You are correct. “Such a politician can argue that God the Creator is real, he created us in his image and with rights, that we have sinned against God, and that the Bible explains how redemption and restoration to God are only possible through Christ”. Of course a politician could say that. But not if he wants to get elected. The Christian right might love it if Trump said this, but he doesn’t, because he wants to be elected. He would scream it from the rooftops if he thought it would get him elected.
Why won’t it? Because Americans don’t want their leaders telling them there’s only one way to God. They want a good economy and a world without war. Sure they may want some of the morality that comes from the bible like don’t murder, steal, or lie, but they don’t want all of it.
In the same way this country would never elect a Muslim who sees everyone who doesn’t believe in Islam as infidels they are not going to elect a Christian who believes that everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus is going to hell.
Sure a politician can say whatever he wants. The First Amendment gives him that freedom. He just can’t expect to get elected if he not only believes that his beliefs are the only right and true beliefs, but expects everyone else to think it too. This is America. A plurality of ideas is foundational. Conflicting beliefs that can’t all be true at once but yet must exist together is just the reality of our nation. No politician that forgets this will get very far.
Except we’ve had many presidents who said this and got elected and may have that again. The merely utilitarian calculation about how to get elected this Nov is not what I’m addressing. And plurality isn’t foundational to America. We believe “out of the many one”. Unity is foundational and it is on that foundation healthy kinds of pluralism can grow. Divisive pluralism about foundational truths destroys a society as we see today in the increased hate and violence in ours. Our D of I gives us the foundational truths from natural theology on which to build.
Oh many thoughts, too many to type here. I’ll just ask two questions, cuz I’m curious: who are these “many presidents” (any from this or last century) that told the American people “God the Creator is real, he created us in his image and with rights, that we have sinned against God, and that the Bible explains how redemption and restoration to God are only possible through Christ”? Was it in their stump speeches?
No problem I'm thick skinned. There are books about this so I don't want to duplicate that here. Most recently, while in office, GW Bush shared his testimony which ran along those lines. My favorite is the Presbyterian Teddy Rosevelt. But you'll also find these statements all the way back to Washington. It is really the exception to have a president who doesn't believe this.
Might that be a reason that some people think that Christians have had a monopoly on power for too long, given that much of the population is not Christian? And many of those that are Christian don't believe their religion should be used to make policy decisions against those that aren't.
In your article you talked about the Bible being foundational to our country. Do you believe that our country could be based on the Bible and still respect the perspectives, lives, and decisions of people who don't believe in the Bible?
You are correct. “Such a politician can argue that God the Creator is real, he created us in his image and with rights, that we have sinned against God, and that the Bible explains how redemption and restoration to God are only possible through Christ”. Of course a politician could say that. But not if he wants to get elected. The Christian right might love it if Trump said this, but he doesn’t, because he wants to be elected. He would scream it from the rooftops if he thought it would get him elected.
Why won’t it? Because Americans don’t want their leaders telling them there’s only one way to God. They want a good economy and a world without war. Sure they may want some of the morality that comes from the bible like don’t murder, steal, or lie, but they don’t want all of it.
In the same way this country would never elect a Muslim who sees everyone who doesn’t believe in Islam as infidels they are not going to elect a Christian who believes that everyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus is going to hell.
Sure a politician can say whatever he wants. The First Amendment gives him that freedom. He just can’t expect to get elected if he not only believes that his beliefs are the only right and true beliefs, but expects everyone else to think it too. This is America. A plurality of ideas is foundational. Conflicting beliefs that can’t all be true at once but yet must exist together is just the reality of our nation. No politician that forgets this will get very far.
Except we’ve had many presidents who said this and got elected and may have that again. The merely utilitarian calculation about how to get elected this Nov is not what I’m addressing. And plurality isn’t foundational to America. We believe “out of the many one”. Unity is foundational and it is on that foundation healthy kinds of pluralism can grow. Divisive pluralism about foundational truths destroys a society as we see today in the increased hate and violence in ours. Our D of I gives us the foundational truths from natural theology on which to build.
Oh many thoughts, too many to type here. I’ll just ask two questions, cuz I’m curious: who are these “many presidents” (any from this or last century) that told the American people “God the Creator is real, he created us in his image and with rights, that we have sinned against God, and that the Bible explains how redemption and restoration to God are only possible through Christ”? Was it in their stump speeches?
That was snarky. My apologies. I am curious though.
No problem I'm thick skinned. There are books about this so I don't want to duplicate that here. Most recently, while in office, GW Bush shared his testimony which ran along those lines. My favorite is the Presbyterian Teddy Rosevelt. But you'll also find these statements all the way back to Washington. It is really the exception to have a president who doesn't believe this.
Might that be a reason that some people think that Christians have had a monopoly on power for too long, given that much of the population is not Christian? And many of those that are Christian don't believe their religion should be used to make policy decisions against those that aren't.
In your article you talked about the Bible being foundational to our country. Do you believe that our country could be based on the Bible and still respect the perspectives, lives, and decisions of people who don't believe in the Bible?
Amen