camp moved quickly to stamp out another myth Thursday, shipping a copy of the candidate's Hawaiian birth certificate to the dailykos.com website. That came in response to an Internet provocateur who implied that Obama had been born overseas, making him ineligible for the presidency.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/…
Fox News anchor ED Hill has lost her show a week after suggesting Barack Obama and his wife Michelle's on-stage victory gesture could be seen as a “terrorist fist jab”.
“A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab? The gesture everyone seems to interpret differently,” said Hill in her show. “We'll show you some interesting body communication and find out what it really says.”
The “terrorist fist jab” comment is the latest in a series of anti-Obama incidents in which Fox News has been involved.
Recently an on-screen caption described Michelle Obama as “Obama's Baby Mama”, a negative slang term for black single mothers.
And in May Fox News contributor Liz Trotta apologised for joking that Obama should be assassinated, along with Osama bin Laden.
––––—
“the Obamamanians : attempts to shut down the exchange of ideas and curtail the exercise of free speech are not going to work. We are onto their game.” -Godot
13 June 2008
at 7:28 a.m.
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max1 (Anonymous) says…
“His name is Barack (Muslim name) Hussein (Muslim name) Obama (Muslim name). End of story.” -BigPrune
Barack isn't a “Muslim name”, and Barack was named “Hussein” in honor of his Christian grandfather, who served in the British army during World War One.
13 June 2008
at 7:44 a.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
“Barack Hussein Obama's belief hell doesn't exists doesn't make it so!”
And your belief that it does doesn't make it so, either.
13 June 2008
at 7:48 a.m.
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Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
Last time I checked, Christians, Muslims, and Jews *do* believe in the same god.
========
Really? When you “checked”, what information did you read that said Muslims worship Jesus?
13 June 2008
at 7:48 a.m.
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bd (Anonymous) says…
daytrader23, does she have a sister?????
13 June 2008
at 7:49 a.m.
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bondmen (Anonymous) says…
Would it were only MY belief jonas!
13 June 2008
at 7:55 a.m.
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absolutelyridiculous (Anonymous) says…
Obama's prochoice stance is anything but Christian.
13 June 2008
at 8 a.m.
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jumpin_catfish (Anonymous) says…
me thinks most christians fail the christianity test
13 June 2008
at 8:22 a.m.
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acg (Anonymous) says…
And jumpin catfish wins!!
13 June 2008
at 8:23 a.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
“This is a good story to explain the truth about hell:”
While there is a “hell”, I'm not sure that link explains the “truth” about hell. Assuming a page would be telling the truth about hell, it would use the most convincing argument. The main quote on its page is from a parable. Parables do teach truth, but that is the truth about the main point of the parable and not all the details. The details, which may or may not be true, help support or prop the main point. One should ask what the main point of Luke 16 was, or even the surrounding verses, as Jesus spoke to the Pharisees.
While Obama is wrong about “hell” (look up the Greek word and alternative translations in other verses) not existing, I would have to conclude the link does not give the truth about hell and it must be looked for elsewhere. The link appears to supposedly be using support for a premise much as Obama is. Could the authors of the link have similar beliefs as the Pharisees did?
13 June 2008
at 8:29 a.m.
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frazzled (Anonymous) says…
Apparently Mr. Thomas would be happier if everyone had “Christian” or “Not Christian” marked on their driver's licenses. He, of course, would be the one to decide who gets which label.
13 June 2008
at 8:29 a.m.
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deskboy04 (Anonymous) says…
This is all silly.
13 June 2008
at 8:30 a.m.
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phenommenom (Anonymous) says…
Who cares! Who said the President has to be a Christian anyways? Religion should not matter since the “whities” invaded this country for feedom of religion!
13 June 2008
at 8:36 a.m.
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woxy (Anonymous) says…
>>>McCain sadly is mum on his religious beliefs, <<
Actually, this is one of the best things about him. He's running for President, not pastor, minister, or Pope. Hopefully he'll set a precedent.
13 June 2008
at 8:36 a.m.
