Do you still think that Christians can govern unbiased?

This story came out of Alabama and frankly truly upset me.  I face a lot of people that say I unjustly stand against "born again" Christians and the religious right.  I get accused of just grouping people together.  Whenever I make a comment about "Christians" in general I am often called to the floor for it.  Funny thing is that I rarely see anybody stand up to people that make those of us that are secular in our religious views feel like we are second class citizens.  When a Christian group puts up a sign decrying Islam few people say anything, most just nod their head in silent agreement or stand mute in silent permissiveness. And those that say something get muted local coverage while those that oppose the sign placed by atheists get national coverage on national networks for a week's worth of time.  Are there people that oppose the sign below?  Absolutely.  Are there Christians that oppose the sign below?  Of course there are.  But they get muted local coverage while haters like Newt Gingrich get massive coverage nationwide.  It is not equal in any way shape or form.

(sign on I-26 in SC)

However, let an atheist group put up a sign that questions the premise of the Nativity fairy tale and all hell breaks loose across the networks and atheists are reminded in no uncertain terms that they are to mind their place and realize that freedom of speech only applies to you if you are part of the Christian persuasion.  Muslims, atheists and those of other faiths, beliefs or outlooks are not covered in that clause.

(billboard sign in NYC during Christmas)

I have upset some people by saying that I would not and could not vote for people like Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin (beyond her obvious and usually unusual insanity and idiocy) simply because as members of the religious right they would put their faith and their Christian beliefs over the well being and will of the people.  The religious right is firmly set in bigotry, homophobia, xenophobia, ethnic and religious prejudices.  It defines them.  Yes there are exceptions.  Yes there are Christians I respect and hold in high esteem.  But they are Christians that the majority of OTHER Christians would reject as liberals.

I live with a woman that is a professing and practicing Christian, but understands that religious beliefs (or lack thereof) is a personal matter that does not affect, for better or for worse, the worth of the person.  My future mother in law and brother in law are the same way and I respect all of them for it.  We discuss, we disagree and we still discuss and respect each other.  But overall they are the exception rather than the rule.  

Coming out of Alabama is the story that brought on this blog this morning.  New governor Robert Bentley in a statement on his inauguration day  made it clear who he considers family, whom he holds in respect and who is not on his list and what they need to do to be on that list.  He stands, again, as proof of what I have said all along, the more intense, dedicated and committed to church, faith, religion and the Bible a person is the less qualified they are to govern.  I am not saying that Christians cannot govern, that would be as simple minded and prejudiced as the Christian right  I simply believe that the more dedicated a person becomes to their faith the more they will have to choose if they want to lead or be missionaries.  In this country you cannot be both.  Simple as that.  Your faith is YOUR faith and YOURS alone.  

With as much respect as I can muster for Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and others like them...this is NOT just a Christian nation.  We are a nation of different faiths, different views and different ideologies and while the rest of us may be going to hell (according to your faith) we are not there yet so you will just have to realize the reality of the fact and learn that it is liberty and justice for all...not just Christians, not just your brothers and sisters....but rather ALL.

A horrific look into my past...

For those that may think I am a horrible partisan single minded stubborn rude and antagonistic butt wipe now as a Democrat...you should have seen me ten years ago.  My daughter stumbled across a website I had a long time ago...ten years ago to be exact.  I was mortified that Becky saw this me from so long ago...

At that time I was a pastor, fiercely loyal to God, church and the King James Bible.  I was a fire and brimstone preacher.  I believed in holiness and a judging fierce god that loved us and that at the same time we were to fear and love.   I was everything I hate today.  Everything I blog against today.  I was a bigot, I was self righteous, judgmental, I was homophobic, xenophobic and racist.  I was a religious purist who had little patience or tolerance for people of a different faith or political view. I am ashamed of what I was then but am proud of how far I have come.

A lot has changed since then.  I have been through a lot.  I got knocked off my high horse and taught some lessons in life.  The loss of a child, the loss of a lifestyle, the loss of my faith, the loss of my marriage and the loss of my other children to a cheating ex wife led me through a catalyst that changed the person I was and the way I thought, the way I looked at the world around me and as a result the ideology I espoused at that point in my life.

I am still passionate.  I would like to think I am overall a little more accepting of others and a little less judgmental...but I know I have my moments still.  I still have little patience for idiots.  I am opinionated, I am sometimes extreme and I am somewhat stubborn.  I still see the world in black and white; there is little room for gray...though I am learning it somewhat.

Overall I am ashamed of the person I was then; the way I really thought I was the shit.  I thought I had all the answers and I thought I was THE man of god.  I had a wife, two kids and I had a ministry.  I was getting invitations to preach at other churches and I was THE man.  I was being invited to pray in Spanish on the court steps to rally people to vote against alcohol sales on Sunday (because heathen folk should not be allowed to do what they want on MY sacred day dammit and if I have to legislate their rights away then so be it.)

I am still pretty opinionated and I guess I always will be.  I take sides and I throw myself behind it with passion and enthusiasm.  It is who I am...I am glad to see the progress and am glad to see I stand on the side I am standing on today.  I do so unapologetically.  Hey what can I say?  I do hope though that ten years from now I will look back and maybe still be embarrassed by what I write today...it shows growth, development...

So anyway...for whatever it is worth...here is the link...please be kind and remember....it was 10 years ago...and I even hate the person I was back then...

(Radical Religious Right Rants

gawd....I really was an idiot!)