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November 13th, 2012
09:29 AM ET
Religious and spiritual leaders on moving past a divisive election(CNN)–As the nation winds down after a hard-fought and divisive election season, what needs to happen to heal our country? What have we learned? What can we hope for as we move forward? We reached out to religious leaders and spiritual thinkers to get their perspectives. Here are excerpts of what they wrote in response.
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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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No one learned anything. Some people are clueless and can't accept Obama winning and feel the need to go on, see Democrats as the enemy and feel better about that than just working together. Luckily, most people on either side aren't so clueless. As for personal invested feelings; People that are so emotionally involved on a personal level and feel affected, should really get help.
Tim, do you think maybe because he called the republicans the enemy, told them to sit at the back of the bus while ramming the healthcare law down their throats, said visious thing about their candiate...he created the mood and now you think we just need to get along FU Tim...see you in 2016 we are gonna bury you and your BS
Let the healing begin with a prayer:
Only for the new members of this blog:
The Apostles' Creed 2012: (updated by yours truly and based on the studies of historians and theologians of the past 200 years)
Should I believe in a god whose existence cannot be proven
and said god if he/she/it exists resides in an unproven,
human-created, spirit state of bliss called heaven??
I believe there was a 1st century CE, Jewish, simple,
preacher-man who was conceived by a Jewish carpenter
named Joseph living in Nazareth and born of a young Jewish
girl named Mary. (Some say he was a mamzer.)
Jesus was summarily crucified for being a temple rabble-rouser by
the Roman troops in Jerusalem serving under Pontius Pilate,
He was buried in an unmarked grave and still lies
a-mouldering in the ground somewhere outside of
Jerusalem.
Said Jesus' story was embellished and "mythicized" by
many semi-fiction writers. A descent into Hell, a bodily resurrection
and ascension stories were promulgated to compete with the
Caesar myths. Said stories were so popular that they
grew into a religion known today as Catholicism/Christianity
and featuring dark-age, daily wine to blood and bread to body rituals
called the eucharistic sacrifice of the non-atoning Jesus.
Amen
(references used are available upon request)
just like volcano worshipers..
WOW, Man you must be over 2000 years old...I mean since you were there, and know all this first hand
Saving Christians from the Infamous Resurrection Con/
From that famous passage: In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."
Even now Catholic/Christian professors of theology are questioning the bodily resurrection of the simple, preacher man aka Jesus.
To wit;
From a major Catholic university's theology professor’s grad school white-board notes:
"Heaven is a Spirit state or spiritual reality of union with God in love, without earthly – earth bound distractions.
Jesus and Mary's bodies are therefore not in Heaven.
Most believe that it to mean that the personal spiritual self that survives death is in continuity with the self we were while living on earth as an embodied person.
Again, the physical Resurrection (meaning a resuscitated corpse returning to life), Ascension (of Jesus' crucified corpse), and Assumption (Mary's corpse) into heaven did not take place.
The Ascension symbolizes the end of Jesus' earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church.
Only Luke records it. (Luke mentions it in his gospel and Acts, i.e. a single attestation and therefore historically untenable). The Ascension ties Jesus' mission to Pentecost and missionary activity of Jesus' followers.
The Assumption has multiple layers of symbolism, some are related to Mary's special role as "Christ bearer" (theotokos). It does not seem fitting that Mary, the body of Jesus' Virgin-Mother (another biblically based symbol found in Luke 1) would be derived by worms upon her death. Mary's assumption also shows God's positive regard, not only for Christ's male body, but also for female bodies." "
"In three controversial Wednesday Audiences, Pope John Paul II pointed out that the essential characteristic of heaven, hell or purgatory is that they are states of being of a spirit (angel/demon) or human soul, rather than places, as commonly perceived and represented in human language. This language of place is, according to the Pope, inadequate to describe the realities involved, since it is tied to the temporal order in which this world and we exist. In this he is applying the philosophical categories used by the Church in her theology and saying what St. Thomas Aquinas said long before him."
http://eternal-word.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2HEAVN.HTM
The Vatican quickly embellished this story with a lot CYAP.
