Dare I say it? WWJD?
Jul. 2nd, 2002 04:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
libertangoFrom 1 July's broadcast of Crossfire on CNN:
NOVAK: Embarrasses you to talk about God, doesn't it?
CARVILLE: No, it doesn't embarrass me to talk about God... That's an old cockamamie Republican right-wing thing. If you're not out there publicly claiming you love God more than everybody, everybody else hates God. You know, some people can have religion and it could be a private matter.
OK. Here's the transcript fully in context:
NOVAK: Do you oppose "In God We Trust"? Do you think that's un- American?
CARVILLE: No, it's fine on a coin. But when are we going to stop it? I'm fine for saying "under God" in the thing, but schools need to spend more time learning and less time praying -- leave the praying to the churches and people at home.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: Embarrasses you to talk about God, doesn't it?
CARVILLE: No, it doesn't embarrass me to talk about God.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: Well I just said...
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: ... well I said it four times in the thing. That's an old cockamamie Republican right-wing thing. If you're not out there publicly claiming you love God more than everybody, everybody else hates God. You know, some people can have religion and it could be a private matter.
NOVAK: OK.
At least Novak had the good sense to give.
But let's take a look at a few things here, shall we?
Here's Mark 12:14-17, which leads to a famous line:
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.
Here's Matthew 6:5-6 :
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
So, here's the big question, kids:
If Jesus believed in the separation of Church and State, if Jesus believed that faith was a private matter, and making it "seen of men" was ostentatious in a bad way...
...why can't those of the American religious right?
Bravo to James Carville, who appeared, at least for that question, to be far more Christian than many who call themselves such today.
NOVAK: Embarrasses you to talk about God, doesn't it?
CARVILLE: No, it doesn't embarrass me to talk about God... That's an old cockamamie Republican right-wing thing. If you're not out there publicly claiming you love God more than everybody, everybody else hates God. You know, some people can have religion and it could be a private matter.
OK. Here's the transcript fully in context:
NOVAK: Do you oppose "In God We Trust"? Do you think that's un- American?
CARVILLE: No, it's fine on a coin. But when are we going to stop it? I'm fine for saying "under God" in the thing, but schools need to spend more time learning and less time praying -- leave the praying to the churches and people at home.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: Embarrasses you to talk about God, doesn't it?
CARVILLE: No, it doesn't embarrass me to talk about God.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: Well I just said...
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: ... well I said it four times in the thing. That's an old cockamamie Republican right-wing thing. If you're not out there publicly claiming you love God more than everybody, everybody else hates God. You know, some people can have religion and it could be a private matter.
NOVAK: OK.
At least Novak had the good sense to give.
But let's take a look at a few things here, shall we?
Here's Mark 12:14-17, which leads to a famous line:
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him.
Here's Matthew 6:5-6 :
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
So, here's the big question, kids:
If Jesus believed in the separation of Church and State, if Jesus believed that faith was a private matter, and making it "seen of men" was ostentatious in a bad way...
...why can't those of the American religious right?
Bravo to James Carville, who appeared, at least for that question, to be far more Christian than many who call themselves such today.
