Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting’ Bible

Here they go again, those fundies making excuses when the reality of what the Bible (particularly the OT) says is brought up. Bible believers will say “it’s not what the Bible means”, or “that was meant for the people at the time it was written and times have changed” (except for those things they still choose to cling to that suits their own purposes and supports their own bigotry against other human beings, selfish imagined heavenly rewards, afterlife delusion, etc.).

(First, I want to make it clear before being accused of being a flip-flopper, I still retain my extreme skepticism of Obama and his promised "change" and that I feel those who consider him some sort of savior are going to be greatly disappointed. )

Obama makes nearly the same point we atheists have been making forever — Christians cherry-pick out of a book they most likely have never read. It will be interesting to hear what Obama has to say about Dobson's Focus on the Family broadcast criticizing him for "diminishing the idea that people of Christian faith have anything to say." That's just a bunch of bullcrap brought on my the Christian persecution complex kicking in after someone points out that their worldview isn't the only worldview. When fundies can't have it all their way, they start boo-hooing. Will Obama stand up to Dobson, or get all wishy-washy like most politicians do when doing anything to win an election?

James Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting’ Bible

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - As Barack Obama broadens his outreach to evangelical voters, one of the movement’s biggest names, James Dobson, accuses the likely Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible and pushing a “fruitcake interpretation” of the Constitution.

The criticism, to be aired Tuesday on Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio program, comes shortly after an Obama aide suggested a meeting at the organization’s headquarters here, said Tom Minnery, senior vice president for government and public policy at Focus on the Family.

The conservative Christian group provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of the pre-taped radio segment, which runs 18 minutes and highlights excerpts of a speech Obama gave in June 2006 to the liberal Christian group Call to Renewal. Obama mentions Dobson in the speech.

“Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?” Obama said. “Would we go with James Dobson’s or Al Sharpton’s?” referring to the civil rights leader.

Dobson took aim at examples Obama cited in asking which Biblical passages should guide public policy — chapters like Leviticus, which Obama said suggests slavery is OK and eating shellfish is an abomination, or Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “a passage that is so radical that it’s doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application.”

“Folks haven’t been reading their Bibles,” Obama said.

Then typical responses we have heard all too often. Christians totally deny the book of Leviticus:

Dobson and Minnery accused Obama of wrongly equating Old Testament texts and dietary codes that no longer apply to Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament.

“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology,” Dobson said.

Umm, excuse me Mr. Dobson, but that is exactly what Christians do, picking and choosing and putting together a nice little interpretation for themselves according to what suits their own purposes. You’re theology, your Bible is what is confused and distorted, Mr Dobson! So much so that Christians cannot even agree amongst yourselves on what that “traditional understanding” is.

“… He is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.”

Which is exactly where your evil Bible belongs.

16 comments:

jhbowden said...

I'll give Obama credit for preaching the true Christianity, the Christianity that worships poverty, victimhood, ignorance, sacrifice, and loving your enemies.

Stardust said...

Well, Dobson and the fundies have the monopoly on victimhood, ignorance and sacrifice. Right now Dobson is in a huge persecution complex mode.

Anonymous said...

Lawdy! Reading Jason's crazed amd really wacky comments about the "savior" Obama is just plain laughable, if it wasn't so darn sad.
He's almost like a raving lunatic.

Oh well.

I'm giving Obama credit for this one too, Starry. Still, do you think that there will ever be a time when religion is NEVER mentioned in a campaign?

Stardust said...

It would be nice, but since we are living in a partial theocracy, what do we expect.

As for Obama, I like many who are left of center, are not expecting much. He is good at saying pretty words, but he hasn't really done anything yet except a lot of flip-flopping. McCain is absolutely NOT an option. I am disappointed that I have no options in this election. If Obama is elected, people are going to be greatly disappointed when that promised "change" doesn't happen.

jhbowden said...

greg--

Barack Hussein Obama *is* a Messiah. People "just believe." I've NEVER heard a progressive tell me that "I support Barack Obama because I like his positions on live birth abortions, sex ed for Kindergarteners, reduced penalties for gang crimes, and talking to killer dictators."

It obviously isn't BHO's judgment
to lead either, given BHO is friends with thugs like Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright.

And it isn't BHO's experience-- you just don't get to be President by being a "community organizer."

It is always this vague baloney about "change" and "hope." In short, Obama is a magic negro for guilty white folks.

jhbowden said...

"people are going to be greatly disappointed when that promised "change" doesn't happen."

Just what is the promised change? Has anyone defined it?

Stardust said...

Just what is the promised change? Has anyone defined it?

Whatever many Obama supporters want it to mean. That's one of my biggest beefs. What is this change, exactly. And my second beef is the flip flopping.

