Religion on Fox: News or evangelism?

You either believe the same as Brit Hume - that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the light and that no one comes to the Father but through Him...and Tiger needs to ask forgiveness for his sins to receive Christ's forgiveness and love - or you believe there are other ways to do this. Forget whether or not Hume should've shared the advice at that time, on that program, or in his role. You either believe what he said is correct or wrong. Read more about it in "Politics and Religion: Knowing Little But Never Being Wrong" - http://richardtgarner.blogspot.com/2010/01/politics-and-religion-knowing-little.html

Hello Nikosd99,

Thank you for the reply. Yes, I disbelieve "that the source of Truth comes from a book (the bible)." The source of Truth is not contained in that book or any other, though reflections of Truth can no doubt be found within Sacred Texts. No one people or group own Truth or are the 'guardians' of it, (although it is one of the biggest ego games for the 'Fallen' to believe that they are the Chosen Ones). To this degree the mythology in Christianity as well as other religions is alive and well, unfortunately.

It is this dynamic present in the Abrahamic monotheism that is the greatest threat to world peace as well as spiritual evolution and progression, IMO. I do not expect the obvious truth in that statement to make a difference to your faithful belief that Christianity is the only way. Too much at stake, egotistically. Much too much riding on those assumptions.

I do not mind, (at all), sharing "God's Word". The problem becomes, for monotheists especially, the rigid and narrow definitions of what that is. And these are the roots of most pain and suffering in the world over the last couple of millenia.

"Hopefully, you, Tiger Woods, and Welton Gaddy will repent and come to a knowledge of the Living God."

I have nothing to repent in order to come to a knowledge of what I already have, a relationship with the "Living God". It is all around us, and in us, as the Love that We Are. I have left long ago the restrictions and limitations to that relationship that Christianity placed on me, and on every other spiritual believer, in order to be called "Christian".

I do not even think that title can aptly apply to any mainstream believer in Jesus any more. It has gone way off course since His time. There are very few true Christians, and you won't find them in churches.

Peace, Nikkos

Hello Justtillthennow,

You certainly have the right to disbelieve that the source of Truth comes from a book (the bible). and also the right to believe that this Christianity thing is just a myth. However, as long as you read my comments, you will be proselytized. So, until you quit reading my opinions, thank you for the opportunity to share God's Word with you.

Here are a few verses that pertain to the truth of His Word.

Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

Isaiah 55:6-11 "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. FOR AS THE RAIN COMETH DOWN, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: SO SHALL MY WORD BE that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

Psalm 119:104,105 "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Hopefully, you, Tiger Woods, and Welton Gaddy will repent and come to a knowledge of the Living God.

Hello Nikosd99,

"Mr. Gaddy is a thorn in the side of Christianity."

Isn't it funny how by making a spear a thorn, and a death a Resurrection, on can create a mythical Entity, and a religious institution that serves to maintain the ignorance of the very same human "sinners" that the Entity and institution are claimed to be sworn to save?

Mr. Gaddy is not the thorn, though he is doubtless an irritation to literal believers. It is not just some imagined, (or even Real!), Divinity Whose Praise need be won, but the bustling Humanity that is said to be Created by such Divinity.

We Are, on Earth, and must all find a way to live together in Peace. That or war becomes commonplace. It is for this reason and others that laws are enacted, (in this democracy at least) that protects both freedom of religion and speech, but that protects against them as well.

If Brit Hume wants to witness his faith to Woods, let him do so, between he and Woods. Public broadcast of that witnessing is wrong, distasteful, egotistical and arrogant, and dangerous. Do you want public broadcast of Islamic faith, for Sunnis to seek to convert Buddhists, or Christians? It can get ugly, and will if Christians continue their arrogant and elitist attempts to push their religion on others.

Do not bring your proselytizing to my door! Keep your delusions of what Jesus commanded to your own people! Do you not yet recognize that this spiritual disease that you support is the very thing that has brought untold evil on the planet, for centuries? Be one of the humans that wake up a bit, this year, Nikos. Jesus is a beautiful way. And all roads may lead to Rome. And all hearts ARE connected to the Source. AND that source DOES NOT come from the pages of a Book!

Mr. Gaddy is a thorn in the side of Christianity.

Jesus said, "....Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15,16)

He did not specify when, where, or how it should be done.

When the apostle Paul was in Athens, his spirit was stirred when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. Therefore he disputed in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. He encountered certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, which some called him a babbler. They took him to Mars' hill at Areopagus where Paul preached unto them Jesus Christ. (Acts 17)

After leaving Athens, Paul journeyed to Corinth and while there the Lord spoke to him in the night by a vision, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." (Acts 18:9,10)

Can you believe it? Paul was actually proselytizing. Oh, the shame of it! Perhaps Mr. Gaddy should have the courage to do the same. Or maybe, Mr. Gaddy is more interested in winning the praise of men, rather than God. Jesus said in Luke 9:26, "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."

I wonder whre Mr. Gaddy will be standing on that day.

As a Buddhist, I am happy to see just a few comments from Buddhists.
Mr. Hume's comments are much kinder comparing with the fact that Victoria's secret once placed Buddha's picture at the bottom of the swim suit!
I am afraid that Hume would not want to behave like such, were Wood's faith Muslim.
Or Christianity.
So we can see that Buddhists behave pretty well as far as forgiving is concerned.

Hello Netprophet,

Hume would have done himself better if he had suggested rehab or psychotherapy. As soon as one enters the religious realm one is bound for trouble, for it speaks to far deeper issues in the human psyche. People are going to get insulted. Crystals, new age thinking, Eastern mysticism are all entering the religious realm. Suggesting that he convert, and abandon his own chosen spiritual path for it lacks, (in Humes' ignorant view), redemptive and forgiving qualities, goes well beyond the line of common decency as well as common sense.

