Constructive gadfly
I extend my hand to Fred Thompson for admitting he’s not much for church-going; Biden, too, has guts to say that his belief is his own business and no one else’s. The three top tier Democratic candidates seldom let an utterance go by without some reference to their God as though that would make them stand out among the crowd. It seems to me that the most important belief—an oath actually—is that they will defend the Constitution and show depth in democratic principles. One who is a nonbeliever or simply lukewarm to religion is really irrelevant; for voters should know that in time of crises, a divine power is inevitably invoked. Even a Hitchens on his death bed will supplicate if not God surely, some mysterious power—and I don’t mean the Antichrist—as in the proverbial there are no atheist in foxholes.
Comments (Page 5)
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on Sep 22, 2007
Frankly, I would vote for a man who is not Catholic that believes in abortion, and also does not beleive that life begins at conception. If such a man (or woman) was a non-christian, that would not matter. I would be hard pressed to vote for any person (Catholic or not) that beleives life begins at conception and believes in abortion as well.


I had to read this about 5 times because it seems to me your first sentence contradicts your last one.


I couldn't in good conscience ever vote for anyone, Catholic or non-Catholic, who believes in abortion. That's becasue I believe by my vote I'd be complicit in the evil. I think the Church has put out a document that explains this.


on Sep 22, 2007
I find it rather telling that Ock, who seems to like George Carlin recently, doesn't believe the voting system works, then tells us that we should vote for a candidate that won't represent us. Don't vote for someone who represents you, he says, vote for someone who represents everyone...

Well, see, people have these opinion things. And they're often different. Hence, I vote for someone with opinions closest to mine, so they can run things the way I want them to. If you want me to vote for someone who represents you, how about you just vote.

As for selling everything I own and helping others, I haven't felt that call from God. Imagine if I did that, and then I get to Heaven, and God's like, "What's up with that? We were going to use your money to fund this and this and this..." "But Ock said..." "But WE didn't." "Sorry God..." "We forgive you."

Proving God's Holyness will come when I follow directions from God, not from Ock.
on Sep 22, 2007
How convenient. I ask again:

Seriously. Which of you self-righteous Christians are doing anything to make things better? Here's a hint. Sitting here on JU talking about obscure bible passages isn't feeding starving children. Do you give your 10 percent?


I've given my life for you. What have you done for me?
on Sep 22, 2007
Seriously. Which of you self-righteous Christians are doing anything to make things better? Here's a hint. Sitting here on JU talking about obscure bible passages isn't feeding starving children. Do you give your 10 percent? Oh good for you. You're in the clear!


Well, if I was into self promotion I might trot out my resume. But, while your point is well made, there are a lot of Christians who AREN'T like that.
on Sep 22, 2007
Seriously. Which of you self-righteous Christians are doing anything to make things better? Here's a hint. Sitting here on JU talking about obscure bible passages isn't feeding starving children. Do you give your 10 percent?


That's because God wants the children to starve.

Seriously. All their God wants from them is a petty little prayer, accepting Jesus into their hearts, or some nonsense like that. Their religion doesn't require any sacrifice, any giving, or any helping of those starving kids.

It's God's predestination that all those kids starve. Who are they to screw around with God's will?
on Sep 22, 2007
I had to read this about 5 times because it seems to me your first sentence contradicts your last one.


that believes in abortion, and also does not beleive that life begins at conception.


that beleives life begins at conception and believes in abortion


Perhaps disecting it as above would make it easier.
on Sep 24, 2007
One who is a nonbeliever or simply lukewarm to religion is really irrelevant; for voters should know that in time of crises, a divine power is inevitably invoked ........as in the proverbial there are no atheist in foxholes.

The "irrelevant" might have something to say about that at voting time   

As to "no atheist in foxholes", if you are about to get your head blown off, you'll clutch at anything to stop that, if the situation is desparate enough, even the hundred to one outsider has been known to win at the race track   

People will always vote according to their beliefs and needs, and rightly so. It would be a dangerous thing however if it became a pre-requisite that an individual has to believe in God in order to be allowed to become a Presidential candidate. The Constitution guarantees Religious Freedoms, and very wisely separates Church from State, to do otherwise would be the start of a very dangerous slippery slope.
on Sep 24, 2007
Yeah, my Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints series of entries fell under the "delete" knife during one of my meltdowns. Could be that it's time to resurrect the series... and even complete it this time. ;~D
on Sep 24, 2007
OCKHAMSRAZOR POSTS #53
Is it one that does its utmost to spread the Word of God or is it one that makes the most money for your family? Do you then rationalize, accountant boy, that you're taking care of your family?

Seriously. Which of you self-righteous Christians are doing anything to make things better? Here's a hint. Sitting here on JU talking about obscure bible passages isn't feeding starving children. Do you give your 10 percent? Oh good for you. You're in the clear!


Today Catholic News reported Pope Benedict's Sunday homily in which he seems to address these thoughts and questions of yours. I hope it's helpful.

Castelgandolfo, September 24 -On Sunday morning, Pope Benedict XVI paid a visit to Velletri, Italy where he presided over Mass and gave a homily on the Gospel of the dishonest steward. The Pope told his listeners that, fundamentally, life is always a choice between good and evil, between God and Satan.

"In truth," he told the several thousand faithful who had gathered to hear him, "life is always a choice: between faithfulness and unfaithfulness, between selfishness and altruism, between good and evil. The end of this particular Gospel passage is incisive and authoritative: no servant can serve two masters," which in the final analysis means "you cannot serve God and wealth."

The Holy Father drew a further conclusion from the Gospel by connecting the use or misuse of material goods to its effects on the environment and our fellow men.

"A fundamental decision is then necessary, the choice between the logic of profit as the ultimate criteria for our actions and the logic of sharing and solidarity. If the logic of profit prevails, the imbalance between poor and rich increases, as does the ruinous exploitation of the planet." "When, on the other hand, the logic of sharing and solidarity prevails it is possible to alter and redirect our course towards equal development and the common good of everyone. Ultimately it is a decision between selfishness and love, between justice and dishonesty, ... between God and Satan."

Pope Benedict pointed out how this attitude of serving Christ and our fellow man in our material choices is counter cultural and can call us to be radically sacrificial. "If loving Christ and our fellow man is not considered as a superficial accessory," he added, "but rather as the real and ultimate aim of our entire life, we must know how to take fundamental decisions, to be ready to make radical sacrifices, if necessary even unto martyrdom. Today, as yesterday, the life of Christians calls for the courage to swim against the tide, to love like Jesus Who went so far as to sacrifice Himself upon the cross."

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