Religion and Popular Culture

Jesus Christ for Barack Obama: Religion and Politics
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22767392/

Obama had a plethora of work cut out for him, at least in the sense that he had to convince many of the American public that he's NOT a Muslim!

Obama said that he has attended the same Christian church for the past twenty years, although his father and stepfather were Muslim. His campaign stepped up the game, trying to get voters to vote for the Democratic candidate.

This campaign was a primary example of how religion can be instrumental in politics, at least in terms of popular culture. As the article states, Obama's image was shown with the words "COMMITTED CHRISTIAN" in an attempt to convince people that he does possess good, wholesome, CHRISTIAN values.

Obama also apparently "believes in the power of prayer."

It is impossible to imagine this sort of situation as a violation of the separation of church and state, as Obama is simply expressing his identity in an attempt to get elected. It shows that religion and politics will always overlap, no matter how hard society attempts to avoid it.

Church and State in JFK's America

To counter this week's earlier theme of church and state separation as naivete:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-r-stone/church-and-state-in-jfks_b_356162.html

John F. Kennedy's extreme Roman Catholic faith left many constituents wondering about where his "loyalties" lay: with the Church or with America. Kennedy put these concerns to rest with his complete endorsement of the separation of church and state, saying that he believed in an America where "no public official accepts orders from a Pope." He was our first elected Catholic president. Unfortunately for us, fifty years later, the Catholic Church is currently threatening to withdraw any support and funding from major legislation due to a move by D.C. to enact a pending same-sex marriage law. The Vatican has issued statements that it has a grave and clear motivation to oppose any pro-abortion and pro-same-sex marriage laws that may be attempted. Catholics and other religious faiths have increasingly attempted to mix religion with politics, and it is imperative to remember the difference between what JFK termed "the national interest" and "religious dictates."

In my opinion, much like Kennedy, we must find a balance, a way to mix the way we were raised with the way the country must be run. For the good of all people, not just those who may be Christian, Catholic, Jewish, etc. Freedom of expression without discrimination is, as always, the key.

Evangelical Death Threats?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/rachel-maddow-frank-schae_n_362415.html

Longer video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho2fvjhSmF8

Rachel Maddow and Frank Schaeffer discuss the apparent "death threat" to Obama. Liberally portrayed, the press in this case displays religion as evil, or else that "Psalm 109:8" is just a "cheekily coded death threat." The verse reads, "May his days be few, may another take his place in leadership." This also ties in with Psalm 109:9 - "May his children be fatherless, his wife a widow." The more standard representation of this idea has been seen on shirts which read "Pray for Obama." Schaeffer is of the mindset that this Biblical language is even more threatening, as it really hypes up all of the anti-democratic feeling. It is already an issue that Obama is "un-American," possibly due to his skin color. It seems as though the religious right is calling for a "holy war," simply because of Obama's seemingly radical views on controversial issues. (abortion, healthcare, etc) It's fairly shocking that people would go to lengths of this magnitude to discredit the government as an institution, simply due to their basic beliefs.

I do think that in this case, religion was portrayed negatively, but with good reason. The bias is made out of fear and shock on the part of the media telling the story.

Separation of Church and State Naive?

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1117/1224258981090.html

The separation of church and state has been a hotly debated issue for as long as there has been a government to dispute religious matters, or else, "The Word of God." To me, and to most, this makes the most sense. Mixing religion with government is similar to trying to prove the existence of God through science: it doesn't work. Feelings and fact are not the same. Former EU Ambassador John Bruton thinks otherwise.

Bruton states that the breakdown of democracy stems from our denial of religion, and that as long as religion exists, it is ridiculous to assume that it can be kept separate from our governing procedures. There should be clear distinctions of function, but it is not logical to assume that one forgets about one's beliefs when considering political preferences. Pushing religious belief away from people has the same effect as pushing it on people, and neither is fair.