Thank you for the interest to post the link. I have viewed parts of that debate and was not impressed, and certainly do not find that it validates the claim. As if anything could validate that claim, and this long past the event.

As America has Republican Law Makers showing the Christian Religious Family/Moral Values the US has one might wonder who are we to talk. Senators Ensign, Vitter, Craig and Foley are all Christians. Priest who use the Church for greed as Rick Warren has done as he followed Oral Roberts tricks. Maybe Americans should first read the Bible before attacking Muslims or any Religion. Look at the Jews who tossed all of God's teaching out the window and now are less loved then in the beginning.

I believe that Welton Gaddy is a fake Christian. Having said that, it may help Christianity as a whole if he converts to other religions like Buddhism.

Even in the field of merchandising, a fake item is always a bad thing.

EDBYRONADAMS

You wrote

"On the contrary, life is eternal but it is also cyclic. I have better evidence for anyone who believes that observed reality is an indication of transcendent reality, which I do. The planets cycle. All your component molecules are involved in nutrient cycles. Even the crust of the Earth cycles via plate tectonics. Imposing a linear view of human life on this template is much more arbitrary.
And heaven, an eternal unchanging place. How do you tell the difference between that and hell? Of course, your God has a peculiar sense of proportion as well, giving us merely this instant on the mortal coil to determine our fate for the inconceivable length of eternity"

How do you reconcile your cyclical view of history with the evidence for a big bang or singular moment when the universe came into being? How do you reconile it with the second law of thermodynics which states that everything is decaying?

netprophet wrote:

"You are simply imposing your view that the here and now is better than any eternal refuge. Christianity's has good reasons to hold that this is the worst things will be (heaven will be the best) while the naturalist (you) believe this world is the best things will be since there is nothing eternal."

On the contrary, life is eternal but it is also cyclic. I have better evidence for anyone who believes that observed reality is an indication of transcendent reality, which I do. The planets cycle. All your component molecules are involved in nutrient cycles. Even the crust of the Earth cycles via plate tectonics. Imposing a linear view of human life on this template is much more arbitrary.

And heaven, an eternal unchanging place. How do you tell the difference between that and hell? Of course, your God has a peculiar sense of proportion as well, giving us merely this instant on the mortal coil to determine our fate for the inconceivable length of eternity.

The merit of Hume's statement is dubious at best, but then this is all personal opinion. Hume no doubt believes in his Christian faith, (or is preaching to the choir in order to elevate himself, a possibility with no small degree of merit!).
JUSTELLTHENOW:

You wrote:

"One thing that is clear is that these statements are inflammatory always, as they cannot be tossed onto the table with out insulting anothers' beliefs. Line crossed. First Amendment protects the right to speak, but what one says may still be insulting and without compassion or ethical ground, while it remains protected"

What if Hume had suggested that Woods go to rehab? or to try meditation? or to try psychotherapy? or to try crystals? or to try new age thinking? or some other form of Eastern Mysticism? Would those also be insulting as you say offering the gospel is?

HELLO JUSTILLTHENOW:

I suggest that you and others who have an interest in the historicity of Christianity, specifically, the ressurection to visit the debate between two eminent scholars William Lane Craig and Bart Erhman on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjOSNj97_gk&feature=related

You may have to copy the link into your browser as I dont know if the hyperlink will work.

Hello Netprophet,

You consider fragments of the Bible to be convincing and overwhelming evidence of historical fact, Netprophet? Seriously?

Second and third hand accounts of the supposed beliefs of the Apostles? This overwhelms the scientific and fact based knowledge of history that is accounted for and verified from multiple sources, as is scientific data?

It is "utterly" clear that the cult of Christianity survived and grew from a handful and some hundreds to the institution that it is today, and over 2000 years. That is amazing! Of course Judaism has been extant longer, as well as some others. Buddhism survives for similar length of time. It speaks to the priorities of humans, don't you think?

You bring up Stobel and McDowell as liberal thinkers that became believers. I am sure there are many more than those. But then again, there are tens more for each one of those that have moved away from Christianity, and particularly literally based Christianity, for those that come to believe. Too many problems for the thinking mind.

"Finally, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, what happened to him?"

He died. Like all the rest of us. That does not offer the fabulous story that early Christianity latched onto, but it is doubtless the truth. I am sure that he did resurrect, as the soul is eternal, (a faith based belief that I have that has no physical world justification!), and was reborn again. As we all may be if we allow dramatic and life changing shifts to transform our lives.

"So, this whole issue really does boil down to whether or not Christ is who he said he was and whether we can confidence in the Bible."

The first part of this statement of course swings on the second part, as we cannot know what Jesus actually DID say other than what was written of. He did not write an autobiography, which would clear the whole thing up, don't you think?

So I would have to say that I don't have the information to answer the fist part, and no to the second part. Until I am convinced of the opposite. Or 'till I am converted! ;-)

"First Amendment protects the right to speak, but what one says may still be insulting and without compassion or ethical ground, while it remains protected."

True. My points have nothing to do with the First Amendment. I never said that Hume had no legal right to tell Woods what religion he should follow. I was saying he had no moral right to do so.

Apologies to Carstonio and Edbyronadams for incorrectly crediting a quote.

Follow up to Netprophet,

"So, the issue boils down to the merit of what Hume said and why it is off limits. You need to read the First Amendment, sir."

It certainly is more than this, but still...

