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Christians sure like invoking Jesus a lot. Usually it’s for perfectly legitimate reasons — health problems, family issues, emergencies. But, sometimes it’s a bit unnecessary, like the time I prayed for a parking spot in Manhattan (and found one! Booyah, heathens!), or when politicians invoke Christianity to score political points.
The most recent example is Republican rising star Paul Ryan, the Wisconsin congressman who recently got a bunch of religious folks talking when he claimed that his budget plan was created “using my Catholic faith.” Many Catholics and other Christians responded either by claiming Ryan doesn’t know what he’s talking about, or by saying that he’s speaking the Gospel truth.
Now instead of turning this into a debate on how Jesus would vote on Ryan’s budget, let me stop right here and say that Paul Ryan has created a debate that is both pointless and juvenile. It’s time for people to stop using their religious values to back up their arguments.
When supporters invoke religious values in defense of their political ideas, they are attempting to demonize (literally) their opponents. Let me give you an example.
Let’s say myself and you, (whoever you are, look at my cartoon to imagine this situation properly) are in Congress debating the construction of a road. You point out that the road should be built because God wants it to be built. As an opponent of the road, my possible responses are handicapped, because now you’re making the debate more about religion and less about the roads. The only way I can win the debate now, is to argue about religion, which I really don’t feel like doing. And let’s not forget that you’re making yourself out to be a messenger of God. I can’t argue with that, so I lose.
Political debates and discussions should be kept free of deities or religions to create discourse based on, well, facts.
In fact, here’s some other places that you should probably keep religion out of. Cue the bullet point:
- Sports – Whoa! Tim Tebow loves Jesus! That doesn’t mean his kneeling will convince God to magically force footballs to land neatly into receivers’ hands.
- Awards shows – So the rapper thanked his record label, his crack dealer, and God. If only his nemesis had thanked God rhetorically too, he would’ve been the one going home with a Grammy.
- Public Schools – Evolution is a theory, yes. Intelligent design and creationism are excuses for religious folks to shove religion into public schools.
I write this article as a devout Catholic who typically votes liberal. I love my faith and I pray regularly. When I want to talk politics though, I keep my religion out of it. Politics shouldn’t be tainted with religion, and religious values shouldn’t be tainted by politics.
About Eric J Cortes
You are leaving out the funniest God-related sports moment in a while. When Steve Johnson WR for the Bills dropped a game winning TD and took to Twitter asking God why he caused him to drop the ball. Some were upset, I was laughing hysterically. It is about time athletes hold God accountable for not taking practice seriously and chocking in crunch time.
I love this article… Sooo true
It’s supposed to be seperation of church and state. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!
if jesus was running the budget, he would take money from the rich to give to the poor. and he’d design it in a way that would help the poor.
jesus was not one to be selfish.
so true Vikki Campos
Without God…NOTHING Is Possible!
That doesn’t mean that God or religious beliefs should be part of government, Juliette.
“God helps those who help themselves!” And in that note please stop that invalid and ridiculous nonsense about “Taking from the rich to give to the poor” !! Its just getting to Viejo!
you cant help the poor if you are not allowed to make what you are capable of! Jesus never took money from the rich and he basically does run everything, why would he now that obama wants to!
Ok, so according to this post, people are going to vote for a candidate simply because he says he has faith/God on his side? Give us a little more credit would you? And so what if he discusses his faith? Last I heard, it’s a free country. I’m voting for the person who has a proven track record, not empty promises or rhetoric about faith or anything else. @maura, separation of church and state actually means the government cannot stop any religion from forming, or our freedom from participating in it. It doesn’t mean it can’t be discussed by politicians, actually it means the opposite, everyone has the right to choose their religion, and the freedom to discuss it when they want.
Jesus never took money from the rich to give to the poor, but he sure as fuck flipped out on those money changers at the temple.
People will stop talking about taking from the rich when they they pay their fair share. You’re gonna tell me that teachers that barely make $40k/year should pay a higher rate than people like Romney? Please, GTFO.
Always!!!
It becomes too much when people start mixing their personal religious views and politically force them on others. Example: when people vote against a person because they believe in pro-choice for women – if you don’t want an abortion, then don’t have one! No need to force your ways on others, especially if you are a man and can’t even get pregnant!
Just a friendly warning…Stay away from my religious beliefs…My political views…My bedroom…and My Pocket!!! Rich,Middle class or poor NO JODAN !!!
Whether you like it or not most latinos are people of faith and they correctly invoke God when they feel is necessary. The problem you and others like you have is you only believe in diversity when is not about christian faith . We Christians are witnesses of God we do not impose our believes on anyone.
@Rebecca E-V. The separation of church and gov’t is not what you think it is. Let me explain you with a few words: religion does not make decision for gov’t and vice versa. When politicians try to view their political views mix with religion, it is contracting the separation of church and state. You are right, they can say whatever they want, but they cannot use their faith to get elected.
Hahahahah Mg Mc. You make me laugh. Christians are witnesses of God? How so? What about other religions? What are they? Hmm anyways that’s besides the point I wanna make… In what world do you live on? You see, we are in 2012, and things like “Christians do not impose their faith on others” could have worked when we lived in prehistoric era. We have great technology that these nonsense comment of yours, it can be squashed in one sec. By Christians stating that gay marriage is against the bible, Christians are imposing their faith. By stating that women cannot have prochoice, because it is against “God’s word”, Christians are imposing. So please get your facts right
If you are truly a Christian (capital C), you don’t just segregate your faith to something you do in private. The Bible says you are a new creation, Indwelled by the Holy Spirit once one is saved. It becomes who you are. You can’t be Christian on Sunday’s and weekdays from 830 til 9 PM. There is no way Paul Ryan or Tim Tebow or anyone else who is truly saved could. If you change God’s word to suit yourself, you’ve created an idol which is an imaginary God. I would read the scriptures on this if I were you. The Bible says we are in the world but not of the world. Good luck.