When Mike Huckabee spoke to Family Research Council Action’s Values Voter’s Summit I knew little about him. After hearing this speech I knew everything I needed to know about him to throw my support behind him and publicly endorse him. Here is the speech in three parts:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysdguwpgNZ0&feature=related]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af5qyUzRT68&feature=related]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5v_qB0VDNI&feature=related]
All christians need to openly and honestly read the following books and they would have an understanding of sketimal’s position.
American Theocracy: Kevin Phillips
American Fascists: Chris Hedges
Blackwater: Jeremy Scahill
Once you read those you begin to understand the current merger of church and state with the Republican Party and the Christian Right. I am not an atheist like skeptimal, however, I denounce many of the positions that the christian right takes in the public forum. It is not as much a moral stance as it is a wedge to keep the largest voting block in the country in it’s corner. I used to be there, no longer. There is too much lying in God’s name for me.
Paul,
You asked: “How does Huckabee want to undermine the separation of church and state in our constitution?”
On January 14th, Huckabee said: “I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe it’s a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God. And that’s what we need to do — is to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards so it lines up with some contemporary view of how we treat each other and how we treat the family. “
His agenda is clear: modify the constitution to suit one religious standard: that of Evangelical Christianity.
“How has Huckabee passed judgment on theocrats from another religion?”
His judgment was upon Muslim theocrats, whom he mentioned using that phrase in the speech. I’m not saying, by the way, that I think Muslims should be defended: only that it is hypocrisy for Christians who think sep of church and state is a myth to say they are any different.
“Are you also suggesting that Huckabee’s Christian faith is a superstition? If so – nearly 90% of this country professes to follow a superstition.”
Christianity itself need not be a superstition, and probably for the majority of Christians it is not. At the point that you say that a terrorist attack was the result of “God rolling back his protection” rather than the fault of the terrorists, then it is a superstition. Once you start saying you know the mind of god well enough to say someone else is under god’s judgment, it has become a particularly vile superstition.
And by the way, a huge percentage of Americans read their horoscopes. It’s still a superstition. Somehow I think that if Christians are ever a small minority in the U.S., their being a small percentage of the population won’t persuade you that Christianity is mythological.
You asked: “And are you further suggesting that Huckabee is a terrorist? For one who advocates reason over superstition, you are sounding extremely unreasonable.”
I don’t see how you arrived at that question from what I said. My point was that you see the Muslims as the enemy, when the real enemy is superstitious adherence to mythological beliefs. The truth is relative to all superstitious people; what matters is what agrees with their pre-existing beliefs. That’s why so many cling to creationism despite its complete and total lack of evidence. Freedom isn’t cheap: it requires you to do some critical thinking, and that can cost you your beliefs.
Colin, you said: “How come practically ever major population of Muslims in the US is a liberal area? If you honestly think that all religions are in cahoots you need to stop listening to the “new” atheists.”
I never suggested all religions were in cahoots. That’s not possible any way. Religions can only cooperate when faced with unbelief: which is a scarier thing to religious people than any “false doctrine.”
Skeptimal,
If the 9/11 Hijackers would prefer Huckabee or Bush then why do they seem to love liberals so much? How come practically ever major population of Muslims in the US is a liberal area? If you honestly think that all religions are in cahoots you need to stop listening to the “new” atheists….
Sounds great. The quote “I cannot in good faith” endorse Mr Huckabee from the pulpit is where I was struggling. I have always accepted that what was good in the pulpit should be emulated in the streets. I accept this distinction however, but to suggest that a public figure’s endorsement of a candidate from any platform (even outside the pulpit) will not be perceived as a full endorsement has a few leaks in it. If it was as you suggest great, but still begs the question; “whats the difference”? BTW do you think any of your congregation have any doubts as to whom you endorse? And finally, is it wrong for a pastor to recommend, a man to lead our nation, or just not policy? And when is a pastor not speaking as a pastor?
Don,
I think what Pastor Sipes means when he says he cannot in good faith endorse Huckabee from the pulpit is to say he doesn’t want to use his pulpit for political purposes, but is happy to PERSONALLY – outside of his official capacity as a pastor – endorse him.
This is exactly what I do when I speak every day on my radio program about Huckabee but have NEVER endorsed him (or any other candidate) from the pulpit.
Skeptimal,
How does Huckabee want to undermine the separation of church and state in our constitution? A Marriage Amendment and a Human Life Amendment are MORAL issues, not religious or church-related issues. The constitution is no stranger to moral issues.
How has Huckabee passed judgment on theocrats from another religion? He has asked legitimate questions about Mormonism, hardly passing judgment on it.
Are you also suggesting that Huckabee’s Christian faith is a superstition? If so – nearly 90% of this country professes to follow a superstition.
And are you further suggesting that Huckabee is a terrorist? For one who advocates reason over superstition, you are sounding extremely unreasonable.
Huckabee’s hypocrisy would be funny if it weren’t so tragic. This man who wants to undermine the separation of church and state in our constitution passes his judgment on theocrats from another religion. Instead of understanding that our current battle for survival is between those who enshrine superstition and those who value reason, he draws a line between two superstitions.
Let’s be candid, Christians. The 9/11 hijackers would have voted for Huckabee and Bush over any Democrat now running for office.
Bro Sipe
No disrespect intended … please help me … Whats the difference?
I have not been as moved by a political speech since…well since I do not know. I’m a pastor and cannot in good faith endorse Mr. Huckabee from the pulpit, but you can be sure I will be doing all I can to support him when I am not. Outstanding.
Brilliant! What more can be said?