Holier than Thou Wars?
June 28, 2008 by Fran
Barack Obama sure has been through the wringer about religion. Big to do’s about if the Reverend Wright had the right to say what he did, or if Wright was wrong, and Obama was wrong to choose Wright? Who has the right to scrutinize anyone’s religious choices? That is supposed to be one of America’s freedoms, right?
(I am having fun with the word play!)
WAPO published this article about Reverend Caldwell “leader of the largest Methodist congregation in the country, launched a website yesterday titled “James Dobson Does not Speak for Me”
The site is a jab at Dobson, a stalwart of the religious right, who this week called Obama’s interpretation of the Bible in a 2006 speech, distorted to fit Obama’s own world view, his own confused theology”.
Caldwell said “I think it is a crime and a shame that Senator Obama has had to explain the fact that he is a christian”. “Criticize his politics. Criticize his stance on whatever, but don’t question his faith. Never in the history of American politics has someone said that he is a Christian, and someone came back to say “No you’re not.”
Rev. Caldwell officiated @ Jenna Bush’s wedding.
http://jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/
The Caldwell web site has collected over 10,000 signatures already, people joining with Rev. Caldwell, in proclaiming
*James Dobson doesn’t speak for me.*
He doesn’t speak for me when he uses religion as a wedge to divide;
He doesn’t speak for me when he speaks as the final arbiter on the meaning of the Bible;
James Dobson doesn’t speak for me when he uses the beliefs of others as a line of attack;
He doesn’t speak for me when he denigrates his neighbor’s views when they don’t line up with his;
He doesn’t speak for me when he seeks to confine the values of my faith to two or three issues alone;
What does speak for me is David’s psalm celebrating how good and pleasant it is when we come together in unity;
Micah speaks for me in reminding us that the Lord requires us to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with Him;
The prophet Isaiah speaks for me in his call for all to come and reason together and also to seek justice, encourage the oppressed and to defend the cause of the vulnerable;
The book of Nehemiah speaks for me in its example to work with our neighbors, not against them, to restore what was broken in our communities;
The book of Matthew speaks for me in saying to bless those that curse you and pray for those who persecute you;
The words of the apostle Paul speak for me in saying that words spoken and deeds done without love amount to nothing.
The apostle John speaks for me in reminding us of Jesus’ command to love one another. The world will know His disciples by that love.
These words speak for me. But when James Dobson attacks Barack Obama, James Dobson doesn’t speak for me.”
Right on Reverend Caldwell! Tell it Brother!
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As an atheist I am marginalized in the religious debates since we’re such a minority here in the US that no one wants my opinion on it. Since the wall of separation is supposed to keep the government out of religion as well as the reverse, it’s vital that Christians stand up for religious freedom for everyone, and they must join the struggle to keep the Religious Right from taking over our government. Rev. Caldwell knows exactly what I’m talking about, obviously.
There are a lot of creepy fundies out there who have no qualms making their brand of religion right & them only. It is divisive & offensive & they haev been publicly nasty– case in point they dredged up this 2006 Obama speech to pick apart. As the Reverend said– Pick apart his political platforms & proposals, but leave his religion alone. Even better that it comes from a prominant minister.
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