The entrance of Gov. Rick Perry to the presidential race has raised the anti-Christian media rage to a fever pitch: Last night, Rachel Maddow presented her proof that Perry is backed by "a shadowy group of bizarre Christian conservatives seeking to infiltrate the government."
For background, read Texas-sized Prayers to God - Gov. Perry and also read Media Prepare Anti-Christian Campaign for 2012 as well as ABC News Scrutinizes Faith of GOP Candidates
UPDATE 8/14/11: Scary-Christians-for-president theory enjoined by Michelle Goldberg
-- From "Rachel Maddow: Rick Perry May Be The Face Of A Christian Movement Seeking Political Domination" posted at Huffington Post 8/11/11
True, it all sounds a little "Da Vinci Code," but Maddow's case came from a lengthy article in the Texas Observer that discussed the connection between Perry--who is due to jump into the GOP presidential race on Sunday--and a movement called the New Apostolic Reformation.
Perry's recent (and controversial) Houston prayer event was endorsed by many of the members of the movement. Maddow played several minutes of clips of some of the leading members of the group. Subjects discussed included Oprah's status as the Antichrist, the Emperor of Japan's misconduct with a "sun goddess," and Hitler's fondness for gay soldiers.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Rachel Maddow: Rick Perry’s 2012 Run Is Power Grab For Christian Conspiracy Group" by Frances Martel, Mediaite.com 8/10/11
Maddow noted that for Perry to have invited many of the characters that appeared at his event was enough of a threat to any potential campaign– not because of the prayer itself, but “the risk for his President campaign was… that the particular stadium prayer event he held was with these guys.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Presidential candidates' faith at center of media scrutiny" by Bob Ray Sanders, McClatchy Newspapers 8/11/11
Even without Perry getting into the race, which he's expected to do within days, several Republican contenders have been making God and Christian values an issue.
Some of those ministers associated with the prayer meeting are known to have fairly extreme views when it comes to certain groups in this country like gays, Catholics and Muslims. Perry tried to distance himself a bit by suggesting that he did not agree with all the views of the participants. He insists that the nation's problems were so big we need God's help in solving them.
That's fine, but the governor should know that in a presidential race, candidates often are judged by the people with whom they associate, including the preachers they've listened to over the years.
Not that I particularly care what church or religious institutions a candidate belongs to, I think we should insist that the media examine statements and sermons of the preachers these contenders have embraced.
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
From "Washington, Lincoln’s prayers for America" by Jim Daly, Focus on the Family, posted at Washington Post 8/10/11
[President George] Washington publically prayed . . . in a letter to the states he considered (at the time) his final statement of political advice to the nation.
“I now make it my earnest prayer,” Washington wrote on June 8, 1783, “that God would have you, and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”
Then there’s Abraham Lincoln. In the thick of the Civil War, during his second inaugural address, he said: “Fondly do we hope -- fervently do we pray - that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘The judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’”
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
