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McCain Advisor Calls for Crusade Against Islam

Posted : 3/13/2008 3:34:11 PM

... and McCain "hails" him...

Senator John McCain hailed Parsley, as the Ohio megachurch pastor called upon Christians to wage a "war" against Islam to destroy it.
On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus. During the rally McCain called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

What was that thing about freedom of religion again? I think it was called the first Amendment or something like that...

Xerxes

Posted : 3/13/2008 4:07:11 PM

FourIsCompany
What was that thing about freedom of religion again? I think it was called the first Amendment or something like that...

Silly you! Don't you remember that the Bill of Rights is only a memory? The new version is called "The Patriot Act." Hope that clears up any misconceptions you might have. Smile

chelsea_b

Posted : 3/13/2008 5:09:06 PM

fuzzy_dogs_mom

Posted : 3/13/2008 5:13:23 PM

Hmm. Not the brightest move to make, but then you're talking about someone who keeps having photo ops made with Bush.

Joyce

dgriego

Posted : 3/13/2008 5:57:20 PM

fuzzy_dogs_mom
Not the brightest move to make, but then you're talking about someone who keeps having photo ops made with Bush.

He did not seem to be very happy or comfortable when he met Bush for his official endorsement. I think McCain if he could speak the truth about it would probably prefer to not have Bush's endorsement. As for the Crusade part well I think the religious "spiritual guides" should stay in their respective churches and preach their respective faiths. Politics should be left out of the pulpit as much as possible. I do think that the enemy sees this as a religious war and our failure to be able to talk about it and call it that is a hindrance to us, we need to understand that "radical" Islam does seek our destruction and they do believe that they are "doing God's will" in seeking and carrying out that destruction.

On our side we need to operate this just like it is. It is a war against radical Muslim extremists. Not against Islam itself. I can believe that Islam is a false faith, just as a Muslim can believe that Christianity is a false faith or Buddhism or Wicca or whatever religion. That is our right as humans. Each religion has theology that is radically different and irreconcilable to each other but that does not mean we exterminate the opposing faiths.

Nowhere in the Bible (speaking as a Christian here) does it tell us to go out and destroy non-believers or opposing faiths or false religions other than by preaching the gospel. The theology of Christianity is to preach the truth and by so preaching the truth change people. Those who refuse to accept the truth are not to be killed or persecuted or ridiculed. The preacher is simply to move on to the next, he has done his job by preaching the gospel.

“Senator John McCain hailed Parsley, as the Ohio megachurch pastor called upon Christians to wage a "war" against Islam to destroy it.”

The only way that Christians can wage war against Islam (correctly according to the Bible) is to preach the gospel. Maybe that is what he is talking about but if he is he sure used the wrong words to convey his message. War implies killing as does destruction. Now if he changed the word Islam to “Radical Islamic Extremists hell bent on the destruction of the West” well then I would have no problem with his statement. As it is written I disagree and think he is wrong to preach like this and McCain should make it very clear what he thinks about this preacher’s statements.

All the candidates have freedom of religion and can believe and support anything they choose. All of them need to come out and speak clearly about exactly what they believe in regards to what their spiritual advisors are saying.Does McCain seek war with and the destruction of Islam? Is Obama more committed to Africa and the black community than he is to all others? The candidates need to make it clear where they stand. Both Democrat and Republican.

Is this McCain’s pastor? I will try and do some research later to find out.

FourIsCompany

Posted : 3/13/2008 6:34:04 PM

Nice post, dgriego.

dgriego
I think McCain if he could speak the truth about it would probably prefer to not have Bush's endorsement.

If he could speak the truth? He is free to speak the truth. Nothing is stopping him. In fact, he would gain a lot of support if he just spoke against Bush like he used to.

Seems he's getting the support of several "crusade against Islam" religious leaders...

Senator John McCain got support on Wednesday from an important corner of evangelical Texas when the pastor of a San Antonio mega-church, Rev. John C. Hagee, endorsed Mr. McCain for president. Mr. Hagee, who argues that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive, biblically prophesized military strike against Iran that will lead to the second coming of Christ, praised Mr. McCain for his pro-Israel views.
...
Mr. McCain, who has been on a steady search for support among conservative and evangelical leaders who have long distrusted him, said he was “very honored'’ by Mr. Hagee’s endorsement. Asked about Mr. Hagee’s extensive writings on Armageddon and about what one questioner said was Mr. Hagee’s belief that the anti-Christ will be the head of the European Union, Mr. McCain responded that “all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee’s support.'’

Story

Fasten your seat belts and make sure your trays and seat backs are in the upright position, people. We have a wild ride ahead if this man becomes our president...

spiritdogs

Posted : 3/13/2008 6:58:52 PM

OK, so now we have McCain's "spiritual advisor" wanting a war against Islam, and we have Obama's "spiritual guide" calling America the USA of KKK. Anyone know where Hillary goes to church?