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ndmoderate (Anonymous) says…
Wow. A new low for Cal for sure. According to his logic, there are a lot of people in this country who aren't Christian enough for him, and in his mind, Christian enough to be a President that represents a small portion of the American people. Boo hoo, Cal. Boo hoo.
Gr:
Maybe you're the one who is wrong about hell? You may certainly believe whatever you wish, but flatly stating that Obama is wrong about hell only shows that his “wrongness” is your opinion. Proving the existence of hell is a tall order of the highest magnitude, don't you think?
13 June 2008
at 8:37 a.m.
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duplenty (Anonymous) says…
“His name is Barack (Muslim name) Hussein (Muslim name) Obama (Muslim name). End of story.”
I had thought that the stupidity of some on these threads could not increase. Unfortunately , I was obviously wrong.
So am I to understand that in order to be a “true American” and/or Christian, you have to be named Bobby Joe?
Cal's piece is the definition of “failing the Christianity test”. If you agree with him, you're an idiot.
You are aware, I hope, that George W. Bush is named after a dragon slayer who was martyred in Palestine….so he's obviously not a Christian.
As if his foreign and domestic policies didn't give you enough to go on.
13 June 2008
at 8:38 a.m.
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staff04 (Anonymous) says…
Cal, who fails it worse?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/art…
13 June 2008
at 8:41 a.m.
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arizonajh (Anonymous) says…
Haiku_Cuckoo
Jews don't worship Jesus either. Jesus was the supposed to have been the “son of God” not God himself. The Jews and the Muslims do worship the “God of Abraham” as do Christains. I think that is what dulcinea47 is saying. In fact Jesus was a Jew, he never left the faith and never started his own seperate church. By this articals arguement Jesus was not fit to be President. The belief that Jesus is the sole mediator between God and man pretty much blows the Catholics out of the water also, as they believe the Priest is the conduit which a person must go to reach God, you know the whole confessional and last rights things.
13 June 2008
at 8:43 a.m.
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OnlyTheOne (Anonymous) says…
Obama is the anti-Christ
13 June 2008
at 8:48 a.m.
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craigers (Anonymous) says…
Oracle, Cal is not doing what that verse says. In the greek for judge in that verse means to condemn and Cal is not condemning Obama at all. I believe in Paul's writing we are told to judge and that we will judge things in this world. The greek work used in that case means to assess which is what Cal Thomas is doing. Nobody is condemning, simply assessing the facts of the situation.
13 June 2008
at 8:50 a.m.
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invictus (Anonymous) says…
To be a Christian you need to follow Christ's teachings, not necessarily believe he is god. Christ's divinity was decided many years after his death, by men during a vote. This is when Aryanism was mostly destroyed. But the idea survive in Unitarianism, which is Christianity with out the mysticism
13 June 2008
at 8:52 a.m.
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duplenty (Anonymous) says…
“Nobody is condemning, simply assessing the facts of the situation.”
Craigers is the worst kind of “supposed” Christian. You have to go back to the etomology of the word to try and pretend that saying someone isn't Christian enough isn't judging them, only assessing the “facts”???
I cannot wait for you fundies to lose the WH.
13 June 2008
at 8:53 a.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
“Maybe you're the one who is wrong about hell?”
As we were discussing what the Bible says about hell, ndmoderate, what do you you think the Bible says?
13 June 2008
at 8:54 a.m.
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EXks (Anonymous) says…
99.99999% of you FAIL the christianity test!!!!!!!!!!
13 June 2008
at 8:59 a.m.
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staff04 (Anonymous) says…
“and his wife refers to European Americans as “whitey.”“
Wow, you are easily the stupidest person on this board. Dear jeebus, do you even bother to look into anything, or do you just swallow what the liars tell you without giving it any scrutiny?
Lie:
On May 30th, Rush Limbaugh said he had heard a rumor that a tape exists of Michelle Obama using the word “Whitey” from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ.
Truth:
No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––—
Lie:
On May 30th, Rush Limbaugh said he had heard a rumor that a tape exists of Michelle Obama using the word “Whitey” from the pulpit of Trinity United Church of Christ.
