Rick Santorum and Rev. Franklin Graham to me are a great example of what being a Christian should NOT be about. I find it repulsive that the Santorum "brand" of Christianity, a brand that FAR too many Americans follow, uses religion as a tool to bludgeon those who look, act, or think differently, rather than using it as a tool to promote tolerance.
I really don’t care what people believe personally. If you are Hindu, Muslim, Christian…whatever. Believe what you want. No matter your religion, the underlying morals are generally the same. Be nice to each other. Don’t kill each other. Don’t steal from each other. All the major religions have the same general moral guidance. In theory. In reality? The words are all there. The major tenets of the major religions all SOUND good. But how do “religious” people actually act?
Why is it that those who CLAIM to be the most “religious”, are also very often the most hateful, bigoted people on the planet? My biggest pet peeve in life…the bigotry, hypocrisy, and pure HATRED that stem from religion. As we learn more about Rick Santorum, the more I’m convinced he’s NOT just a harmless simpleton with a view of the world right out of the 1600s. No, as we learn more, the more he opens his mouth, the more I’m starting to realize he’s downright evil. And, no surprise to me, alot of it stems from what HE purports to be a strength…his religious faith.
There has been a tremendous amount of controversy over comments Santorum has made over the last week, regarding Obama’s brand of Christianity. You see, for bigots and hypocrites like Rick Santorum, it’s NOT ENOUGH for Obama to be a Church-going, long-time Christian. No sirree. He doesn’t have the right BRAND of Christianity. In fact, from hearing Santorum speak over the last week, you’d think Obama actually was a cultish devil-worshiper, rather than a Christian.
Ok, you say, perhaps it’s just “dirty politics” (is there another kind?). After all, Santorum is running to become president, so of course, in America, that means you have to talk about your opponent like they’re the worst thing since Hitler (Something, in fact, that Santorum HAS alluded to with regard to Obama!!). What about a fine, “upstanding”, representative of Christianity? Billy Graham’s son, “Rev.” (hah) Franklin Graham, talked today about Obama’s faith…or lack thereof. Graham’s comments?
Graham said he CANNOT categorically say Obama isn’t a Muslim. He also says that Islam has gotten a “Free Pass” from Obama. Interesting comment…I didn’t realize that the American President was supposed to go to war with the Islamic faith. He also referred to Obama as a “Son of Islam”, given that his father’s side of the family came from an Islamic background.
Who could blame Graham for his ignorant comments? After all, Obama is (gasp!!) BLACK!! And he once had an Islamic relative!! Of COURSE he can’t be a Christian! At least not the same BRAND of Christianity as (old white men) Graham and Santorum. All of this reminds me of my junior high days, and the “clique-ness” of adolescents. Religion for FAR too many has become not a place to ponder your humanity or man’s role in some “higher” order.
No, religion has become the equivalent of that “popular” kid in junior high who wouldn’t let you sit at the same lunch table. You SAY you’re a Christian? HAH!! You’re not MY brand of Christian!! ESPECIALLY since you LOOK differently from me! You MUST be a Muslim!!!! No lunch for you!! Not at MY lunch table!! Go eat with the “heathens” at the end of the cafeteria!!!
As I said, I don’t care what personal religious beliefs people have. But MY GOD, don’t people see the hypocrisy of their actions, compared to what their religion supposedly teaches them? The BIGGEST BIGOTS in the U.S. seem to be those with a “strong moral foundation”, as provided by Christianity. One of the most repulsive types of people to me are those that cloak themselves in their religion, all the while spouting pure HATE and vitriol for gays, people of other faiths, people of other races, etc.
“Reverend” Graham? Given your actions, I consider you as much a “Reverend” as I do my pet cocker spaniel (not that my cocker spaniel is an evil bigot, but you get the idea). I could simply state the obvious. What if Obama were white? Would Santorum, would “Reverend” Graham, be attacking Obama on religious grounds at all!?!?? I truly doubt it.
There is SO much hate and vitriol from the right, directed towards Obama. It doesn’t help that hate and vitriol might as well become the new GOP slogan. But it goes far beyond political discourse or dysfunction. Church sponsored bigotry and hypocrisy is just a microcosm of America overall. The Church CLAIMS to value “the golden rule”, kind treatment of others, etc….but in reality, has become a mechanism to spread hate of ALL other religions.
America? We CLAIM to be the big “melting pot”, a country that cherishes diversity and views it as a strength. In reality? Our actions towards each other speak volumes on the horrors within the human heart and mind.
So, for all you good ol’ “REAL” (hah) Christians out there in America…next time you’re sitting in church for the Sunday sermon, how about actually listening to it? How about actually taking it to heart? How about using your religion as a tool for TOLERANCE, rather than as a sledgehammer for breaking down people who don’t act, look, or think like you?