The merit of Hume's statement is dubious at best, but then this is all personal opinion. Hume no doubt believes in his Christian faith, (or is preaching to the choir in order to elevate himself, a possibility with no small degree of merit!).

One thing that is clear is that these statements are inflammatory always, as they cannot be tossed onto the table with out insulting anothers' beliefs. Line crossed. First Amendment protects the right to speak, but what one says may still be insulting and without compassion or ethical ground, while it remains protected.

Quite Christian of him, don't you think?

Hello Netprophet,

You to Carstonio: "You are simply imposing your view that the here and now is better than any eternal refuge. Christianity's has good reasons to hold that this is the worst things will be (heaven will be the best) while the naturalist (you) believe this world is the best things will be since there is nothing eternal."

My but you jump to conclusions. I do not read that Carstonio is making that claim that he is a naturalist or that this world is the best. On the other hand, you are making a claim of the existence of heaven, the God of the Christian Bible, and eternal life. None of these are verifiable or certain in any convincing way, but by the faith of the believer. If there is a view being "imposed" it is by religious adherents that broadcast their faith based leanings on national television, 'news', and into the political realm.

JUSTILTHENNOW

You object to my posting:

"Yet, there is more documented evidence for the truth claims of Christianity than of any other ancient facts of history..."

by arguing:

"Utter rubbish. Total and complete religious PR. There is much that is provable, repeatedly and cleanly, about ancient history that Christianity cannot touch, in terms of reliable and verifiable knowledge. The Resurrection is an unproven, unsubstantiated myth."

You're the one spewing "Utter Rubbish". The Gallic Wars, Caesar crossing the Rubicon pale in comparison to the documented evidence for Christianity. There are more than 5000 extant fragment copies of the Bible within a couple centuries of Christ's reusrrection. Nothing else even comes close in terms of numbers of copies or closeness to the events themselves.

People that set out to disprove Chrisianity such as Lee Stobel and Josh McDowell became believers merely becuase of the overwhelming documented evidence.

Finally, if Jesus did not rise from the dead, what happened to him?

90plus percent of liberal scholars agree that Jesus was crucified, they agree that Paul and Jesus' brother James believed in the risen Christ, and they agree that all 12 disciples and many others thought they saw the risen Christ in his post-resurrection appearances at different times and places. So what theory do you propose? The mass hallucination theory, the twin brother theory, the swoon theory? These have all been dismissed as ludicrous by even liberal critics in face of the evidence.

So, this whole issue really does boil down to whether or not Christ is who he said he was and whether we can confidence in the Bible.

I wonder if the shoe was on the other foot -- if, for example, a Muslim newscaster made the suggestion that Tiger convert to Islam (or made the suggestion that one of the many Christian scandalized politicians convert to Islam)to save his eternal soul, if there would be as much tolerance and understanding for his free expression of religious beliefs? Methinks not.

Hello Anothercontrarian,

"True, forgiveness is just the start of the Christian life, but it is a necessary start."

It is neither THE start, or the necessary start of a Christian life. It may be, but there are many reasons to be drawn to Christianity as well as any other religion that seeks to offer a more meaningful life.

"You have to be redeeemed before you can walk the Christian walk and it seems to me you went way out of your way to put a less than noble spin on the message Mr. Hume was attempting to convey. Perhaps you should ask for Mr. Hume's forgiveness"

Redemption is a very fundamental Christian concept, as if we are hopelessly Lost and Fallen and require it to move forward. Silly.

I did not see Mr. Hume's comments as being "noble" to begin with. He makes many assumption in making that comment, and betrays his ignorance of Buddhism in doing so. Buddhism is an EXCEPTIONAL pathway to forgiveness, redemption, peace, compassion, love, allowance.... Buddhist, generally, seem far more allowing and forgiving and caring, peaceful people than Christians can ever hope for.

For one they are generally not the ones promoting war, as our esteemed anchor does. But then many 'Christians' are leagues off the path that Jesus set forth.

I'll repeat a point I made in the Hirschfield threat - true respect for Woods' personal boundaries would involve Hume offering to counsel Woods in private, where Woods could have made his own decision whether to accept the offer. Hume shouldn't have made this a public issue at all.

Brit Hume should be happy Buddists apparently don't regard the recommended conversion of Tiger with the same resentment some Muslims would.

"Hume was only offering a suggestion to Woods that he try the Christian faith based on what it offers. "

That was still inappropriate. As a matter of principle of personal boundaries, such suggestions should only be offered when solicited.

"Well, sir, aren't you forcing your view onto Hume that he not offer the Christian faith to Woods?"

No, because my point is about Woods' personal boundaries. I would only be forcing my view onto Hume if I were urging Hume himself to change his religion, and I am most definitely NOT doing so. One's right to free speech ends where others' personal boundaries begin. Hume can say whatever he wants about Christianity or Buddhism as religions, but someone else's choice as to which religion to follow is not his concern. It's Hume who is guilty of intolerance, specifically his intolerance of Woods' freedom to choose his own religion.

edbyronadams wrote:

"Yes, and that "Get out of jail free" card allows Christians to keep on committing bad acts as long as they repent the day before death. It is hardly a great system for organizing society. Furthermore, any religion that posits another eternal refuge instead of what we have here and now is a flawed philosophy."

You are simply imposing your view that the here and now is better than any eternal refuge. Christianity's has good reasons to hold that this is the worst things will be (heaven will be the best) while the naturalist (you) believe this world is the best things will be since there is nothing eternal.

CARSTOHIO wrote to me, netprophet: "The objection here is to Hume's targeting a specific individual in public for an attempt at conversion".

Hume was only offering a suggestion to Woods that he try the Christian faith based on what it offers. I guess you object becase Hume is attempting to "push" his religion on Woods.

