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February 20th, 2012
01:03 PM ET
My Take: Why should Santorum decide who's a real Christian?
By Stephen Prothero, Special to CNN There has been much chatter in recent days about the reinjection of religious matters into the presidential campaign, with a focus on the increasingly bitter debate over Catholics and contraception. But Rick Santorum has just opened up a new and dangerous front in the culture wars. We are now being asked to debate which of the Christians running for president is really a Christian. I am referring here not to questions about Mitt Romney, whose Mormonism according to many evangelicals is not the right theological stuff, but to questions about President Barack Obama. In the past, the strategy on the right was to intimate that Obama was a closet Muslim (he is not.) It was too crass even for our crassest politicians to come out and utter this falsehood, so, when asked about Obama’s faith, the strategy was to say, “If the president says he’s a Christian, he’s a Christian.”
In fact, that is precisely what Santorum said in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday. This “Obama is a Muslim, maybe” strategy was also on display in Lady Lake, Florida, in January when a woman in the audience called Obama an “avowed Muslim” and Santorum let her remarks pass unchallenged. Santorum took things a step further on Saturday, however, when he blasted the president for adhering to a "phony theology." The context, oddly enough, was a discussion of oil drilling technology, namely “fracking.” In an effort to explain why Obama was in his view dragging his heels on this new technology, Santorum said the president was not motivated by “quality of life” issues. “It’s not about your job. It’s about some phony ideal, some phony theology,” he said. “Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology. But no less a theology.” On Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," Santorum tried to shift the conversation from Obama's faith to the "phony ideal" of "radical environmentalists." "I accept the fact that the president's a Christian," he said, even as he insisted on questioning Obama's "worldview." Later on Sunday, at a suburban Atlanta megachurch, he seemed to compare Obama to Hitler while comparing Americans' complacency about Obama today to complacency about the Germans during World War II. "Remember, the greatest generation for a year and a half, sat on the sidelines while Europe was in darkness," he said. "We think . . . 'This will be okay. I mean, yeah, maybe he's not the best guy after a while. after a while you find out some things about this guy over in Europe who's not so good of a guy after all." I will leave it to theologians to explain to me what the Bible says about hydraulic fracturing, to lexicographers to parse the fine distinctions between phony "theology" and a phony "worldview," and to historians (or 5th graders) to distinguish between our president and Germany's Fuhrer, but my point is this: Santorum has crossed a line. In 2008, he crossed a similar line, but he had not yet announced his run for president, so his remarks went largely unnoticed. In remarks at Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida, however, he said that our culture war actually a “spiritual war” and that “Satan” was on the march in America. This “Prince of Lies,” as Santorum called him, was destroying universities, the government and popular culture. But he had also infiltrated mainline Protestantism, which in Santorum's view had ceased to live up to the name of “Christian.” “We look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is a shambles. It is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it," Santorum said. All this language about the “phony theology” of the president and mainline Protestants is in my view a misguided response to the decision of the Democrats to get right with God after Senator John Kerry’s loss to President Bush in the 2004 election. Up to and during that election, Republicans were able to cloak themselves in the mantle of right religion and tar the Democrats as the party of the secular left. After 2004, however, the Democrats spoke increasingly about God and the Bible, linking their public policies to longstanding Christian commitments to justice and the poor. Today Republicans continue to attack Democrats for adhering to the religion of “none of the above,” but such charges are increasingly implausible. So the new charge is not that the Democrats are godless. It is that they are the wrong kind of Christians. There is considerable debate about what the founders meant when they preserved religious liberty and disestablished religion in the First Amendment. About these meanings (and in my view they were multiple) reasonable people can disagree. It is also worth debating how far the founders thought religious diversity might go in their new nation. There was some conversation about Muslims and Jews during debates over Constitution's exclusion of any religious test for federal office. Some questioned whether Americans really wanted to allow non-Christians to be president. There is no debating, however, the fact that the founders insisted on amity among the Christian denominations. In fact, they saw such amity as essential to peace and prosperity in their new republic. Now Rick Santorum is turning the tables on those 19th century bigots who excommunicated Catholics from the community of the Christian faith. Evangelicals apparently pass muster with him, but not liberal Protestants, who according to Saint Santorum are less Christian than he. There are doubtless theological discussions to be had here. In fact, Americans have been having them since the Reformation. And if Santorum wants to address a Catholic catechism class about whether Protestants are going to heaven, more power to him. I also have no problem with Santorum citing chapter and verse from a papal