Stardust said...

progressive

Progressive, liberal, socialist, hippie...I am confused now as to what label I am supposed to have. ;)

jhbowden said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
jhbowden said...

stardust--

The modern left is anti-ideological. Pick whichever label you want, or profess you are beyond the categories of thought. It is all the same to me.

McCain is on the far-left of the Republican Party, which puts him in the center of the political spectrum. Obama is on the far left of the Democratic Party, which puts him on the extreme -- I can't think of a single issue he is conservative on. If McCain is not an option, and Obama's commitment to Marxism is insufficiently revolutionary, who would be revolutionary enough to be our Messiah?

Here's a little secret about Obama. He's not being supported because he is good -- we're not supposed to consider his experience, his record, his judgment, his peers, or his issue positions. Obama the great community organizer is being championed precisely because he is *not* qualified to be President. Yes, the left is that perverse. If Obama was a CEO, or a general in the military, or if he was white, then Hillary Clinton would have been able to out-victim him easily in the gloom and doom minds of the liberal laity.

People support Obama in the spirit of charity. Prosperous people often feel they don't deserve it, and carry a lot of self-induced guilt. Voting for Obama gives them a fake sort of redemption by proving that sinful and greedy America really is a good place by giving this loser a chance.

Half rabbit said...

Obama is on the far left of the Democratic Party

I know I shouldn't comment on another countries politics. But do you have a source on that? From what I read he was slightly more right wing with people like Dennis Kucinich more on the left.

Tommykey said...

Voting for Obama gives them a fake sort of redemption by proving that sinful and greedy America really is a good place by giving this loser a chance.

So that explains why Bush was elected twice!

jhbowden said...

"But do you have a source on that?"

Well, the fact that the Messiah has for twenty years been going to the megachurch down on 95th street that believes in Marxist liberation theology should be a big hint.

But if that isn't enough, examine the Messiah's voting record, starting in Springfield.

I can't think of a single conservative vote Obama has made. In contrast, I can think of many liberal votes McCain has made, from judges to taxes to campaign finance "reform" to the environment. Obama is an extremist, while McCain, for better or for worse, is compromise incarnate.

Zapp said...

I don't expect atheists or non-believers to understand this. Most likely, this will be branded as another fanatic's statement.

Jesus said, very simply, that we should love God and love our neighbors. If we just did that, then the world would be a whole lot better place, because we would be putting others ahead of ourselves. We would appreciate how God provides for us. God's original testament does not contradict what Jesus taught. Jesus showed that we need to follow God and not our selfish desires. He didn't give us a set of rules.
True Christianity means doing what Jesus said to do. He instructed us to sacrifice, take care of the poor, the weak and defenseless. He did not want us to make government the magnificent benefactor. He wants His people to do it, and if you hadn't noticed, Christians were the first people start universities and hospitals in America.
Personally, I don't depend on the government to take care of me. I work hard, pay taxes, contribute to help others, give time to help people and teach love in action. I believe that I have to step out of my personal comfort zone and do what is hard (to help people). Quit expecting government to take care of homelessness, welfare, etc. and give of yourself!! Obama and McCain don't get it; government keeps people free by protecting us from evil attackers, not by giving us stuff. Let us do that. Gov't needs to get out of the way. We don't need government to take care of us.
Do we trust God or trust ourselves?
It's not all about Obama or McCain. It's all about God.
Faithfully, Zapp

Stardust said...

zapp, ummmm...there is no god. So while I don't automatically brand you as a "fantatic"...let's just say that I believe you have been "misled".

Before you can talk about god and defend him, you must first prove his existence. And don't ask me to "disprove"...for that would be like me asking you to disprove all the Hindu gods don't exist, or all the other things people believe in without evidence. You are held to the same expectations as other religions, to prove that your god, gods, goddesses exist and most of you admit that you cannot. Therefore, you are simply believing in something you choose to believe in without evidence. Just like a child believes in Santa Claus with only the evidence that his or her parents supply (lies) to keep the belief going. God beliefs are simply Santa Claus beliefs for grown-ups.

Yes, humans help other humans, and we must do what we can to help each other with or without government support. But no god is going to come do it. This god never shows up. Only humans show up to clean-up, defend, cure, help...no god comes.

And Zapp, you gladly accept whatever the government wants to hand out to you free when it is offered. You rely on the police to protect you, the military run by the government to protect you, government-run education, etc.

And if you had read my post you would see that I neither support Obama or McCain. My post was about a religious fundie accusing another religious fundie about distorting the Babble...pretty amusing how you all quibble about interpretations of a book written by your various versions of god.

Stardust said...

I wish people were as zealous about protesting against our tax dollars being thrown away on endless and often needless road construction. Zapp...why don't you pray to your god and see if he can make some roads that will last more than one winter season. Thanks.