Here's Advice to Trump and Every Other Elected Official



Trump made his own choice to go to some religious event at the National Cathedral. The National Cathedral is Episcopalian but has successfully fashioned itself as a venue for "national events" like addresses of Presidents, funerals of Presidents and ceremonies of national implication. I look at news about the Cathedral occasionally and see it hustles money to pay it enormous on-going expenses. Having events there involving Presidents keeps it in the news. Presidents get political benefit by the implication they are Christians and have Christian approval.

As a mayor for 16 years I was at countless ceremonies and events where there was a prayer. When local preachers gave a prayer to open a conference at one of the large hotels I would often be embarrassed. Attendees were often from all over the U.S. and undoubtedly included people who were not Christian. Yet, local preachers on automatic prayer mode would end, "In Jesus name...."

At national events in large cities, the prayers would often drift into political appeals for pulling troops out of wherever, protecting the environment, etc. It is not surprising that Trump got an earful at the National Cathedral on behalf of gay Americans by an Episcopal Bishop. Now he is mad about that. My advice to Trump is to skip events at the National Cathedral. Also skip events at churches. Then, don't appear with any preachers or religious leaders. Let all clergy pray with their own congregations in their own churches.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make...
Read more

Who Suffers from a "Hardened Heart"

Image
Some years ago on this blog there was a discussion about what the Bible calls "The hardened heart." The "hardened heart" was the explanation given for why people like me cannot accept the tenets of Christianity. We are unable to believe there are floating spirits and gods or imaginary places people go when the die. Now, a prominent Christian preacher and author has given us a way to diagnose the "hardened heart." It contained some surprises.  Rev. John Piper, who spoke about the hardened heart, said we can see this in a person who lacks "ordinary tenderness and compassion." He went on to describe the characteristics of a person without the affliction of the hardened heart. A healthy person displays empathy and sympathy. Those with the hardened heart are like stone. Jesus wanted compassion for the poor. The hardened heart discussion referred to atheists only if they are sinners and then it was indirectly. Sin, Piper said, hardens one's heart a...
Read more

Young Women can see Bull$hit a Mile Away

Image
Republicans including their Forced Birth subgroup is bother by recent election results and polling. All show young women going to the left. A poll shows young women are 30% more likely to be very liberal than young men. The link advises the Forced Birth community to give young pregnant women an uplifting message. The message suggested is, "Buck up. You've got this. You can give birth and have a happy life." Another way of saying this is, "It will be OK if you miss work and/or are fired because of the birth. If you cannot make your rent payment, it's OK. Somewhere out there is another place to live. We don't know where but be optimistic."   This is an add on to the new version of the Forced Birth message, "We're for both the baby and the mother." They are not and never have been for the mother. Their message has always been to condemn women who have abortions. Now, the "thoughts and prayers" message, which costs no money, it the me...
Read more