Well, sir, aren't you forcing your view onto Hume that he not offer the Christian faith to Woods? I can object to your targeting of an individual (Hume) to not be allowed speak just as loudly as you can object to my point. How tolerant of you!

So, the issue boils down to the merit of what Hume said and why it is off limits. You need to read the First Amendment, sir.

Christianity in America stopped having anything to do with Christ years ago. It's now a social club for political conservatives, who cherry-pick from the Bible and use the name of God to progress very un-Christ-like agendas of hate, intolerance, arrogance, and a religious totalitarian state. It would be funny if so many people didn't follow it like sheep to the slaughter.

"The Pot calling the Kettle Black" is the way I look at Hume's comments. However, since I don't believe in "God" and the concept of being "born into sin", you only know because someone told you so and I have an inability to believe everything that anyone tells me. This attitude of a certain religion being the right,best,perfect,only one when in fact "christianity" is a johnny-come-lately religion confounds me more than you would ever know. More people have been killed in the name of God than for any other reason. Oh, and while reading the Bible I realized that whenever God wanted his dirty work done, he sent an Angel. Hmmm

Let me understand. You state you have been a practicing Christian minister for 50 years but are highly offended by a fellow Christian, in a clear commentary, offers his faith to a person in need. You also strive to suggest that needing forgiveness is not a good reason to become a Christian, somehow that is not honorable compared to those "holstic" dedicated souls such as yourself.

It seem to me you are missing the point. Jesus stated that he came to save sinners. True, forgiveness is just the start of the Christian life, but it is a necessary start. You have to be redeeemed before you can walk the Christian walk and it seems to me you went way out of your way to put a less than noble spin on the message Mr. Hume was attempting to convey. Perhaps you should ask for Mr. Hume's forgiveness.

Please pardon my prior comment. I didn't realize Hume was already among the Fox Hate Channel Huckabees.

Perhaps Hume would be better placed at RNC Fox News Channel with it's various and sundry "Christian" Huckabees.

So when George Snuffalufagus on ABC's This Week asks his guest about their new year resolution, which is obviously not news, they should refuse?

I think you protest a bit too much about something that clearly isn't news itself.

This is so... last week.

Buddhism, as taught by the Buddha, has no mythology entailing God or gods, godesses. It preaches that when one is wronged one must not retaliate. One must also do no wrong to others or to oneself ( alcohol etc).

Forgiving smacks of arrogance. Christianity is a holier than thou arrogant faith.

Tiger proved that in some ways he is still a practicing Buddhist by not pressing criminal charges against his wife who broke his teeth and smashed the rearr window of his moving SUV, causing his SUV to crash into a hydrant and getting nearly killed.

perhaps Hume should convert to Buddhism and thereby get rid of some his arrogant and smug attitude.

My dad always told me that the only evil religion is the one that preaches it is above the other faiths.

We must all thank Hume for telling us in no uncertain terms what that religion, or one of those evil religions, is.

Most literate Americans have an idea what Christianity is about; it old news doesn't have to be spread. It be nice if we had a no-gospel knock list similar to the no call list for telemarketing.

Remember, when people come to your door with their bibles you have every right to tell them to get lost. They are the pushy uninvited, rude people.

If someone were to offer Tiger the number to their personal counselor/phsycologist, it would be considered a sincere kind gester. Isn't it possible that giving someone a suggestion that Jesus can help them should be considered to be an even more sincere gester?

Hearing Mr. Hume's comments, one can tell immediately that his level of spiritual development (Faithful*) is such that the only truth he can see is the literal word of his own religion - hence his recommendations to Tiger Woods. Because many or most people making comments about Hume's recommendations have already grown beyond the type of spirituality that says "only MY religion is right" some of us read Hume's trying to convert Tiger Woods as ridiculous.

While it may sound ridiculous to those of us who no longer need that type of religion, (Rational and Mystics*) I am sure Mr. Hume meant well. He was offering the only thing he knew of to help Tiger out.

Recognizing Mr. Hume's (Faithful) level of spiritual development for what it is, those of us at other levels should be just able to smile at what he said, (just as we might in the case of a child believing in Santa Claus,) and go on with our lives. No hate or anger is necessary.

*terms Faithful, Rational and Mystic fully explained at www.exploring-spiritual-development.com

I fully agree with Mr Gaddy's argument. If Mr. Hume wants to preach or proselytize, which it seems he wants to do, instead of being a news anchor, he should go and do that on one of the many many religious channels. Fox is not one of those, at least it did not publicly declare themselves as a religious channel. In fact their motto, whether it is serious or meant as a joke, "fair and balanced" definitely contradicts to allowing and condoning any comments denigrating one world religion compared to another.

Hume and his ilk are what I refer to as Christ-shuns..so called because they seem to shun everything Jesus actually stood for. The vitriol and nastiness that spews forth from this crowd is literally enough to turn a person's stomach. The absolute arrogance of Hume to so belittle someone else's beliefs! If this is their "testamony" to Christ's love, then their God is clearly a small and petty deity indeed! That's not the Jesus I learned about in Sunday School! How they can justify this sort of hate-mongering in the first place..let alone to accuse anyone who has the sense to be offended and is critical of such behavior as "attacking" Christianity! It's beyond all comprehension. Perhaps Hume is angling for a spot on the Daystar "channel" after all..where he can join in, in their daily appeals to the poor and ignorant, to send in their "atonement tithes" (preferably in the amount of $1000.00)..thereby replenishing the accounts that keep such shucksters in Bentleys, Rolexes and beach houses on the Gulf! Try as they might to justify it, there is no way Jesus "wants" such con artists to be that well off! Keep up the good works and the good word, Reverend Gaddy!

