Inauguration Benediction Concludes in JESUS NAME!

Discussion in 'Political Discussions' started by Guest, Jan 20, 2005.

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  1. Guest

    Guest Guest

    While stating a respect for all faiths, The Reverend Kirbyjohn Caldwell, senior minister of Windsor Avenue United Methodist Church in Houston Texas, concluded his inaugural benediction with the words "in the name of Jesus Christ."

    Excellent!
     
  2. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Yes, and my Rabbi once gave the morning invocation before the U.S. House of Representatives.

    So what?
     
  3. BLD

    BLD New Member

    Ahh...but did he do it in Jesus' name?
     
  4. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    As a confessional Lutheran, I certainly hope than any of my coreligionists present refrained from praying during this Caesar-sponsored ecumenical "benediction."

    We categorically reject state sponsorship of religion and do not engage in eucharistic or prayer fellowship with Christians with whom we are not in complete doctrinal agreement, following not only Scriptural precept but the invariable practice of the patristic church.

    The grace of God is not in the gift of the State.
     
  5. BLD

    BLD New Member

    You must be a very lonely bunch.
     
  6. Jesus Schmeezus..... Now if he would have called upon the power of Odin to protect the republic, THAT would be news!
     
  7. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Well, in a way, we do. All of those statues of Justitia, the Goddess of Justice, are as much State sponsered religion as my Rabbi's invocation was.

    Which is to say, "None."
     
  8. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    To BLD:
    In the words of the Shabbetai Zvi of the GOP, "There you go again."
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    To Nosborne:
    Precisely.
    And the "Jesus" hauled out on these occasions has as much to do with the Jesus of Scripture as the statues of Justitia have to do with the religious programme of the Roman Republic.
     
  9. BLD

    BLD New Member

    Janko,
    That was an attempt at humor. Must not have worked...
     
  10. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    No, there was no humor intended. If the allusion is beyond you, I ask your pardon.
     
  11. BLD

    BLD New Member

    I was speaking of my attempt at humor.
     
  12. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Then I concur completely.
     
  13. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I didn't hear Caldwell's words, so I don't know what I think of them.

    I suppose that if a Jewish Rabbi had spoken, we would have heard a Jewish prayer, and if a Muslim Mullah delivered a benediction, it would be Islamic in tone. So one would expect Caldwell's words to reflect his personal religious faith and his role as a Christian clergyman.

    That's not the problem. If there is a problem here, the problem is the suggestion that Christianity is America's state religion.

    Whether or not Caldwell's words really implied that depends on the totality of what he said and on its context.
     
  14. Guest

    Guest Guest

    While I have great respect for all faiths, we are a Christian nation and a nation of faith.

    I have never understood why all the hoopla regarding Bush's references to religion and God. Take a look at previous inaugural speeches by presidents of all parties.

    "So help me God," was instituted by George Washington during his swearing in and many presidents even kissed the Bible during their swearings in.

    Jesus is "The way, the truth, and the life" and there is simply no way around that!
     
  15. BLD

    BLD New Member

    Jimmy,
    I cannot remember the source, but I recently reading about a comparison between George W's public references to God with Bill Clinton's. Clinton had many more blatant references than G.W. but no one seemed to have any problem with it. If I can find the source, I'll post it here.

    BLD
     
  16. Khan

    Khan New Member

    I guess I didn't make it that far. I spewed my coffee all over the place and had to stop watching when he said this, "America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling."
     
  17. Guest

    Guest Guest

    That's okay, I know this is correct. But, the detractors have said that is natural since Clinton had eight years. But, in four years Clinton still used the references more than Bush. Even Carter campaigned as an "evangelical Christian" and the radical left did not utter one single complaint or criticism.

    I guarantee you if an agnostic or atheist ran, he/she would not win.
     
  18. And we are all SO proud that, in this modern age of science, reason, and nuclear weaponry, we have thus created a new theocracy of which the likes of Cotton Mather would be proud.

    Can't wait to turn those weapons of vengeance against the heathens! Let's get started - we have 4 years....
     
  19. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I'm not a Christian. So what status do I, and all the other people like me, have in this "Christian nation" of yours? Are we resident aliens in some sense, outsiders here in the land of our birth? Are we only tolerated on sufferance?

    Fine. If you are going to be a Christian, then you are going to be participating in a tradition that finds its inspiration in Jesus Christ, in one way or another.

    The more difficult problem is presenting a convincing reason why somebody who isn't a Christian should adopt that religion in the first place.

    I question whether any credible method exists for distinguishing true religious doctrines from false ones. I question whether any reliable means exist for distinguishing true divine revelation from the actions of non-divine supernatural agents, or even from simple credulity.

    When I present these questions, the best that I receive in reply is an appeal to personal faith. But while a person's personal beliefs might be entirely probitive to the individual who enjoys them, they aren't really very persuasive to those who don't.
     
  20. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Uncle Janko:

    In the words of the Shabbetai Zvi of the GOP, "There you go again."

    Nosborne:

    Ouch. DEADLY accurate but decidedly nasty.
     

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