Truth:
No such tape exists. Michelle Obama has not spoken from the pulpit at Trinity and has not used that word.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––—
Lie:
Blogger Larry Johnson wrote on May 31st that he would add “New and dramatic developments. This is a heads up. I'll post the news Monday morning by 0900 hours. Now I know why people who have seen the videotape say it is stunning. Barack's headaches are only starting.”
Read the post
Truth:
Johnson posted no such update.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––—
Lie:
Roger Stone said on Fox News on June 1st that “there's a buzz, which I believe now to be credible, that some indelible record exists” of a tape of Michelle Obama using the term “whitey.”
Truth:
Stone conceded on June 2nd that he hasn't met anyone who has seen the alleged tape and that it therefore may be a hoax.
Lie:
Blogger Larry Johnson wrote on May 31st that he would add “New and dramatic developments. This is a heads up. I'll post the news Monday morning by 0900 hours. Now I know why people who have seen the videotape say it is stunning. Barack's headaches are only starting.”
Truth:
Johnson posted no such update.
13 June 2008
at 9:03 a.m.
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guesswho (Anonymous) says…
I like this:
If I tell you that, for example, I refuse to eat meat because it makes animals suffer, and then you see me eating a hot dog, you would be justified to call me a hypocrite.
The same thing is true for Christians. To say that God exists is to be an atheist towards all other gods. So it is an inconsistent and hypocrite position. You claim faith in one god but not in the others, even though they all require faith. You should either believe in all gods or in none of them
borrowed from: http://goosetheantithesis.blogspot.co…
Also, there are 6.5 billion people in the world. 33% are Christians (meaning the majority in the world are not). 5.78% of them are Protestant, and not sure how many of them are evengelical. Pretty small group of people to tell the rest of the world how to think or believe.
13 June 2008
at 9:04 a.m.
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ndmoderate (Anonymous) says…
You were discussing the Bible, gr, until you brought up Obama's “wrongness.” The Bible has nothing to do with Obama's campaign, nor should it. America is not a Christian nation.
You are welcome to discuss what the Bible says about hell with bondmen, but I fail to see how that applies to the current Presidential election.
The Bible says what it says. You are welcome to believe it or not.
13 June 2008
at 9:05 a.m.
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Godot (Anonymous) says…
Looks like staff04 got a new gig on Obama's rumor suppression team. All that experience spreading false rumors about Bush and Cheney has apparently paid off.
13 June 2008
at 9:05 a.m.
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craigers (Anonymous) says…
duplenty, I am simply telling you what those scriptures actually mean. There isn't a middle ground on whether somebody is Christian. If they accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, then they are Christians. Obviously, if you feel the need to accept Christ as your Savior then you feel that Christ is the only way. If you truly feel that way, then how can you say that there are many ways to get to heaven? If Christ is your Savior, then you must embrace all of his teachings which includes only one way to heaven.
13 June 2008
at 9:07 a.m.
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EXks (Anonymous) says…
This just in, from jesus ITself…..G Dumbya Bush & Dickey Cheney and their gang FAILS the christianity test!
13 June 2008
at 9:10 a.m.
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staff04 (Anonymous) says…
Godot-
Please point to one, just one “false rumor” that I have spread about Bush and/or Cheney. Otherwise, you are a liar.
Care to refute anything I posted in response to BigPrune's crapful post? If you can, I welcome it.
Get back to the drawing board….
13 June 2008
at 9:13 a.m.
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BABBOY (Anonymous) says…
In the words Ozzy Osburn:
“Rock in Rolli is my religion and my soul, you cannot kill rock and roll”
I do not judge people by their religion. I judge them by the conduct and actions.
Boys and girls, if I wanted another nut job calling himself religious and telling me what I need to do in that regard in office, I would vote for Bush.
This debate has no more relevance to me then watching little kids fight with each other on a play ground.
13 June 2008
at 9:16 a.m.
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EXks (Anonymous) says…
Faux (Fixed ) News FAILS the christianity test
Rush LIMPbaugh FAILS the christianity test
13 June 2008
at 9:18 a.m.
