Tuesday, November 21, 2006
JUDAS POLITICS
No this is not a Sunday School lesson, nor is it a theological treatise. However, the Militant Moderate has been deeply disturbed by the warlike incursion of some fundamentalist Christian groups into politics. Apparently these folk are on a mission, led by what they believe to be the Spirit, or perhaps the teachings of their Bible. History has shown misguided zeal to be highly dangerous.
I am disturbed by the movement for two reasons. First, it is very bad politics and potentially harmful to the nation and the freedoms of the people. Second, it is a misuse of Christianity, an apostasy, and it is in conflict with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.
We could cite numerous examples of conflicts between the religious right movement's tactics, teachings, and principle with the lessons of the scriptures. We could also expound on the meanings of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, in this piece we will do neither. Instead, we would like to take a different tack.
We all remember Judas, the Betrayer. What did he do? He took money from the high priests to assist in locating and identifying Jesus. Most of our lives we have been taught that Judas was possessed by the Evil One and did his bidding. Theologically, it was always hard to rectify that a close follower committed to Jesus could be so possessed as to perform the heinous act of selling out his Master for a few coins.
Modern teachings shed a different light on Judas. Many in that day expected Jesus to become an earthly king and ruler. That temptation from Satan was very real. When Jesus began to predict his own arrest, death, and resurrection, many followers fell away. Judas was greatly disturbed. The thought now is that Judas sought to force Jesus'hand with the arrest, causing him to have to exercise his power and take over secular rule. That is, he would become the rebel king that Judas and others wanted.
Thus, Judas wanted to make Jesus into his own version of the Messiah, and not the version intended by God and prophesied as the Suffering Servant by Isaiah.
Just as Judas was misguided, and his actions precipitated tragic results, so are our devout fundamentalists now similarly busy. They seek to turn the Christian religion into a secular political power. They are trying to bring to fruition their vision of Jesus as an earthly ruler. They disregard numerous teachings of Jesus, including one of his last ones, "My kingdom is not of this world."
In spite of their belief otherwise, it seems clear to some of us that the Christian right political movement is in keeping with neither the text nor the principles of the teachings of Jesus.
Again, misguided zeal may bring great harm to the nation.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
I am disturbed by the movement for two reasons. First, it is very bad politics and potentially harmful to the nation and the freedoms of the people. Second, it is a misuse of Christianity, an apostasy, and it is in conflict with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.
We could cite numerous examples of conflicts between the religious right movement's tactics, teachings, and principle with the lessons of the scriptures. We could also expound on the meanings of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, in this piece we will do neither. Instead, we would like to take a different tack.
We all remember Judas, the Betrayer. What did he do? He took money from the high priests to assist in locating and identifying Jesus. Most of our lives we have been taught that Judas was possessed by the Evil One and did his bidding. Theologically, it was always hard to rectify that a close follower committed to Jesus could be so possessed as to perform the heinous act of selling out his Master for a few coins.
Modern teachings shed a different light on Judas. Many in that day expected Jesus to become an earthly king and ruler. That temptation from Satan was very real. When Jesus began to predict his own arrest, death, and resurrection, many followers fell away. Judas was greatly disturbed. The thought now is that Judas sought to force Jesus'hand with the arrest, causing him to have to exercise his power and take over secular rule. That is, he would become the rebel king that Judas and others wanted.
Thus, Judas wanted to make Jesus into his own version of the Messiah, and not the version intended by God and prophesied as the Suffering Servant by Isaiah.
Just as Judas was misguided, and his actions precipitated tragic results, so are our devout fundamentalists now similarly busy. They seek to turn the Christian religion into a secular political power. They are trying to bring to fruition their vision of Jesus as an earthly ruler. They disregard numerous teachings of Jesus, including one of his last ones, "My kingdom is not of this world."
In spite of their belief otherwise, it seems clear to some of us that the Christian right political movement is in keeping with neither the text nor the principles of the teachings of Jesus.
Again, misguided zeal may bring great harm to the nation.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Friday, November 10, 2006
RISING HOPES
Surprise! Two days after the election, gasoline is up ten cents a gallon in most markets. If there is a return of corporate predators, and obscene profits at the expense of American drivers, is there still hope? Do consumers now have friends in government? Dare we hope for a future better than the past six years?
