Current Events, Politics, and Culture
Honest To God
Blog Archives: Theology
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Tails You Lose"
"No one likes to lose, even at Tic-Tac-Toe or flipping a coin. The phrase, “Heads I win, tails you lose,” describes those who attempt to use trickery to prevent losing to their opponents. It also illustrates the politicians’ current attempts to frame issues to assure that their positions will win.
Presently, debate rages over wealth redistribution, taking from the wealthy to give to the poor. For many months, politicians have disputed the pros and cons of this issue. Primarily, the subject concentrates upon increased taxes upon the rich (without defining them). They think that increased taxation of the wealthy will improve the conditions of the poor. (Even Robin Hood took from the government, not private citizens, to give to the poor.)
In their attempts to support their plan, proponents of increased taxes have resorted to using the Bible to endorse it (see here). Ironically, those who refer to the Bible for confirmation of their proposals have simultaneously declared that America no longer qualifies as a Christian nation."
"During the Communist threat several decades ago, people consoled themselves with this philosophy: “Better red than dead.” In the presence of threats, intimidation, and political extortion, it seemed like a sensible attitude to embrace. Many thought such a resignation would not affect their lives in any meaningful way and adopted it. Few considered its implications and foundations.
Actually, it required the sacrifice of something of value for expediency. Usually, that sacrifice compromised or excluded matters of principle and truth. Expediency opted for the error of the lesser of two evils (see here) and hoped for the illusory short-term benefits of market place advantages, political influence, or relief from problems that obstructed business or personal activity."
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"'Hope and change” has deteriorated into “do what I say.' What began as a slogan to portray recovery has morphed into a plan for bondage. Nowhere does this description manifest itself more clearly than in President Obama’s assault upon religion.
Recently, the President demanded that all employers provide health insurance coverage for matters that directly contradict the religious beliefs of many Americans. (Can he do that?) Specifically, these requirements include, at a minimum, provision for birth control, post-coital abortive medicine, and abortion.
At first glance, the President’s orders appear to foster freedom through emphasis upon the greater good. This philosophy says that a group of people must give up something good, even freedoms, to their detriment, for what others call a greater good. As a result, those who give up something good become subservient to others. However, his plan would eliminate currently held Constitutional freedoms enjoyed by millions of Americans, even those without religious affiliations.
The President’s demands directly attack religion."
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"Obama, Jesus, and Taxes"
"At the recent National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, President Obama gravely misused the sacred words of Jesus Christ. The President asserted that Jesus would endorse his current plan to raise taxes on affluent individuals and businesses. He supported his comment with a section in the Bible from Luke 12.48:
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
In fact, the parable from which the President selected his quotation declares the opposite of what he intended. The parable teaches the awfulness of tyranny and the punishment of those who use their power and position to harm those under their stewardship. Christ emphasized the role of individual responsibility."
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"Brass and gold have some common attributes. Each presents a shiny, lustrous yellow appearance. Artisans use them to make jewelry, statuary, and precious art. When polished, brass glistens like gold. To the untrained eye, they look alike.
However, they differ in significant ways. Two base metals combine to make brass, an alloy. Gold contains no other metal, making it pure. Brass has many uses but does not measure up to the higher standard of gold.
Not everything that glitters is gold. Polished brass will glisten like gold, but gold retains the highest standard. Gold’s unique qualities and rarity increase its value over mere brass.
In the present presidential contest, the candidates from each political party polish their images in an attempt to appear as gold. Yet, careful examination reveals them as no better than polished brass."
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"Pinocchio For President?"
"You probably know Carlo Collodi’s stories of Pinocchio. Carlo wrote tales of a puppet named Pinocchio, whose nose grew longer when he lied. His telltale sign exposed his deceits for all to know.
The present presidential sweepstakes could use such a signal from the candidates to expose their deceits. All of the present candidates from both major parties fit the Pinocchio description in that they have lied in various fashions about themselves and their records."
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"The Supremacy of Character"
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln
"The early rush to the elections of November 2012 features a blizzard of propaganda. The emphasis concentrates upon a short list of criteria. One candidate highlights personality as the winning trait. Another touts reputation as the most important quality. A third one stresses intellect and brilliance.
No, another says, it depends upon a particular skill, which that candidate possesses. Another one accentuates tailor made policy statements designed to woo a particular voter segment.
Unfortunately, each of these criteria singly may appear attractive, but miss the mark."
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"Most of us make choices based upon the error of the lesser of two evils. Circumstances produce what appears as only two choices, neither of them attractive. We examine the options and choose one more attractive than the other, but still the lesser of two evils. The statement itself describes the “best” one of the options as less than desirable.
This philosophy undergirds the present Republican presidential primaries. To cultivate important voting blocks for their candidates, certain political pundits proclaim the superiority of their candidates (and some candidates of their candidacies) as the lesser of two evils. “My candidate is not as bad as the others,” they say."
"Leopards can do many spectacular things. Using their great capacity for stealth, Leopards stalk their prey. They can chase their intended victims at speeds in excess of 35 miles per hour. After killing their prey, Leopards carry, by their teeth, the carcasses, sometimes weighing many times their own weight, into a tree for safekeeping from other predators.
However, one thing they cannot do: change their spots. From birth to death, their skins carry their identifiable black spots...
In our present political environment, the current candidates for president, now attempt to perform the impossible, change their spots. All of the present candidates."
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