Mixing religion and politics is folly
Politics in this country are as polarized as ever. People are unfriending each other on Facebook because of political posts that are upsetting our Facebook “friends.” I don’t get political outrage on Facebook.
I view politics just like any other hobby. I don’t unfriend people because of their crafting hobbies.
Suzie is posting 50 things to do with pipe cleaners — again. I am so mad about this. I think I’m going to unfriend her.
I think with all of my armchair political analysis, I have drilled it down to why our nation is so polarized these days. Steve Fitzgerald, a Kansas state Senate candidate, summed it up perfectly.
“The contention that I said that one cannot be Catholic or Christian and a Democrat is not an unreasonable summation of what I actually said,” Fitzgerald said. “My actual message was fix the party or leave.”
And there you have it. Judgments that used to only be reserved for God are now a full contact sport for some politicians and his/her followers. Vote, believe like me, and go to heaven.
Don’t and go burn in hell.
That’s pretty polarizing, if you ask me. It goes much deeper than unfriending people on Facebook.
Take for example the campaign for U.S. Senate in Missouri. The Duggars are campaigning for Republican Senate hopeful Todd Akin.
Think about that for a moment. Are the Duggars known for their vast knowledge about public policy? No. Are they known for their sophisticated understanding about government? No again.
The Duggars are known for their extreme practice of Christianity and expertise at home hair permanent waves. The last time I watched an episode of the Duggars it went like this:
The Duggars decided to doggie sit. The Duggarettes thought it would be super fun to feed the doggie cheese.
Doggie gobbled up cheese and pooped all over the floor. Mommie Duggar said no to little Duggars. The end.
With that, we have the official endorsement of Rep. Akin for senator of Missouri. Based on? Help me here. … Based on faith and celebrity created from reality TV.
You might be thinking to yourself, “What does a Jewish girl know about Christianity?” Well, turns out, I went to a Southern Baptist College.
I did my share of reading the Bible. Other than scoring major points at the New Testament category on “Jeopardy,” it gave me a general understanding and appreciation for Christianity.
One party cannot claim a religion. Christianity is complex and very personal.
If the people in one party can claim it because of their views on being pro-life, the people in the other major party can claim it because of their views on helping the poor in our country.
I don’t think Jesus would have suggested the poor in this country pull themselves up by their bootstraps.
One political party isn’t going to heaven, and the other party isn’t going to hell. This is not all good vs. all bad.
Now excuse me while I gather my arsenal so I can declare my war on Christmas. It’s coming up on that season, and I need about a month to get ready.
Aimee Patton of Fairway is a marketing director and writes her own blog: Pleasantly Eccentric. To reach her, send email to oped@kcstar.com or write to Midwest Voices, c/o Editorial Page, The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64108.
Mark Hastert
6 months, 3 weeks agoIt’s disheartening that for some their religion has become their God.
If God is all knowing and omnificent then you’re a fool to think that all God is can be confined to one holy book, anybody’s holy book. Have a little humility.
Stan Helen Robinson
6 months, 3 weeks agoI sent the following to my local news paper. Lately, I have been mining back issues of local newspapers stored on microfilm in OUR well kept genealogy room within OUR new library. My search for family news is constantly being diverted by other news items such as WW I, the price of crops and the adventures of local bootleggers. The topic of religion did not escape coverage either. In a 1917 issue of the Telegraph, I ran across an article questioning when human life begins. It seems that there was general agreement that the soul leaves the body upon death. The dispute was when the soul enters the body and this question is still unsettled 95 years later. Some Protestants, then as now, contend the soul appears with the union of sperm and egg (fertilization). Catholics contend that the soul arrivals a few days after fertilization. This may not seem to be a great difference of opinion, but it is significant and brings questions to mind that only a trained theologian can answer and that ain’t me. If the Protestant belief is correct and the fertilized egg splits to form identical twins, as it sometimes does, which twin gets the soul? Do they each get half a soul or is a totally new one recruited? When medical assistance is needed to produce a pregnancy, it is common practice to fertilize several eggs in a Petri dish and then select a few for implanting. The remaining fertile eggs are relegated to the freezer to be called up later if needed. Are there freezers all over the world serving as “on deck circles” for both bodies and souls? What is the opinion of other religions on these questions? Are they even permitted to express an opinion in OUR country? I do not bring this issue up as sacrilege. My purpose is to try to show that such discussions are not appropriate in a political debate and should not influence whom we select to make laws governing our civil conduct. We may be of different faiths, but it is OUR military that guards OUR borders. It is OUR government that builds OUR roads. It is OUR civil servants inspecting OUR food. OUR elected officials should be concerned with OUR fair treatment in this life and OUR religious leaders should limit their concerns to OUR afterlife. Religious issues are not and should not be within the purview of our elected officials.
Stanley Robinson Princeton, MO
William R. Nelson
6 months, 3 weeks agoToo much sophistry to autopsy here, but I think I can edit Aimee Patton’s opinion down to a one sentence Cliff’s Notes, using her own words:
“Politics in this country are as polarized as ever. I view politics just like any other hobby.”
And there in, Miss Patton, is the heart of the problem.
Mark Hastert
6 months, 3 weeks agoThe idea of ensoulment has been debated since Aristotle who taught than males were ensouled at 40 days gestation and females at 90 days (go figure). Old and New testament scriptures appear to contradictory and adherents pick and chose the one they think supports their belief but in the end it’s all religions doctrine with no foundation or logic. That’s why our Constitution has the Establishment Clause and that’s exactly why we should never impose one religious doctrine.
Believe as you wish; live you life accordingly but leave others free to do the same.
Suzanne Conaway
6 months, 3 weeks agoAimee, Another well-written article. Mark, I saw a letter to the editor from you awhile back. I’ve been meaning to say “Good work” for some time now. In fact, it’s been “some time” for so long that I can’t remember what your letter was about. I just remember being pleased.
As far as one can’t be a Democrat and a Christian, I beg to differ. I even have a bumper sticker saying, “Proud member of the religious left.”
Suzanne Conaway
6 months, 3 weeks agoOh, Stanley, Vern Barnet had a very well-written article on the differing religions’ views of ‘personhood’ in the Oct. 3rd FYI. You can probably pull it up online.
I really think the argument “life begins at conception” is a rather specious argument against abortion. That is a no-brainer true statement. But personhood is much more important. And no one can convince me that a two-cell fertilized egg is more important than the already-a-person woman who’s been raped or a victim of incest.
Exactly why is it a big national and local news story that a GOP state senate candidate in Kansas opposes gay marriage on religious grounds? I suppose next we will seen screaming headlines announcing to a shocked nation that the NRA opposes the confiscation of handguns and the AARP opposes the abolition of social security. Now, you can agree or disagree with Mr. Fitzgerald’s views—but this is a quite ho-hom story—and the fact that it has gotten the attention that is has indicates that someone has a hidden agenda here. So, come clean on what really concerns you—there is enough deceit already in US politics. Sincerely and Respectfully, Ernest Evans