encyclical to explain why he thinks "artificial birth control" is “harmful to women” and "harmful to our society" (as he said in 2006). You want to give Catholic reasons for your public policies? Knock yourself out. Just don’t expect non-Catholics to agree with them (or many Catholics, for that matter). Santorum also has every right to argue (as he has repeatedly) that church and state have never been separated in the United States the way some strict separationists would like them to be. But there must be some distinction between what happens in a sermon on Sunday morning and what happens in a presidential debate. Conservatives in the United States have long spoken on behalf of community values. One of the most venerable values in American public life is religious pluralism. This tradition of agreeing to disagree in the public square about such matters as the Trinity does not dictate that you check your faith at the door. It does not mandate that we all become moral relativists or theological compromisers. It does insist, however, that we refrain from reducing God to a wedge - which is to say a tool –for our own partisan politics. As any real conservative will recognize, that is not our tradition. When I look at the shape of politics in this country, I too see that it is a shambles. And when I look at Rick Santorum's recent remarks I see one reason why. My question for the former Senator from Pennsylvania is not whether he adheres to the right kind of Christianity. My question is whether there is anything he will not say in order to become president. Have you, sir, no sense of decency? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Stephen Prothero.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Editor's Note: Stephen Prothero, a Boston University religion scholar and author of "God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World," is a regular CNN Belief Blog contributor.
dlareg
Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are you, gerald?
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no he isnt lol
When you get your high school diploma we'll talk.
Its no wonder that other countries laugh at The USA. Who honestly gives a rats backside about the candidates religious views.I would not care if the candidate was a card carrying member of a coven, as long as the team he or she put together could bring the banks and the oil companies to heel. Only the southern uneducated baptists make religion an issue and to be honest I have never met a baptist that I trust with my wallet, son or daughter. If they were not so dangerous they would be a joke in any other country
I find all this extremely funny. The more the left hates on someone, the more likely I am going to vote for them.
That's a good reason, for a two year old... You may want to spend a couple minutes and find out why people don't like a candidate, see if there is any validity and then decide on who is best to lead the country which to me is more important than out of spite.
Haha, two year old. I don't vote for someone out of spite for the left. I pay close attention to whom the left hates on and watch them closely. Many, many times I find a candidate I would not normally have heard about or I find out that the reason the left is hating on them is something I identify with.
In effect, the left hating on someone makes me a better voter.
What is with everyone automatically assuming the worst intentions behind someone's comments?
Go ahead and waste your vote.
This man will never sit in the white house.
I am sorry the other poster insulted 2 year olds.
They are smarter than you are.
Wow, so this writers opinion is that the founders of this nation intended it to be a Christian nation? Amazing. Has he actually read any quote by Thomas Jefferson and John Adams?
They were not Atheist!!
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Did you miss something ?
Creator.
It does not say God.
They are not the same thing.
Leo
They were not Atheist!!
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
What do you expect the GOP (Grand Old Petroleum) to talk about? Trade imbalance(they are causing it), healthcare(they stand whole heartedly in paddling the canoe headed for the falls), unemployment (they are trying to double it by election time).
What we are all witnessing in the the Great USA is the godless rule of a godless man and all his godless supporters and the consequences of it. Just the beginning that is. You all want God out of your lives. Watch the news, you're getting what you asked for, it won't be much longer before a lot of you change your minds. Hunger and suffering has a way of making you find God!
America has always been a relatively godless nation, at least in policy. Thats what made us great
You are blind Drew my boy! Jesus can open up your eyes!
So your saying believing in God is a selfish thing that can only be caused by hunger and suffering. For me all these people that pray for wealth and winning and highjack God's and Jesus's name for their own benefits and are willing to sacrifice anyone or anything that gets in their way is taking its toll on my belief that God could be responsible for their existence.
stta.... no i'm saying that some humans are so full of themselves that it takes hunger and suffering and falling flat on their arrogant faces to finally look up and see there is a GOD who gives you every breath you take and every bite of food that keeps you alive. Someday all eyes will be open and everyone will answer for their rebellion to God. You are nothing apart from God, you have nothing if not given to you by God, you can do nothing if not allowed by God.
Compare the rates of violent crime in America with those in godless Europe. Or, for that matter, the rates in the Bible Belt with the rates in the more secular areas of our country. You'll find that religiosity correlates with more crime, not less. Same goes for STD rates, teen pregnancy rates, and other social ills.