Who may have gained hope from the national election results? Let us take this space to enumerate some who might have increased hope.
All of us, especially those of military age or with sons and daughters of that age, may hope for some effort at resolution of the needless and endless involvement with the internal affairs of Iraq -- perhaps an end to the unwelcome occupation there that is draining lives and substance from us.
Beneficiearies, current and future, of Social Security should feel less anxious about the conversion of their retirement future to risky private investment accounts, and the loss of their disability insurance provisions entirely. Social Security, as we know it, can survive financially with minor adjustments, if it can just survive its political enemies.
The costs of prescription drugs may be forced downward for everyone through opening up legal re-importation, and for Medicare people by allowing the government to use group buying power for its prescription plan -- now the hostage of pharmaceutical companies.
The 45 million or so Americans without health insurance may look with hope toward eventual health coverage. Small and large businesses may look toward some eventual cost sharing for employee health insurance, as plans come forth benefiting all citizens.
Victims of dread diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's, and victims of brain and spinal injuries, may look with hope toward a loosening of the superstitious fetters placed upon stem cell research for cures.
Those who have made the step from welfare to minimum wage jobs, and other entry level workers, may expect a higher wage for their labor.
Those who are fortunate enough to be minor owners of stock shares, or have savings in mutual funds, may hope for a closer watch on the exorbitant pay and privileges of corporate executives and boards, as well as other insider abuses.
Every concerned citizen, especially those conservatives with wealth and property, may hope for an end to deficit trade, reckless deficit spending, and the growing national and foreign debt of this country -- thus avoiding future financial market panic, mass confusion, and eventual meltdown in bankruptcy.
The middle class may hope for a fair tax system, with fewer tax privileges for corporations and for the wealthiest, and they may hope for a distribution of the profits from their work in a more fair and equitable manner. The may hope for an end to the mushrooming growth of the multi-millionaire class and the shrinking numbers and wages of the middle class.
Perhaps all this is too much to expect from a bare majority in both houses of Congress and an incumbent president who has led the country in the wrong direction for so long.
It may indeed be too much to expect, but it is not too much to hope.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Who may have gained hope from the national election results? Let us take this space to enumerate some who might have increased hope.
All of us, especially those of military age or with sons and daughters of that age, may hope for some effort at resolution of the needless and endless involvement with the internal affairs of Iraq -- perhaps an end to the unwelcome occupation there that is draining lives and substance from us.
Beneficiearies, current and future, of Social Security should feel less anxious about the conversion of their retirement future to risky private investment accounts, and the loss of their disability insurance provisions entirely. Social Security, as we know it, can survive financially with minor adjustments, if it can just survive its political enemies.
The costs of prescription drugs may be forced downward for everyone through opening up legal re-importation, and for Medicare people by allowing the government to use group buying power for its prescription plan -- now the hostage of pharmaceutical companies.
The 45 million or so Americans without health insurance may look with hope toward eventual health coverage. Small and large businesses may look toward some eventual cost sharing for employee health insurance, as plans come forth benefiting all citizens.
Victims of dread diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's, and victims of brain and spinal injuries, may look with hope toward a loosening of the superstitious fetters placed upon stem cell research for cures.
Those who have made the step from welfare to minimum wage jobs, and other entry level workers, may expect a higher wage for their labor.
Those who are fortunate enough to be minor owners of stock shares, or have savings in mutual funds, may hope for a closer watch on the exorbitant pay and privileges of corporate executives and boards, as well as other insider abuses.
Every concerned citizen, especially those conservatives with wealth and property, may hope for an end to deficit trade, reckless deficit spending, and the growing national and foreign debt of this country -- thus avoiding future financial market panic, mass confusion, and eventual meltdown in bankruptcy.
The middle class may hope for a fair tax system, with fewer tax privileges for corporations and for the wealthiest, and they may hope for a distribution of the profits from their work in a more fair and equitable manner. The may hope for an end to the mushrooming growth of the multi-millionaire class and the shrinking numbers and wages of the middle class.
Perhaps all this is too much to expect from a bare majority in both houses of Congress and an incumbent president who has led the country in the wrong direction for so long.
