Would Jesus Like Today’s GOP?
William K. Wolfrum wrote a piece last year that was picked up just now by TPM, called “Jesus Christ Quits Christianity After Viewing Republican Platform.” When I Tweeted this earlier, I received nasty comments from some conservatives.
ralph_hansen @AlanColmes Unimpressive link… yawn. Stick to politics, Alan. Theology is above your pay grade.
lc1520 HE is despicable!He wants his stupid lib ideology=FINE!leave Christ outta it!COWARD!Ty @bccohan 4 find! @AlanColmes
debraaz Beng ugly must make 1 mean RT @AlanColmes Jesus leaves Christianity after viewing Republican platform http://is.gd/3Wxkh | #tcot #tlot |
bccohan This is despicable&you shld be ashamed. RT @AlanColmes: Jesus leaves Christianity after viewing Republican platform http://is.gd/3Wxkh #tcot
JannieAlexa I think that’s hateful | RT @AlanColmes Jesus leaves Christianity after viewing Republican platform http://is.gd/3Wxkh | #tcot #tlot
RightBloggerPat Bigot RT @AlanColmes: Jesus leaves Christianity after viewing Republican platform
But, of course. Wolfie makes his case.
Reached for comment at a West Hollywood coffee shop, Christ said that he couldn’t deal with a world that so misinterpreted his words and actions.
“They mention the word ‘faith’ 12 times in their platform,” said Christ. “Do they think we’re idiots or something?”
Christ went on to say that he had grown tired of being portrayed as a “marauding archangel of vengeance,” and that he held out little hope that the world would ever accept his message of peace.
“There’s a new breed of Christian out there that seems to think I represent free-for-all capitalism and slaying my enemies,” said Christ, munching on an arugula quiche. “I mean, they made Isaiah into a Cold War-era strategist, for Dad’s sake. Did they even read the New Testament?”
The Christ did say, “We had a good run.”
Most of the radical rightwing republikkkan extremists can’t distinguish between Christ and Ayn Rand, and that’s merely where their problems begin.
But these are people who mock Gandhi as a wimp.
It’s simply not practical to expect much of them.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I love raplh hansen’s comment about theology being above Alan’s pay grade. Funny, didn’t Jesus say you need to believe like a little child in order to reach heaven? Snotty-nosed “christians” thinking they can hide behind “theology!” HA
crackerjack Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
hmm…first things frst. I should be more careful what I tweet,and… for the record, Alan, I generally do like and agree with most of your liberal viewpoints (in politics).
But, I’m still unimpressed by Wolfie’s blog post. It’s old anyway…not very newsy.
For me, I think Jesus’ message to us is cheapened *both* when we boil it down to simply “do unto others, as…” (as liberals tend to do) and when the message becomes dominated by “You’re not acting righteously..” or “Your belief ain’t doctrinally correct..” – “..therefore you’re surely going to hell!” (as conservatives tend to say for cherry-picked issues).
Why don’t we agree to disagree theologically for now, but agree that applying one’s religion to politics can be tricky?
All the best folks,
Snotty-nosed crackerjack … yeah it’s not my real name ;-)
October 4th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
If Jesus was to show today, teachin’ and healin’ and hangin’ out with sinners and such and preachin’ against the status quo, our modern Christians would probably crucify the poor guy.
At the very least, Jesus would not be welcome at the Country Club.
Which, of course, means today’s conservative Christians would have become the old Romans.
Religion is a silly business, populated with silly people.
crh3e Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
If Jesus were alive today, he’d been in Gitmo most likely.
crh3e Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
sorry he’d be in Gitmo
jazmine Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
No, he would be practicing his word, in the Mega malls of America with his Mary Magdalen beside him….just my thought!
crh3e Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
yeah he needs his Mary with him, no doubt.
FuRyUs Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:01 am
I think Jesus would own a winery.
All profit!
FuRyUs Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:02 am
or would that be all prophet?
craig7120 Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
‘Religion is a silly business, populated with silly people.’
yeah I cant share that sentiment… It’ dangerous. History is all I can go by, just not underestimating.
jazmine Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Furyus, Jesus, would never be able to make a profit. if his prophets, drank his pino noir. Unless of course, he had the ability to turn water into wine.
FuRyUs Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Exactly. And apparently he could poop out fish and bread. Or he multiplied them or something.
jazmine Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Hahaha, very funny!!! Even He, would laugh at that:)
October 4th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I am not for abortion personally, but do not wish to take that right from other women, esp women in crisis or rape victims. I am very much a Democrat, and You may find your answer about Jesus in Mathew 25. Jesus belonged to NO political party, but His Life, His Teachings are Crystal Clear… he FAVORS the Poor, he Favors the giving, He Favors the Meek, He Blesses Those who Forgive. He Blesses NOT the Selfish. He Blesses NOT the Rich who only serve themselves.
flap Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
“I am not for slavery personally, but I do not wish to take that right from slaveholders who are in bad economic situations, especially in the shape the economy is in.”
karthiks030977 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 7:19 am
That’s OK Fair,luckily for us all,slavery is illegal and abortion isnt illegal.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
“slavery is illegal and abortion isnt illegal.”