HEY, HEY, HEY!
Gaddy, above, the writer of this column, ISN'T Jewish? He isn't even a rabbi. What goes?

For the third day in a row, a non Jew.
What goes?

Posted by: whistling | January 5, 2010 4:31 PM
----------------------------------
HEY, HEY, HEY!

FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW, THE CHRISTIAN BASTARD WHISTLING IS POSTING.

WHAT GIVES?

Hello Rob-Roy,

In this I am in agreement with Mr. Gaddy:

"Seeking the easiest form of forgiveness--though such a description of forgiveness in Christianity is woefully inadequate and misleading--is not a reason to become a Christian."

Although the concept of forgiveness is fabulous it is not the reason to become a Christian. Forgiveness is just one virtue or blessing that one hopes comes from commitment to a spiritual path. That alone as the motivation for spiritual fulfillment seems a bit shallow and self serving to me. Of course, in the end most everything is self serving, perhaps.

"Brit Hume offers with integrity and unashamedly his personal views."

Brit Hume is ignorant of the benefits of Buddhism. His judgment that forgiveness and salvation are found better with Christianity is itself self serving, and the bias doubtless clouds his vision of a great and powerful spiritual tradition. Not to mention that his presumptions are deeply arrogant.

A quality not lacking in a Christian worldview.

Hello Onlyjesussavesdotcom,

"Jesus said of HIMSELF that He is the ONLY way, the ONLY truth, the ONLY life."

We do not know what Jesus actually said, we only have the Gospels that were deemed acceptable for admission into the 'New Testament' by church hierarchy, decades and centuries ACE. You may bet all your eggs on the utter validity and clarity of those testaments, authors unclear, but I do not. And further, the emphasis on "only" that you include is man made and institutionally required. The Church, for it's own survival and growth, requires the concept of exclusivity as well as the divinity of the man Jesus.

These things are elementary.

"The ONLY way to have ytour sins forgiven is to repent of (forsake) your sins and trust in what Jesus did on the Cross to save you.
PERIOD."

That is YOUR period, friend, not mine, and not required of me by God. The concept that Jesus died for my 'sins', (whatever they may be!), is not only laughable but it is against natural law. Cause and effect. In all ways we are responsible for our actions. They are not wiped 'clean' by magic, or by the name Jesus. Transformation and elevation up toward God is done by hard internal work, and by dedication and commitment to different and healthier choices.

Original Sin is meaningless, really. We ARE where we are, and we are WHO we are. We will be that until WE change into another form of our expression as incarnate souls.

"I am sorry you have heard so many false assumptions about Christianity,..."

Heard? I have seen, and lived, what are actual assumptions that Christians make. The assumptions themselves are false. I consider my perceptions of Christian assumptions to be accurate. Do you think that Christians do not make these assumptions?

"... but this is exactly what is exclusive about Christianity. ONLY JESUS SAVES."

I am in agreement that Christianity, in general, holds this exclusive belief. It is, as a religious belief system, and individuals are as adherents to that system, convinced of this delusion of exclusive ownership of a valid and singularly true Deity. They are wrong in this assumption. The Creator is for all, not for some 'chosen people', self-named and self-claimed.

The authors of a book are the originators of that story and so 'own it', but that does not make the story real, much less singularly valid and appropriate for all.

Personally, I find Buddhism to be a far more effective system for creating not only forgiveness in life, but redemption and spiritual advancement. It is in part for the very reason that it DOES NOT offer a get out of jail free card, (an illusion in a cause and effect natural world!), that it can offer a real road toward self realization as a child of all.

Peace, shalom, salaam and pax, onlyjesus...

NetProphet, the issue with Brit Hume's statements about Tiger Woods has nothing to do with the "public square," a vague concept. And it has nothing to do with the merits of one religion or another, or the factualness of any one religion's claims about universe versus another's. Hume can say whatever he wants about any religion. The objection here is to Hume's targeting a specific individual in public for an attempt at conversion.

Netprophet wrote:

"Secondly, if one is honest in comparing Christianity with Buddhism, or any other "religion", Christianity is the only worldview that offers a "free gift of grace". All other religious systems require earning or merit on the part of the adherent. And those are the facts, friends."

Yes, and that "Get out of jail free" card allows Christians to keep on committing bad acts as long as they repent the day before death. It is hardly a great system for organizing society. Furthermore, any religion that posits another eternal refuge instead of what we have here and now is a flawed philosophy.

Buddhism relies on cause and effect, the same principle that works in science. Make a bad cause, get a bad effect and that bad effect sometimes becomes apparent immediately, sometimes later but the real world we inhabit now is the only way to change karma.

Tiger Woods' marital infidelities are fair game for condemnation since those actions affect his wife and his mistresses. But Brit Hume has no right to believe that Tiger should change religions, or to lecture Woods about choosing religions. It's like Brit has appointed himself Tiger's guardian, making all his personal decisions. Maybe next week Brit will pontificate on whether Tiger should have kids or whether Tiger should move to a new neighborhood.

Netprophet

Bret Hume has revealed himself to be a religeous kook. That is how he is being judged, by his very own words and behavior. That is the world we live in, that people who cannot keep a grip on their religion in a secular public setting are judged to be religious kook.

Quote all you want from the Bible about how he was only following the instructions of Christ, he is still a kook.

There are alot of instructions from Jesus that I do not see reflected in Bret Hume's sour and sullen demeanor and his uncaring, unloving, even slightly mean attitude towards his fellow man, which he does not try to hide or disguise.

