http://www.huffingtonpost.com/herb-silverman/gods-own-party_b_9032918.html
I don’t think politicians in a secular country should go around quoting the Bible to make their case for legislation. That’s why I half agree with Virginia Rep. Dave Brat, the GOP lawmaker who famously upset former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a 2014 Republican primary. Here’s the half with which I disagree. Brat indicated that it’s fine for Republicans to quote from the Bible, but not for Democrats to do so. He said, “Our side, the conservative side, needs to re-educate its people that we own the entire [biblical] tradition.” What especially drew Brat’s ire was President Obama’s arguments for allowing some Syrian refugees into the country, which included a biblical reference from James 1:27 about looking after widows and orphans.
I don’t think politicians in a secular country should go around quoting the Bible to make their case for legislation. That’s why I half agree with Virginia Rep. Dave Brat, the GOP lawmaker who famously upset former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a 2014 Republican primary. Here’s the half with which I disagree. Brat indicated that it’s fine for Republicans to quote from the Bible, but not for Democrats to do so. He said, “Our side, the conservative side, needs to re-educate its people that we own the entire [biblical] tradition.” What especially drew Brat’s ire was President Obama’s arguments for allowing some Syrian refugees into the country, which included a biblical reference from James 1:27 about looking after widows and orphans.
If politicians, liberal or conservative, can’t come up with good evidence-based reasons to support an issue, they shouldn’t rely on an ancient pre-scientific book written by bigoted, misogynistic, homophobic, intolerant, superstitious men. I understand why politicians often pander to people who prefer theocratic decisions. After all, political pandering is bi-partisan. Brat, however, takes it one step further. I mostly find his comments amusing, but if I were a Christian I’d probably be incensed by the way Brat is giving Christians a bad name (or worse name, depending on your point of view).
Some Republicans say we need to take our country back, but they usually don’t specify from whom. Perhaps we need to take our country back from a black president, or from Democrats. But they are not saying we need to take our government back, so perhaps they want to take our country back to the bad old days before we adopted civil rights legislation and equal rights for women and other minorities.
On the other hand, Christians usually want everyone to read the Bible. I often see conservative Christians on my street handing out Bible tracts to everyone, regardless of race, color, creed, or political affiliation. But Rep. Brat’s mantra seems to be, “Take our Bible back (from Democrats).” And I understand why, because Democrats might quote passages that Brat doesn’t want to hear. With all the Bible’s contradictions and ambiguities, Republicans and Democrats alike can quote phrases to make their case. If you want to go to war, quote Matthew 10: 34: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” If you want peace, quote Matthew 5:39, about turning the other cheek.
You can even quote Jesus to show he was a secular progressive, maybe a communist. Examples include Mark 10:25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew19:21: To be perfect, sell your possessions and give them to the poor. Acts 2:44: All the believers were together and had everything in common.
A lot of Republicans either don’t read the Bible or don’t think it applies to them. Which brings me to Donald Trump, currently a favorite among evangelical Christians. Recently at Liberty University, Trump quoted from “Second Corinthians” (II Corinthians), which he referred to as “Two Corinthians.” Trump rarely concedes first place to anything or anybody else. But during his speech he said the Bible was even better than his best-selling book, The Art of the Deal. Or, as Trump might say, “My book is the two best book in the world.”
I doubt that “The Donald” or lots of other politicians spend much time carefully studying the Bible they so effusively praise. Our country would be better served if politicians spent more time reading and governing according to our U.S. Constitution rather than according to any ancient, so-called holy book.
Some Republicans say we need to take our country back, but they usually don’t specify from whom. Perhaps we need to take our country back from a black president, or from Democrats. But they are not saying we need to take our government back, so perhaps they want to take our country back to the bad old days before we adopted civil rights legislation and equal rights for women and other minorities.
On the other hand, Christians usually want everyone to read the Bible. I often see conservative Christians on my street handing out Bible tracts to everyone, regardless of race, color, creed, or political affiliation. But Rep. Brat’s mantra seems to be, “Take our Bible back (from Democrats).” And I understand why, because Democrats might quote passages that Brat doesn’t want to hear. With all the Bible’s contradictions and ambiguities, Republicans and Democrats alike can quote phrases to make their case. If you want to go to war, quote Matthew 10: 34: “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” If you want peace, quote Matthew 5:39, about turning the other cheek.
You can even quote Jesus to show he was a secular progressive, maybe a communist. Examples include Mark 10:25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew19:21: To be perfect, sell your possessions and give them to the poor. Acts 2:44: All the believers were together and had everything in common.
A lot of Republicans either don’t read the Bible or don’t think it applies to them. Which brings me to Donald Trump, currently a favorite among evangelical Christians. Recently at Liberty University, Trump quoted from “Second Corinthians” (II Corinthians), which he referred to as “Two Corinthians.” Trump rarely concedes first place to anything or anybody else. But during his speech he said the Bible was even better than his best-selling book, The Art of the Deal. Or, as Trump might say, “My book is the two best book in the world.”
I doubt that “The Donald” or lots of other politicians spend much time carefully studying the Bible they so effusively praise. Our country would be better served if politicians spent more time reading and governing according to our U.S. Constitution rather than according to any ancient, so-called holy book.