These bytes are the best evidence this week of the need to maintain separation of church and state. Idea

sillysally

Posted : 3/13/2008 7:00:50 PM

FourIsCompany
Nice post, dgriego.
dgriego
I think McCain if he could speak the truth about it would probably prefer to not have Bush's endorsement.

If he could speak the truth? He is free to speak the truth. Nothing is stopping him. In fact, he would gain a lot of support if he just spoke against Bush like he used to.

Well, not quite. McCain cannot win if Conservatives refuse to vote for him, period. Not all, but many conservatives are big Bush supporters. The evangelicals overwhelmingly in favor of Bush and they are something like 30% of the republican vote--that is a big chunk of people to alienate.

sillysally

Posted : 3/13/2008 7:10:51 PM

spiritdogs
These bytes are the best evidence this week of the need to maintain separation of church and state.

Well, whether people like it or not faith does play a part in peoples' political decisions, and it likely always will. We should not in any way force politicians to not reveal their spiritual beliefs. Just because they are running for president does not mean that they forfeit their right to freedom of religion. In addition, I believe that it is legal for spiritual leaders to say that they like someone for president as long as they are not preaching it from the pulpit. Religious types have the right to freedom of speech just like anyone else, whether people like what they are saying or not. If certain affiliations bother you (collective), then there is always the option not to for that individual. Besides, if someone is a fundamentalist (of any religion), don't you want to know that BEFORE you cast your vote?

That having been said, I think that anyone who walks around talking about the need to destroy another faith is a fool....

Aina

Posted : 3/13/2008 7:21:08 PM

The republican party already alienated the conservative Christians when they put McCain as a candidate. Not too long ago he was saying some bad stuff about some prominent evangelists. Now he is trying to win us back. As I agree with dgriego on us going on a crusade against Islam, he has not yet won back my support.

alieliza

Posted : 3/13/2008 8:09:20 PM

dgriego
...Is Obama more committed to Africa and the black community than he is to all others? The candidates need to make it clear where they stand. Both Democrat and Republican...

I've kept myself out of most of the political talk going on here and elsewhere, but I just have to comment on this for one second, and then I will move on to the McCain issue at hand. Most people, including many current leaders at every level, are more concerned with people of their own race than they are with anyone else (unless, of course, you're muslim, as evidenced in the OP... but that kind of concern is not in the least bit productive.) This is not to say that this is the way it should be, BUT, considering the structure of our society, and the deeply ingrained, institutionalized policies that favor one race over another, I say let Obama give attention to Africa and the black community. Its been the opposite way way for ages (and ages and ages). Its about time that the people be given a chance.

Now, onto McCain. Im not surprised that someone, or many people, are pinpointing Islam as if its a blanket characteristic of evil that applies to everyone who practices the Muslim religion. Yes, people are that ignorant, misinformed, judgemental, etc.etc.. It makes me sick sick sick. Please. Lets move on, away from this way of thinking.

Xerxes

Posted : 3/13/2008 9:36:21 PM

spiritdogs
Anyone know where Hillary goes to church?

With the Bilderburg group-the bankers and investors that are bankrolling both sides of this war and any others that anyone gets into.

cc431

Posted : 3/13/2008 10:24:18 PM

*yawn*

dgriego

Posted : 3/13/2008 10:50:36 PM

I will be voting for McCain. He frightens me less than the other two.

In my mind this election should be labled " America's most frightening Choice" you must vote for one since to vote for any other is to throw away your vote, not voting could mean that the most frightening gets elected. Who scares you the most?

As far as scary things go if one had a choice of facing one of two scary incidents

One being having someone break into your home the other is to have space aliens with ray guns straight out of War of the Worlds attack your city, well I will choose the lesser "fear" as I can always shoot the person breaking into my home.

for Me McCain is the person breaking into my home, Hillary and Obama are the space aliens.

dgriego

Posted : 3/13/2008 11:05:26 PM

FourIsCompany
If he could speak the truth? He is free to speak the truth. Nothing is stopping him. In fact, he would gain a lot of support if he just spoke against Bush like he used to.

He is not free to do so at this point. He needs the support of the religious right and for him to come out and say what he thinks of Bush would not be beneficial to his campaign.

FourIsCompany
Mr. Hagee, who argues that the United States must join Israel in a preemptive, biblically prophesized military strike against Iran that will lead to the second coming of Christ, praised Mr. McCain for his pro-Israel views.

Well Hagee gets a lot of crazy things out of his Bible, I think he must have a special addition not avaialble to the rest of the world. McCain does not attend his church. He attends a Baptist church. There statement of faith does not seem to be crazy and there is no references to blowing up Iran in order to get Jesus to come. The link to their statement of belief is below.

http://www.npbc.org/index.php?_cmd=info&link=6&sublink=9

Here is the link to Hagee's statement of faith. He does have in there a "committment to Israel" .

http://www.sacornerstone.com/faq_what_we_believe.asp