As we learn about the man who shot bullets into the living quarters of the White House, an unnerving fact has emerged: The shooter believed that he was on a personal mission from God and that President Obama is the anti-Christ.
The attack on the White House and the first family is the result of an almost casual use by President Obama's political enemies of iconic religious imagery. The shots are a violent echo of the 2008 election when the rumor of Obama being "The One" surfaced through an ad by the McCain campaign. As Mara Vanderslice, then of the Matthew 25 Network, who now works in Obama's Faith Office, wrote:
"At best, this ad implies that those who plan to support Senator Obama are looking for a new savior or a replacement Messiah. But many are reading it even more darkly as an attempt to portray Obama as an anti-Christ figure."
As the 2012 campaign gears up, we are once again faced with the prospect of sinister religious rhetoric that paints opponents with hyper-charged and potentially lethal brushes. The case of Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez proves that words matter with potentially horrific results.
Let me say this as clearly as I can with my head still attached: President Obama is NOT the anti-Christ.
We know this, if for no other reason, because he has proven he is neither the messiah nor the anti-Christ by his mixed report card -- he just isn't effective enough to be either pure good or pure evil. To my mind, he is an intelligent, decent human being who is doing the best he knows how. The voters wil decide whether he gets another term -- not a divine or satanic mandate for or against.
None of the presidential candidates on any side of the aisle are the anti-Christ (or any equivalent in another religion). It is up to all of us to confront any pastor, political operator or friend who seriously introduces such charged religious language into our political landscape. If we don't, the blood that may be spilled because some unhinged zealot shoots to kill will be on our hands as well.
Who else has been described as the anti-christ?
Follow Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on Twitter: www.twitter.com/raushenbush
William Galston: The President's Only Chance for 2012
Is Obama the Antichrist?, Christian News
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Not only that: ALL of us have both of them living inside of us.
But the most logical version of the accusation points toward the Devil's being an invention of any organized group that seeks to discredit a competitor, for lack of a more realistic criticism.
Even if you don't agree with his policies, he certainly appears to be a good husband and father, plus he shows a quality that I call "quiet competence" as opposed to "arrogant boastfulness." I think that Jesus would approve of his personal behavior.
And exactly how do you know that "He doesn't even go to church?" Perhaps there are private worship services at the White House, and you haven't been invited. Imagine the Secret Service hassles that would exist, the traffic tie-ups, etc. if he tried to go to a public service at a well-attended Church every Sunday. Did that thought even cross your mind?
this quote below is one result of such an economic ideology. the christian devil could not have thought up a more self destructive system.
“If this is going to be a christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we are
going to have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got
to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy
without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it” Steven Colbert
(It's amazing, isn't it, that so many unenlightened people take Colbert's fake-conservative "act" so seriously?)
And if there were an award for best photo-bio combo, I'd nominate yours! ... What's that, there is??? .... Excellent. Mary, I hereby award you this award for "Best Photo-Bio Combo". :-)
And read point 1.F of this: http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/PBC_Interp.htm
Catholics: Writing the Bible and Building the Modern World since 33AD.
:-)
man
There's a lot of "anti" going on nowadays from alot of people, groups et al. Only Obama knows his true heart though I must say by his actions, I see more "anti" than "pro"...............
I heard the rebroadcast of this piece early Sunday morning while preparing for a day-long drive to the East Coast for a week of holiday vacation. So much of this resonated with me that I felt compelled to first go online before leaving to add the link to my website. The concepts discussed on it are geared toward achieving a means of bringing about human understanding and growth by going to that conventionally-unreachable level of mental development that seem to be continuing to hold our race back through the ages. Please consider evaluating for yourself if you think this strikes a chord with you (and take the poll at the end, too!) It is the rather incongruously-named http://mergenthalerlinotype.wordpress.com. One main post and many pages; many educational and entertaining on a different level. Keep up the faiths and good work.
Any time there is a major problem in the world.....the Christians think, "Anti- Christ."
Problem; Where ever Christians go to church.........there is not enough emphasis on our goal and mission of today. Salvation is just the first mission. After Salvation. We are to act like responsible citizens of Gods Kingdom on earth........... taking nothing off of the devil.
Christians have a great deal of authority in the earth..... they just to not know it because no one in the church will explore all the scriptures in the New Testament to point out Who we are.