Friday, October 17, 2008
Ummm... No!
0 commentsKeeping the statue separate and apart
from the edifice is the whole idea of America.
When we stand on the precipice of a theist takeover of this country, overt politics from the pulpit is not a trivial matter. While discussion and ideas are under-utilized in our society, articles like this one only serve to push an agenda, not promote discussion.Early American history is replete with examples of politically charged sermons with highly partisan content. The current ban on electioneering by tax-exempt groups dates to 1954, when then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson pushed an amendment to the tax code through Congress with little debate.
LBJ! LBJ! LBJ!
The article's author, Charles C. Haynes, a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center in D.C. writes:Pastor [Dan] Fisher and his fellow protesters seek to erase that line by defying the law. Past accusations of pulpit partisanship have usually involved ambiguous sermons that tell people how to vote without naming names. But these 31 pastors proclaimed outright endorsement of one candidate (John McCain) and/or attacks on another (Barack Obama). Now the IRS has little choice but to investigate. That process will likely end in a test case challenging the pulpit restriction.
I confess I have no idea how Jesus would vote—and I wouldn’t attend a church where the pastor turned the pulpit into a partisan platform. At the same time, however, the question of when a sermon becomes too political should be determined by worshipers in pews—not bureaucrats in Washington.
When Hell freezes over, Charles.
One minor point I don't want to miss in this larger context, and would point out to Mr. Haynes:
He assumes a Protestant pulpit where the pastor serves at the pleasure of the deacons of the church. He/She can be voted out any time they don't like what he/she's saying up there. But in situations where the pastor's pitch serves only to inflame sentiment which may reside in the community, there is little danger of losing his/her position. Rather, he/she may be pushed to lead and/or speak for an angry mob. This is a good time for everyone to go back and re-watch or re-read Inherit The Wind, loosely based on the Scopes Monkey Trial in Tennessee. This is just such a community, led by ideology masked as theology. Tyranny and insanity are usually not far behind. The pastor said it, so God obviously said it, so, obviously, this is right!
Also, Mr. Haynes misses the point that in faiths like Catholicism, there is no direct accountability from the congregation; they must go to church and they must deal with the clergy appointed to their parish, or lump it. Since Catholics believe there is a direct conduit between what they are told and the word of God, the weight of "God's word" pointing you to vote for/against Joe Blow or for/against any ballot measure becomes great and severe.
In no case can you separate the person from the pulpit. If it comes from the pulpit, it will be, in some way or other, coming from God. Each denomination or group puts more or less emphasis on this relationship, but it is inherent in every faith.
One person in a pew may easily separate person from theology as they listen, "My dear, what a buffoon Pastor Smith is," while others may hear ideology or personal pique from Rev. Smith and immediately blur it with theology. A matter of "faith."
This is dangerous in the extreme, not only for our society, but for the mental health of those who attend religious services. When people look for answers outside themselves, they cede their sense of disbelief to the figure leading them towards (hopefully) profound truths. This dependence can be absolute, leaving many in a very fragile state, psychically. These seekers should not be placing themselves at the mercy of religious ward healers at the same time.
People have legitimate fears about turning simple schools such as madrasahs into political petri dishes in other locales around the world; we should not be looking to do the same to our very own churches.
Unless, of course, they want to pay property and other taxes just like everyone else does; then I'd say, cool, let 'er rip! And damn the torpedoes!
See? It's easy.
posted by Gotham 3:41 PM
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