With respect to rising from the dead, we also have this account:
An added note: As per R.B. Stewart in his introduction to the recent book, The Resurrection of Jesus, Crossan and Wright in Dialogue,
p.4
"Reimarus (1774-1778) posits that Jesus became sidetracked by embracing a political position, sought to force God's hand and that he died alone deserted by his disciples. What began as a call for repentance ended up as a misguided attempt to usher in the earthly political kingdom of God. After Jesus' failure and death, his disciples stole his body and declared his resurrection in order to maintain their financial security and ensure themselves some standing."
p.168. by Ted Peters:
Even so, asking historical questions is our responsibility. Did Jesus really rise from the tomb? Is it necessary to have been raised from the tomb and to appear to his disciples in order to explain the rise of early church and the transcription of the bible? Crossan answers no, Wright answers, yes. "
So where are the bones"? As per Professor Crossan's analyses in his many books, the body of Jesus would have ended up in the mass graves of the crucified, eaten by wild dogs, covered with lime in a shallow grave, or under a pile of stones.
There is no healing. The looters and atheists have won. The Christian persecution will continue and personal freedoms continue will continue to be eliminated until we are all doing the Democrat Goose-Step. Heil Obama!
you mean to say, the christian continue to persecute others. Quite a long and proven history at that.
Yes, the best way to heal is to make Nazi references of the opposition candidate. Good job...
How can you claim persecution when every president, including Obama, has been openly christian?
Well, Huebert, to be fair, Christians only hold 96% of all national level offices and governorships. That's 4% of offices they don't hold. And clearly, keeping them out of 4% of national level office and governorships is nothing short of all out oppression, subjugation, and a war on their religious beliefs. How could it be anything but?
Obama is not a Christian. Tell him to take that Islam ring off and then we can talk.
Patt Robertson said, "God told me Romney will not only when this election, but he will get a 2nd term"... Would you Crazies like one lump or two with your cup of insanity this morning?
*win*
Hey CrazieNation...
I think all people whether left or right agree that Pat Robertson is a bit of a loose canon
Not all conservates are in camp with Robertson. Just as not all Obobots are in camp with George Soros. Generalizations and assumptions are obviously difficult for you.
Hey CrazieNation.. It's not just Roberton who's delusional –> christians in general practice delusion. Freaks.
Obobot? Now who's generalizing?
Sometimes the big guy upstairs gets one wrong. After all he is, and always has been, only human...
Wow...lots of trolls who cast personal insults at people because they're Christians. It's funny how a lot of these spineless cowards wouldn't say these things face to face.
Not insults, just facts. And yes, I do say them to xtians face to face as well.
" It's funny how a lot of these spineless cowards wouldn't say these things face to face."
I'd say it yo your face.
Don't presume to know us Hayden, many of us can, will, and do say the same things to people's faces. Am I to assume that you are merely an anonymous troll too scared to say the things you say on here in real life, too?
Ray: Good point. Also food for thought – maybe realize that the Republicant's and the Dumbocrats are both batting for the same team – foreign banks, and the New World Order. That would get us batting on the same team for sure – for freedom and liberty. http://www.infowars.com
Don't look now but the boogie man is behind you!
Hey Dolan,,
I heard Obama didn't even read your letter.. Instead the WH is laughing at you in your silly dress.
Why don't you just say you don't understand the sacramental aspect of vestments and get an education instead of hating?
I think they are laughing at the ridiculous helmet far more than the silly dress.
I pray this cardinal, pope and bishops land themselves in jails for crimes against children.
We need to come up with a strategy to keep all the Tea Party Patriots south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The farther south the better.
OHHHH NO YOU DON'T!! We have too many righwingnuts as it is, do be sending anymore down here. There still a few mature, intelligent, progressives here in the South. We're fighting tooth and nail to keep these redneck, wingnut, bigots at bay. Please don't make our work any more difficult than it already is.
Perhaps a good start would be for CNN to stop posting articles chastising conservatives, rebuking Republicans, wailing on whites, beating up Bible believers, etc. For example, posting a "news" story regarding people unfriending Romney's campaign FB page - something that isn't news and signifies nothing.