So you’re saying that if slavery were legal you would be for it? Legality = morality?
TDro319 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Save it, Flap. It’s getting old. And you’re not gonna convince anybody here to convert to your anti-choice point of view.
Perhaps you can go to Michelle Malkin’s site and whine. I’m sure she’ll listen (maybe).
OldLefty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
TDro319,
How is it you can write the word, ‘conv1nce’?
I can not get that word or the name V1nce to go through.
craig7120 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
convince testing 123
OldLefty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
craig7120 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
convince testing 123
OldLefty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Well, la di da!
You convinced me.
And so did Vince Foster
craig7120 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Yaaaaa for us who are convinced.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
“And you’re not gonna convince anybody here to convert to your anti-choice point of view.”
See, just because we disagree about a position doesn’t mean both sides are equal positions. I love Alan, and I hear him going on all the time about how “we’re never gonna convince one another.” Does that mean both sides are equally moral because we can’t come to an agreement? Does that mean my side should be quiet?
If I was against slavery would I stop talking about it because a bunch of pro-slavery zealots told me my anti-slavery views would never fly?
I can’t help it if you don’t understand basic biology, TDro, and furthermore refuse to apply it to law.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
“Perhaps you can go to Michelle Malkin’s site and whine”
Why should I go to an echo chamber when I can come here and argue with “you libs”? :D
OldLefty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
“If I was against slavery would I stop talking about it because a bunch of pro-slavery zealots told me my anti-slavery views would never fly?
I can’t help it if you don’t understand basic biology, TDro, and furthermore refuse to apply it to law.”
……………………………………..
#1) The comparison to slavery is no more meaningful ti=o pro choice people than their comparison to unnecessary war is to you.
#2) Many, many doctors are pro choice.
flap Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:07 am
“The comparison to slavery is no more meaningful”
It’s a great comparison. Taking a group of people and relegating them to subhuman or property status. Same type of thing.
“Many, many doctors are pro choice.”
You make a good point. I would say that most OB/Gyns are pro-choice because they’re concerned with the mother’s help at the expense of the baby’s. That’s overstating it, really, but it’s true.
Many, many doctors also disbelieve in Darwinian evolution. So, doctors are not necessarily correct on everything in science. I think those docs that have forgotten the embryology they learned in med school need to crack open a textbook and relearn it.
flap Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:08 am
As well as the Hippocratic Oath. The original version of the Oath bans abortion as a procedure.
October 4th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
When he healed the sick, did Jesus ask for a co-pay?
William K. Wolfrum Reply:
October 4th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Sadly, Jesus was forced to cancel Miracle Insurance for the poor. It’s not like he’s a commie or something, after all.
;)
October 4th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
That Jesus was hilarious! Too bad he’s not real…
October 5th, 2009 at 12:57 am
Would Jesus Like Today’s GOP?
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October 5th, 2009 at 5:39 am
Jesus would not take a liking to either the GOP or the Dems. He loved and loves all mankind. He never put people into groups. He never preached for special rights for certain people. He never preached about war. He talked of wars and rumors of war that were to happen before His triumphful return.
Jesus was, is, and will always will teach love for mankind, and forgivness.
TDro319 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I know. Why, your god even told Bush to invade Iraq and slaughter hundreds of thousands of non-believers.
What love your god has for mankind. And forgiveness? Well, I’m sure Cheney and Limbaugh know all too well about that – NOT!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:44 am
According to Michael Moore, Jesus is a socialist.
If you cherry pick the Gospels, you can find passages that both support capitalism and socialism. Many of Jesus’ parables offer incentive for investment and expanding enterprise, but of course there is also many passages admonishing people for “storing their treasures” and chastising the benevolent rich. Anyone paying close attention without an agenda would see the obvious message is that the Christian god does not have a problem with prosperity, but one of the obligations of the godly life is to share excess with those who do not have enough for subsistence. In other words he wants someone who has been successful to pay it forward and give others the same chances that they received. Jesus is not Ayn Rand.
I find it interesting that Moore, Obama, and now you bring up Jesus when you find yourselves on the losing side of the argument. Is the hatred shown by so many of the liberal commentators on this blog and other medium towards Christianity merely because the Republicans were so much better at coopting it for your own uses to win elections in recent decades? Do I have to remind you that William Jennings Bryant, one of the most religious perannual presidential candidates in American history, was a progressive liberal who freely used the Gospel to promote his platform and died a matter of days after arguing against Scopes on the matter of evolution?
