Pam Hogeweide and Emmett Bailey would have much to talk about at a sit-down dinner. They are both active churchgoers, committed to their families, and love their cities—Portland, Oregon, and Richmond, Virginia. Both Pam and Emmett say their reading of Scripture compels them to join current U.S. political movements. The only difference? Pam is an Occupy protester, a decision she says allows her to pursue God's heart for justice, while Emmett is a Tea Party member, which he says ensures that God's gifts of liberty and freedom remain intact.
How can people who share the same faith embrace such different political views? And what does their witness tell us about the state of American politics?
With Liberty or Justice for All: Inside the Occupy and Tea Party Movements
How can people who share the same faith embrace such different politics?
3.13.12
We Want Your Common-Good Stories: Introducing Our Second Essay Contest
And you want our common-good cash, right?
Top Urbanists Agree: Casinos Ruin Cities
Alongside all the moral arguments against gambling, it turns out casinos simply are a bad investment.
Here's to the Misfits
How Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are taking a leap of faith to create technology that makes you more human.
Common-Good Decisions: When Christians Bless the Cities of God
What happens when Christians sacrificially and creatively love their neighbors and neighborhoods.
RSS
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
Comments
Displaying 1–5 of 21 comments
See all comments
Roger McKinney
Arthur, I agree completely. The problem is that no one obeys the Constitution, least of all the US government. US Supreme Court justices have ignored it since 1929. Don't mistake what is for what the authors of the Constitution intended. The US Constitution meant to limit government; The Supreme Court has found loopholes using the commerce clause and other clauses, that neuter the intent and allow unrestricted state power. At the same time, no one who participated in writing the US Constitution thought that law could perfect human nature. That is a socialist concept unknown to the founders. Only God can change human nature. The role of government is to limit the damage that evil people can do.
Roger McKinney
For the best interpretations of the encyclicals "Rerum Novarum", "Populorum Progressio", adn "Caritas in Veritate" by the current Pope, see the articles at acton.org. The current Pope is more free market oriented than any except the previous Pope.
Jack Lee
Praise GOD for Beautiful courageous patriotic people like Mr. Bailey. I support you 100% in your endeavors.
Arthur
Roger... "The US Constitution is as close to an expression of Biblical government as any is likely to get." Ahh... this is a bit more reasonable. Other (in my view) better ideas are in existence as ideas but I will concede the point "as any is likely to get". That notwithstanding, "by their fruits..." etc. I don't find anything very Christ-like about deploying cluster bombs, landmines and depleted-Uranium munitions -- all of them remaining as long-term toxins long after the "justness" of the conflict they were used in is mooted. I don't find anything very Christ-like about ascribing personhood to corporations so that they have the right to splash their speech (money) about so that elections are the best that money can buy, nor of the risks that a young man such as Trayvon Martin face in walking home while black. (I'm nearly 50 and white, for the record, and Canadian and I am appalled) So it's hard to accept the inspiredness of the founding document too exuberantly.
A Hermit
@ RMcK: The teachings you refer to at Salamanca are Catholic church teachings of centuries ago. Church teaching has evolved since then: while it decries socialism and affirms private property, it also decries the evils of unrestricted capitalism. I suggest you read the encyclicals "Rerum Novarum", "Populorum Progressio", adn "Caritas in Veritate" by the current Pope.
Add your comment *