There are many Democrats, including our president, who are Bible believers.
"ShutUpAlready said,
"There are many Democrats, including our president, who are Bible believers."
Strange seeing that Obama himself said, "Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is ok...."
Leviticus actually states the opposite as you can see...
Leviticus 25:39-43 says, “If a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave’s service. He shall be with you as a hired man, as if he were a sojourner; he shall serve with you until the year of jubilee. He shall then go out from you, he and his sons with him, and shall go back to his family, that he may return to the property of his forefathers. For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt; they are not to be sold in a slave sale. You shall not rule over him with severity, but are to revere your God.”
I think Obama's brand of "reverand Wright Christianity" has distorted his understanding of the bible.
whats the big deal...? all elections are divisive!!! that is the premise...you take one side or the other????
CJ...to a degree you're right, however this is causing a hatred between people of the same country
Apparently somewhere here I claimed that I was a member of a minority group (not to mention a Christian). If someone can find that post, please point me to it. I've been searchin' every which a-way.
Wait, I take that back, I am a member of a minority group: The group of people who think we can't keep spending like this indefinitely, and who understand that taxing the rich at a higher rate isn't going to fix it like it used to. You see, the war on poverty, combined with a natural tendency to procreate have left us with too many "poor" and old people to feed, clothe and house, and they all have been trained to expect the federal government to help. Funny how that happened, isn't it?
Well, good luck with your healing. You take care now.
Yea, but at bagslap.com you proved incorrect.
Look whatever way you want to spin this Obama has been the most devisive president in the history of the U.S. He talks about uniting and being one country but then subtly attacks his own people by introducing legislation that undermines their religious beliefs. This has nothing to do with skin color as many of the hard line lefties would like to claim. That is the coward's way of trying to demonize anyone who simply disagrees with the president's policies.
BS
Loathstheright....
Of course you say BS if you don't believe in God or have moral conviction. I'm not a personal fan of either Obama or Romney but that being said, I'm not going to ignore the obvious. Lets call a spade a spade.
"if you don't believe in God or have moral conviction"
Are you christian?
If so, you have absolutely ZERO oral conviction.
Hey derp
I'm not going to entertain a silly question like that
@HAyden, = And what legislation would that be?
Koos...
I'll leave that to a genius such as yourself to figure out
"I'm not going to entertain a silly question like that"
Of course not.
Because you know that engaging me in a debate regarding religion versus morality you would get crushed like the intellectually challenged insignificant insect that you are.
Sounds like you're suggesting the president should introduce legislation and make policy decisions which conform to particular religious beliefs (i.e. yours). While you may believe a theocracy is a good idea for this country, most of the rest of us reject the notion because we understand that such a system undermines our democratic foundations. If your religious beliefs are more important to you than preserving and enhancing our democracy, I suggest you reconsider where your allegiance should truly lie.
The way forward is not to look back. And for the GOP to stop letting the Christian Reich steer the ship. Once they return to their Republican roots and ditch their archaic and embarrassing social agenda they'll be doing great things.
Hey pal it's not just the Christians. I know countless Muslims, Sikhs & Jews who don't like the lack of Obama's moral compass. He's the one who claims to lead "all people" as he said when debating Romney. That sounds nice in a speech or a debate but he has rarely put his rhetoric into practice.
not until the democrats stop protecting the killing of the unborn and stop glorifying sodomy and immorality.
"not until the democrats stop protecting the killing of the unborn and stop glorifying sodomy and immorality"
Go ahead, keep reciting that ridiculous mantra, and watch as your party is sequestered to to the dustbin of history.
You are losing the moderate working white male vote. You are losing the working minority vote. You have darn near lost the working white female vote. You have basically written of the under thirty vote who have no interest in your version of "morality". The Democrats won't even need the 47%. With each generation the GOP is one old white religious generation from being irrelevant.
If you read my post, "pal", you'd see it had nothing to do with Obama and everything to do with the GOP fixing itself.