It may indeed be too much to expect, but it is not too much to hope.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
Friday, November 03, 2006
THE LAST BULLET
By the time this is posted, the election will be upon us. Critical decisions will be made, too often based upon inadequate knowledge and false or misleading information. Just as we were misled into invading Iraq on the basis of false and misleading information, so may we be misled into endorsing the service of our congressmen and other public office-holders.
With the cacophony of negative and downright dirty advertising, it is difficult for voters to know what to believe. Somehow we must look behind all of that to discern the true character of the nominees and their position on issues of importance to us all. Just because a nominee platitudinously tells us he has our values does not mean that it is so. Often his own advertising and his past record indicate that he does not.
Party is important. One party has ruled in Washington for six ugly and tumultuous years, sending the nation toward bankruptcy and its youth to fight an unnecessary war. That party has sanctioned spying on citizens, holding prisoners in conflict with the Constitution, give-aways to cronies and friendly companies, selective tax cuts, and using torture in violation of the Geneva Convention. They have engaged in selling out government to lobbyists, and then covering up moral and financial corruption. They have given us $2.80 gasoline, temporarily reduced until after the election, and obscene oil company profits.
If this is the party that represents your values, then you should by all means vote to keep them in a majority in Congress. If not, you should vote for a change.
In Oklahoma Speaker Todd Hiett, backed by a few rabid followers, has ruled the House with an iron fist. His door was closed to everyone except lobbyists with money donations. He was likely the most arrogant speaker since the days of J.D. McCarty, threatening the Governor and refusing to deal with the Senate leaders. His character is revealed by the nature of his own negative advertising.
If you would like the state of Oklahoma entangled in some kind of executive imbroglio so that Brad Henry would be afraid to leave the state lest Hiett pull one of his arrogant stunts as temporary governor, then you should vote for Hiett. If you desire harmony in the executive branch, vote for Jari Askins.
In a recent poll of Oklahoma residents, only about 20% said they were influenced by negative ads, while 80% said they were not. All the pundits say otherwise -- that negative ads are effective. Voters should sift through the negative ads carefully, using them to discern the character of the candidate sponsoring them rather than that of the targeted opponent. Some of the "values" and "Christian" candidates have the worst negative ads running.
Perhaps it is good to close with the theme of AARP advertising: "Don't vote. Don't vote. Don't vote unless you know where the candidate stands on the issues."
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
With the cacophony of negative and downright dirty advertising, it is difficult for voters to know what to believe. Somehow we must look behind all of that to discern the true character of the nominees and their position on issues of importance to us all. Just because a nominee platitudinously tells us he has our values does not mean that it is so. Often his own advertising and his past record indicate that he does not.
Party is important. One party has ruled in Washington for six ugly and tumultuous years, sending the nation toward bankruptcy and its youth to fight an unnecessary war. That party has sanctioned spying on citizens, holding prisoners in conflict with the Constitution, give-aways to cronies and friendly companies, selective tax cuts, and using torture in violation of the Geneva Convention. They have engaged in selling out government to lobbyists, and then covering up moral and financial corruption. They have given us $2.80 gasoline, temporarily reduced until after the election, and obscene oil company profits.
If this is the party that represents your values, then you should by all means vote to keep them in a majority in Congress. If not, you should vote for a change.
In Oklahoma Speaker Todd Hiett, backed by a few rabid followers, has ruled the House with an iron fist. His door was closed to everyone except lobbyists with money donations. He was likely the most arrogant speaker since the days of J.D. McCarty, threatening the Governor and refusing to deal with the Senate leaders. His character is revealed by the nature of his own negative advertising.
If you would like the state of Oklahoma entangled in some kind of executive imbroglio so that Brad Henry would be afraid to leave the state lest Hiett pull one of his arrogant stunts as temporary governor, then you should vote for Hiett. If you desire harmony in the executive branch, vote for Jari Askins.
In a recent poll of Oklahoma residents, only about 20% said they were influenced by negative ads, while 80% said they were not. All the pundits say otherwise -- that negative ads are effective. Voters should sift through the negative ads carefully, using them to discern the character of the candidate sponsoring them rather than that of the targeted opponent. Some of the "values" and "Christian" candidates have the worst negative ads running.
Perhaps it is good to close with the theme of AARP advertising: "Don't vote. Don't vote. Don't vote unless you know where the candidate stands on the issues."
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
