I love religion!

OpenOpen Posts: 792
edited November 2006 in A Moving Train
Think like me or go to HELL!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/110606dnTSWperry.351c57c.html

Governor shares views following sermon; rivals pounce


08:45 AM CST on Monday, November 6, 2006
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News

SAN ANTONIO – Gov. Rick Perry, after a God and country sermon attended by dozens of political candidates Sunday, said that he agreed with the minister that non-Christians will be condemned to hell.

"In my faith, that's what it says, and I'm a believer of that," the governor said.


ERICH SCHLEGEL/DMN
Gov. Rick Perry covered his face in prayer as Cornerstone Church pastor John Hagee and son Matthew, right, prayed for the good of the political candidates in attendance at the service in San Antonio on Sunday.
Throughout much of the 90-minute service at Cornerstone Church, Mr. Perry sat on the red-carpeted stage next to the Rev. John Hagee. Mr. Perry was among about 60 mostly Republican candidates who accepted the invitation to be introduced to the megachurch's congregation of about 1,500, plus a radio and TV audience.

"If you live your life and don't confess your sins to God almighty through the authority of Christ and his blood, I'm going to say this very plainly, you're going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket," Mr. Hagee said during a service interspersed with religious and patriotic videos.

Asked afterward at a political rally whether he agreed with Mr. Hagee, the governor said he didn't hear anything that he would take exception to.

He said that he believes in the inerrancy of the Bible and that those who don't accept Jesus as their savior will go to hell.

A little later at another stop, the Republican incumbent clarified his beliefs.

"I don't know that there's any human being that has the ability to interpret what God and his final decision-making is going to be," Mr. Perry said. "That's what the faith says. I understand, and my caveat there is that an all-knowing God certainly transcends my personal ability to make that judgment black and white."

He added: "Before we get into Buddha and all the others, I get a little confused there. But the fact is that we live in a pluralistic world but our faith is real personal. And my Christian faith teaches that the way is through Jesus Christ."

His opponents in the race, campaigning across the state with just two days to go until Election Day, criticized the governor, saying his comments were unnecessarily divisive.

"He doesn't think very differently from the Taliban, does he?" independent Kinky Friedman said.

Mr. Friedman, a Jew, said Mr. Perry's comment "hits pretty close to home."

"Being obsessed with who's going to heaven and who's going to hell is kind of a pathetic waste of time," he said.

Mr. Friedman, who often expresses admiration for Jesus and calls himself "a Judeo-Christian," declined to say whether he believes that accepting Jesus as one's savior is the only path to salvation.

Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who attended Sunday services at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, said she disagreed with Mr. Perry.

"There are many ways to heaven. We're all sinners, and we're all God's children," she said. "God's a uniter."

Democrat Chris Bell said that a state leader should take more caution.

"God is the only one who can make the decision as to who gets into the kingdom of heaven," he said.

Mr. Bell declined to say whether he agrees that only followers of Jesus can go to heaven.

"I'm a Christian," he said. "Rick Perry certainly is entitled to his beliefs, but when you're in public office, you need to respect people of all faiths and denominations."

Asked whether Mr. Perry was wrong, Mr. Bell said: "The voters will have to decide that."

In his sermon, Mr. Hagee exhorted the congregation to fight moral weakness, to vote for religious people and oppose same-sex marriage.

"Quit acting like a Bible-thumping wimp," he said.

He added: "God is the Supreme Court," prompting applause from the governor.

Mr. Perry was raised in the Methodist church but also frequently attended the Baptist church in the small West Texas town of Paint Creek, where he grew up.

For this campaign, he has helped organize the Texas Restoration Project, in which ministers are encouraged to get their congregants politically involved in their communities.

And he has already had to answer some complaints from the Jewish community. Last year, he invited ministers of all faiths to stand with him as he signed a law requiring parental consent for abortion and a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. The Jewish representative was a member of a messianic group that accepts Jesus as their savior.

Mr. Perry's predecessor as governor, George W. Bush, took considerable criticism in 1993 for saying that those who do not accept Jesus as their personal savior cannot get to heaven. Later, when running for president, Mr. Bush issued his regrets to the Anti-Defamation League, saying his comments had been misunderstood.

Mr. Perry said Sunday that the acceptance of Christ is what his faith teaches, and he could not abandon that any more than anyone can pick which of the 10 Commandments they chose to follow. He would not argue with God's wisdom, he said.

"I doubt if any one human being can grasp all of his wisdom and issues of salvations and whether you're going to get to go to heaven," Mr. Perry said.

Staff writers Robert T. Garrett in West University Place, Gromer Jeffers Jr. in Eagle Pass and Wayne Slater in Austin contributed to this report.
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments

  • Man, your country is totally nuts isn't it.