Republicans are just vile racists, bigots, violent, ignorant low lifes and can't get along with normal people, so why bother with them....ignore them, they aren't helping matters. (Psssst, god still doesn't exist no matter how much you pray)
You don't sound like a bastion of love there yourself.
Generalizations help no one. Not all Republicans are as you describe, just as not all Democrats are flaming liberals.
You voted for Socialism. You were willing to kill your Republic for your selfish 'what's in it for me". America died by the hands of the progressive socialist Dems and you will come to rue the day you ever heard the name obama.
Just making an observation of every Republican I have ever met or worked with for the past 59 years.
Well at least you've been working. That's a plus.
You forgot to end your message with....
Love, Loathstheright
Your lack of intelligence is not only obvious but sad.
The problem is "normal American" has shifted to illegal immigrants, those wanting to legalize pot, and those who lack morales. We may have become the "minority" but keep going down the road we have gone the past few years and we will be in the history books like the Roman Empire.
Hey RIchard Fletcher
I think you hit the real issue bang on
hahahaha...I heard hell has an opening..but they wouldnt take you...Obama suck ups have their own special place...when you go.... itll be all white all the time...racist... bigot...98%...when you dont have a black to vote for this time whut yuh gunna do?
Republicans keep posting racist things at saladandchips.com, its crazy!
I'm keeping my money away from several local businesses I used to frequent that are run by liberals, and I'm saving that money for when I really need it for something important. Now that hoi polloi have officially declared my 49-year-old straight white male voice inconsequential, I'm going to sit back, fix myself a martini, put on some West Coast jazz and watch the economy and culture disintegrate at an ever more rapid pace while I chuckle and shake my head knowingly in complete comprehension of the true causes and effects. That's how I'm going to heal.
Because all the cards are stacked against straight, white, Christian men in the USA?
Never in the history of the US has there been a more oppressed minority.
Except that they're not oppressed, nor a minority – and never have been.
Well, as a 61-year-old straight white male who voted for Obama, you are going to be sorely disappointed when your fantasy of economic and cultural disintegration fails to manifest. How will you "comprehend" then?
Well you just enjoy that then.
Well done you. Do nothing and focus on yourself. Sounds like an ideal way to heal.
And help no one.
Fail.
My flag is in "Distress" mode hanging upside down and it is my hope that the Reps sit down and vote "Present" at whatever the progressive socialsts want to pass. America's ignorance will come barreling to the forefront when Obocare is in full effect and they have to pay for it. And to all seniors, if you need any procedure done, do it now because rationing is very much a part of national health care. Just ask anyone in the UK.
Itryscience, I will be very, very pleased if my "fantasy" of cultural disintegration fails to manifest. (Except, depending on how far ahead you are talking, I will probably be dead either way.)
I hope everything works out for all of you. I'm sure if you put your minds to it you can negotiate all of the unintended consequences of what we're doing today, because this generation is brilliant. It's like the Renaissance around here or something.
The heck with the peace, I plan to pound Obama every chance I get for the next 4 years and I hope that is the last we hear of someone who doesn't think or believe in America. Anybody who wants to take the pride of achievement away from someone by saying, "They didn't do that" is un-american and un-invited.
In context, that's not what he said.
You do realize that in the context of the speech, that's simply not what he said and the only way to arrive at that interpretation is through dishonest quote-mining, right?
This sort of undying, purposefully misleading vitriol, is the problem with the system. You claim he doesn't believe in America while going out of your way to make the political discourse cruder, less honest, and less productive. It is sad, petty, pathetic, and will result in the opposite outcomes of the ones you desire.
Well said!
setnommarih – Show me a business where the owner, nor any of his employees, got a schooling from American schools, colleges and universities. Show me a business that does not make use of American roads, does not make use of the American legal system and courts. Show me a business not protected by American police and soldiers.
Then I will accept your claim of "I did it". Until then you just show your lack of listening skills.
.... neither the owner, nor his employees....
The Republicans need to realize that they are on the wrong side of history, stay out of people's bedrooms, stop imposing religion on people who don't want it and let women decide what's best for thier bodies! I hope that the old Republican way is on it's way out and that we've turned a corner in our country. But I doubt it.
