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Was Bush's response to Sept. 11 attacks un-Christian?
Associated Press ^ | Article published May 25, 2006 | RICHARD N. OSTLING

Posted on 05/29/2006 3:19:32 AM PDT by indyreb

Article published May 25, 2006 Was Bush's response to Sept. 11 attacks un-Christian?

RICHARD N. OSTLING Associated Press Writer

The news media focuses on evangelical and Roman Catholic politicking, routinely ignoring such liberal Protestant activism as United Methodist Church officials' onslaught against policies of George W. Bush, an adult convert to their denomination.

Underlying issues: Must Christians oppose the Iraq war? Warfare in general?

The Methodists' chief social-issues spokesman, Jim Winkler, believes Congress should "impeach President Bush." He proposed that during the annual "Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace With Justice," attended by 923 progressives, mostly from the National Council of Churches and member denominations (e.g., the United Methodists, Christian Church-Disciples of Christ, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church USA and United Church of Christ).

The House Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat had already submitted a bill authorizing investigation of impeachable offenses.

Winkler's complaint: "The attack on Iraq was sold to our people on lies, and the war itself was an illegal war of aggression" that included things such as "unconstitutional" National Security Agency surveillance."There was nothing Christian in (Bush's) response to Sept. 11," Winkler asserted. "The war on terror is a war of terror. We have to stop it."

Strict Christian pacifists such as Mennonites and Quakers resist all war-making. They apply biblical teachings from Jesus and Paul about peacemaking not just to personal relations but to international affairs.

Winkler, who wants the U.S. defense budget slashed by 80 percent, could be considered a semipacifist. He said "Jesus Christ, if not a pacifist Himself," at least "chose a nonviolent course of action." He also cited Paul: "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. ... So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves" (Romans 12:17-19).

That reflects the Methodists' official Social Principles: "We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ" and reject it "as an instrument of national foreign policy."

That text also says many believe that in "extreme situations" when all alternatives fail and "the need is clear beyond reasonable doubt," combat using "international organizations" may be better than allowing "unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide."The Methodists are America's third-largest religious body. The bishops of the largest, Roman Catholicism, said before the Iraq invasion that they questioned the morality of pre-emptive and unilateral action and saw no grave danger of Iraqi attacks or evidence that that nation was involved in Sept. 11.

Updating matters this year, the bishops' international policy chairman rejected both "cut and run" and "stay the course" policies. He said that now, America has "moral responsibilities to help Iraqis secure and rebuild their country." U.S. troops should leave "sooner rather than later" but remain pending a "responsible transition" to provide security, stability and the rule of law.

There's no hesitation with the hawkish Southern Baptist Convention, America's second-largest denomination.

Last year's annual Baptist meeting said Bush "has shown courage and leadership in his valiant opposition to terrorism. ... We express deepest gratitude and respect for our president in light of the gravity of the decisions he must make and the leadership role he fills."

The Baptists found scriptural warrant in 1 Timothy 2:2, which commends prayer "for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life." An earlier Baptist statement defending the war on terror said the Bible commands "civil authorities to restrain evil and to punish evildoers through the power of the sword," citing Paul in Romans 13:1-5.The National Association of Evangelicals includes pacifists, and its "Call to Civic Responsibility" last year said members disagree about use of the military "to defend our homelands, rescue others from attack or liberate other people from oppression."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: religiousleft; war; wot
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1 posted on 05/29/2006 3:19:36 AM PDT by indyreb
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To: indyreb

Thank G-d these religious nutjobs aren't in charge of this nation's defense.

But how influential they would have been under an Algore or sKerry administration!


2 posted on 05/29/2006 3:28:49 AM PDT by elcid1970
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To: indyreb

Elitist Leftists already preach that 'war is wrong, 'not the answer', and this fits with a belief that people can't be trusted to think for themselves. Some things should be sacrificed or 'given up for the common good', and individual freedom is the first thing that goes. (It leads to war.) The nanny state or better yet, the UN -- with Bill in charge -- should tell us all what to do and when to do it.


3 posted on 05/29/2006 3:33:36 AM PDT by hershey
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To: indyreb
The Christian individual acts are different then the acts of a Christian nation. Read and study the Bible for yourself. Don't let someone else define it for you.
4 posted on 05/29/2006 3:34:12 AM PDT by bmwcyle (Only stupid people would vote for McCain, Warner, Hagle, Snowe, Graham, or any RINO)
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To: indyreb

It seems to me that these whackos have drifted far from their respective organizations' roots. Jesus was never against self-defense.


5 posted on 05/29/2006 3:34:27 AM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (Common sense will do to liberalism what the atomic bomb did to Nagasaki-Rush Limbaugh)
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To: indyreb

There are people out there that want to destroy my country, my family and me. I am not about to turn the other cheek or bare my throat for a terrorists knife. If they do kill me I intend to go down fighting and taking a bunch of the SOBs with me.


6 posted on 05/29/2006 3:40:56 AM PDT by Americanexpat (A strong democracy through citizen oversight.)
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To: WestVirginiaRebel
P.S. I would also suggest that these "Christians" watch Sergeant York, an excellent movie about the merits of fighting to save lives which is certainly compatable with Christian ideals.
7 posted on 05/29/2006 3:41:31 AM PDT by WestVirginiaRebel (Common sense will do to liberalism what the atomic bomb did to Nagasaki-Rush Limbaugh)
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To: hershey; kstewskis; Victoria Delsoul; Raquel; Kelly_2000
They apply biblical teachings from Jesus and Paul about peacemaking not just to personal relations but to international affairs.