    I'm a Christian who hates megachurch.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • Yet somehow this church will remain tax exempt even though telling their congregation who to vote for.
  • EbizzieEbizzie Posts: 240
    Yet somehow this church will remain tax exempt even though telling their congregation who to vote for.


    ridiculous, isn't it?
    "Worse than traitors in arms are the men who pretend loyalty to the flag, feast and fatten on the misfortunes of the nation while patriotic blood is crimsoning the plains." -- Abraham Lincoln
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    Open wrote:
    during a service interspersed with religious and patriotic videos.

    arent these the people/churches that condemn catholics for worshiping things other than jesus and have false idols?
  • surferdudesurferdude Posts: 2,057
    Yet somehow this church will remain tax exempt even though telling their congregation who to vote for.
    But how is that any different than any enviro group with a charitable status, like Greenpeace of WWF. They remain tax exempt and tell you how to vote. It's wrong in all instances, but it's boorish to only make an issue of it when it's the church doing it.
    “One good thing about music,
    when it hits you, you feel to pain.
    So brutalize me with music.”
    ~ Bob Marley
  • Would it amaze you that not all Christians act or believe the same things that "Bullhorn Man" thinks or says?

    Here's a nice video to enforce that idea:

    http://www.nooma.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=282

    Wide brushstrokes aren't good for anybody.
  • Would it amaze you that not all Christians act or believe the same things that "Bullhorn Man" thinks or says?

    Here's a nice video to enforce that idea:

    http://www.nooma.com/Shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=282

    Wide brushstrokes aren't good for anybody.

    I like the Nooma videos.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    Open wrote:
    "If you live your life and don't confess your sins to God almighty through the authority of Christ and his blood, I'm going to say this very plainly, you're going straight to hell with a nonstop ticket," Mr. Hagee said during a service interspersed with religious and patriotic videos.

    If I had a choice of going to hell and surfing the lake of fire with Keith Richards, Jimi, and Jenna Jameson, or going to heaven to spend an eternity with wacko's like the above, George Dubya, and Cliff Richard, then I'm getting me a first class, one way ticket to Satans crib.
  • Ebizzie wrote:
    ridiculous, isn't it?
    No it's not. God blessed them with tax breaks and unwavering, unquestionable power over their followers, rightfully calling themselves 'sheep'.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • Byrnzie wrote:
    If I had a choice of going to hell and surfing the lake of fire with Keith Richards, Jimi, and Jenna Jameson, or going to heaven to spend an eternity with wacko's like the above, George Dubya, and Cliff Richard, then I'm getting me a first class, one way ticket to Satans crib.
    keith isn't dead yet. (he cannot be killed by conventional weaponry) :p

    neither is jenna...

    that's confusing! talk about the present dead.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    Byrnzie wrote:
    If I had a choice of going to hell and surfing the lake of fire with Keith Richards, Jimi, and Jenna Jameson, or going to heaven to spend an eternity with wacko's like the above, George Dubya, and Cliff Richard, then I'm getting me a first class, one way ticket to Satans crib.

    Heaven for the ambiance and Hell for the company...

    Does this really suprise anyone? My understanding is that the Bible says just this--non-believes are going to hell.* I know a lot of people don't take this too seriously, but many do. This is just the highest-ranking public official to say it. I would suspect the president feels this way as well.

    I am an agnostic, but if I ever feel like spirituality is missing from my life and I go shopping for a religion, THIS is the reason I will not look to Christianity. I find the idea that those that do not happen to believe the "right" thing are going to hell to be quite disturbing, negative and sad. Much sadder than the idea that life has no purpose



    *I have to rely on others to tell me about the Bible. I am an agnositic and do not really know, but I think this is what I have heard.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    keith isn't dead yet. (he cannot be killed by conventional weaponry) :p

    neither is jenna...

    that's confusing! talk about the present dead.

    I don't care what anyone says. Keith is dead.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • Uncle Leo wrote:
    I don't care what anyone says. Keith is dead.
    Oh cmon he's 300 years old, fell out of a tree he was CLIMBING (for a coconut no less) and went back to touring a few days afterwards.

    He'll never die.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • One other thing I love about religion. Ok, I get it you support Republicans because they mostly are against abortions and gay rights. So, go ahead tell me I should vote for Republicans. However, while telling me to vote Republican you are telling me to vote against someone who would help the poor with a living wage, help the poor and everyone with univeral health care. How can a church pick and choose the morals they want to focus on. Think of how many people die because they don't have health insurance.
  • One other thing I love about religion. Ok, I get it you support Republicans because they mostly are against abortions and gay rights. So, go ahead tell me I should vote for Republicans. However, while telling me to vote Republican you are telling me to vote against someone who would help the poor with a living wage, help the poor and everyone with univeral health care. How can a church pick and choose the morals they want to focus on. Think of how many people die because they don't have health insurance.
    If jesus comes back in my lifetime I imagine the funniest scene in history..

    millions of megachruch type christians (zell miller types) line up..

