Coaching Kerry about religion

[Alpharetta]

Dear John Kerry,

As a church leader at a "moderate" United Methodist congregation in Georgia, I would like to offer you some counseling and coaching regarding your thoughts on religion.

If we don't have these talks, you are going to get tripped up again and again.

My advice:

be genuine.

2ndly:

pray.

3rd:

prepare. You are going to be asked a lot of trick questions between now and November. You need to be asked those questions in private or in a church group setting. As a liberal having been surrounded by conservative politics and theology my whole life, I am qualified to help you navigate those questions.

example: you were asked "Is God on our side?"

A better answer than yours is "God loves us all. The Bible shows us that even though God loves his people, he doesn't allow them to win every battle."

Other questions you better watch out for:

"What does God think about homosexuals?"
"Why is there evil?"
"What are your favorite hymns? verses? stories?"
"Which version of the Bible do you read? Why?"
"What does the Bible mean to you?"

I can think of about 1000 more questions you better be ready for. If you don't call me, find a minister who can work with you for answers which compromise neither your politics nor your beliefs.

[bryant69]

1. This is good advice

Potential flame bait(but I hope not), but good advice none the less.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[JI7]

2. i agree, especially since bush will exploit GOD

for everything he can.

being from massachusettes kerry had great answers and it usually involved bringing up separation of church and state but right wingers like to exploit god and the bible to spread their hatred rather than love and we have to be ready for that.

[wjittermoss]

3. Sharpton's answer was best: Are we on God's side?

Otherwise your coaching is great.

[spooky3]

4. wasn't that Edwards' answer?

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. why do people ask politicians religious questions?

I never understood this. If an answer to a religious question is going to sway someone's vote then they obviously are too damn flaky to even worry about.

Practice answers on health care, education and social security. Leave God to God and religion to religious leaders.

[MaineDem]

6. Amen

Or something like that. :evilgrin:

[curse10]

7. Ugh. I wish this wasn't necessary

but it is. As long as his/her religion isn't unduly influencing their decisions it shouldn't even be a topic in the political arena.

[Kolesar]

8. I wish I knew half of what you knew.

I feel kind of creepy when I am making small talk with locals who I am trying to influence and they ask me "what church do you go to?". The real answer is: "Dad said I didn't have to go to church if I didn't want to when I was 15 and I never went back". I am a non believer. How am I supposed to integrate with this town when they think that saying that you are a believer is some kind of test of morals? Note that I said "saying". I don't think that I am projecting what they believe, either. I get these looks that tell me everything.

I don't think that telling them that I find reverence in nature or that I have a sort of Quaker-Unitarian-Universalist-Hindu-Hopi belief system would impress them either.

I am looking for honest advice here.

[sangh0]

9. My advice: Go to church

No, you don't HAVE TO go to church. You're a free person in a free country. However, if you want to make a difference, you'll need to be seen as credible by the people you are trying to change. If that means going to church, then by all means do that if you think the effort will pay off.

And who knows, maybe you'll discover that you like it.

[Alpharetta]

10. about the same advice, a slightly different spin

Decide which church in your area provides the most benefit to your community. Associate yourself with that church. Participate in their local missions (when they go to the soup kitchen, shelter, thrift shop, habitat for humanity, etc.).

Get to know some church members. In or out of the church, if anyone asks about your beliefs, you explain where you are on your journey: you are not prepared to witness at this time and you don't know when you will, if ever. That is an honest answer.

Being associated with a church is not deception if you are honest by saying it gives you some of the community involvement you need.

Attend every now and then. It'll give you a chance to get to know some folks. Even better, it'll give you a chance to think. I was a non-believer as a teen, but at least I got some good thinking done.

[Kolesar]

11. Well thank you for the advice, and thank you sangh0

If you wish to expand on the meaning of "witness", please do. I don't recall that term from my dated religious training.

[Alpharetta]

12. my definition of witnessing

To witness is to testify what you believe and the evidence you see for those beliefs. By evidence, I mean how a relationship with God has changed you and evidence you've seen of God acting in your world.

I know plenty of folks who go to church and don't feel ready to witness. Half of all the teens, it seems. They never threw me out, even well into my 20's. So it's OK if you attend every now and then. You probably want to hold off on becoming an official member, though.

Good luck in your efforts.