As for hunger and suffering, America's health outcomes are worse than those of liberal, secular democracies. This is a long-term fact, true under Republican and Democratic administrations alike.
Go look up the stats for yourself, and then come back and try to convince us that devotion to the Christian religion makes a country better off.
WakeUpAmerica- Your statements make no logic: "Someday all eyes will be open and everyone will answer for their rebellion to God. You are nothing apart from God, you have nothing if not given to you by God, you can do nothing if not allowed by God."
If we accept your premise "you can do nothing if not allowed by God" then how can one rebel. With that premise all that rebel God, rebel because he allowed it. Either people can act on their own and should with responsibility for their actions or everything they do is because God allowed it which makes God an evil being. I don't believe God is evil which means people are responsible for their own actions. I think you need to learn to think for yourself a little more as you are under an illogical influence.
So wakeup, I thought that was what judgment day was for. For the Lord to let us know how well we each did. Could we maybe just leave it to Him to decide?
stta...it's called free will and it will send you soul to hell if you let it. You worry about your twisted logic!
bert... judgment day is a day too late! Spread the truth while there is time left for it to make a difference.
WakeupAmerica- So which is it? "Someday all eyes will be open and everyone will answer for their rebellion to God. You are nothing apart from God, you have nothing if not given to you by God, you can do nothing if not allowed by God." or "it's called free will and it will send you soul to hell if you let it." I will go with free will and the great responsibility that goes with it being that God gave me a brain and ability to think responsibly.
Seems to me, that you God lovers are H-E-L-L-B-E-N-T
on making some of those prophecies come true.
God doesnt make war, Man does.
If, at the moment you meet your demise, you do not utter, "Oh my God", I'll believe you do not believe. Until then...
The remark at the moment of death would not be driven by "reason", it would be driven by the most primitive of emotions, fear. Fear resides in all animals. It is why dogs bark at the dark.
I expect any person with adequate consciousness will doubt their views at the "moment of her demise." Of those who have near death experiences, the majority of those who report a "hell" afterlife are christians. Why would more christians experience a hell than non christians?
I congratulate all the bloggers here that have argued skillfully against the Christian aspects of the US Presidency. At some point, modern man has to put aside all the bull*feathers attributed to the bible. While many wish all of Christian tradition to be true and accurate, the failings of human weakness are rife in all religious teachings. How much better it is for all men to admit that we know nothing of the unknown. We do know that we are all human and flawed, which is the universal foundation for all human interactions. Stick with what we know to be true. Mysticism is best retained at the private, personal level. Governance is of the secular relm.
Very well put. Jesus' teachings were aimed at two targets, the first being the relationships we have with one another while we live on this earth. The thread of all of his teaching in this area was tolerance: "do unto others", "do not cast the first stone:; "examine the plank in your own eye before evaluating the spec in the eye of another". While we are on this earth, that is paramount.
The second target of his teaching is the "mystical" part. I, being human, do understand it and know of no reason why I should, except on "faith", which itself cannot be understood except that it depends on our more primitive instincts like fear of death. The "mysticism" can be left to each individual's conscience.
However, if you want to call yourself a "Christian" and do not follow Jesus' teaching for tolerance, do not try to engage me. (You see, I can be intolerant in some matters, also.)
I dont see anywhere in TOPVIEWs post where he was intollerant.
He just expressed his views.
You took the pot shot.
However, if you want to call yourself a "Christian" and do not follow Jesus' teaching for tolerance, do not try to engage me. (You see, I can be intolerant in some matters, also.)
If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, acts like a duck, chances are, you have a duck. If the "duck" honks like a goose or acts like a cat, you might want to take another look at that "duck". Same way with "Christians".
You are right. Santorum is a duck!
Thou shalt have no other gods before me, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, mankind shall not lie with mankind as with woman. Nope, not Christian!
Please go jump of a bridge or drink some cool-aid or something
please go put your rose colored glasses back on and live in your zombie la la land.
It seems to me that Xtians are the ones living in la la land
Goes to show how blind you are Drew my boy!
**** Thou shalt have no other gods before me..............
And yet, millions of christians flock to the vatican to kneel in front of the pope.
The pope is not god.
I find it funny that the same guys will come on here and say HOW DARE HE SAY OBAMA ISN'T CHRISTIAN. On other threads they say Christianity should be wiped out and kept out of the public
My position is that discussions of Christianity have no relevance to political discourse
Perfectly stated, Drew!