Hey Im all for no religion, dont ever let people in despair pray, killing babies...I heard hell has an opening for you also.
Sadly, none of these responses get to the issue requested.... how do we heal!
I agree Thomas. These people don't WANT to heal. They just want to keep on screaming about the fact that there is a black man in a white house. They don't put forth any other reason (other than the kenya/muslim/socialist/birth-cert baloney. They don't support romney. Their one and only agenda is about the color of the man's skin.
By uniting, not dividing, but republicans don't understand the definition of unite.
You get over yourself is the best way. Elections are how we have expressed our political desires for nearly two-and-a-half centuries in the country and it's been fine. You realize that the president isn't a wizard who determines all policy and Democrats have been in total power before (more than they have now) and we've been fine and Republicans have been in total power before (more than they have now) and things have been fine. You realize that on January 21st, even if your guy wasn't the one sworn into office the day before, that planes will still fly, football will still be on TV, honey will still taste sweet, and you'll have another chance to elect other representatives in 2 and 4 years.
Pilny: I don't give a hoot what color this guy is. The fact is he's pushed our country into the world socialism class and you uninformed ignorant people bought into it. Oh and watch for Sharia Law coming to you town. Won't be long.
@Annrich: And how, *exactly*, does socialism (which is not what we have if you actually understood what socialism is) have to do with Islamic Sharia law, or is that just another misinformed hyperbolic stick you like to stuff into your strawman?
Annirich, you DO realize that Sharia law is a religious law, right? Something that you yourself have just chastised the POTUS of not being enough of? Can't have both talking points, toots. Oh, and he's social, but now a socialist; look up the difference, please.
I must have missed something. I don't see any posts by Anni advocating religious law.
Socialists generally argue that capitalism concentrates power and wealth within a small segment of society that controls the means of production and derives its wealth through a system of exploitation. This creates a stratified society based on unequal social relations that fails to provide equal opportunities for every individual to maximise their potential,[13] and does not utilise available technology and resources to their maximum potential in the interests of the public.[14]
Under this description and the facts of the federal auto bailout as well as the numerous excursions into "green" technology by the current administration coupled with populist 99% movement, I think an argument can be made that America has skewed socialist. To dismiss such concerns as "red baiting" or otherwise ignorant illuminates either a willful blindness to the social track the country is on or a desire to disguise the process.
You power to copy from, and misconstrue, Wikipedia is astounding.
First, the auto bail out and TARP? STARTED BY GEORGE BUSH. The first $25B to auto makers went out on his watch, under his administration's plan and guidelines. And he still happily defends it as the right thing to have done to avoid a depression.
Second, funding energy research isn't socialist. In fact, many private companies have sprung directly out of government grants, stimulus, and tax breaks in the sector. Not to mention investment in the field is critical as other nations have stated goals of becoming the technological leaders in the clean energy economy and supporting innovation of new tech. China has made HUGE strides, and is now the world's leader in production of wind and solar power and are funding innovation in those sectors for further global compet.itive edge. Yes, our government has invested tens of billions in clean energy and new battery tech, just like it did in nuclear and many other fuel sources we all currently benefit from–plus its goal is not to own the tech, but to help private companies develop and market the tech to create private industry growth.
Finally, you REALLY think that the 99% movement is a populist one? In October 2011, according to Gallup polls, only about a third of Americans "supported" the 99% movement, and then only in lip service (only about a third of those had given any financial support). That number only continued to fall into 2012 to the point no one even talked about or bothered polling about it anymore. Oh, and during that SAME period in Oct 2011, which about 35% supported the 99%ers? 42% supported the tea party, making it an even more "populist" movement.
America has not skewed any more socialist now than it ever has been. Why are people so desiring to see boogey men around every corner?
With out a doubt, the movement forward can only take place when rooted in LOVE. In fact no movement at all can take place without it. Politics are NOT love it is based in EGO. It is necessary to look past the ego to be able to move forward in unity. PEACE