Sounds like you want your cake and to eat it to. Religion should not be used in politics by candidates or pundits, period. If an individual congregation wants to evaluate a platform and determine whether it reflects their values that is fine, people should consider whether they consider war immoral, redistribution ungodly, or whether its all about abortion or gay marriage – but on their own time. Its not up to Ralph Reed or the belligerents on here spewing their hatred towards organized religion (which is protected by the First Amendment, does that make you… un-American?) to lecture people on how they should vote.
Jesus said his kingdom was not of this earth and he probably wouldn’t vote, that’s my impression. He respected the Caesar’s laws, but it didn’t prevent him from pointing out hypocrisy among the people who used Jewish law in the Sanhedrin to manipulate people into giving them more power (ahem) when they themselves did not follow the spirit of the laws.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
“spewing their hatred towards organized religion”
Libs love religion…as long as it isn’t Christianity.
Er, let me rephrase that…they love Christianity as long as it’s extreeeeeeeemly pluralistic so as not to actually be anything.
OldLefty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I think the main idea is that “libs” , come as “cons” do, in all varieties.
The problem I see is the arrogance in “Only MY particular interpretation of MY brand of MY religion”, and not seeing that, they often are the same as everyone they vilify.
Shorty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I have no disagreement with your statement
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
“Only MY particular interpretation of MY brand of MY religion”
So, Oldlefty, you are saying this:
“Only MY particular interpretation of a certain belief…PLURALISM…is correct.”
Isn’t that a little arrogant? Why should I accept that there isn’t one correct view and that we all must believe that there are multiple correct interpretations?
TDro319 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
“Libs love religion…as long as it isn’t Christianity.”
And do you know this for a fact? Please post your sources.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
“Please post your sources.”
Are you my teacher?
average james Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
I’ll bite.
You are correct Flap and Shorty in that I pretty much do abhor organized religion. Of course I only speak for myself, which perhaps is one of the glaring differences between libs and cons, especially in personal matters.
It’s about relationship, not rules/religion.
Americaforgotus’ take (above post) hit it pretty square, IMO. He favors the poor, He favors giving, He favors the meek, He favors non-violence, He does not favor phariseeism, He does not favor storing up treasure on earth. He does not favor selfishness. He favors peace. No cherry picking required to pick up the overall spirit of Christ’s teaching.
The Republican platform and the things that they parrot today seem far afield of how I think Christ would have me act. That’s what I concern myself with, how would God want me to act right now.
TDro319 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I think organized religion breeds intolerance, bigotry and hatred. That’s what the crusades were all about – destroying those who don’t believe what they believe.
Shorty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Actually if you look at the history of the Crusades, the Europeans who had been settled in Jerusalem realized the value in engaging with trade and tolerating indigenous Muslims. It was transplanted Europeans like Raynald de Chautillon and Richard I as well as the Templar Knights who took the sort of spin on intolerance you’re talking about. Saladin was very controversial for his pluralistic worldview among fellow Muslims and was largely ignored by the Arabic world until Saddam Hussein advocated using his model of standing against a Western presence in the US, and remember the Baathists were a secular party.
However it is fallacious to just take the Dawkins view that abolishing religion will cause society to settle down, it didn’t work when the French tried it during the Revolution or the Czar was overthrown, etc. There is something about the human condition that is much deeper that has to be solved for societies to tolerate difference that go much further than scapegoating people who go to a particular place of worship once a week.
karthiks030977 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Well, faith is a matter of very personal choice…
when some smart alecks start looking for absoluteness,giving some BS reasons, but fundamentally aimed at nothing but imposing their faith on others, you get into all this then…
“I think organized religion breeds intolerance, bigotry and hatred.”
Agree 100%, TDRO. As a “Practising Hindu”, I see the havoc caused in my country by organized religion of every color, and it is no different from what I see here in USA, and I bet its the same in various shades all over the world. Now THERE is the absolute truth Trees,Flap have been seeking…
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
“I see the havoc caused in my country by organized religion of every color”
Oh, please. How many people did Stalin and Mao kill? It doesn’t take the presence or absence of religion to kill people. It takes HUMAN BEINGS. It’s in our nature to form into clans and fight. Just the way it is.
karthiks030977 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
“How many people did Stalin and Mao kill?”
And how is that relevant?
Let me get this:
Bunch of people “practice” organized religion: They (as a group) kill people.
Bunch of other people keep it their private choice. Some of that bunch choose to NOT believe in any religion. 2 of that bunch killed a bunch of people. So this is your argument AGAINST organized religion being the catalyst?
Quite dumb an argument even for you,Flap.
