I am not a great theologian, nor have I been exceedingly educated in religion. I know just a few verses from the Bible by heart, but most of my thoughts come only through experience as I grew up and continue to do so.
With that said, I was disappointed with Dr. Plantinga’s message tonight during LOFT. I will say that he had a great verse. Psalm139. The message focused on how God watches us. I am not saying that that is a bad thing, but the way it was presented made God sound like our stalker. There were ties to the movie “Enemy of the State”. Will Smith played a character that was being watched by a government official who went as far as bugging Smith’s character's clothes. I feel that this is a very poor choice for a comparison to our Lord and Savior. Yes, I know that our every move is watched. Psalm 139:1-5 “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. “I do believe that knowing this is important to know, but it is also important to understand that this is out of love for us. It is not to make us uncomfortable, or so are my personal beliefs. I also believe that the first five verses are there to lead up to verses 9-14. “9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea. 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” The Psalmist starts by pointing out that God knows everything about him. Then he builds by saying that this is so that God’s hand will be there to guide him. Then the Psalmist gives praise to the Father for being “Fearfully and wonderfully made”.
This is an important Psalm, but I think that it is not meant to make our Heavenly Father look like a judgmental stalker. It is to show how important we are to Him and to show how much He loves us. Though we do not always understand, He does. I also believe that we should not want to do right because we fear that God is watching us, but instead because the Holy Spirit moves in us to do right. I hope the difference makes sense and that I am presenting my thoughts clearly.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Europe Moving Up
While surfing a blog sight, “Liberal Values”, I came across an article saying that conservatives are complaining about the Democrats trying to make the United States look more like Europe. It went on to say “To conservatives, Europe is a mass of socialism as described in an old Ayn Rand novel with economies doomed to forever fall behind the economy of the United States.” (Ron Chusid) The author of the blog then gives an explanation trying to put this complaint by the conservatives to rest. He does this by posting a link to an article in the Times of London saying that the United States is predicted to fall behind Britain for the first time since the 19th Century.
First, this is the first time I have heard of this complaint. Second, I do not think that this will help the conservatives to stop complaining about the Democrats.
Anyhow, the United States have been one of, if not the largest united force in the world for almost a century. While I think it is important to compare things such as living standards and other economic standards to other countries, I think that saying that we should be more like Europe socially is a bit extreme. Yes, there is much to improve in this country, and yes, we can learn from other countries programs. But, the United States has been on top for so long that I do not think that as soon as one country (UK) is predicted to do better than the United States then the government should immediately think that we need to be more like them. Also, what works socially in a small nation might not work in the least for a larger one.
First, this is the first time I have heard of this complaint. Second, I do not think that this will help the conservatives to stop complaining about the Democrats.
Anyhow, the United States have been one of, if not the largest united force in the world for almost a century. While I think it is important to compare things such as living standards and other economic standards to other countries, I think that saying that we should be more like Europe socially is a bit extreme. Yes, there is much to improve in this country, and yes, we can learn from other countries programs. But, the United States has been on top for so long that I do not think that as soon as one country (UK) is predicted to do better than the United States then the government should immediately think that we need to be more like them. Also, what works socially in a small nation might not work in the least for a larger one.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Eleanor Clift and Religion in Politics
Eleanor Clift did a fantastic job speaking this afternoon at the January Series. I appreciated her touching on the major candidates, but not seeming to lean towards one or the other. She was also quite humorous which made listening to her all the more enjoyable.
One particular point that she made ties into a one of my previous blogs entitled “Ugly Politics”. She said that Obama winning Iowa is a significant turning point in this Nation’s history. This is due to the fact that Iowa is over 90% white and Obama, though bi-racial, is identified as an African American. Though I have rather conservative republican ideals, I am proud that race would not be an issue. As mentioned in my previous blog, one of the news casters implied that race was going to be an issue. I hope he is wrong, and so far the polls are proving that he is.
