Jamie_L

Just read these articles on Ashcroft's latest religious declarations:

<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35555-2002Feb19.html" target="_blank">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A35555-2002Feb19.html</a>

<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,46010,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,46010,00.html</a>

What I want to know, is since when has the Xian God ever been in the business of granting freedom? The Bible involves all sorts of divinely annointed kings, and Jesus pretty much told everyone to submit to unjust governments. The impression I get is that Xian's are basically instructed not to worry about earthly freedoms, because true freedom comes in the kingdom of heaven.

Furthermore, Ashcroft talks about how governments don't grant people freedom. I would think that historically the same holds true for God, at least when his earthly servants in the church are concerned. Since when has freedom been a top priority of any government that worked hand-in-hand with Xian churches?

'"Civilized people -- Muslims, Christians and Jews -- all understand that the source of freedom and human dignity is the Creator," Ashcroft said'

Guess I'm not a civilized person. At least I have an excuse to put my elbows on the table now.

'"Civilized people of all religious faiths are called to the defense of His creation.'

I guess I don't need to worry about doing my part to help the war against terrorism either.

Does this guy actually think he helps the cause of preventing Arabs from hating us when he paints this conflict so religiously. I wish these guys would get off the 'good vs. evil' kick. This is national security and politics. There's no need to tick people off by making into some epic fantasy novel or religious crusade.

Jamie

crazyfingers

I am not, nor have I ever been, an admirer of John Ashcroft. So help me IPU.

Kevin Dorner

You'll even occasionally hear a politician say how democracy is a "god-given blessing" which makes even less sense, considering as you noted that there isn't a single democracy in there...

Net Rover

And all this hoorah about "God bless America" when this nation was founded out of rebellion. I'm no less loyal to American for saying that. It's just that I call it what it is, and God's blessings it ain't.

Mageth

Ashcroft implicitly implies we infidels are "uncivilized" yet he pays homage to a sadistic sky-god dreamed up by a tribe of goatherders thousands of years ago, and to whose repeated acts of terrorism as reported in his "revealed" word the events of 9/11 pale in comparison.

sandlewood

I think this is another example of Christians taking whatever they happen to think is "good" and then attributing it to the God and the Bible with no justification. It's a kind of a reverse reasoning process. Democracy, freedom, human rights are now all God-given. Sheeesh.

This reminds me of that speech that Bush gave around last April where he attempted to rewrite history by implying that atheism was responsible for the holocaust. These guys scare me more than any other political leaders in my lifetime have.

Arrowman

You're wrong

Genesis, Chapter 30:

30:29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy voters were with me.

30:30 For it was little electoral support which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto an absolute majority; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own House also?

30:31 And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt but lobby for my political agenda, I will again feed and keep thy constituents.

30:32 I will pass through all thy constituents today, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted chads, and all the conservatives among the liberals, and the wets and dries among the economists: and of such shall be my candidates.

30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my vote before thy Parliament: every one that is not conservative among the liberals, and impure among the lobbyists, that shall be counted informal with me.

30:34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy Electoral Act....

dogwood

That's a good point. Since our nation clearly didn't follow the Bible in respecting an unjust ruler, (England), it's clear that this country was founded counter to New Testament principles. That makes America officially an Anti-Christian state.