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mancityfooty (Corey Williams) says…
This would all be a lot easier if god would just show up and give a little press conference. No more arguments about abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, evolution/creation, or on the subject of god's existence and preferred faith. Too bad god hasn't decided to put anything in writing in the last two thousand years (give or take a few hundred).
13 June 2008
at 9:24 a.m.
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duplenty (Anonymous) says…
“If you truly feel that way, then how can you say that there are many ways to get to heaven?”
Where did I say any such thing? I personally feel that if you believe that there exists a fluffy, cloud filled heaven, and a hot, nasty hell, then you have the mental capacity of a third grader. However, I don't wish in any way to stop you from believing whatever you like. I do wish, however, for you and people like you to stop telling me what *I* should do, think, or feel.
13 June 2008
at 9:29 a.m.
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compmd (Anonymous) says…
I feel like I lost IQ points by reading this article and the majority of the comments.
duplenty, thank you for non-idiotic posts.
13 June 2008
at 9:31 a.m.
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RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Anonymous) says…
I take it this is not a multiple choice test.
What is considered a passing score?
13 June 2008
at 9:31 a.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
“You were discussing the Bible, gr, until you brought up Obama's “wrongness.” ”
Are you saying it is impossible for Obama to make a statement which disagrees with the Bible? Or that he was discussing the Bible? Is it impossible to say a statement someone just made to Falsani has no support of the Bible?
“The Bible has nothing to do with Obama's campaign, nor should it. “
I agree, it should not. Do you disagree with Obama's attempt “to woo Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics to his side” or the article's accusation of such?
“America is not a Christian nation. “
What brought that on? Are you anti-Obama, then? And anti-Clintion and anti-McCain as far as that goes?
“You are welcome to discuss what the Bible says about hell with bondmen, “
Umm, I thought I was.
“but I fail to see how that applies to the current Presidential election.”
I believe the article and Falsani were discussing the beliefs of Obama and the Bible. Do you disagree with where the article or Falsani was going with it or with what the attitude of Obama with the election is?
“The Bible says what it says. You are welcome to believe it or not.”
Apparently Obama and you do not - one more so than the other?
13 June 2008
at 9:43 a.m.
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jafs (Anonymous) says…
Interesting.
All the article said was that Obama's stated beliefs do not sound like Christianity to the author.
I would think (and hope) that there might be a variety of ways to be “Christian”, but certainly some beliefs about Christ may be central.
If Obama wants to court the religious right, he should expect this kind of scrutiny.
It would be nice if we could evaluate candidates without evaluating their religious beliefs, but apparently we're not there yet in America.
And, the issue here for Obama may be honesty, not religious belief.
13 June 2008
at 9:51 a.m.
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ndmoderate (Anonymous) says…
“Are you saying it is impossible for Obama to make a statement which disagrees with the Bible?”
No. I don't know how you came up with that question.
“Or that he was discussing the Bible?”
No.
“Is it impossible to say a statement someone just made to Falsani has no support of the Bible?”
It's possible, but has no effects on people who don't believe in the Bible. They are Americans too.
“Do you disagree with Obama's attempt “to woo Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics to his side”
Yes. He should try to woo all Americans without dividing them up into nice little groups.
“America is not a Christian nation. “
What brought that on?”
I like to state a few facts each day for the general enjoyment of my fellow anonymous posters. It also drives me nuts that many Americans let their vote ride on the particular religion of a candidate.
“Are you anti-Obama, then? And anti-Clintion and anti-McCain as far as that goes?”
In a lot of ways, yes. I don't think any candidate for public office should have to deal with religion. Religion should be left up to individual people, and the government should stay out—and vice versa.
“I believe the article and Falsani were discussing the beliefs of Obama and the Bible. Do you disagree with where the article or Falsani was going with it or with what the attitude of Obama with the election is?”
See my previous answers.
You are welcome to believe it or not.
“Apparently Obama and you do not - one more so than the other?”