One a little different note, recently Obama talked about religion and its role in all of this. http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2678 This is the site if you would like to read exactly what he said. One thing that stood out for me is “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers. We should acknowledge this and realize that when we’re formulating policies from the state house to the Senate floor to the White House, we’ve got to work to translate our reasoning into values that are accessible to every one of our citizens, not just members of our own faith community.” I don’t quite agree with his statement implying that that we are no longer the nation that we once were religiously. This nation was founded by primarily Protestants as a country with religious freedom. I believe that same freedom still exists today.
One particular point that she made ties into a one of my previous blogs entitled “Ugly Politics”. She said that Obama winning Iowa is a significant turning point in this Nation’s history. This is due to the fact that Iowa is over 90% white and Obama, though bi-racial, is identified as an African American. Though I have rather conservative republican ideals, I am proud that race would not be an issue. As mentioned in my previous blog, one of the news casters implied that race was going to be an issue. I hope he is wrong, and so far the polls are proving that he is.
One a little different note, recently Obama talked about religion and its role in all of this. http://liberalvaluesblog.com/?p=2678 This is the site if you would like to read exactly what he said. One thing that stood out for me is “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers. We should acknowledge this and realize that when we’re formulating policies from the state house to the Senate floor to the White House, we’ve got to work to translate our reasoning into values that are accessible to every one of our citizens, not just members of our own faith community.” I don’t quite agree with his statement implying that that we are no longer the nation that we once were religiously. This nation was founded by primarily Protestants as a country with religious freedom. I believe that same freedom still exists today.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Obama Not a Bad Choice
Watching part of the presidential debates in New Hampshire, I am surprised by some of the topics brought up while discussing health care. I think to myself “Now wonder Hillary is frustrated to tears about her campaign, she should be”. In my opinion, she has done a terrible job debating against Obama, Edwards, and Richardson. Instead of proposing plans and how she plans on running the country, she is focusing on the flaws of the other candidates. How can we weigh her interests against our own when she focuses on attacking how Edwards and Obama and what they stand for instead of stating exactly what she plans to do and how she plans to change our country?
I think Richardson summed the debate on “Change” up when he said “I’ve been in hostage negotiations that are civil than this”. Several times Obama, Edwards, and especially Richardson said that instead of being negative, they should instead talk about how they are going to deliver change. We should not have to listen to candidates argue, although it does make the debates much more interesting. What arguing also does is make the candidates that DO stay civil and make propositions about the future of this country stand out. I think that Obama is a great public speaker, at least what I have seen of him. Edwards also did a fairly good job, in my opinion.
Both Obama and Edwards seemed to stay, for the most part, calm, cool, and collected. Obama being the forerunner in the campaign thus far, I mostly agree with the liberal blog that I am following (Liberal Values: Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought) when the author states, “You can see the same potential in Obama. What has long been remarkable to me is how this liberal politician fails to alienate conservatives. In fact, many like him a great deal. His calm and reasoned demeanour, his crisp style, his refusal to engage in racial identity politics: these appeal to disaffected Republicans.” (Ron Chusid)
I think Richardson summed the debate on “Change” up when he said “I’ve been in hostage negotiations that are civil than this”. Several times Obama, Edwards, and especially Richardson said that instead of being negative, they should instead talk about how they are going to deliver change. We should not have to listen to candidates argue, although it does make the debates much more interesting. What arguing also does is make the candidates that DO stay civil and make propositions about the future of this country stand out. I think that Obama is a great public speaker, at least what I have seen of him. Edwards also did a fairly good job, in my opinion.
Both Obama and Edwards seemed to stay, for the most part, calm, cool, and collected. Obama being the forerunner in the campaign thus far, I mostly agree with the liberal blog that I am following (Liberal Values: Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought) when the author states, “You can see the same potential in Obama. What has long been remarkable to me is how this liberal politician fails to alienate conservatives. In fact, many like him a great deal. His calm and reasoned demeanour, his crisp style, his refusal to engage in racial identity politics: these appeal to disaffected Republicans.” (Ron Chusid)
Monday, January 7, 2008
Ugly Politics
Politics are ugly, but do they have to be juvenile? Juvenile being in the sense that they are immature. This also spurs from what we talked about in class on Monday the 7th of January: why do we love to see people fail? It is mind boggling how perverse some politicians are. Is it a sad reflection of our society today?
