tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post3139162454923010951..comments2024-03-28T10:26:20.408-04:00Comments on Ponderings on a Faith Journey: Faith, Values, PoliticsRobert Cornwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-63533058407030315662008-09-29T09:14:00.000-04:002008-09-29T09:14:00.000-04:00There is always a danger in mixing faith and polit...There is always a danger in mixing faith and politics. When we do this, we must do it humbly, recognizing that we could be wrong. All we can say, and hopefully it came across yesterday, is that from my perspective, formed by faith, this is right. It is not, claiming God for my side. It is saying. As I understand the things of God, this is what I feel compelled to do. Others will decide differently.Robert Cornwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04581876323110725024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-32276570978269718562008-09-29T00:07:00.000-04:002008-09-29T00:07:00.000-04:00Some months ago I wrote a couple of posts on Chris...Some months ago I wrote a couple of posts on Christian Politics. I must admit that I have been deeply includenced by John Howard Yoder on this subject, and the substance of my own take is built around a pyramid with the two Great Commandments and Jesus' New Commandment at the top, followed by The Sermon on the Mount, Ten Commandments and a summary of the ethical prophets with an emphasis on Amos. It boils down to a political ethic of integrity and fairness, and surprise, surprise, there is nothing in it about homosexuality, nationalistic patriotism or abortion.<BR/>CPCountry Parsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02727241474360657192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22980286.post-5713457941714275442008-09-28T23:59:00.000-04:002008-09-28T23:59:00.000-04:00For the Christian Right it appears that primary ro...For the Christian Right it appears that primary role of religion in politics is to bolster their claim to an orthodox political and legislative agenda and, having established THE orthodox agenda, religion is then used to as a sword to demonize those who oppose their agenda. <BR/><BR/>When one's agenda (political or otherwise) is religiously derived, and when one accepts that there is only one truth and they have the monopoly on that truth, then it necessarily follows that the opposition is sinful if not evil.<BR/><BR/>Caution is needed here, on both sides of the religio-political divide. When overtly claiming a faith-based foundation for one's political agenda, from the right or left, there is great risk that one is claiming a monopoly on the truth. For example, when I say that my political agenda is based on my faith and that the core truth of my faith is the demand for compassion in all of my relationships and it is an obligation of society to mete out social, legal and economic justice to the marginalized, am I any less guilty of monopolizing the truth, and villifying those who have the nerve to oppose such a biblically sound political agenda? <BR/><BR/>Arguing politics from an overtly faith-based position is risky business, and you had better be "correct" in your positions; to claim that there is a single exclusive biblically compelled political position on any issue or candidate, is nothing less than taking the name of the Lord. <BR/><BR/>JohnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com