Some Hangovers from the Bush Administration

On top of the global police power incrementation, sending more troops to the Middle East, and rewarding no-bid contracts to private supporters (even after chastising Bush over that), there is this little thing known as the Faith-Based Initiative.

To sum it up, it’s politics jumping into bed with religion. It’s a rather sick relationship, one that I hate 100%. Essentially, the government financially rewards those churches that integrate some form of political agenda or message into their sermons. The relationship is also flipped, some organizations got money for, say, removing all forms of exposure to pro-choice or gay-rights. To quote George W. Bush on this issue, “We want to fund programs that save Americans one soul at a time.” Bush used faith-based initiatives to reward the organizations that supported the typical neo-con/Protestant message. Obama has yet to act on these policies. Does that mean Obama is funding those churches that promote social justice? Well, yes. This is something that needs to stop.

Those same people that whacked Bush for using these tactics are now using the same tactics to push their agenda; proving once again, that it was the agenda, not the method, that was being criticized. That article cites a video that depicts Helen Thomas, a columnist while Bush was in office, jumping down that administration’s throat for not respecting the wall between church and state. And while she was more than likely a foaming liberal (as many were at the time), she’s kind-of right. Financial rewards for churches pushing a political agenda or an organization pushing a religious agenda can be seen as a negative. The thing is, Bush (and Obama) are not disrespecting the wall between church and state, as long as more than one denomination gets funding. However, I have no respect for these pastors, even if they don’t get government backing. This is the reason I’m not supporting Reverend Wright Or Pastor John Hagee right now. They both incorporate politics in their sermons. If you watch Beck, you’re well aware of Wright, but have you noticed how Hagee is beginning to incorporate politics into his sermons? Anyway, here is a quote from the Fox News article, again quoting Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on how the church will play a major role in immigration reform:

On the subject of immigration because I think the church is going to have to play a very major role in how we, how people are treated. The cardinals, the archbishops, the bishops that come to me and say we want you to pass immigration reform and I said but I want you to speak about it from the pulpit. I want you to instruct your, whatever the communication is — they — the people some oppose immigration reform are sitting in those pews and you have to tell them that this is a manifestation of our living the Gospels.

Where are all the Fox News reporters jumping down Dancing Nancy’s throat about the same thing? Okay, to be fair, they are reporting on more real important issues, but still; the polarity of treatment here is astonishing! Nancy gets hardly any attention for doing the same thing that Bush did way back in the day. But, forget immigration reform for a second; or at least remember that it is a part of a larger agenda, get everyone in here and redistribute the wealth evenly forcibly therefore breaking everything and plunging our great nation into a third world state.

Beware, if your church starts touting that the Gospel is for forced giving (often citing Acts 2:44-45 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.”), or anything political for that matter, you should probably seek out a new church.