UofChicago Divinity on Bush

J

John Uskglass

Venerable Relic of the Wastes
http://www.laplata4kerry.org/visitor/SuggestedItems/ChicagoDivinity.TXT

Misuse of Religion

It is often observed that the flag is a scoundrel’s last resort, and that even
the worst policies can successfully be wrapped in Old Glory. We believe the
Bush administration is making similar misuse of religion in its attempt to
justify the debacle in Iraq.

All of the administration’s arguments for war have proven false and the
situation continues to deteriorate. Although President Bush confidently
predicted American troops would be welcomed as liberators, reality has proven
much different. The vast majority of Iraqis resent the presence of foreign
troops on their soil, and an ever-growing group of militants are determined to
drive occupiers out by means including the most horrific. In the face of this,
Mr. Bush insists all is well and acknowledges no mistakes.

Of greatest concern to us, the President maintains that America’s sole interest
in Iraq is to establish freedom, thereby serving God’s plan for humanity.
Thus, in his convention acceptance speech he described America as called to
lead freedom’s cause, freedom being God’s gift to the world. And in the third
debate he proclaimed: "I believe that God wants everybody to be free. That’s
what I believe. And that’s been part of my foreign policy."

We are persuaded that motives for the war were more varied and more
questionable than the President acknowledges. Geopolitical calculations,
desires for vengeance, military opportunism, and corporate interest (most
notably greed for oil) all accompanied, and at times overshadowed the religious
and moral considerations. To package this motley collection under the heading
of "freedom" is deliberately misleading: an offense to language and reason,
but a familiar political strategy. To justify it as God’s will, however, seems
little short of sacrilege.

As faculty members of the University of Chicago Divinity School, we deplore
this attempt to wrap failed policies in religious rhetoric. We call for the
repudiation of Mr. Bush’s war and his misuse of religion to defend or sanctify
it.
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Those damn liberal commies at the University of Chicago!

Damn them all to HELL!!!!

I mean you got such biblical scholars as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggert supporting candidate Bush- how can they be wrong. DOn't they know Jesus better?

And then there's the pope.... Well, ok, so one conservative religious leader thinks Bush is a moron...

CCR- such a liberal line coming from you- shocking!
 
I have alot of respect for the UofC divinity school. This only increases it. And I'm kind of venting from a big secular-Christian fight on another board.
 
I was wondering why you had been so quiet of late. Other boards?

Am I to assume you've gone secular. NExt thing is liberal, you know.
 
welsh said:
I was wondering why you had been so quiet of late. Other boards?

Am I to assume you've gone secular. NExt thing is liberal, you know.
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Um, hello no, if anything I've become a bit more of a Christianfundementalist.. I'm like the only Theist on this board willing to fight for his beliefs, have been really busy.

I have gone liberal, to an extent. I'm an interventionist, and I'm anti-abortion, and am in a few ways still something of a soicalcon, but I think I've turned around about 100 degrees, thought not 180.
 
Big_T_UK said:
ConstipatedCraprunner said:
I think I've turned around about 100 degrees, thought not 180.
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What's prompted the recent change in politics?
Click to expand...

1) Ever seen Ordinary People? I live there. It's a neighboorhood that looks down on Grosse Pointe for not being white or rich enough.
2) A kind of religious awekining. It sounds weird, but I was kind of conflicted before. I read alot more on it, and now I just don't think some of my past positions where really benefical for all mankind
3) General cooling down. After a canceled vacation to Turkey, I just kidn of....well...know the scene in The Tin Drum where Oscar falls in his father's grave?
4)Meeting alot of real Republicans. Aweful people.
 
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