On the democratic blog that I am reading was a YouTube video that was posted following the New Hampshire Presidential Debates. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSfGX1cmNA On this video, two news casters debated whether republicans were more in fear of Obama or
Clinton being elected. One argued that Clinton was going to be an earlier target to bring down because she is a part of the Clinton legacy while the other argued that Obama was a much easier target because he is an African American. He said that there are Reagan supporters in several states around the country that will simply not vote for an African American. I think that it is so sad that this is still an issue today. I forget that this is still an issue and then I am shocked and appalled when it is brought up again.
When looking at politics we should be looking at whether or not we agree or disagree with the candidates views, how they will effect us and whether we think that they will be a competent president. Color, and I would also argue that gender, should not play a part in politics.
On the democratic blog that I am reading was a YouTube video that was posted following the New Hampshire Presidential Debates. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSfGX1cmNA On this video, two news casters debated whether republicans were more in fear of Obama or
Clinton being elected. One argued that Clinton was going to be an earlier target to bring down because she is a part of the Clinton legacy while the other argued that Obama was a much easier target because he is an African American. He said that there are Reagan supporters in several states around the country that will simply not vote for an African American. I think that it is so sad that this is still an issue today. I forget that this is still an issue and then I am shocked and appalled when it is brought up again.
When looking at politics we should be looking at whether or not we agree or disagree with the candidates views, how they will effect us and whether we think that they will be a competent president. Color, and I would also argue that gender, should not play a part in politics.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Starting out
Wow, what some people post amazes me. Let me expound upon this statement. I just began reading the first blog that I chose to comment on. This blog is entitled “Liberal Values: Defending liberty and Enlightening Thought”. It is a liberal blog supporting the Democratic Party. Initially I thought that this blog looked very professional, and then I began to read. I don’t think that this particular blogger realizes that his audience does not just consist of people with his own opinion. Secondly, I don’t think that he realizes that those who read and are slightly unsure of their political standpoint will be completely turned off by how he addresses those with whom he opposes. Saying things like “Republicans have proven themselves to be reckless, incompetent, and incapable of governing. They seek to divide, bankrupt, and undercut America, while trashing our institutions and ignoring the rule of law. The way to get the nation back on track is to elect a Democratic president with a progressive policy agenda. If Republicans balk, we’ll ram it down their throats, to the benefit of people nationwide.” (Ron Chusid), will probably not persuade an uncertain voter to vote for the democratic or liberal candidate. But that is my personal opinion.
I then wanted to investigate blogs supporting the opposite, or nearly the opposite side of the political spectrum. I came across a blog entitled “News Busters: Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias”. Though the title of the blog may be a bit harsh, I found the material to be quite informative, as was the previous blog, but only in a much different way. It presents more facts and gives opinions on what is going on in a less aggressive way.
This happened several times; I would read part of a clearly democratic blog and be almost offended by the immaturity in the writing. But the more conservative blogs seemed to use less offensive rhetoric. I began to ponder why I would vote for a liberal, democratic candidate when their other supporters come across as they do. But I am sure that there are also very poorly written blogs from a republican standpoint as well. I just did not come across as many as I did those written from a democratic viewpoint.
And so I think that these two blogs will be different and very interesting through this month when I continue to compare and contrast their views.
I then wanted to investigate blogs supporting the opposite, or nearly the opposite side of the political spectrum. I came across a blog entitled “News Busters: Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias”. Though the title of the blog may be a bit harsh, I found the material to be quite informative, as was the previous blog, but only in a much different way. It presents more facts and gives opinions on what is going on in a less aggressive way.
This happened several times; I would read part of a clearly democratic blog and be almost offended by the immaturity in the writing. But the more conservative blogs seemed to use less offensive rhetoric. I began to ponder why I would vote for a liberal, democratic candidate when their other supporters come across as they do. But I am sure that there are also very poorly written blogs from a republican standpoint as well. I just did not come across as many as I did those written from a democratic viewpoint.
And so I think that these two blogs will be different and very interesting through this month when I continue to compare and contrast their views.
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