Post by gerald is a form of the circu-mstantial ad hominem fallacy.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/#H6
Duh !
You dont get the difference.
Sad to be you.
Santorum should be in jail forhis comments
Obama should be under the jail.
He can't cause he will be president in Nov, will be easy to beat loons...
Santorum didn't say obama wasn't Christian. He has said over and over that he takes obama at his word that he is. Clueless reporter.
Not the sharpest tool in the shed, are you, gerald?
Clueless Gerald.
Here is a clue for you Gerald.
Santorum has planted the seed, that Obama is not a Christian.
Now that seed will grow.
But only with Santorum supporters, like you,
who dont "get" it.
Rick Santorum: A True Scotsman
I agree with the author, Stephen Prothero. Rick Santorum has definitely crossed the line. What is most alarming is how far he continues to go beyond reasonable rhetoric. Not only has Santorum repeatedly injected religion and his definition of "Christianity" into the bid for the Presidency, he has become unhinged in expounding upon his own theology and its relevance in the American systems of government. We are a secular nation that is tolerant of religious practices. We are not a theocracy, or even a Christian nation. Our aim is to maintain a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Thankfully, Santorum has shown us this eccentric side before election time.
Its OK Topview,
when he has to swing back to the center in the general election
(If he makes it that far), he will go down in flames.
Most people are "sane".
Why the Christian Right no longer matters in presidential elections:
Once again, all the conservative votes in the country "ain't" going to help a "pro-life" presidential candidate, i.e Mitt Romney, Newton Leroy Gingrich, Ron Paul or Rick Santorum, in 2012 as the "Immoral Majority" rules the country and will be doing so for awhile. The "Immoral Majority" you ask?
The fastest growing USA voting bloc: In 2008, the 70+ million "Roe vs. Wade mothers and fathers" of aborted womb-babies" whose ranks grow by two million per year i.e. 78+ million "IM" voters in 2012.
2008 Presidential popular vote results:
69,456,897 for pro-abortion/choice BO, 59,934,814 for "pro-life" JM.
And the irony:
And all because many women fail to take the Pill once a day or men fail to use a condom even though in most cases these men have them in their pockets. (maybe they should be called the "Stupid Majority"?)
The failures of the widely used birth "control" methods i.e. the Pill and male condom have led to the large rate of abortions ( one million/yr) and S-TDs (19 million/yr) in the USA. Men and women must either recognize their responsibilities by using the Pill or condoms properly and/or use other safer birth control methods in order to reduce the epidemics of abortion and S-TDs.
I wish you had been aborted.
Who does Santorum think he is? God? Does he think he has a direct line to God?
Sadly, I think he does.
You will know them by their fruit. I guess the man can see obama's fruit, like the millions of murdered babies and the jihadist that receive obama's praise. God did give us eyes to see.
He's not the first person who does think he or she does. I would love to be in the middle of the discussions between God and Rick. I bet God is just rolling his eyes.
God gave us a brain to think.
You should try using yours.
-----------------------------------
WakeUpAmerica
You will know them by their fruit. I guess the man can see obama's fruit, like the millions of murdered babies and the jihadist that receive obama's praise. God did give us eyes to see.
FYI, Stephen Prothero just because someone says they are a Chrsitian does not automatically make them one, Jesus made it clear that by their fruit you will know them. You don't find it interesting how Obama failed to mention God at thanksgiving? Funny how Obama would rather have his daughters have an abortion that be stuck with a child they could love and cherish. Funny how a supposed Christian like Obama can call the Koran "Holy" when it claims that God does not have a son, IE Islam is an Anti-christian Religion. Wake up America don't you understand that he must say he is a Christian or he would not be Elected!!
OH NO! A NON-CHRISTIAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!! ****, WE'RE ALL DEAD!
Yes, I understand that. And it is a shame. An embarrassing shame that we force good men to lie. And then call them liars. I would elect a well-qualified athiest any time.
And just who are YOU to decied who is and isnt an Xtian? I can say with just as much veracity that YOU aren't an Xtian. Good thing that non of it matters since your god doesnt really exist.
@Leo
You said, "just because someone says they are a Chrsitian does not automatically make them one"
Anyone who claims to follow Christ is a christian. Better get used to it.
You said, "You don't find it interesting how Obama failed to mention God at thanksgiving?"