Gubernatorial Candidates Protest Religious Monuments

http://blog.al.com/live/2009/11/some_gop_gubernatorial_candida.html

Gubernatorial candidates in Montgomery, Alabama, state their concern over monuments on government property not Jewish or Christian in nature. They would like all religious faiths to be able to express themselves, but would prefer a certain brand, as it were. Most believe that the Bible is literally true, all advocate prayer in schools, and most believe in creationism over evolution. I find this coincidental array of characteristics quite hilarious. The hypocrisy of the situation is maddening, as government officials say that they want a balance of expression, but in reality that only applies to their own religion. This directly undermines the First Amendment, and is another prime example of how church and state should remain separate. No religious monuments should stand if not all are free to.

The Power of Prayer, Part Deux

http://www.examiner.com/x-7160-Sacramento-Nutrition-Examiner~y2009m11d9-Senate-health-bill-would-pay-for-prayer-treatment-but-not-for-treatment-by-unlicensed-nutritionists

http://cambridge.films.com/id/11516/Does_Prayer_Work_A_Medical_Perspective.htm

I'm curious also as to why the Senate would consider paying for health care centered around prayer, but wouldn't support "unlicensed dietcians" that are trying to educate the general public. The primary controversy surrounding this issue is that church centered healing treatments could ask for reimbursement, much as hospitals do, and prayer techniques are offered as an option to real medical treatment. The problem is that Christian medical care providers are free to receive traditional health care whenever they need it, and their patients may not. This hypocrisy is startling, to say the least.

Prayer is also subjective, as it works for some, and not for others. Science and medicine are the only proven methods that may work for everyone who is human.

Banning Christian License Plates

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/102720/Banning_Christian_license_plates

Christian license plates are un-American, according to a South Carolina federal judge. License plates displaying a cross and the phrase "I believe" were censored this week because of their controversial nature, and there are two opposing sides regarding the matter.

Apparently, many consider the plates un-constitutional, and believe that the government must never display favoritism of certain religious persuasions over others. However, others on the "believing side" argue that they are being censored, and want the right to choose a faith-based license plate when they pick from one of South Carolina's 103 tags.

In this case, I would tend to agree that religion should never be mixed with government-issued items. The separation of church and state, as always, should reign supreme. The Christians do have a right to express themselves, but by expressing themselves in such a manner that pertains to government, they may be violating that separation.

Mormons Okay Gay Rights???

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jb_ouuCyojVKMcWaqEuNKLkORJ9wD9BTEG5O2

The Mormon Chuch has finally given the okay for gay rights. The elders have agreed to support ordinances that do not violently contradict the traditional constitution of marriage. And it's about damn time!

Salt Lake City is now the first city in Utah to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation. The church is of the mindset that it doesn't have to be enemies with gay rights workers, but can instead stand on common ground with them. Agreements and compromises can be made. Mormons say that they still believe in the basic premise of marriage between a man and a woman, but this is a key first step into breaking down political and social barriers across the United States for gay marriage and homosexuals in general.

In Palin We Trust? Hardly.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2009/11/in-palin-we-trust.html

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8977427 (Palin encourages Virginians to vote against the phrase)

I don't really care for Sarah Palin, but the one interesting part of this article was her discussion on removing God from our currency. She demanded that the familiar phrase "In God We Trust" be removed from its prominent place on U.S. currency. I find this ironic, since Palin did run alongside McCain on the Republican ticket last year. I also find her attempts rather ludicrous, since the phrase has been on the coin for such a long time.

The United States is an overwhelmingly Christian nation, and will continue to remain that way. I find it highly improbable that one singular phrase on a COIN could influence so many people negatively. It shows the U.S. has a commitment to faith as well as government. I do understand why many could think that it violates the separation of church and state.

Organized Religion in Politics

http://airamerica.com/politics/11-09-2009/house-bill-shows-power-religion-politics/

Democrats rejoiced recently with the passage of the new public healthcare option, which effectively provides coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. However, Democratic Rep. Bart Stupack offered a last minute amendment to the bill that blocks public abortions. The precedent this amendment sets could prove disastrous for the pro-choice movement, as more conservatives could use it as leverage to gain the upper hand.

It is thought that the Catholic Church forced Stupack into suggesting the amendment, as they have been major advocates of universal healthcare for years, but would pull support from the bill should it contain any abortion coverage. The Catholic Church is not the first religious organization to use its influence to gain control over a political situation. The Mormon Church also failed to report $190,000 spent on the anti-Proposition 8 campaign. Another religious organization, Operation Rescue, had its tax-exempt status as a non-profit organization revoked after it began to actively campaign for the Republican part in the 2004 presidential election.

