Posted on 11/07/2006 10:09:20 AM PST by Tim Long
Opponent declares Perry 'doesn't think very differently from the Taliban'
Texas incumbent Gov. Rick Perry says he agrees with the Christian belief that non-Christians will be condemned to hell, prompting a rival in this week's gubernatorial election to declare the Republican "doesn't think very differently from the Taliban."
Perry said in a report in the Dallas Morning News that he agreed with the Christian principle as stated by Cornerstone Church pastor John Hagee that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
"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," Hagee said during a 90-minute service in San Antonio in which Perry was introduced to the megachurch's congregation.
(Story continues below)
Asked if he agreed with Hagee, Perry told the Dallas paper, " In my faith, that's what it says, and I'm a believer of that."
"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," Perry said later. "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.
"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," he said.
"He doesn't think very differently from the Taliban, does he?" Kinky Friedman, an independent candidate for governor, told the Morning News.
"Being obsessed with who's going to heaven and who's going to hell is kind of a pathetic waste of time," he said.
Another independent, Carole Keeton Strayhorn, disagreed with Perry, opting for a multi-path religious belief.
"There are many ways to heaven. We're all sinners, and we're all God's children," she told the Morning News.
Chris Bell, a Democrat, called himself a Christian, too. But he said God is the only one who came make such decisions.
"I'm a Christian," he told the paper. "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."
Perry said the acceptance of Christ is what his faith teaches, and he could not abandon that any more than anyone can pick which of the Ten Commandments to follow.
Not according to the Bible, there aren't.
The straight and narrow..............."No man cometh unto the Father but by me."........
In Sunday School when I was a little kid I remember my Sunday School teacher telling me that those who don't believe and accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior hell is exactly where they go.
Sounds like Tough Grandma found a loophole.....or is using an unknown Texas tollway that Perry doesn't know about.
You can respect other religions by allowing them the right to worship. But they still are wrong.
One difference between Rick Perry and the taliban is that Perry doesn't lop off your head when you disagree with him. That is significant, I think.
Secondly, I don't know if this is an integral part of the political battle between candidates.
Thirdly, that said, I really respect this man for taking the risk to say this, as it (sadly) may work against him.
Forthly, there was a time when saying this wouldn't be anything more than confirming what almost every American believed. (Go read up on Abe Lincoln's call for a national day of fasting and repentance!)
Fifthly, I want to go back there!
Whooboy, can I steal that tag line?
I knew a man who was a U.S. veteran of WWII, and was captured by the Germans. He got along for a little while on his blond hair and blue eyes, but the Krauts did eventually learn that he was JEWISH. He eventually was able to escape a concentration camp and get back home.
He was a Jew until the day he died, and one of the most upstanding and kind men I have ever known. I expect he was faced with a choice when he hit the pearly gates, as Jesus asked "Can you hear me now"?
I agree with the Gov's caveat, and people like the man above bring their common sense with them to heaven.
Well-said, Governor Perry! Jesus is the only way.
How seriously can you take a guy named Kinky, anyway?
Perry could say pretty much anything he wants and will still win easily. Maybe not with a majority but with a sizeable plurality.
No one goes to the Father but through the Son.
The Son is in charge...He never specified how he would deal with everyone, and it is up to Him how everyone's soul is treated in the end.
We often think we have all these things figured out, but God's ways are higher than ours.
I don't believe God will send people to hell because they happened to be born into the wrong religion, or non-christian part of the world.
Jesus was very concerned with the state of a person's heart - how much did they love others?
IMHO - it has much more to do with love than with doctrine.
Only if you don't believe in heaven and hell. Otherwise, I can't think of a MORE important issue to devote your time considering.
Okay, Kinky supporters.
Your choice just compared Christians to the Taliban. Defend that. Far as I can tell that is no different then My Senator praising Osama for building schools and repairing roads. Both are nuts.
Now I know not everyone is a Christian, and I know there are some people hostile to Christianity in Rep Ranks. But last I checked believing Christians TODAY were not calling to murder millions of non Christians if they didn't convert.
Perry's opponent is simply a moron.
But, unlike the taliban, Gov. Perry probably doesn't believe it is his job to send people there...
Kinky is the pne who keeps using the GOOD SHEPPARD stmt in his ads............. Go Perry WIN and WIN BIG.
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