Who gives a fuck what the President said at Thanksgiving, and whether he included references to you imaginary friend? Just in case you missed it, this isn't a christian nation. Mr. Obama is President of the entire United States, not just the lunatic fringe.
You said, "Funny how Obama would rather have his daughters have an abortion that be stuck with a child they could love and cherish."
Personal freedom trumps your perceived morality.
You said, "Funny how a supposed Christian like Obama can call the Koran "Holy" when it claims that God does not have a son, IE Islam is an Anti-christian Religion. Wake up America don't you understand that he must say he is a Christian or he would not be Elected!!"
I strongly suspect that Mr. Obama is actually an atheist. He appears too smart to cling to Bronze Age mythology of any stripe.
And yes, it is sad that in this day and age we haven't outgrown the childish superstitions to be able to elect an openly rational person to the Presidency.
Leo, do you know anything at all about religion? I've never seen so much boiler plate religious crap crammed into one small paragraph. Muslims believe in God but not Christ and the Koran is indeed their holy book. The Jews believe in God but not Christ and they have their Torah. Christian believe in both and have their bible. Then there are the rest of us who have the ability to think for ourselves but are willing to let you sheep do your "flockiing" around until you start rattling off stupid then we gotta slap you around a bit.
If Fallacy Spotting 101 was here he would say you are guilty of the No True Scotsman fallacy.
My point is clear and thanks for verifying that he is a liar Joy of Sin "Yes, I understand that. And it is a shame. An embarrassing shame that we force good men to lie."
Who forced him to Lie? he is simply willing to lie for Power!!
LinCA – I strongly suspect that Mr. Obama is actually an atheist.
Then he again is willing to decive for Power!!
Rick, Islam is Anti Christian period, the Bible is clear "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son."
The Koran says this "Those who say: “The Lord of Mercy has begotten a son, preach a monstrous falsehood, at which the very heavens might crack . . .” (19:88)"
My point is clear IF Obama was a Christian he would never claim the Koran is HOLY.
@Leo
You said, "Then he again is willing to decive for Power!!"
Well, duh. He's a politician, I'd expect him to adjust his position to appease a large enough fraction of his audience to get as close as he can to the outcome that he truly desires.
Pretending to be "just christian enough" to nullify the christianity of your opponent for sufficient voters to have a chance to convince them on the issues, is standard practice.
Mr. Obama will never win over the lunatic fringe. He will never get the support of the tin foil hat crowd. All he needs to do is present himself to be just enough like the people in the center for them to take religion off the table. All he needs to do is balance his perceived religiosity to get enough people to consider him just religious enough, compared to the too much religiousness of the other guy.
I think Obama is most likely an athiest (agnostic) and yes, he wanted to be president and yes you have to lie to be president and say you are a Christian if you aren't or the American pimples can't handle it. I forgive him and will vote for him again.
LinCA Do you think Obama is a Christian?
@Leo
You said, "Do you think Obama is a Christian?"
No, I like to think he's really an atheist. I think he's too smart to still believe in fairy tales. I doubt that he's a christian of any stripe. I don't think he's Muslim, or Buddhist or Hindu, or anything else.
But he has publicly stated he is a christian, so I guess I'll take his word for it. I accept that he has to do so to be electable. I couldn't really care less. He isn't trying to force his religion, if he has one, on anyone. That's fine by me.
Thats fine, I just don't go for the "Anyone who claims to follow Christ is a christian", for just by saying you are something does not make it true.
@Leo
In the US we have freedom of religion. Religion is a choice. If someone claims to be a christian neither you or I get to dispute that. Only he or she gets to make that determination. So, anyone who claims to be a christian, is one. Maybe not your particular flavor, but a christian, nonetheless.
Yup, Obama must be a communist, he forget his flag pin.
You are pathetic.
Even Bible-believing Christians can't agree on what makes someone a true Christian. Protestants and Catholics, each citing their pet scriptures, have literally burned each other at the stake as heretics. Today's political name-calling is mild by comparison!
Could it be that the Bible is not entirely clear on what it takes to be a Christian? And if that's the case, isn't it odd that God could not write a book that was more clear on its very most important point?
Isn't it even odder that God let the murderous debate between his supposed children go unchecked for centuries? (See http://pathofthebeagle.com/2011/07/09/fratricide/ .) It took the *secular* forces of the Enlightenment to even begin to halt the bloodshed.