And if I don't? I will not speak for Obama, and I don't think you or anyone else should either. Remember, I jumped into the conversation when you flatly stated that Obama was wrong about hell. If you had only said “According to my belief system, I disagree with Obama's statements about the path to heaven.” If only.
13 June 2008
at 9:54 a.m.
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temperance (Anonymous) says…
Cal out does himself again with one of the most anti-American articles I've seen of his in years. There's no religious litmus test for public office. That's how the Taliban does things, and I invite Cal (and select LJW commenters) to join them if they don't feel like their government is theocratic enough.
13 June 2008
at 9:54 a.m.
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craigers (Anonymous) says…
duplenty, the first sentence was the only thing directly stated to you. The rest is a hypothetical situation.
13 June 2008
at 10:01 a.m.
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duplenty (Anonymous) says…
temperance hits the nail on the head.
13 June 2008
at 10:14 a.m.
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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…
Max1,
Should this guy REALLY try to court the Christian right when his big financial backer is open society moveon . org George Soros, the hedge fund manipulating socialist who gives us high gasoline prices to influence the election in Barack Hussein Obama's favor ?
Barack - Barraq, Shining
Barack - Barakah, Blessing
Hussein - Handsome, Beautiful
Obama -
Michelle didn't say “whitey,” she said “honky.” I stand corrected.
13 June 2008
at 10:18 a.m.
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notnowdear (Anonymous) says…
People in the USA are falling away from Christianity left and right. There shouldn't be a Christianity test.
13 June 2008
at 10:30 a.m.
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alm77 (Anonymous) says…
Christians today, especially the 20-somethings and early 30's, are more concerned with what the President will do about social issues than if he, himself is a evangelical. W played the “Jesus card” with us and look what that got us. We're not interested in our next President's faith as much as we are his social agenda. This generation of Christians is reaching people with the Gospel through personal relationships and working with non Christians for good social causes without a second thought.
13 June 2008
at 10:44 a.m.
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arizonajh (Anonymous) says…
Big Prune
“Michelle didn't say “whitey,” she said “honky.” I stand corrected”
Have a link or citation for that?
Big - adj - exhibiting self imprtance (ex “Big talk”)
Big - adj - feeling self-importance (ex “Too big for his britches”)
Prune - A dried plum - usually injested to increase the amount of excrement discarged by the body
Fun little word games huh?
13 June 2008
at 10:49 a.m.
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BigPrune (Anonymous) says…
arizonajh
Oh, she didn't say “whitey” or “honkey,” it was “cracker.”
Prune - Also slang for…..
13 June 2008
at 10:58 a.m.
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arizonajh (Anonymous) says…
Barack -
Barak
Means “lightning” in Hebrew. This was the name of a military commander in the Old Testament.
Baruch
Means “blessed” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament this is the name of a companion of the prophet Jeremiah. The apocryphal Book of Baruch was supposedly written by him.
Bearach - Berach
Derived from Gaelic biorach meaning “sharp”. This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
The specific spelling of B-A-R-A-C-K has no etomogy of it's own. It is a name or variant that is found in Jewish, Irish, Armenian, Turkish, West African, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, Swedish, French, Scottish, English and yes Arabic.
13 June 2008
at 11:03 a.m.
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max1 (Anonymous) says…
“Should this guy REALLY try to court the Christian right” -BigPrune, the stupid bigot
Obama isn't courting your “Christian Right” hate groups that McCain had so eagerly begged for endorsements. They are clearly all yours, and you can have them.