    "Oh jesus take us to heaven!"

    Jesus... "Huh?... uhh... you?... Dude your entire life was spent being a biggot and essentially shitting on the poor....

    And then all these good people, gays, blacks, jews, hippies, etc., no matter their affiliation...

    jesus says to them "You're in" and pat robertson's head explodes.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • If jesus comes back in my lifetime I imagine the funniest scene in history..

    millions of megachruch type christians (zell miller types) line up..

    "Oh jesus take us to heaven!"

    Jesus... "Huh?... uhh... you?... Dude your entire life was spent being a biggot and essentially shitting on the poor....

    And then all these good people, gays, blacks, jews, hippies, etc., no matter their affiliation...

    jesus says to them "You're in" and pat robertson's head explodes.

    If Jesus were around today, he wouldn't be in these mega churches, he probably wouldn't even be anywhere close to America and the way we twisted his preachings.

    I'm sure he would be in Africa with the poor and those who have AIDS.
  • If Jesus were around today, he wouldn't be in these mega churches, he probably wouldn't even be anywhere close to America and the way we twisted his preachings.

    I'm sure he would be in Africa with the poor and those who have AIDS.
    right on.
    Come on pilgrim you know he loves you..

    http://www.wishlistfoundation.org

    Oh my, they dropped the leash.



    Morgan Freeman/Clint Eastwood 08' for President!

    "Make our day"
  • If Jesus were around today, he wouldn't be in these mega churches, he probably wouldn't even be anywhere close to America and the way we twisted his preachings.

    I'm sure he would be in Africa with the poor and those who have AIDS.

    yup.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • arent these the people/churches that condemn catholics for worshiping things other than jesus and have false idols?


    Don't get me started on that bull shit! I went to my husband's baptist church about a month ago. ( i am catholic) and they had some really awful things to say about Catholics. I was shocked! People of god making fun of other people. I was totally appauled!!!!!!
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    humanlight wrote:
    Don't get me started on that bull shit! I went to my husband's baptist church about a month ago. ( i am catholic) and they had some really awful things to say about Catholics. I was shocked! People of god making fun of other people. I was totally appauled!!!!!!

    what sorts of things? im curious.
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    humanlight wrote:
    Don't get me started on that bull shit! I went to my husband's baptist church about a month ago. ( i am catholic) and they had some really awful things to say about Catholics. I was shocked! People of god making fun of other people. I was totally appauled!!!!!!

    I find it comical. They are essentially the same religion.

    I am going to poorly paraphrase a Simpsons episode that had Bart and Homer toying with converting to Catholicism--Marge and Rev. Lovejoy were upset.

    Bart: "People, we need to stop focusing on the little stupid differences and focus more on the big stupid similarities."

    Flanders: "Yeah, Catholics and Protestants should work together to combat our real enemies: Monogamous gays and (damn can't remember the other one)."
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    "He doesn't think very differently from the Taliban, does he?" independent Kinky Friedman said.

    Mr. Friedman, a Jew, said Mr. Perry's comment "hits pretty close to home."

    "Being obsessed with who's going to heaven and who's going to hell is kind of a pathetic waste of time," he said.

    Mr. Friedman, who often expresses admiration for Jesus and calls himself "a Judeo-Christian," declined to say whether he believes that accepting Jesus as one's savior is the only path to salvation.

    I love Kinky!
  • ByrnzieByrnzie Posts: 21,037
    keith isn't dead yet. (he cannot be killed by conventional weaponry) :p

    neither is jenna...

    that's confusing! talk about the present dead.

    No, but if I die before Keith and Jenna then I'll at least have something to look forward to. :D
  • what sorts of things? im curious.

    We were setting there in a small West Virginia baptist church. There were probably 30 people there. So, they new I was not a regular. They all shook my hand when I came in, and said "God bless you" during the serive. Then the Preacher began dicussing a man who was in NY talking about something. It is kind of blurry at the moment, but I know there was a thread here about the same man. Anyway, I believe it was about religions in different countries or mexico, I am not sure. From what I can remember it was a good man, trying to spread the word of "Jesus," but maybe not in the most traditional way.

    Anyway....the preacher said...."Yea, I would not suprised if he was Catholic. I was just waiting for him to do all of that crazy stuff (now he is mocking the sign of the cross that we do with our hands). Don't get me started on Catholics, boy we could go on forever about them!"

    At which point, other members of the congrigation began to mumble words about MY faith. The next few minutes I don't remember because I was furious! My husband is hearing impared, so he did not hear any of this.