"Seeking the easiest form of forgiveness--though such a description of forgiveness in Christianity is woefully inadequate and misleading--is not a reason to become a Christian."

Wrong. Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be opened." Jesus offers living water, he offers grace, he offers forgiveness.

This was not a news segment. Rather it was a personal analysis of current events. Brit Hume offers with integrity and unashamedly his personal views.

sorry. they're at the top. so Fishcrow message is not above mine, but the first one the bottom - ie the earliest.

hah. neither post posted. good thing I copied the second one. will try later, assuming it's a glitch.

post has not appeared, I repeat: just below the post is a link to a discussion of how religion and sports intersect. I'd be more interested in a discussion of how organized faith resides at the intersection of government and psychology. meanwhile, Fishcrow above me misses the point, which is not how Christianity operates but that religion is inappropriate in a news forum. there, that was better than my first post.

just below Rev. Gaddy's post is a link reading "click for discussion of the intersection of religion and sports" (I paraphrase). actually, I'd be more interested in a discussion of organized religion which I describe as "residing at the intersection of government and psychology." and Fishcrow above me is disregarding the real complaint, which does not concern the nature of Christianity but the inappropriateness of a news venue for such a religious message.

NewsBusters -- Hypocrisy: Preachy Pastor Tells Hume Not to be Preachy in WaPo Piece
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/erin-brown/2010/01/05/hypocrisy-preachy-pastor-tells-hume-not-be-preachy-wapo-piece

Besides, I always like the "repent" idea! For instance in Roman Catholicism, You can kill, steal, rape, etc., and as long as you truly "repent", you will be saved! I think the smartest thing is to not have your child baptized! This way, he/she can just go ahead and lead a sinful life (say like the Mafia), and then as he/she is dying, get baptized and truly repent, and be absolved of all his/her sins and enter heaven pure! Boy, this Christian thing is great!

OnlyJesusSavesDOTcom, actually you got it all wrong and obviously misunderstand my post! Yes, I love to lust! I think sex is great no matter whom you choose to do it with as long as its consenting! I could care less if a woman is single, married or engaged, they are all open game if they are interested! It looks to me that being christian gives you that right! Just look at all the conservative religious right supposed Christians who have either cheated, raped, had sex with prostitutes, or who are Gay! And who all claim to be strongly in favor of the sanctity of marriage, against prostitution, cheating, Gay relationships, and any sex outside of marriage! Do you really want me to throw the list of names at you from Christian pastors, priests, Republican/Conservative Congressmen, Senators, and Governors who all seem to enjoy such things, and all claim to own the Christian landscape? I don't think one single gay conservative/republican ever ran for political office by coming out clean and admitting he/she was Gay! Yet, you have plenty of Democrat openly Gay politicians who were not afraid of being openly truthful about their sexuality when running for office! I have to believe their are far more closeted Gay Republicans than Democrats, holding political office who know they'd be committing political suicide if they CAME OUT! So, they choose to live a lie until they are exposed in public restrooms, or trying to have sex with male teenage interns, or Gay prostitutes! So, it looks to me that Christianity encourages sex!!!

@yankeechess
I understand. So you've never lusted?
The problem here is not those who fail to prove they are who they claim to be by what they do. At issue with your rage is the fact that Jesus will hold you accountable for YOUR lust.

Try and make it to the end of this test and see if you think so highly of yourself after... there is good news at the end.
http://NeedGod.com

Patrick Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.com

"Where I get offended is in the wholly arrogant assumption of Christians that theirs is a better way"

What is EXACTLY the point Justil.
@justillthennow
Jesus said of HIMSELF that He is the ONLY way, the ONLY truth, the ONLY life. That no one could go to the Father (Heaven, where He is) by BY HIM.
In other words...

If you have ever lied, stolen or lusted you will be guilty before a Just and Holy God. The ONLY way to have ytour sins forgiven is to repent of (forsake) your sins and trust in what Jesus did on the Cross to save you.
PERIOD.

I am sorry you have heard so many false assumptions about Christianity, but this is exactly what is exclusive about Christianity. ONLY JESUS SAVES.

Patrick Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.com

OnlyJesusSavesDOTcom, what a raging idiot! "Hume's comment I must say he is correct that Tiger would get straightened out bu being a Christian"! O'h. I see, its that easy huh?? Like Swaggart, Bakker, Ensign and Stanford?? and all the other bad boy Christian Right Republican Conservatives! Boy being a Christian sure helped save them huh?? It looks to me that cheating and prostitutional womanizing is a writ of passage to being a GOOD Christian! If not, I can't see how being a Christian is "straightening" any one out! Maybe I should seriously think about converting to Christianity! From the proof I've seen the conversion should "straighten" my desires and turn me into a raging sex maniac!

Hello Netprophet,

Hey, nice moniker. AND you get a chance to opine on the net, too!

Oh, I am sure that I could comment on the gross assumptions that you make in your post, and though I will it will be in passing for most. Like the veiled reference to your Lord Jesus as the Prince of Peace when refering to the "priests of tolerance". Yes, He was a liberal...

Although I disagree with you that Oprah "knows zippo about Christianity", (she was quite schooled in it, and then seen the Light), I find some commonality with you on the fundamental issue here. But only a bit. This is not about commentators offering opinions, at heart, but about the religious assumptions that are made with no form of justification to back up the assertion.

There is no meat to Mr. Hume's suggestion that converting to Christianity would do poppycock to that rooster. There is no proof that conversion to Christianity does ANYTHING different in the life than a whole-hearted conversion to any other religion, Buddhism included. It is pure spiritual elitism and snobbery.

"Yet, there is more documented evidence for the truth claims of Christianity than of any other ancient facts of history..."

