Why does McCain keep bringing religion into the Georgia-Russia conflict?
McCain had some criticism earlier this week among some religion-and-politics bloggers when he noted that Georgia is "one of the world's first nations to adopt Christianity as an official religion."
The criticism earlier focused on the church-state aspects of the comment.
"First of all, a nation cannot 'convert' to Christianity -- only individuals can choose to follow Jesus Christ," Wake Forest University's Melissa Rogers wrote on her blog. "Second, while some nations do establish an official religion, I find it disturbing that an American presidential candidate would seem to describe that as a good thing."
Steve Waldman thought the line was political, communicating:
1) I think having Christianity as an official religion is a fine idea in general
2) This is just like the Cold War when the forces of Christianity are at war with the forces of Atheism
3) I view the protection of Christians from attack worldwide as an important goal
Mark Silk just thought McCain's comment was weird.
But tonight, after McCain repeated the line, recent Eastern Orthodox convert Rod Dreher just got mad. "Total and shameless pandering to Evangelicals," he blogged. "As if Russia isn't a Christian nation. As if Russia hasn't been Christian for over a thousand years. As if Christianity had anything to do with this conflict."
Seriously, though, if you're looking for a good religion angle on the conflict, check out George Pitcher's Telegraph article on church responses.
Posted by Ted Olsen on August 16, 2008 8:49PM
Comments
The whole forum was a mockery of the Christian faith and Rick Warren is complicit (whether or not he is aware of that) in the exploitation of genuine theological, social, and moral concerns of Christian for political gain (after all, this is why McCain and Obama came). Who needs rehearsed and canned answers by McCain and Obama that seek to appeal to evangelicals while avoiding to alienate mainstream America (especially when they will forget it shortly after the elections)? Both candidates in their desire to rule this World System (see the irony) are substandard when compared to biblical ideals. Despite their gravity, there is a greater crime than supporting abortion, gay marriage, torture, not taking care of the poor and the defenseless, being warmonger, and greedy; the greater abomination is using God and taking His name in vain for worldly and political gain.
God is not another tool to further one's political career and Christian should be carefully not be unwitting participants.
We should have learn our lesson with Bush and understood that a Christian politician is almost always an oxymoron
This is not about delusion that is the idea of a Christian nation, it is about honoring, and glorying the name of Christ by not allowing politicians (remember Karl Rove and co.) to use the Faith to achieve their goal and you forget you until the next election.
This is not about electing a Christian president or turning the country into a theocracy (from Constantine onward we have learn how disastrous this can be).
It is about understanding that when God is involved or named, there cannot be half measure or compromises (choosing the lesser of two evils is not good enough for Christ). They would be better off leaving God out of the whole conversation.
Christian should not seek to become power brokers with the World (Yes, America is part of the World which is spiritually opposed to God and His plan), they should seek to be prophets in the tradition of Elijah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist, confronting evil and calling the Government to fulfill its divine mission (Romans 13). It is only then that free from compromise, free from favors owed, free from desire to be accepted and praised by the Greats of this World that believers will fulfill their purpose (which is not found in the Republican or Democrat manifests)
Posted by: Alain M at August 16, 2008
McCain is right I believe. Odessa was the first kingdom to have a king convert. But I am not sure what that has to do with Georgia now, except that it is near the same territory as Odessa.
What scares me is a president using Christianity in a divisive way... again.
It shouldn't matter if Georgia is or was Christian, a Christian should still hate victimization and injustice regardless of the victim.
Posted by: Dan Turis at August 18, 2008
For McCain to interject religion into the Georgia-Russia is sheer pandering. Alain M, you're right - "the greater abomination is using God and taking His name in vain for worldly and political gain".
Worse yet, McCain is trying to restart the Cold War so he can try to be Reagan-esque, just without Reagan's integrity.
Georgia provoked Russia - on somebody's bad warmongering advice. McCain and Rove's role in encouraging this provocation are pretty transparent. 'Wag the Dog' to create an international crisis to highlight a candidate. Sorry, we are not all Georgians, and McCain does not speak for America, and is unfit to speak as its president.
Bottomline: The US military is over stretched in two wars already and incapable of helping Georgia, and the US cannot afford the billions of dollars McCain is lobbying for Georgia.
Posted by: Paul at August 19, 2008
"I want a Chief Executive whose public acts are responsible to all groups and obligated to none--who can attend any ceremony, service or dinner his office may appropriately require of him--and whose fulfillment of his Presidential oath is not limited or conditioned by any religious oath, ritual or obligation...But if the time should ever come - and I do not concede any conflict to be even remotely possible - when my office would require me to either violate my [religious] conscience or violate the national interest, then I would resign the office; and I hope any conscientious public servant would do the same."
JFK speaking to Protestant ministers in Houston on his Catholicism
"[We all] need to understand the critical role that the separation of church and state has played in preserving not only our democracy, but the robustness of our religious practice...it was the forbearers of the evangelicals who were the most adamant about not mingling government with religion, because they did not want state-sponsored religion hindering their ability to practice their faith as they understood it...Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values... that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God's will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all. Now this is going to be difficult for some who believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, as many evangelicals do. But in a pluralistic democracy, we have no choice. Politics depends on our ability to persuade each other of common aims based on a common reality...to base one's life upon...uncompromising [religious] commitments may be sublime, but to base our [national] policy making on such commitments would be a dangerous thing.
Barack Obama, Call to Renewal Keynote Address, June 2006
Posted by: EricR11 at August 22, 2008
Hi, This is Shawn. Why he rising conversation between Russian and Georgians. As it could cause serious problems in future. So please stop such kind of regional activities.
_______
Shawn
georgia drug rehab
Posted by: shawn2304 at January 5, 2009
It was a very nice idea! Just wanna say thank you for the information you have shared. Just continue writing this kind of post. I will be your loyal reader. Thanks again.
Posted by: links of london Necklace at October 29, 2009
Post a comment