Sarah Palin:, "our leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God" Options

[woody]

But your beef is based on your misunderstanding of what she said.

he is literally translating something that was said by her...which he is misunderstanding

you've gotta admit though, that the shit obama was saying is pretty f'd up too.

"a light will shine down from somewhere, it will light upon you, you will experience an epiphany, and you will say to yourself, I have to vote for Barack"

So what's so f'd up by the quote above?

This post has been edited by woody: Sep 9 2008, 12:52 PM

[impala454]

he is literally translating something that was said by her...which he is misunderstanding

When talking about religion, literal meaning vs interpreted meaning is often the underlying problem. Which is why there are denominations where people literally take up serpents, or never cut their hair, etc. Because they're (IMHO) incorrectly, literally, interpreting what is being said. People who have little to no religious experience tend to take everything they read about religion literally, which it seem is the case with Billy.

So what's so f'd up by the quote above?

Well what I find f'd up about it is that he's almost portraying himself as a divine entity, or at least that some divine entity is going to sway you to vote for him.

Do you not find that clip f'd up? In the least it's highly unusual.

[Billy]

Now I see where you got your assumption that I think she claimed a god came down to our leaders, etc:

I have no problem with believing in a god. I do have a problem with people who claim they know what this god wants. Because last I checked, a divine being has yet to visit me and tell me he wants me to invade another country. I am highly skeptical of those who claim they've had a different experience.

I agree with the war. But I call bullshit on anyone who thinks this war is divinely inspired.

It takes two seconds to read the previous post. This was a response to something. Feel free to read the thread. I never claimed Palin believed god visited her and told her to invade Iraq.

The important part of my quote is this: "I do have a problem with people who claim they know what this god wants." This is what Palin is claiming. She is claiming she knows what god wants, and god wants the war in Iraq. You can disagree. And that's fine. But good luck convincing anyone who has a decent command of the English language that this is not what she's saying.

The second part, about a divine being is satire. Obviously, no one in politics is going to claim God visited them and told them what to do. And Palin didn't claim that either. And I'm not saying she did. But she is playing the God card. And that's ridiculous.

I did not misunderstand what Palin said. I fully understand using "god" to motivate people. I also disagree with such a tactic. And as such, I will not be voting for her party. End of story.

[impala454]

Again, simply your lack of religious knowledge. She thinks it was God's will that we are over there taking care of business. That's not "playing the God card" (more on that below*). It's what she really thinks. Whether it's true or not is irrelevant, but I would guess a fair number of Christians would agree with her. Wars have been God's will many times before, as said in the Bible, so it's not that much of a stretch.

* "________ is playing the _____ card" is getting old. I honestly don't see Obama "playing the race card". I don't see McCain "playing the veteran card." Just as I don't see Palin "playing the God card" with this statement. Maybe Obama relates more easily with black people. McCain is essentially a POW hero, so he draws on that. And Palin is a Christian and any Christian would say something like she said.

I'm done re-hashing this thread over and over. It's a stupid statement to dwell on or bring up as something significant.

[Billy]

Again, simply your lack of religious knowledge. She thinks it was God's will that we are over there taking care of business.

Ugh.....

*facepalm*

[Mommy]

I don't think he understands the difference between God's will and what God wants for our lives.

[Spectatrix]

Impala, doesn't the phrase "X is God's will" imply that the person knows, somehow, what God does or doesn't want? Granted, it's no different than what most other religious people say, but it's a bit presumptuous nonetheless, don't you think?

[impala454]

Well like I said with Billy, it's hard to explain to someone if they're not very experienced with Christianity. When someone says they think "X is God's will" it's not necessarily implying that they know God's will. Nobody knows. It's simply a feeling. But yes, I can see where a religious layperson would find a statement like that presumptuous. It is trying to find God's will for your life that is one of the main ideas in Christianity and I'm certain other similar religions.

[pysex]

As was taught to me...


Whatever happens is a part of God's plan. And what God has planned is God's will.

Impala is right though. You hear this A LOT especially in the Catholic church. It's religious speak.

That kind of stuff leaves a bad taste in my mouth and is why I'm currently at war with my faith. I don't consider myself agnostic or atheist but I have a lot of issues with organized religion.

[woody]

Well like I said with Billy, it's hard to explain to someone if they're not very experienced with Christianity. When someone says they think "X is God's will" it's not necessarily implying that they know God's will. Nobody knows. It's simply a feeling. But yes, I can see where a religious layperson would find a statement like that presumptuous. It is trying to find God's will for your life that is one of the main ideas in Christianity and I'm certain other similar religions.

which is why 'religious' talk doesn't belong in politics

[impala454]

In your opinion. You're not voting for an automaton with no moral stances or personal opinions. You're voting for a real live person, and their views on everything are important to someone. I don't think homo talk belongs in politics. But I understand that it's an issue for some and worth discussing to them.

[Oasis]

As was taught to me...

Whatever happens is a part of God's plan. And what God has planned is God's will.

I love this statement. I have yet to receive a valid explanation on why certain events are allegedly part of God's plan.

Example: My best friend from grade school died when he was 19. Melanoma. One always questions why such a tragic event could happen and the reasoning given was it's all part of God's "plan." Really? Strike a nineteen year old kid down who never drank or smoked and just got a full athletic and academic ride to play D-1 college baseball? Either the concept of God having a plan is complete bullshit, or your God happens to be a fucking asshole. Which is it?

God doesn't have a plan. People do. Politicians, extremists, nutjobs, special interest groups, etc. They just use God as a justification for carrying out their plan.

[impala454]

Sometimes it's hard to understand. IMHO God is like a star QB. Everyone's favorite when things are going well, most hated person on campus when things bad.

[Oasis]

Sometimes it's hard to understand. IMHO God is like a star QB. Everyone's favorite when things are going well, most hated person on campus when things bad.

No, it's easy to understand. God is either a more despicable being than Adolph Hitler, or the idea that God has a plan is a farce.

[impala454]

It's so easy to understand, that you don't.