Geeeeez- enough already!

This started as a comment on Streak's Blog. Read his whole post- he does a nice recap of the issues for the last few days, especially since the Daily Show is on reruns:-). Bush is finally clarifying things in He's-the-president-that's-why fashion. I'm a little curious why all the fuss over continuing the patriot act- Bush can just continue doing what he wants- because he's the president! Is it just me, or does it seem that far fetched for him to use this same reasoning to convince himself and others that any lengths would be justified to avoid changing presidents during a shooting war? Say, last year? Maybe in Ohio?

On Intelligent Design issues- I'm so relieved that polls about Americans' beliefs about creation and ID are being used by pundits to justify teaching it in school. This will look particularly impressive historically, like the Ptolemy/church thing- church dogma tied to scientific theory has such an impressive track record. Polls, it seems, can reflect public opinion, but for a while now science isn't very democratic. Truth and verifiable science don't seem to care much what the public consensus is at the time. I must admit, though, I'm experiencing guilty hopes that the anti-evolution folks are right- the whole germ theory thing is really a pain. Think of how much we'll save on antibiotics - bacteria can't evolve so there's no need for new antibiotics to combat resistant strains. I guess my cold last week was really just sin messing with my balance of earth, air, fire and water.

My belief about God isn't threatened by evolution. A personal relationship with the Creator isn't dependent on making sure the Bible is literally true. I think we have to be careful how much our faith depends on a document that isn't a science treatise. Do we have a faith in a personal God or is our faith in book so long as it is held to be factually, historically, and scientifically accurate? Finally, one of the beauties of America is our (for at least some of us, anyway) belief that just because I believe a certain way, doesn't mean that I can impose it on you. If I'm studying math, I want a mathemetician teaching me. If it's science, then a scientist. Keep the fundamentalist theologians in the Bible colleges.

American "Rapture"

This Vanity Fair article is a must-read for everyone interested in strong forces influencing our politics and foreign policy. It does an excellent job of tying together so many events, people, and efforts that have been going on for most if not all of my lifetime. It is not a rant against any particular side and doesn't get into personalities or name-calling. It is a great piece of journalism. It is LONG but read the whole thing. I hesitate to pull out a particular part to highlight, but here's one anyway. Again, a MUST READ.

With right-wing groups expanding at such a dizzying pace, LaHaye helped to found the Council for National Policy (C.N.P.) as a low-profile but powerful coalition of billionaire industrialists, fundamentalist preachers, and right-wing tacticians. Funded by Hunt and Davis, among others, the organization set out to create a coherent and disciplined strategy for the New Right.
Though its membership is secret, the rolls have reportedly included Falwell and Pat Robertson; top right-wing political strategists Richard Viguerie, Ralph Reed, and Paul Weyrich; Republican senators Jesse Helms and Lauch Faircloth (both of North Carolina), Don Nickles (Oklahoma), and Trent Lott (Mississippi); and Republican representatives Dick Armey and Tom DeLay (both of Texas). The late Rousas John Rushdoony, the right-wing theologian who hoped to reconfigure the American legal system in accordance with biblical law, was said to be a member, as was John Whitehead of the Rutherford Institute, who was co-counsel to Paula Jones in her lawsuit against Bill Clinton.
"Ronald Reagan, both George Bushes, senators and Cabinet members—you name it. There's nobody who hasn't been here at least once," says Falwell, who confirms that he is a member. "It is a group of four or five hundred of the biggest conservative guns in the country."
The C.N.P. has access to the highest powers in the land. In 1999, George W. Bush courted evangelical support for his presidential candidacy by giving a speech before the council, the transcript of which remains a highly guarded secret. And since the start of his presidency, Falwell says, the C.N.P. has enjoyed regular access to the Oval Office. "Within the council is a smaller group called the Arlington Group," says Falwell. "We talk to each other daily and meet in Washington probably twice a month. We often call the White House and talk to Karl Rove while we are meeting. Everyone takes our calls." According to The Wall Street Journal, two high-ranking Texas judges who spoke to the Arlington Group in October at the suggestion of Karl Rove allegedly assured its members that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Will Campbell - Here's one to admire

To Streak and others of us who are constantly on the lookout for real Christians amongst the crowds of impersonators, look no further than here.