In an interview posted today, Gov. Sarah Palin told wife-beating advocate and radical cleric James Dobson that she is confident “God will do the right thing for America” on November 4th. If the numbers that virtually every poll is currently pulling down hold up at all, Palin will be right for a change.
Because God hates conservatism, particularly the warped ideology that’s turned so many of His followers in America today into violent hatemongers and hypocrites. There’s not a doubt in my mind that if there’s a Hell, men such as Dobson, Pat Robertson, John Hagee and Rush Limbaugh will burn in it.
Being a Christian is not about shoving your faith down other people’s throats or into public policy. It’s not about telling lies about your political adversaries or starting wars with countries that have not attacked you. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:38-40)
This is a principle worth believing in, regardless of your religious affiliation. And it’s one that American religious far right has largely abandoned. It is the difference between a person of faith and a religious fanatic of the most contemptible sort – again, regardless of religion, sect or congregation. It’s the difference between using your faith to guide you actions and using your religion to justify your actions, the difference between men of faith and goodwill and men filled with hatred and bigotry – the difference between John Paul II and Father Charles Coughlin.
Dobson, Robertson, Falwell – the pillars of American Fundamentalism – are lousy human beings and even lousier Christians.
