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03/28/2004 Archived Entry: "By the way, they own the Bible, too."

By the way, they own the Bible, too.

Now, we already know how ThugCo thinks they own exclusive rights to exploiting 9/11. Well, as of today, quoting scripture is apparently theirs, too.

John Kerry cited a Bible verse Sunday to criticize leaders who have "faith but has no deeds," prompting President Bush's spokesman to accuse Kerry of exploiting Scripture for a political attack.

Kerry never mentioned Bush by name during his speech at New North Side Baptist Church, but aimed his criticism at "our present national leadership." Kerry cited Scripture in his appeal for the worshippers, including James 2:14, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?"

"The Scriptures say, what does it profit, my brother, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" Kerry said. "When we look at what is happening in America today, were are the works of compassion?"

Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said Kerry's comment "was beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse and a sad exploitation of Scripture for a political attack."

Kerry told worshippers in the largely black congregation that the country's leadership has served the privileged while ignoring people across America who live in neighborhoods like theirs.

Replies: 11 people speak up

Bet Karl Rove wishes HE'D gone to church Sunday....

From WashPost:

Protesters poured out of one school bus after another, piercing an otherwise quiet, peaceful Sunday in Rove's Palisades neighborhood in Northwest, chanting, "Karl, Karl, come on out! See what the DREAM Act is all about!"
Rove obliged their first request and opened his door long enough to say, "Get off my property."

"Seems like he doesn't want to invite us in for tea," Emira Palacios quipped to the crowd.

Others chanted, "Karl Rove ain't got no soul."

Posted by Xan @ 03/28/2004 11:25 PM NY

I might suggest that matthew 10:36 would be apt:

"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household"

Posted by George in Vancouver @ 03/29/2004 09:55 AM NY

Quoting the Bible is a slippery slope if you're not careful. Abortion is at least one area in which Mr. Kerry opposes the church in which he claims to have faith. He'd better review the parable of the sheeps and goats and the part about removing the log from one's own eye....

Don't go there, Mr. Kerry. The Bible is a dangerous place upon which to hang one's future.

The Bible is such a self-contradicting book of mythology that no matter what position an individual takes, there is a passage in conflict. This is a no win situation.

Posted by Murphy @ 03/29/2004 11:30 AM NY

Mythical or not it is a book many people believe. Kerry didn't mention any names. He didn't point out any party or individual. It never ceases to amaze me. The same (so-called)liberals will fight tooth and nail for the right of people to say what they want. This seems to come to a halt when the bible is involved. You can't have it both ways. Are you for freedom of expression or not? I'm not talking about using these things as propaganda. As soon as our side says "you can't quote the bible" we lose. This gives the far right and neocons more ammunition.

Posted by scooby @ 03/29/2004 05:10 PM NY

Since you used the word "mythical", I'm assuming you're addressing my comments. The only thing I warning about is the use of biblical references in his "apparently" accusatory manner. This is a perfect example. Because he uses a passage commonly referred to as "faith without works is dead" (read: act on your faith or it is worthless), he has invited criticism because he insists he is a member of the catholic faith, yet he also supports right to choose. This is in direct conflict with current catholicism. This is why I described it as a slippery slope.

The "mythology" part is my personal judgement.

Posted by Murphy @ 03/29/2004 05:27 PM NY

Just some quotes from the bible. It the New International Version but it translates pretty much the same.

Proverbs 17
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips;
a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

like the staff in the current administration.

5 He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

like 9-11?

Proverbs 22
16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and he who gives gifts to the rich-both come to poverty.

Tax cuts anyone?

Proverbs 16
4 The LORD works out everything for his own ends-
even the wicked for a day of disaster.

just a mena little nasty pawn in someone greaters game.

Posted by IXLNXS @ 03/29/2004 08:53 PM NY

Again, I recommend caution. If you must use the Bible to make your points, then you must use more of it. From Isaiah 45:7 (NAS): "The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these."

It's worse in the KJV where "calamity" is replaced with "evil". But in any case, God does it.

Don't blame Bush. Blame God.

Like statistics and polls, the Bible can be used to substantiate any position.

Posted by Murphy @ 03/29/2004 09:17 PM NY

Oh I love that passage. The one in KJV especially. Where alot of faiths have ran against others. omnipotent, or omnipresent. But evil is still recognizable as evil. Tax cuts anyone?

Posted by IXLNXS @ 03/29/2004 11:43 PM NY

Murphy, I disagree. Anyone who knows anything about Jesus and his message knows that the man was a communist, pacifist and loving. All you have to do is read the book.

Kerry isn't spinning anything. He's just telling the truth. Not religious truth, but the truth about what religion--real Christianity--teaches. And it has less to do with abortion than it does with how we treat each other.

I've had neocon nutjobs try to tell me that Jesus was pro-gun because of THIS verse:

Luke 22:36-38

He said to them [his disciples], "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag, and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. For it is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors', and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."

The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."

"That is enough," he replied.

Now, how you get concealed-carry laws out of Jesus' desperate attempt to fulfill some weird Old Testament prophecy he thought of at the last second before he got (literally) nailed is beyond me. But nutjobs must see things we don't.

Thank God for that. Later.

Posted by Daddy-O @ 03/30/2004 02:47 AM NY

Here's one for you. I didn't know that breaking the law can be " just politics". Or maybe these items are just their deeds.
http://www.thehill.com/news/032504/complaints.aspx

Posted by Demeur @ 03/30/2004 05:40 AM NY

Daddy-O,

I've read the bible cover to cover. I'm quite familiar with it. My only point in all of this is that using the bible as a foundation for an argument only provides a shake foundation. In all the challenges I've faced, I've never been proven wrong that for any biblically based argument, I can provide a counter biblically based argument. It's easy.

Thanks for the fun discourse.

Posted by Murphy @ 03/30/2004 09:00 AM NY

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