The key is:People who get into organized religion as a choice, ARE counted as a group,according to whatever “religious group” they affiliate with. People who choose NOT to MUST be counted as individuals. When you compare the samples after doing this counting correctly, the stats speak for themselves.
Lee Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
“Oh, please. How many people did Stalin and Mao kill? It doesn’t take the presence or absence of religion to kill people. It takes HUMAN BEINGS. It’s in our nature to form into clans and fight. Just the way it is.”
Nonsense.. Religion is an obvious catalyst for violent but not all Religions are equal. In addition, a factor which is more important is simply poverty. If you take away poverty and religion, you will take away most of the violence.
Level of education is another factor but is often implicitly related to both poverty and faith anyway.
But anyway, the notion that we are naturally predisposed to fight each other is absurd and has no factual basis whatsoever.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
“has no factual basis whatsoever.”
Have you ever watched Nature? Animals fighting? Alpha males? Plenty of factual basis.
“So this is your argument AGAINST organized religion being the catalyst?”
I am simply saying that lack of religion, or atheism, can cause the same evil stuff that religion can potentially cause. I mean, think about it…you’re a dictator and God doesn’t exist. What motivates you to do the “right” thing? There is no “right” thing. You’re the absolute ruler, you do whatever the hell you want. Kill, murder, rape, it’s all okay because you’re essentially “god.”
Actually, though, religious beliefs are so intrinsic to who we are as a species that I can’t see them really ever NOT existing. Kinda like saying “do away with love and we’ll function more efficiently as a species.” Lack of faith is a relatively new phenomenon. Yes, I know atheists have always existed, but now it’s more en vogue to play GOD! “I am alpha and omega!”
Lee Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:50 am
Flap,
“Have you ever watched Nature? Animals fighting? Alpha males? Plenty of factual basis”
We’re highly evolved beings that rely predominantly on our intelligence versus physical attributes to advance in the world. So studying animals and trying to extrapolate such a study to humans is nonsense once again..
Do you seriously have instincts to fight someone? If so, maybe what you need is anger management classes rather looking for a jihad..
“lack of religion, or atheism, can cause the same evil stuff that religion can potentially cause”
No, this idea that morals only come from God is wrong. Humanists are some of the kindest folks you’ll ever meet. Morals come from intelligent reason about the world and how best to interact with it. For the religious, this may come from their belief’s, for the non-religious this comes from understanding that selfishness is counterproductive and an individual will generally achieve a more positive outcome in every sphere of life when cooperating and working with others.
“religious beliefs are so intrinsic to who we are”
There’s no doubt that religion has continuously permeated our society for millennia but it does not explain our moral compass. For example, in the Christian faith, there is the ‘thou shalt not commit adultery’ or better still ‘bear false witness’ yet these are violated all the time.
On the other hand, ‘thou shalt not kill’ is very rarely violated except by heinous individuals. AFAIK, God didn’t specify which was worse when he supposedly gave them to Moses?
The reality therefore is that we intrinsically know that killing someone is a terrible act but telling a lie is no big deal. It is thus evolution and education that has made that difference and certainly not any Religion.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I’m not suggesting we should do away with religion – just don’t use it as an excuse to dictate government policies.
Shorty Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
See, this guy gets it.
flap Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 12:02 am
“just don’t use it as an excuse to dictate government policies.”
And while we’re at it, we can’t use emotion, compassion, or humanity to dictate government policies either. We can only be purely Spock-like.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Jesus Christ has nothing to do with Republicans, conservatives or libertarians.
He is completely opposed to their social ideas, their attitudes and their need to be full of hatred for others all day long.
Everyone on the right claims to call Jesus their own but they know nothing of his words and know nothing of his ways.
They are all disgracing themselves.
These people sending Alan tweets are just those who have been twisted by the lies and the hate-gossip.
One day they’ll be crying for the evil of their ways.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
“One day they’ll be crying for the evil of their ways.”
No, actually, we’ll be celebrating when we BOOT a lot of people who think like you out in 2010. Woo-hoo!
Christ was a gun-toting, Nascar-loving, Bible-thumping Republican, by the way. Listens to the Nuge.
I asked Him (Christ, not the Nuge) last night.
chris1 Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
if you talk to God, you are spiritual, if God talks to you, you are nuts.
flap Reply:
October 5th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Well, all I have to say in response…wait…
—–
Sit tight, getting a message from God.
Mmmhmm, yes, mmmhmm, go on…………………………..
—–
God says you’re wrong about the “nuts” thing.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Jesus said this, Jesus said that…..man faith is a powerful thing because nobody on this planet knows for a FACT what Jesus actually spoke in his lifetime. Everybody is going by what they believe to be fact i.e. faith….whatever floats your boat I guess.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pm