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Jacques Berlinerblau

The God Vote

Jacques Berlinerblau

Jacques Berlinerblau is associate Professor and Director of the Program for Jewish Civilization at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Many years ago he received a doctorate in ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature from New York University. Soon after, for reasons that he himself has never fully understood, he completed another doctorate in theoretical sociology from the New School for Social Research. Feeling sufficiently credentialed to write about and research any topic under the sun, his areas of interest include the Bible, its composition, its interpretation, and in particular the way that it has been dragooned into modern political discourse. To this end his new book is called "Thumpin' It: The Use and Abuse of the Bible in Today's Presidential Politics" (Westminster John Knox), described by First Things as "laugh-out-loud funny as well as astute." He also has published "The Secular Bible: Why Nonbelievers Must Take Religion Seriously" (Cambridge:2005). An earlier book, "Heresy in the University: The Black Athena Controversy and the Responsibilities of American Intellectuals" (Rutgers: 1999) probed the manner in which institutions of higher education handle scholarly dissent. He has written extensively in scholarly journals on the subject of heretics, intellectuals, secularism, and Jewish civilization. This confluence of interests accounts, to a great degree, for his fascination with modern Jewish-American literature. A life-long New Yorker, he has recently moved to Washington D.C. with his family and is beguiled by the strange traffic lights that count down the seconds until they finally change colors. Close.

The God Vote

Jacques Berlinerblau

Jacques Berlinerblau is program director and associate professor of Jewish Civilization at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, and author of "Thumpin’ It: The Use and Abuse of the Bible in Today’s Presidential Politics." Full bio »

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Giuliani's Worst Nightmare (Part I)

If I were running the campaign for the GOP frontrunner, a few scenarios would deprive me of deep, restful REM sleep.

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All Comments (12)

nighthawk:

jacob jozevz...what a marvelously erudite statement grounded in undeniably credible, scientifically proved...fact. Surely you are a man of the cloth and a much admired teacher and spiritual leader of your equally clear-thinking flock...but do not allow your shining light to be stifled by distributing it only in this forumn...get it out there for public viewing...be sure to mention that you are one of George W. Bush's rising stars...and a loyal Republican to the core. I think you have a real future on the political scene.

nighthawk:

How deliciously ironic that the false-fat issue cooked up by rabid Kerry-hater Republicans should now come full-circle back to fry their leading candidate, Rudy G....maybe there is a God after all. Even better, of course, would be that the fallout from this spills over the evangelical-right who got the vicious rumors going, re: Kerry, and destroys their access to power as a voting bloc...how perfect.

nighthawk:

How deliciously ironic that the false-fat issue cooked up by rabid Kerry-hater Republicans should now come full-circle back to fry their leading candidate, Rudy G....maybe there is a God after all. Even better, of course, would be that the fallout from this spills over the evangelical-right who got the vicious rumors going, re: Kerry, and destroys their access to power as a voting bloc...how perfect.

It is about time that Catholic politicians realize they cannot have it both ways. The days of "I personally oppose abortion but will not force anyone to believe the same way" are over. You take a stand or you lose. It's total hypocricy and people now see through that. I wish more priests would take stand, too. They are as hypocritical as the candidates, and I am a life long Catholic.

Mark Skudlarek, Planet Earth:

Evangelicals are coutrified dimwits who follow Faux news and know only about stances on gay marraige and abortion. Next question please.

J.W. Miller:

Screw America's Mayor.

Screw America's Moron.

Screw America's Conservative Christians

The whole religious right phenomenon is about to get its just deserves.

James:

I think that if support for Giuliani holds, what the leaders of the Christian right dread the most is the realization on the part of the MSM that the great majority of citizens from Ohio to Nevada - the Heartland as pandering East-Coast journalists like to say - aren't actually obsessed with God, guns and gays (and abortion). The Christian right will be revealed as a paper tiger.

brian mcc, the arctic:

Very good journalism. When you've read it, makes you wonder. The author says comment if you wish, but stay tuned for Part II. Senator McCain has sold his soul to the Baptists, who will Rudy sell his to?

BGone:

ANON:

I presume you're talking about yourself, bowl of mice for breakfast. Ever since the evangelicals took over the government I haven't been able to afford anything that good, for dinner even, steady diet of mouse knuckles. Can't speak for Jacob Jozevz but it's my humble opinion he's not buying anything they have to feed him no matter how cheap they make it.

Methinks you make the fatal political miscalculation. Now you know how Jesus felt crying for help and none coming. When are the evangelicals going to make the scene? I for one can't wait. Has Pat Robertson announced the winner if the 2008 election yet? It's the Devil that gives him the outcome of future events, explaining why his predictions are so faulty.

Anonymous:

bgone, you and jacob need to stop drinking the juice. Your comments makes about as much sense as a bowl of mice for breakfast.

BGone:

Are you familiar with MAD, mutually assured destruction?

The evangelical strangle hold on the government of the Unites States of America is over, done, finished. You can forget it.

MAD http://www.hoax-buster.org

Before they push that button maybe they should take a peek at what the response will be. The ministry must defeat the "notion" that the Bible, their only claim of authority is a hoax BEFORE they launch any missiles.

http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul suggest a scenario based upon their own sacred scriptures that they cannot survive, the WMD of religion. It's one thing to lead folks in the worship of God and something altogether different to lead them in the worship Devil. Wait until they find out it's them that are paying Devil's fee for the souls of ministers.

Never forget: Calling Devil God does not make Devil God but does make Devil's representatives, evangelical ministers rich.

The Devil makes them do that. It's not the God vote. It's the Devil vote.

richard lasater:


Dear Jacques,

Read Part 1. Consider this applause and shouted words of encouragement. Please continue.

regards
rl

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