Utter rubbish. Total and complete religious PR. There is much that is provable, repeatedly and cleanly, about ancient history that Christianity cannot touch, in terms of reliable and verifiable knowledge. The Resurrection is an unproven, unsubstantiated myth. I have seen my father after he died as well, and dreamed of him and my sister repeatedly, but noone would believe that. Nor should they.

Likewise the Miracles. Eyewitness accounts by believers in the new Christian cult.

Netprophet, cont.:

You WANT the fundamental Christian tenets to be valid fact, but they are not. Faith DOES make a difference in life, prayer DOES make a difference in life, 'Holy Spirit' CAN and DOES fill one when we are focused upon the Divine.

But Christian claims of owning True God and the One Way is just another form of elitist ego and the arrogance of the Fallen.

"Secondly, if one is honest in comparing Christianity with Buddhism, or any other "religion", Christianity is the only worldview that offers a "free gift of grace". All other religious systems require earning or merit on the part of the adherent. And those are the facts, friends."

Yes, and ain't that a bi*ch? You hit on the greatest insult of Christianity on humanity. The delusion that one may be 'saved' and salvaged from our ignorance and 'fallen' natures without working for that end. How idiotic, and yet so simple in it's diabolical plan. Cause humans to think they don't have to do a thing for redemption but claim fealty to a Deity. No work required.

Christians are, by and large, so very infantile entities. Most are awfully lazy spiritually because of that very belief. You believe you are already in heaven.

I hope you are having a blast, because you are coming back to try it on again.

Happy New Year!

"Let the venom toward my post now spew forth!"

I don't quite agree with what I see expressed on Fox news, but the ostrich-like denial of its ratings by so many on these boards makes me think I better watch it a little more. Someone doesn't want me to see what they have to say.

"What part of the Judeo-Christian Ethics is still in our Government someone asked earlier... How about "In God We Trust" printed on our currency? I don't see anything about Buddha, Allah or any other"

Actually, "In God We Trust" wasn't added to U.S. currency until 1864, and did not become the national motto until 1956 during the Red Scare, McCarthyism et. al. The push to put the motto on currency was hardly unanimous - indeed, President Theodore Roosevelt opposed inscribing the motto on our currency. There were several coin minting series which did not have the motto. It wasn't until 1955 that legislation was passed requiring the motto on all U.S. currency.

"In God We Trust" did not appear on U.S. currency, or as our national motto, until long after the Founding Fathers were dead and buried. The phrase is hardly representative of enduring Judeo-Christian values from the founding of our republic.

Netprophet: "Let the venom toward my post now spew forth!"

It seems to me that you had to pick and choose your clip-quotes pretty carefully, because these comments are not replete with them. So perhaps you're trying to bait future posters in hopes this will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Since you've obviously read the posts, you must be aware by now that many of them are actually pretty orthodox, and many of the rest are simply questioning the appropriateness of the means of proselytizing and the venue / circumstances in which it occurred.

Many of us doubt that what Hume did will do the least bit of good, others doubt his sincerity, many regret that these discussions too often degenerate into "My god is bigger than yours" -- an exercise in futility.

You don't do your cause much good -- although you certainly do set the tone of your own post -- by referring to "secular leftists" and "the priests of venom". I, for one, proudly affirm myself as both a leftist and a Christian.

Of course you can ignore anything posted here that doesn't support your own preconceptions, but you will also find those willing to discuss things with you straight-up IF you really have any inclination to do so. On the other hand, if you merely want to vent your spleen, it (unlike Fox News Sunday) is a wide-open free-speech forum, so go right ahead.

"And who says being a Christian is the answer? What makes them any more special than those of other faiths?".....
"If anyone ever doubted what FOX represents - the bigoted, xenophobic fringe of American fundamentalism - they don't need to doubt any further."....
"brit hume joins a whole list of idiots associated with the fox news cable network.he has to be a schmuck to feel that buddhism is not a forgiving religion."

I have never read such venom by "the priests of tolerance"; that is, the secular leftists who obviously dominant
this post.

The fudamental issue here is that religion, whether it be Christianity or Buddhism or any other religious system must be confined to personal and private opinion. That is, there are no experts on any of them and for Brit Hume, or anyone else to speak to it aggravates many. Why - how could he possibly know anything about what he believes?!! Nothing could be more nonsensical. But when someone like Oprah (who knows zippo about Christianity) speaks on religion, she says we dont need to be caught up in defining God in any specific fashion because everyone's opinion about religion is equally valid.

Yet, there is more documented evidence for the truth claims of Christianity than of any other ancient facts of history, yet beause we have assumed religion must be privatized it has no place in the public square.

That leaves the public square "naked" as John Neuhaus argued leaving only secularism with its attendant worldviews of postmodernism, relativism and scientific naturalism as acceptable discourse. Just mention Jesus as Mr. Hume did, and the venom reaches a crescendo.

Secondly, if one is honest in comparing Christianity with Buddhism, or any other "religion", Christianity is the only worldview that offers a "free gift of grace". All other religious systems require earning or merit on the part of the adherent. And those are the facts, friends.

Let the venom toward my post now spew forth!

I personally have no issue with ANYONE expressing their religious convictions. If you do then move to China where Free Speech is regulated: You'll fit in there nicely.
As to the content of Mr. Hume's comment I must say he is correct that Tiger would get straightened out bu being a Christian, but he clearly missed the mark when he did explain WHY.
See, this is exactly why Brit's comments offend unbelievers, because they are not reasonable without explanation.
He would have been better off saying something like, "Tiger would be better off coming to grips with the adultery he has been purported to have committed in the light of what the Bible says happens to those who violate the Seventh Commandment."