Religion should not play such an active role in determining what women do with their bodies, especially if they cannot provide any logical reasoning as to why they oppose this particular part of universal health care. The whole point of universal health care is that it is indeed, UNIVERSAL.

All in The Family

http://www.emporiagazette.com/news/2009/nov/06/tangled_web_politics_religion/

Senator Obama speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast for The Family, 2009.

Jeff Sharlet's newest book goes into great detail about The Family, or else "the secret fundamentalism behind American's power." Members in the group include important leaders in Congress and business, as well as industry and the U.S. military. Its reach stretches around the world, and members meet every year at the National Prayer Breakfast for days of seminars which "reflect Christ's message."

Sharlet argues for a different kind of Christianity that The Family members see: a kind more for the masses as well as the elite. I think this is an interesting perspective, as many Christians I know seem to believe in their specific brand of morals. I appreciate that The Family could potentially only want people on the same page, regardless of social status or family history. Although I don't believe in religion, at least there is a group in power at the center of American politics that is attempting to unify more people through religion, instead of fragment society through how religion factions are different.

Pro-Choice Catholics?

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/catholics-for-choice-statement-on-antiabortion-amendment-to-healthcare-reform-bill-69463847.html

It's crunch time for the anti-abortion bill. I can't believe women could possibly lose coverage altogether with this new plan, just because there are many Republicans (and Democrats) who are anti-choice.

Ironically, this article details the opinions of "Catholics for Choice," an organization which believes in healthcare for the millions of people who do not currently have coverage, regardless of whether or not that care would provide abortion services. They send a very important message in their support for the bill, and also that the bishops have been misrepresenting Catholic beliefs.

I think this very ironically displays how not all Catholics are conservative, as many newspapers and media outlets portray, and it's important to have a diverse set of opinions, regardless of what religion you are. I'd like to see more coverage of Catholics in support for the new healthcare system, as opposed to the media always just portraying them as the "evil conservatives."

Religion and Politics, from a Turkish Perspective

http://www.worldbulletin.net/author_article_detail.php?id=2086

Ali Bulac discusses the influence of religion on politics, and vice versa, arguing that the divine religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) have been abused and exploited in keeping with their historical goals. All three religions, he says, have something to say on politics and world order, but the influence of Islam on politics is "stronger and more visible." However, despite its influence, religion has negatively been affected by politics. Bulac points to the misuse of religion by politicians as a tool to achieve their goals, and states that religion has become "politicized" because of the demands made by it of political leaders.

I would tend to agree with Bulac's claims, as politicians around the world have utilized religion for their own personal goals. Bush's faith-based presidency for example, was based on his "gut," and he relied on religion to make his decisions. The separation of church and state is essential in matters of morals vs. government.

Religion and Politics, At It Again!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/articles/2005/09/12/religion_politics_faith_feature.shtml

They're separating church and state on the other side of the country as well!

BBC asked people if they thought religion and politics should be mixed, and quite a few said that the two are quite separate. However, interestingly enough, churches in England are holding question and answer sessions with parliamentary candidates, a highly debated procedure.

The Christians are of the mindset that religion and politics automatically mix, at least for them, and that by informing people of the current events, they will make an informed voter decision. They also believe that there is a Christian, or conservative, perspective on all major events, and that politicians could consider those values. The more important concern is the separation of morality from political issues, which is very difficult to do.

In my opinion, it's better to consider both approaches, and to keep an open mind, rather than closing it to possibilities simply because of the way you were raised or what your religion says.

Supreme Court Won't Stop Scandals

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/nyregion/03diocese.html?_r=1

Recently, the Supreme Court has been releasing documents regarding sexual abuse lawsuits against priests in a Catholic diocese in Connecticut. The Catholic Church is of the mindset that this violates the First Amendment, as civil authorities should have no place in church decisions, but in the case of a sex scandal, I think that's debatable. The government is willing to work with the Catholic Church, and I think this time, they've been caught and can't cover up the scandals as before.