Nicholas T. Wright

N. Thomas Wright

Anglican Bishop of Durham, England

Nicholas Thomas Wright is Anglican Bishop of Durham, England. The "On Faith" panelist taught New Testament studies for 20 years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities before becoming Dean of Lichfeld in 1994. He was named Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey in 2000, and consecrated bishop in 2003. He has written hundreds of articles and more than 40 books, including Judas and the Gospel of Jesus (2006) and Evil and the Justice of God (2006). He has served as Visiting Professor at numerous institutions including Harvard Divinity School, Gregorian University in Rome and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Dr Wright holds four degrees, including a divinity doctorate from Oxford University, and honorary degrees from several universities and colleges. Close.

N. Thomas Wright

Anglican Bishop of Durham, England

Nicholas Thomas Wright is Anglican Bishop of Durham, England. The "On Faith" panelist taught New Testament studies for 20 years at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford Universities before becoming Dean of Lichfeld in 1994. He was named Canon Theologian of Westminster Abbey in 2000, and consecrated bishop in 2003. more »

Main Page | N. Thomas Wright Archives | On Faith Archives


Can Politics Serve Democracy?

In the election for London Mayor the electorate was faced with a tricky, certainly dishonest radical left-winger who'd been in power for 8 years and done all sorts of crazy things, and a solidly right-wing super-rich playboy, very smart and totally untrustworthy. Does that sort of choice add up to 'democracy'?

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All Comments (9)

Concerned The Christian Now Liberated:

Global warming is complex.

Peruse en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming.

Hillary Clinton is not as complicated.

Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Rodham_Clinton and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Hillary_Rodham_Clinton

Neither is Barak Obama.
Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Barack_Obama

Neither is John McCain.
Peruse
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain and
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_John_McCain

Now we can vote !!!!

Paganplace :

" Garyd:


"So, Pagan, when reality smacks you between the eyes you shouldn't be allowed to change your mind to bring yourself into alignment with that reality?"

Ask President Bush and Fox News about that.

But if there was some 'reality' about supporting torture that McCain's stance of earlier this year found totally unacceptable from personal experience of the reality of being tortured, ... which went away in the face of the 'reality' that pandering to right wing Fundie preachers who've said far worse then Rev. Wright might get him elected, well, yeah, that's not the 'reality' I'd prefer my President to be concerned with getting smacked by.

Are you saying McCain wasn't seeing 'reality' during all those years of his 'experience' as a 'maverick,' Garyd?

Interesting.

Yet you seem to think Obama must have been somehow 'programmed' by Wright, even though he's remained consistent in his explanations of his principles.

Pseudo:

PaganPlace Dearie:

"Let me guess, CCNL is for McCain,..."

CCNL is prabably a chatbot shell script. As such, it cannot actually be "for" or "against" things because it does not understand what drops out of its paste buffer. It collects things based on simple key word. Save your energy and do not trouble your self further with it.

Garyd:


So, Pagan, when reality smacks you between the eyes you shouldn't be allowed to change your mind to bring yourself into alignment with that reality?

Paganplace:

Let me guess, CCNL is for McCain, the guy who's *this year* gone back on a strong stance on torture... based on the fact he'd been *tortured* in order to pander to a manufactured-scandal-mongering Fox News, and keeps seeking the endorsements of radical Fundie media figures he'd previously referred to as noxious elements in our democracy.

The fact that some people choose to make *vague accusations related to some *vague fears of religious dishonesty* because they won't listen to Obama's own opinions about Reverend Wright, or are unwilling to respect Mrs. Clinton's *privacy* as regards her *marriage* (Be serious, if she'd divorced Bill, the same people would claim she didn't respect marriage, as now try to imply she's an *opportunist* for *not* leaving him.) None. Of. Our. Business.

Apparently folks like CCNL and others think that McCain should get a pass on *actually changing his 'maverick' positions and avowed principles to court the favor of Hagee and Falwell* while making vague accusations about the 'character and honesty' of *Democrats.*

And, btw, being pro-choice as a governmental candidate isn't 'disrespecting the unborn,' it's acknowledging that it's a personal and often very religious choice about which the nation is divided in opinion, especially about whether the government ought to be enforcing some stranger's idea of what should be going on in a woman's body.

Contrary to certain smears by certain folks, one can be 'pro-motherhood' personally, and pro-choice politically. Conservatives seem all about 'keeping the government out....' Of keeping big corporations in line, but all *for* intrusive government when it comes to womens' lives and bodies, and in fact, in people's bedrooms.

Call it a 'flaw' in certain common belief systems that even some people who claim to be atheist while quoting some variation of Christian scripture try to enforce on others.

But it's not about honesty. Or integrity. Or even any kind of rational evaluation of leadership qualities.

While there are inherent flaws and errors in the conservative positions that even as a 'maverick' McCain espoused, he lost all respect as a 'worthy opponent' when he *caved* about torture, a position he had taken an admirable stand against when all the other Republicans were dittoing about it, but went back on after *seeking out* racist and America-hating Fundie preachers for endorsements.

Gods love him for what he went through as a POW, but I don't think Obama's the one to really worry about vaguely in regards he's some 'Manchurian candidate' for Rev. Wright.

Being tortured'll mess with your head, not like in the movies, but, *dag,* reversing your position on *torture* for approval? Yeah. I'd be worried about that. Especially in an old dude seeking out those who promise eternal rewards for extreme Right positions.


Pseudo:

Bgone:

I got the same problem with your grammar.

English Test Grade: F

Pseudo:

Shell Script, Shell Script, Shell Script

Turing Test Grade: F

BGone:

Bishop!!

With this, "As a Brit I am of course deeply interested in the U.S. elections because (as I think I've said before) they are really more important for my future than any UK elections. Shame I don't get to vote, though, when it will affect me as much as it will." I can surely identify.

I got the same problem with the pope. He's elected too and has way too much influence on my life for me to be deprived of a vote.

As, king George, (remember him?) taxed our forefathers when they were not represented at his court the pope tithes, (tithe - taxes collected by God's representatives) me and I'm not represented at his court either.

And they said we have no common ground.

Concerned The Christian Now Liberated:

Although there is signicant doubt that Jesus' actually said,

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea", Mark 9:42,

wiki.faithfutures.org/index.php/198_Millstone_for_Temptation,

it is, however, a great passage for judging leadership qualities.

Clinton's millstones:

major # 1, Her dishonest, lying, cheating husband who she should have dumped years ago. Having him in the Whitehouse again would percolate the stench of adultery and womanizing on a 24/7 basis for four more years.

major #2, Her disrespect for unborn children.

major #3, Not recognizing the flaws and errors of contemporary religions.

minor #1, "forgetting" the details of her trip to Bosnia.

Obama's millstones:

major #1, The "Reverend" Jeremiah Wright.

major #2, His failure to immediately condemn Wright's recent speech.

major #3, His disrespect for unborn children.

major #4, Not recognizing the flaws and errors of contemporary religions.

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