There was no peaceful Jesus when he drove out the money changers from the temple.

Fashioning a whip of chords, he drove the money changers out, with righteous anger.

Evil will succeed if good men do nothing.

Our faith and freedoms are worth defending. These people just don't understand that.

8 posted on 05/29/2006 3:42:00 AM PDT by Northern Yankee ( Stay The Course!)
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To: indyreb
Was Bush's response to Sept. 11 attacks un-Christian?
No.
Must Christians oppose the Iraq war?
No.
Warfare in general?
No.
Winkler, who wants the U.S. defense budget slashed by 80 percent, could be considered a semipacifist.
Winkler, you're an idiot. Thanks for coming out.
9 posted on 05/29/2006 3:42:18 AM PDT by TheWasteLand
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To: indyreb

those are the "Gay" Christians right?


10 posted on 05/29/2006 3:42:24 AM PDT by Echo Talon
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To: Americanexpat
Amen to what you said!

The Methodists' chief social-issues spokesman, Jim Winkler, believes Congress should "impeach President Bush."

Mr. Winkler's call for impeachment doesn't sound very Christian either.

11 posted on 05/29/2006 3:44:01 AM PDT by Northern Yankee ( Stay The Course!)
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To: indyreb

The very people who tried to stop the impeachment of the sink emperor and who claimed impeachment was actually a political coup are the ones who wish to impeach President bush. Not because of anything he has done , but because of payback for the impeachment of their Prince of Masturbation and Cigar penetration.

Like Mentally handicapped people everywhere I try not to openly recognise the fact that they are "different" because of a wish not to embarrass them, but they have become a danger to the security of our nation and give aid and comfort to the enemies of our great country. Their sickness has reachd a point where they need slapping down,but we have no one with the courage to stand up to them. Even the President has refused to stand up for himself. We have two very dangerous situations facing us Immigration ,and the war on terror. It appears we will certainly lose the one ,and if the Liberals have their way we will lose both.


12 posted on 05/29/2006 3:46:24 AM PDT by sgtbono2002
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To: Northern Yankee
My guess is that these people are already freedom-hating socialists and are trying to twist Scripture to justify their beliefs.

They have no qualms about attempting to use God to make people think their anti-God philosophy is the right one. And they are counting on the Bible illiteracy of the American public to be able to successfully deceive a lot of people.

13 posted on 05/29/2006 3:51:02 AM PDT by GiovannaNicoletta
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To: indyreb
I wonder if this is the Left's new stab at creating the religious alternative to conservatives.

There was a Quaker "missionary" in Iraq a few months back that was taken hostage by the terrorists. They surely would have killed him like many other charity workers but for a raid by American troops acting on a tip. The spokesman for his organization talked of his "release" by his captors, never once acknowledging the good use of force to free the knucklehead. Certainly never thanking our troops for saving the man's life.

14 posted on 05/29/2006 3:51:44 AM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: sgtbono2002

The "sink emperor"?


15 posted on 05/29/2006 3:53:35 AM PDT by GOP_Party_Animal
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To: All

There is good.
There is evil.
CHRISTians who follow CHRIST know the difference
between good and evil.
Christians (in name only) who follow (fill in the blanks) will not
understand this post.
It's that simple.
Really.

===
ON THE NET...

http://www.truthusa.com/911news.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911news2.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911.html


16 posted on 05/29/2006 3:56:23 AM PDT by Cindy
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To: sgtbono2002

...Mentally handicapped people....

&&
No, they are not mentally handicapped. It they were so afflicted, I could forgive them. They are morally handicapped; they deliberately choose evil over good and wish to see the destruction of our country. And this I cannot and will not forgive.

BTW, thank you for your service to our country.


17 posted on 05/29/2006 4:09:46 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Never trust Democrats with national security.)
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To: indyreb
Winkler's complaint: "The attack on Iraq was sold to our people on lies, and the war itself was an illegal war of aggression" that included things such as "unconstitutional" National Security Agency surveillance."There was nothing Christian in (Bush's) response to Sept. 11," Winkler asserted. "The war on terror is a war of terror. We have to stop it."

Winkler if you're surfing around here let me tell you that some in our Methodist congregation are already concerned about liberals and socialists trying to force their views on other members of the congregation. If the Church wants to maintain the steady flow of tax free income that you depend on for a living and plead for weekly, please stay out of politics.

Many of the families I know believe in protecting themselves when attacked and we don't want a gay pastor preaching the word of God to us either.

18 posted on 05/29/2006 4:10:02 AM PDT by alrea
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To: GOP_Party_Animal

The "sink emperor"?

**
A common FR synonymn for the so-called man who infested the White House between 1993 and 2001.


19 posted on 05/29/2006 4:13:13 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Never trust Democrats with national security.)
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To: indyreb
Frankly I wish Dubya would be a bit more Old Testament, Eye fo an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth.

In fact in order to protect our way of life I'd say a response of 1000 to 1 is order.

20 posted on 05/29/2006 4:18:20 AM PDT by Kakaze (American: a Citizen of the United States of America........not just some resident of said continent)
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