This Week in God

[one...two...tree 2,762]

First up from the God machine this week is an eyebrow-raising column about why Americans couldn't possibly vote for a non-believer as president.

The very idea is remarkably remote. Gallup did a poll last year and found that Americans would sooner vote for anyone other than an atheist. But far-right commentator Michael Medved devoted his weekly column to explaining why Americans are right about this, and should only consider monotheists for the presidency. To elect a non-believer to a secular office to lead a secular executive branch, Medved said, would be "bad for the country."

After arguing that the president is the de facto head of an informal "Church of America," and asking how a non-believer could reasonably be expected to issue a Thanksgiving proclamation, Medved argues that an atheist couldn't beat fundamentalist Islamic terrorists.

On one level, at least, the ongoing war on terror represents a furious battle of ideas and we face devastating handicaps if we attempt to beat something with nothing. Modern secularism rejects the notion that human beings feel a deep-seated, unquenchable craving for making connections with Godliness, in its various definitions and manifestations. For Osama bin Laden and other jihadist preachers, Islam understands that yearning but "infidel" America does not.

Our enemies insist that God plays the central role in the current war and that they affirm and defend him, while we reject and ignore him. The proper response to such assertions involves the citation of our religious traditions and commitments, and the credible argument that embrace of modernity, tolerance and democracy need not lead to godless materialism. In this context, an atheist president conforms to the most hostile anti-America stereotypes of Islamic fanatics and makes it that much harder to appeal to Muslim moderates whose cooperation (or at least neutrality) we very much need. The charge that our battle amounts to a "war against Islam" seems more persuasive when an openly identified non-believer leads our side — after all, President Atheist says he believes in nothing, so it's easy to assume that he leads a war against belief itself. A conventional adherent of Judeo-Christian faith can, on the other hand, make the case that our fight constitutes of an effort to defend our own way of life, not a war to suppress some alternative — and that way of life includes a specific sort of free-wheeling, open-minded religiosity that has blessed this nation and could also bless the nations of the Middle East.

This is probably the dumbest thing I've seen in print in quite some time.

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

[SaadBell 0]

Religion screwing things up since the beginning of time.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

At least he addresses Islamic terrorism. So many Americans pretend it doesn't exist or act like a few abortion clinic attacks are it's equal. It's not. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.

[eekee 182]

Umm... where do you find people who believe this?

At least he addresses Islamic terrorism. So many Americans pretend it doesn't exist or act like a few abortion clinic attacks are it's equal. It's not. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Umm... where do you find people who believe this?

At least he addresses Islamic terrorism. So many Americans pretend it doesn't exist or act like a few abortion clinic attacks are it's equal. It's not. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.

Stick around and you'll find out.

[Teacher Mark 53]

[SaadBell 0]

Excellent video, good to see some critical thinkers here.

[Heracles 417]

God did not create or start the wars.

Now here is a documentary

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (Super Trailer)

[Hanna&Mohamed 0]

At least he addresses Islamic terrorism. So many Americans pretend it doesn't exist or act like a few abortion clinic attacks are it's equal. It's not. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.

Excuse me yes Americans do see it exist! Im muslim and there are some people in every religion bad.So dont just talk about Islam. I was in Palestine years ago I saw what the Jewish did to the Palestians people Its something I will never forget.So watch what u say about Islam. InshaAllah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hanna&Mohamed 0]

Sorry it wouldnt edit right!

Excuse me yes Americans do see it exist! I am muslim and there are some people in every religion that dont following right with God..So dont just talk about Islam. I was in Palestine years ago I saw what the Jewish did to the Palestians people Its something I will never forget.So watch what u say about Islam. InshaAllah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its still going on in Palestine worst than before people dont even have food to eat .Children are getting killed very day there.

[cmartyn 0]

Yeah watch what you say or Ill blow somethen up you motha...

lol.

[SaadBell 0]

This sums it all up!!!!!!!!!

[Teacher Mark 53]

Ditto on the video.

George Carlin. Now there's a potential Presidential Candidate!

Edited April 13, 2008 by WideAwakeInTheUSA

[SaadBell 0]

I love George Carlin also Lewis Black has some good advice on religion.

[PlatyPius 5]

Ditto on the video.

George Carlin. Now there's a potential Presidential Candidate!

I'd vote for George over anyone else on the planet.

And he's right.....

No god.