i like these Christians better ...

[welshTerrier2]

it's really incredible to me that so many Christian fundamentalists in this country have been so totally co-opted by a right-wing agenda that teaches hate, violence, racism, anti-poor, and greed ... i always thought "religious types" followed the teachings of selflessness, i.e., they put the needs of others ahead of their own needs ...

the Christian right in the US has been blinded by their opposition to abortion ... but the deaths of millions of innocent people all over the world are on their hands ... they voted in regimes, going back to reagan, that have used American military muscle to take lives and cause unimaginable suffering all over the world ...

what will it take to put these misguided souls back in touch with the real teachings of their own religion ??? maybe the bishops in the following article are on the right track ...

source: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0919-02.htm

A group of Church of England bishops issued a report today criticising American foreign policy, the US war on terror and some American Christians' use of biblical texts to support a political agenda in the Middle East, and accuses the US of using illegitimate and dangerous rhetoric. <skip>

The bishops are also critical of European and American policy towards Iran and its nuclear development, saying that the EU ought to offer a "suitably attractive incentive package" in order to dissuade Tehran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. <skip>

The report continues: "So international order is to be built not on brute power and fear but on law that is ultimately grounded in the divine wisdom ... When national interest is interpreted in a narrow or short-term way that excludes or ignores the flourishing of other communities, this is incompatible with a proper understanding of what is in our interest." <skip>

The report, drawn up since the July terrorist attacks on London, is particularly critical of the US and the effect of what it says are misreadings of biblical texts by some Christian groups in shaping some American attitudes, describing some millennialist views as deeply worrying and illegitimate: "The Book of Revelation, far from being a justification of American expansionism, is in fact a fierce critique of the imperial enterprise."

The report calls for the United Nations to be strengthened as the legitimate authority for all military intervention and opposes democracy being imposed on any other country by force, saying it must be adopted by a nation in culturally appropriate ways. It describes talk of a "war on terrorism" as a piece of dangerous rhetoric and warns of the danger of governments such as Britain's imposing laws which restrict hard won civil liberties.

[Deep13]

1. I remember the first Easter Bush was "president"...

...the head of the American Episcopal Church sent him a scathing rebuke for abandoning Kyoto.

[1932]

2. Jim Wallis has an chapter on American foreign policy in God's Politics

He says that Micah:4 should be the foundation for Christian foreign policy.

The point of Micah is that all nations will live in peace when every person has his or her own piece of the pie -- the vine and fig tree. When people feel they have their own place and the opportunity to take care of themselves and their families, they will not be afraid, and not wage war and will live in peace. This, incidentally, is why the US plans for Iraq will not work. Just like western capitalims, the plan for Iraq is to make a few people very rich which is guaranteed to result in a nation of people who don't have a fig tree and vine of their own.


Mic.4

1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counseller perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

[Seansky]

3. I read it earlier at Moore's site and I just feel like we are stepping

back into history (struggles between churches/religious segments determining/influencing states directions)

I'll be looking for what other religion shows up with their statements about the state of the world in relations to politics.