    Once we got in the car, I asked him what his church thought about caltholics...and he replied very quickly...."Oh, they go to hell." So, I ask, "do you belive that?" My husband said. "Well until I married you, I thought that. See baptist and catholics have a rivalry, they don't get along." I said, "well, it is on your side then, b/c I have NEVER heard a catholic preast talk badly about ANY other religion."
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
  • It is one thing not to like or approve of someone's religion, but it is a totally different thing to make fun of it, and when they were mocking the sign that we do, I was outraged! I am a VERY friendly, forgiving, understanding person, I feel that I treat everyone with respect and dignity. The last place I thought I would feel unconfortable, unwelcome, humilated, made fun of was in a church! You may as well put me back in middle school being bullied by the local redneck and stuffed in a locker.

    I don't even advocate organized religion. I think every one of them has it wrong, but Damn it!!!! Please, I would like one, just one, church not disappoint me. I haven't seen one yet!!!!

    Maybe the Mormans got it right?!?!?!?!?!
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    If Jesus were around today, he wouldn't be in these mega churches, he probably wouldn't even be anywhere close to America and the way we twisted his preachings.

    I'm sure he would be in Africa with the poor and those who have AIDS.
    ...
    To me... the the way Americans believe Jesus would come here to save us... I mean, we are the Rome of today... was Jesus there to help Rome? Maybe if we took His teachings to heart and practiced what He preached... sharing our wealth with those less fortunate than us, then... yeah... I can see that. But, we are more concerned with keeping our 'Hard earned pay' and yelling at the poor to 'Get a job'... I'm thinkin'... Jesus no like that.
    ...
    My guess, if He did come to America... First of all, He would be placed on the 'No-Fly List' so He'd have to cross into this country without the proper paper work, giving Him 'illegal' status, then have His phone tapped and His bank account scrutinized and eventually end up at Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    I think you called it right about Africa and the poor... Jesus seems like more of that kind of dude.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    humanlight wrote:
    ... See baptist and catholics have a rivalry, they don't get along." ...

    I'll stick with Michigan/Ohio State.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    To me... the the way Americans believe Jesus would come here to save us... I mean, we are the Rome of today... was Jesus there to help Rome? Maybe if we took His teachings to heart and practiced what He preached... sharing our wealth with those less fortunate than us, then... yeah... I can see that. But, we are more concerned with keeping our 'Hard earned pay' and yelling at the poor to 'Get a job'... I'm thinkin'... Jesus no like that.
    ...
    My guess, if He did come to America... First of all, He would be placed on the 'No-Fly List' so He'd have to cross into this country without the proper paper work, giving Him 'illegal' status, then have His phone tapped and His bank account scrutinized and eventually end up at Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    I think you called it right about Africa and the poor... Jesus seems like more of that kind of dude.

    I agree too, all of us have it wrong. It is probably wondering how we got 10 very simple rules, so screwed up!
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
  • Sonja_SSonja_S Posts: 444
    humanlight wrote:
    We were setting there in a small West Virginia baptist church. There were probably 30 people there. So, they new I was not a regular. They all shook my hand when I came in, and said "God bless you" during the serive. Then the Preacher began dicussing a man who was in NY talking about something. It is kind of blurry at the moment, but I know there was a thread here about the same man. Anyway, I believe it was about religions in different countries or mexico, I am not sure. From what I can remember it was a good man, trying to spread the word of "Jesus," but maybe not in the most traditional way.

    Anyway....the preacher said...."Yea, I would not suprised if he was Catholic. I was just waiting for him to do all of that crazy stuff (now he is mocking the sign of the cross that we do with our hands). Don't get me started on Catholics, boy we could go on forever about them!"

    At which point, other members of the congrigation began to mumble words about MY faith. The next few minutes I don't remember because I was furious! My husband is hearing impared, so he did not hear any of this.

    Once we got in the car, I asked him what his church thought about caltholics...and he replied very quickly...."Oh, they go to hell." So, I ask, "do you belive that?" My husband said. "Well until I married you, I thought that. See baptist and catholics have a rivalry, they don't get along." I said, "well, it is on your side then, b/c I have NEVER heard a catholic preast talk badly about ANY other religion."

    Wow that's low. Even more so for a priest. I was brought up catholic but asked to be excommunicated when I was 14. I would never say anything bad about any religion though. Personally I respect every religion and I expect people to respect my decision not to belong to one.
    You can tell a man from what he has to say - Neil & Tim Finn
    They love you so badly for sharing their sorrow, so pick up that guitar and go break a heart - Kris Kristofferson
  • Sonja_S wrote:
    Wow that's low. Even more so for a priest. I was brought up catholic but asked to be excommunicated when I was 14. I would never say anything bad about any religion though. Personally I respect every religion and I expect people to respect my decision not to belong to one.

    No, the Priest did not do anything. Well, let me say the Catholic Priest did not, it was the Baptist minister who said all of this. All catholic priests I have ever listened to have never talked poorly about anyones choice of religion.
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
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