Rick Perry's Shameless Promotion of Faith in Government

[rab]

When you run for president, you get a bunch of questions about your faith. People want to know what drives you--how you make decisions.

Now some liberals say that faith is a sign of weakness. Well, they're wrong.

I think we all need God's help. America's greatest leaders have been people of strong faith, of strong values. That makes for a strong America.

I'm Rick Perry. I'm not ashamed to talk about my faith. And I approve of this message.

[Seth]

Except, of course, that he was talking about personal faith, and he's absolutely correct in everything he says, which does not include, as you suggest, "faith in government." People's faith will always inform their decisions, both in their private lives and, for those in government service as elected officials, in their jobs. And that's as it should be because they are elected in part to reflect the values and principles of their constituents, most of whom also are people of faith.

You must learn to distinguish between people of faith living their ideals and principles and an "establishment" of a state church. Those are two entirely different things.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

You did read that first sentence, didn't you? Or did you.

[Seth]

You did read that first sentence, didn't you? Or did you.

Yup, I did. As I said, people's faith informs their moral decisions. Always has, always will. Politicians put their faith out for inspection precisely so that the voters can examine them (or they should do so...Obama concealed his and when people found out he was an adherent to black liberation theology it hurt his credibility) and decide if that faith is consistent with what they think the faith of the President should be.

I respect him for being open and honest about it, unlike Barack Obama, who lied, dissembled, obfuscated and backed away from his two decades of attendance at a radical anti-American black liberation theology church run by the racist bigot Jeremiah Wright.

[Gawd]

You seem to have a problem with black people, Seth.

[Schneibster]

Just another psychotic who thinks global warming is part of "God's Plan."

[Warren Dew]

You seem to have a problem with black people, Seth.

I seem to remember him defending a black person over in the Hermann Cain thread. He just has a problem with black racists.

[JimC]

Except, of course, that he was talking about personal faith, and he's absolutely correct in everything he says, which does not include, as you suggest, "faith in government." People's faith will always inform their decisions, both in their private lives and, for those in government service as elected officials, in their jobs. And that's as it should be because they are elected in part to reflect the values and principles of their constituents, most of whom also are people of faith.

You must learn to distinguish between people of faith living their ideals and principles and an "establishment" of a state church. Those are two entirely different things.

What an arrogant bunch of complete crap.

No "faith" informs my decisions...

I don't need bronze-age bullshit to steer a course through life, and neither does anybody else...

[JimC]

You seem to have a problem with black people, Seth.

Ludicrous, meaningless, and completely free of evidence.

As usual.

[Warren Dew]

I don't need bronze-age bullshit to steer a course through life, and neither does anybody else...

I think it's a pretty broad generalization to say no one needs faith to avoid being completely rudderless. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Perry really did need faith to get him through his day.

[Gawd]

You seem to have a problem with black people, Seth.

Ludicrous, meaningless, and completely free of evidence.

As usual.

Is Black liberation theology any less legit than Jewish liberation theology? Seth likes the Jewish brand (as our past "debates" have shown) but not the Black brand. Makes you wonder.

[JimC]

I don't need bronze-age bullshit to steer a course through life, and neither does anybody else...

I think it's a pretty broad generalization to say no one needs faith to avoid being completely rudderless. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Perry really did need faith to get him through his day.

Some people think they do, and indeed it may well serve a personal psychological function for some...

A little like methadone, I suppose...

I would never take someone's methadone program away, and I would never say to someone of deep faith "you are being a delusional fuckwit, stop the god thing cold turkey"

I am too nice for that...

[Schneibster]

I'm not.

I think that after people got in rocket ships and went to the Moon and came back, it was obvious there's no super magic sky daddy living in the sky, and believing there is is psychotic.

[Seth]

You seem to have a problem with black people, Seth.

Not at all, just racists of every color.

You are aware that my girlfriend is black, right?

[Seth]

Except, of course, that he was talking about personal faith, and he's absolutely correct in everything he says, which does not include, as you suggest, "faith in government." People's faith will always inform their decisions, both in their private lives and, for those in government service as elected officials, in their jobs. And that's as it should be because they are elected in part to reflect the values and principles of their constituents, most of whom also are people of faith.

You must learn to distinguish between people of faith living their ideals and principles and an "establishment" of a state church. Those are two entirely different things.

What an arrogant bunch of complete crap.

No "faith" informs my decisions...

I don't need bronze-age bullshit to steer a course through life, and neither does anybody else...

Which is why Atheists are less trusted than lawyers...or politicians.

And when asked if they would object to their child marrying someone, marrying an atheist was at the bottom of the barrel.

Atheists are seen as untrustworthy "cultural elitists, amoral materialists, or given to criminal behavior or drugs" by many, according to a study in the American Sociological Review.

Knowing a fair selection of Atheists personally, I can fully understand why people feel this way, and that's why I refuse to identify as an Atheist. I don't want to be associated with the rampant bigotry and self-centered intolerance that I see all too often in Atheists.