In a speech about social justice at Selma, Alabama in March of 2007, Obama used the phrase “the Joshua generation”:
“I'm here because somebody marched. I'm here because you all sacrificed for me. I stand on the shoulders of giants. I thank the Moses generation; but we've got to remember, now, that Joshua still had a job to do. As great as Moses was, despite all that he did, leading a people out of bondage, he didn't cross over the river to see the Promised Land. God told him your job is done. You'll see it. You'll be at the mountain top and you can see what I've promised. What I've promised to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. You will see that I've fulfilled that promise but you won't go there. We're going to leave it to the Joshua generation to make sure it happens. There are still battles that need to be fought; some rivers that need to be crossed. Like Moses, the task was passed on to those who might not have been as deserving, might not have been as courageous, find themselves in front of the risks that their parents and grandparents and great grandparents had taken. That doesn't mean that they don't still have a burden to shoulder, that they don't have some responsibilities. The previous generation, the Moses generation, pointed the way. They took us 90% of the way there. We still got that 10% in order to cross over to the other side. So the question, I guess, that I have today is what's called of us in this Joshua generation? What do we do in order to fulfill that legacy; to fulfill the obligations and the debt that we owe to those who allowed us to be here today?”
13 June 2008
at 11:06 a.m.
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arizonajh (Anonymous) says…
Obama - Dholuo (Kenyan Luo)
based on a word meaning “crooked” or “slightly bent”. It was possibly originally given to a baby who had an arm or leg that looked slightly bent immediately after birth.
13 June 2008
at 11:15 a.m.
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acg (Anonymous) says…
I like duplenty more and more with each of his/her posts.
13 June 2008
at 11:38 a.m.
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max1 (Anonymous) says…
February 17, 2004
http://www.njdc.org/emet/detail.php?i…
National Jewish Democratic Council
Cal Thomas has done it again. In his December 29th column, Thomas derided Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean's faith and his conversations about it. But he took it one step further. Thomas unacceptably belittled the faith of Howard Dean's children, who are being raised in the Jewish tradition, by noting that choosing to raise them Jewish — in the tradition of Dr. Judith Steinberg Dean — is “strange at best:”
Cal Thomas' condescending judgment of the Dean's decision to raise their children Jewish is wholly unacceptable, and such words have no place in any serious analysis of the qualifications of any candidate for higher office.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/9…
From the avalanche of articles and commentaries published by mainstream media outlets in recent weeks, one might easily get the impression that Barack Obama is in trouble with Jewish voters.
When Obama headed to South Florida recently, the media narrative that emerged focused on what was characterized as his uphill battle with the state's Jewish voters, many of them elderly. The New York Times, in a front-page story appearing May 21, catalogued the anxieties - which ranged from Israel and Iran to race and antisemitism - circulating in the Jewish community, along with falsehoods like “Obama is an Arab” and “Al Qaeda is backing him.” (Reporting on the Times story, a Croatian Web site, Javno, summed up the situation under the more-than-dubious headline “Ku Klux Klan Supports Obama, Jews Do Not.”)
Statistics show that Jews are one of Obama's strongest white constituencies - a key base the Illinois senator is working overtime to shore up, rather than a uniquely problematic weak spot. . . Moreover, a Gallup Poll released in May showed that 61% of Jewish voters nationwide prefer Obama versus 32% for McCain
13 June 2008
at 12:31 p.m.
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storm (Anonymous) says…
I don't see a problem with failing a Christianity test. Ultimately, it's how you live your life. If you choose a religion as an excuse to make you good, so what?
13 June 2008
at 12:53 p.m.
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malehrman (Matt Lehrman) says…
This commentary is exactly the reason Cal Thomas should be dropped immediately from syndication in the LJ World. What exactly does this piece contribute to the campaign? The headline alone raises should disqualify Thomas from appearing on the editorial page.
The “Christianity” to which Mr. Thomas refers is very narrowly defined and certainly not inclusive of all Christians by any stretch of the imagination. Not even all evangelical Christians would agree with what he writes. He appears to be writing about the Christian beliefs of a vocal group of evangelical Christians that have been well represented in national politics over the last eight years but are not representative of all evangelicals or all Christians.
This commentary only detracts from the campaign discourse and serves to reinforce negative opinions about politics, politicians and elections. There is a presidential election in November with important issues being debated. Cal Thomas scrapes at the bottom of the barrel to make an argument and he doesn't even make a compelling argument in doing so. He does not deserve space on the editorial page if he has nothing to contribute. Plenty of columnists, conservative and liberal, who offer actual analysis and constructive criticism, I'd be willing to read anyone else at this point.