The Problem of Clarity and the Problem of God's Fatherly Neglect are an even stronger disconfirmation of Bible-centered Christianity than the Problem of Evil. Conservative Christian politicians ought to spend more time questioning their own faith, and less time criticizing each others'.
Nicely said.
Why, when you read the Bible, are you not left in awe? Why doesn't a book written by an omniscient being leave you with a sense of wonder and amazement? If you are reading a book written by the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving creator of the universe, wouldn't you expect to be stunned by the brilliance, the clarity and the wisdom of the author? Would you not expect each new page to intoxicate you with its incredible prose and its spectacular insight? Wouldn't you expect the author to tell us things that scientists have not been able to discover yet?
Yet, when we open the Bible and actually read it, we find it is nothing like that at all. Instead of leaving us in awe, it leaves us dumbfounded by all of the nonsense and backwardness that it contains. If you read what the Bible actually says, you find that the Bible is ridiculous. The examples shown above barely scratch the surface of the Bible's numerous problems. If we are honest with ourselves, it is obvious that an "all-knowing" God had absolutely nothing to do with this book.
The reason why the Bible contains so much nonsense is because God is imaginary. The Bible is a book written thousands of years ago by primitive men. A book that advocates senseless murder, slavery and the oppression of women has no place in our society today.
Over 38,000 different denominations of Xtianity and still climbing. All that from one 2000 year old book. It's almost like it's all made up. Hmmm.....
Beagle, Your question "Could it be that the Bible is not entirely clear on what it takes to be a Christian?" I hope you try checking it out for It could change your life. It is a dangerous to go around blaiming God for the attrocities that man and man alone has perpetrated. The scriptures tell us clearly that in the last days men will fall away from the truth, as well as many other prophesies that clearly show that he is God. Here is Matthew 24:4-14 and see how close it is to where we are now!!
4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
*** It is a dangerous to go around blaiming God for the attrocities ........
Why ?
Will the christians burn me at the stake ?
While I know Santorum will never be president, some part of me would like to see it.
After what Reagan and W did to this country, the Republicans still have learned nothing. The stupidity just goes up rather than down, it is uncanny.
So if Santorum was in office, the level of FAIL would be on a scale that not even W could produce, and he was the worst president in history. He would get laughed right out of Congress and set up the Dems for the next 16 years. And imagine the damage he could with foriegn policy. We can only dream.
Sorry Joy, for all W's faults, Jimmy Carter has the distinction of being the worst. Even the American public was smart enough to not give him a second term.
BTW, I do agree with everything else you said about RS
Not even close. While I dont like peanut head one bit Dubya was the worst thing to happen to the US EVER! We are still climbing out of the economic mess that he put us into.
@ Rick
You are incorrect. And you said that backwards. What I think you meant is, “the American public was stupid enough to re-elect Bush”. Bush was handed a country on the right track and managed to tear it down in his FIRST year. The level of incompetence has never been seen before.
Check the facts:
1. First six months, gave away our huge budget surplus, consequence, we were to start borrowing money from China.
2. First nine months, he ignored reports like "Bin Laden determined to attack the United States" thus allowing Bin Laden to attack the United States.
3. Instead of using our military to bring those responsible to justice, he attacked the wrong country, Iraq.
Not to mention the fact that he is as dumb as a blade of grass. Carter is a great man. Maybe not a great president, but worst? Hardly.
I humbly bow to the points made by Joy and Jim and concede.
What a bunch of horse @#%& , Who made or has given Santorum the power to decide who is and isn't a Christian? Santorum is a first class wingnut between religion and his views towards women this country would take a step back to the 18th century. Is that what we want? Not me!!
Not what Santorum said. But you believe anything you read. He in fact has said many times he believes Obama is a Christian. He said it again on the talk shows yesterday.
Gerald...it is what he said. "Phony Theology" isn't a slam on his religion? Really? Nice try though.
Considering that his views are founded on a 1st century book, I'd say the 18th century is a big improvement!
t.marino – The context of the statement was with regard to the place stewardship of the earth has in government. There are theologies that go with that which vary in Christianity. So I stand by what I said. Not all theologies are equal. But it is easy for people like you to flap your mouth when you don't know what you are talking about. Of course on threads about Christianity you will rip it but then you will defend obama's Christianity. Funny.
*** Who made or has given Santorum the power to decide who is and isn't a Christian?
Santorum did.