As a Christian, I take issue with this writer On Talking Faith in the Context of Politics. I do this blog because of my deep seated theololgical belief that all of our resources as a nation are to be purposed for the common good. Churches must heed the call they receive as stewards of the call to evanglize by working tirelessly for the enabling of a society where ALL have better opportunbities to realize their own calling, to participate in that larger work.

Talk That Diminishes Faith (washingtonpost.com)

While I agree with Wallis’s call for a broader national conversation about religion and politics, I think the Democratic presidential nominee, as well as the Republican, ought to keep religious talk out of the campaign. Voters for whom religious faith makes a difference can have good reason to distrust candidates’ talk about their faith. When candidates talk thus they diminish the dignity of faith itself by reducing it to a pious confession of conviction, humility or concern, a mere uttering of earnest words. A thick respect for the mystery of God, for the inability of God to be domesticated to one program or party — a respect that should be proper to the Christian faith of our presidential candidates — cannot be honored by such faith-talk in an election season.

This writer should read and listen more to such folks as Jim Wallis (whom he quotes) and Tony Campolo (who, by the way, is going to be on Al Franken for at least the second time— this is how I got introduced to the Al Franken show on Air America, before later reading Franken’s book, Lying Liars) who speak fluently on the inseparability of faith and the calling of politics, which is to serve the public good and be a part of the representative government whose job it is, in my estimation, to be a responsible resource and conduit for activity and discourse for the common good, and to raise awareness of the issues people face, and how to educate ourselves on the major things like economics (which we need so desperately now as people are being sold a bill of goods that nearly every economist I’ve heard of thinks is absolutely reckless and dangerous), environment, education, health. This president is absolutely unqaulified to be any kind of a host of such discourse, being absolutely unfit for it due to his background of “complete lack of curiosity about civic matters” throughout most of his life (and then on into his actual political offices, becoming known as a “plain spoken man” who “doesn’t read much”, and talks like someone who fits that bill).

This president is unfit to lead. Aside from his lack of credentials, his performance is even more disturbing, giving every indication that his presidency is all about “seeming to be presidential” all the while being entirely negligent abd outright treasonous by not only not working on maintaining minimal public protection from coiroporations who would put profit over public welfare, but actually helping them to do so. He has become and continues tgo champion the cause of the corporate elite over the rest of the people of the United States. Most of the people who are voting for him do not see how sold out he is to the people who care nothing for them. It’s disgusting.