I Believe in God, but I Wish He'd Keep Out of Politics

I believe in God, attend services too rarely but with appropriate sincerity, and, like many, have difficulty in expressing a reason for my belief other than a practical version of that suggested by the 17^th Century French mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal. M. Pascal argued that there either is or isn't a God, that he could choose to believe or to refuse to believe. If there were no God, then neither belief nor non-belief would have consequence. If, on the other hand, there is a God and he, Pascal, chose to deny His existence, there might be unfavorable consequences.

That may not be the rationale sought by others, but the bottom line is that belief is a matter of faith. I have the greatest respect for those with or without such faith, as long as the person follows what I hold to be the moral imperative: Do not intentionally hurt someone and if hurt is inflicted unintentionally, make it right.

My problem lies with those who claim to be His spokesperson and who preach raciest and divisive positions from the extreme left and right of the political spectrum. Even more disturbing is how those coming from the Right get a "pass" from the Press and political leaders; those from the Left are not only condemned but also taint the persons with whom they are even remotely associated.

This was brought to mind by the disparate treatment of Senators Obama and McCain and the Reverends Jeremiah Wright and John Hagee, respectively. Indeed, over the past twenty or thirty years, right-wing preachers have been allowed to make shameful statements without any diminishing of reputation and influence.

At the outset, I find the ravings of both men inexcusable and hate-provoking.

Since I have, in the past, expressed support from Senator Obama, I start with his pastor, the Reverend Wright. Regardless of the context of the sermons, the hyperbole of the Black Church, the tradition of extreme statements from the pulpit, the culture of Jim Crow in which Reverend Wright was immersed, the statements that, somehow, the United States military could be rationally compared to terrorists, Roman Centurions at the time of Christ or that the United States created Aids as a way to control the Black population are simply, to use the psychologically correct term, NUTS.

Senator Obama correctly repudiated these absurdities and has attempted to distance himself from Reverend Wright. In spite of this, the Media and political pundits continue to repeat the alleged connection between these men, each time decrying that the story continues to impact the Senator's campaign. And, of course, merely repeating the story keeps it fresh!

Compare this with the treatment of the ravings of Reverend John Hagee whose support has been actually courted by Senator McCain. Reverend Wright stated, and was properly condemned for his statements, that the United States was "punished" by the 9/11 attack in response to its own terrorist behavior. Reverend Hagee has explained Hurricane Katrina as being due to New Orleans' intent to have a gay-rights parade. Reverend Hagee states that it is our duty to kill all Muslims and to eradicate Islam. He has urged a nuclear war in the Middle East in order that the return of Jesus would be expedited.

And there is the anti-Catholic ranting of Reverend Hagee who has called the Catholic Church "the great whore of Babylon" and "the anti-Christ."

There has been a long history of bigoted and, admit it, stupid remarks by extreme right-wing preachers that have had no effect whatsoever on the speakers' influence and popularity.

Examples are many. In 1980, at a Baptist Convention, at which Ronald Reagan addressed the group, Bailey Smith, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, said, "God Almighty does not hear the prayer of a Jew." Reagan sort of disagreed, saying that he, personally, thought Jewish prayers were answered but noted, "Everyone can make his own interpretation of the Bible", a rather weak "disagreement".

While Reverend Wright's comments and assertion that 9/11 was a punishment from God earned him condemnation, was this anymore disgusting than Jerry Falwell's blaming the attack on the social policies of the left? "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen.' "

While some individuals did find fault with Falwell, he retained influence in Republican circles. Support from both Pat Robinson (who had blamed moral lapses on the part of Americans as a direct cause of hurricanes, tornado damage and floods) and Falwell was sought by GOP candidates.

Where is the outrage?