This is trash at best and it is a shame the LJ World prints it.
13 June 2008
at 1:19 p.m.
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Uhlrick_Hetfield_III (Anonymous) says…
The only requirement for being a Christian that I know of is to sincerely profess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. There are no other tests, nor can you achieve the status by good deeds (a very Jewish concept that perhaps should have been kept on). Obama, like all of us is a sinner. That's why we need a Savior to take away our sins and place them on his shoulders. So unless the argument is made that he has not sincerely embraced Jesus as his Lord and Savior, I think he made the grade.
Personally, I wasn't aware that he was running for Christian.
13 June 2008
at 1:26 p.m.
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Bossa_Nova (Anonymous) says…
i'm not a xtian. does that mean i also failed the xtianity test?
13 June 2008
at 1:28 p.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
This is for ndmoderate:
According to the Bible, Obama's statement of there being no hell is wrong. What “hell” is, he did not define as far as this article goes.
13 June 2008
at 1:32 p.m.
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Bossa_Nova (Anonymous) says…
jesus' 12 desciples were not xtians either. nor did they ever pray to jesus. do they also not pass the xtian test?
13 June 2008
at 1:38 p.m.
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dandelion (Anonymous) says…
Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says:
Last time I checked, Christians, Muslims, and Jews *do* believe in the same god.
========
Really? When you “checked”, what information did you read that said Muslims worship Jesus?
So, what church do you go to? Christians believe in only 1 god. Jesus is the son of god, not a god. That would create 2 gods. You fail the Christian test for sure.
13 June 2008
at 1:45 p.m.
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ndmoderate (Anonymous) says…
The headline of this editorial piece has been bugging me. I think for full disclosure it should instead say:
“Obama Fails Evangelical Nut-Job Version of Christianity Test.”
13 June 2008
at 2:22 p.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
bondmen (Anonymous) says:
“Would it were only MY belief jonas!”
Would that there was no hell be only my belief, bondman. I think we'll both find plenty of support for our position, is all that's required is numbers alone. There was plenty of support for the sun revolving around the earth at one point, too.
13 June 2008
at 2:52 p.m.
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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…
Considering how screwed up our Conservetard Christian presidents have been and what they've done to this country, I'm glad to see that Obama failed the Christian*insanity test.
13 June 2008
at 2:58 p.m.
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archy (Anonymous) says…
my my my
somebody ran the red flag up for the bulls
sort of like the time the boss left
a cinnamon roll near the keyboard
archy
13 June 2008
at 3:21 p.m.
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heysoos (Anonymous) says…
http://anotherrandomday.com/?id=100
13 June 2008
at 3:28 p.m.
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Bossa_Nova (Anonymous) says…
dandelion,
lets take it a step further. xtians also believe in the holy ghost. hmmmm, so are they counting all three as a god? how does one explain the trinity by the way? 1+1+1 = 1 god?
confrontation,
i like the new word, “christiansity”. you rock dude!
13 June 2008
at 3:52 p.m.
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denak (Anonymous) says…
Thank you, Uhlrick for finally stating the one thing that Cal and quite a few people seem to be forgetting. And it only took 7 hrs to do it.
There is only one “test” to prove if someone is a Christian. An individual is a Christian if he or she accepts the Lord Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That's it. Everything else is details.
One can profess anything, do all the good deeds in the world, believe or not believe in Hell, and still not be a Christian.
And the only “person” who knows whether or not someone is truly a Christian is God because God knows what is in a person's heart.
Dena
13 June 2008
at 4:03 p.m.
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ylimeh (Anonymous) says…
“Personally, I wasn't aware that he was running for Christian.” – Thank you!
Just reading the title of this article confirmed my belief that an Atheist president would do our country well. Maybe the media would discuss things other than gossip. Maybe we'd actually accomplish a thing or two.
13 June 2008
at 4:04 p.m.
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bd (Anonymous) says…
internut pays he is the anti-christ!
13 June 2008
at 4:14 p.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
Bossa_Nova (Anonymous) says:
“lets take it a ste