Patrick Burwell, Response@OnlyJesusSaves.com

Flibber: "I can't believe that adults are engaging in this conversation."

Nobody's asking you to believe -- just to have faith ;-)

It's hard to believe that anyone takes that cretin Hume seriously. He has never made any sense, but he speaks in a low, deep, deliberate voice and the Fox Noise puppets lap it up. If you remove his delivery and READ his words you'll realize he's an even bigger dunce than his friend Rush.

The arrogance of some Christians is beyond belief.

Brit Hume would not be on Fox News if he were intellectually honest. Therefore, he did what comes naturally to an ignoramus. Hume is an embarrassment. Sadly, many Fox viewers probably sat there watching as Hume made his sophomoric comments and nodded in approval.

I can't believe that adults are engaging in this conversation. If QVC gives airtime to some lunatic advocating using healing crystals for "spiritual renewal" or whatever, is The Washington Post going to have a page dedicated to the merits of healing crystal sizes and colors?

What Brit has had 2, 3 wives, numerous affairs, almost cost a co-anchor her job? Judging Tiger Woods? Christians are SICK!

If you REALLY want forgiveness for your sins, I recommend the church of Satan. Heck, you don't even have to ask for it!

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Typical CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN garbage.

Masters of Hypocrisy and Vile understanding of God's word.

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..
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Brit has shown what the Christian faith is all about; BOLDNESS. I commend him and stand beside him and his comments. Tiger will find out what many other folk found out "the hard way." Money will never buy you peace. God through His Son Jesus offers peace that the world does not understand. I hope and pray he listens and responds. He's a great golfer, and could be an even greater Ambassador for Christ.

Posted by: heygriff | January 5, 2010 4:41 PM

###########################################

Pushing your religion on someone who you don't know or who isn't asking for spiritual advice is not "boldness", but disrespect and exploitation. To think that Woods or anyone else would be inspired by Brit's comments is sheer delusion.

Now Mr. Woods is no Nazarene, like Sampson, but he did indeed utilize the services of harlots, viz:

Judges 16
Samson Carries Away Gaza’s Gates

1 One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. 2 Word soon spread[a] that Samson was there, so the men of Gaza gathered together and waited all night at the town gates. They kept quiet during the night, saying to themselves, “When the light of morning comes, we will kill him.”

3 But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate, including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron.

________

AFTER visiting the prostitute, Samson quashed the Philistines with his hair cut and his eyes gauged out. The lesson: use a prostitute to strengthen prowess. Mr. Woods clearly followed Samson's example, having utilized the services of at least 15. This definitely improved his game. An example of a hole in one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufscYVbYLQQ

Were Mr. Woods to begin his series of PHIR's, Godly and divinely inspired, you may rest assured that many more such things would occur.

Simply compare Hume's words to Mother Teresa's deeds and the point will be abundantly clear. The rooster who crows from the rooftop is despised by the neighbors, but the hen who lays eggs in secret and in silence is the one who feeds the hungry."
Posted by: laboo

Again, Laboo, well said. The problem I have with Mr. Hume's comments is that it seems to have nothing to do with Mr. Woods. It seems to be nothing more than currying favor with Fox's demographic.

I just can't see this as an attempt to counsel Mr. Woods. It looks more like a ratings-booster, or the start of an attempt to enter politics. Either way, it seems to show a certain arrogance, the "I'm right, you're all wrong" kind of "witness" that really does not make your case well. Annoying people you want to reach out to hardly ever does.

Pursuant to your "live your witness" suggestion, if Mr. Hume wanted to truly reach out to Mr. Woods, he could, for instance, talk about the pain he caused his family with his own infidelity, and what he learned from it. He could explain how his faith helped him to see the error of his ways. In other words, he could humble himself a bit. Since he couldn't be bothered to try this, I have to assume a more self-serving motive. Perhaps that's just my own cynicism.

Memo to Brit: Ted Haggard, Jim Baker, Jimmie Swaggart, etc. etc.

The Christian God has abandoned ship and if Jesus is a rational being (albeit The Invisible Man in the Sky) he is laughing at guys like Brit.

And why in the world does Tiger need forgiveness? He is a big-time pro athlete. In America that means he gets as many groupies as he can carry. I think that is in the job description. Why else does any guy play sports?

2 false assumptions here:

1. that "fox news" is a news reporting network. it is an arm of the republican party. or more accurately an extreme right wing propaganda organization.
2. that brit hume is a "news anchor".
he is a right wing commentator.

2 false assumptions here:

1. that "fox news" is a news reporting network. it is an arm of the republican party. or more accurately an extreme right wing propaganda organization.
2. that brit hume is a "news anchor".
he is a right wing commentator.

Brit Hume is the biggest moron on the TV, next to Rush, Sean, Glenn, Bill, et al. I take that back they are the quintuplets of moronic thinking. When you think one is taking the cake, the other one crops and cannot resist the impulse to better the first one with his own sub-moronic statements. I wonder when did Brit become a X'ian, after his first wife dumped him? And someone pray tell me why did she dump him in the first place.

Brit has shown what the Christian faith is all about; BOLDNESS. I commend him and stand beside him and his comments. Tiger will find out what many other folk found out "the hard way." Money will never buy you peace. God through His Son Jesus offers peace that the world does not understand. I hope and pray he listens and responds. He's a great golfer, and could be an even greater Ambassador for Christ.

Does Brit Hume assume no one knows his
background?

THere are still a lot of old timers around.
Suppose he would lean very hard on the
"redemption" part...which has made him
pure as the driven (or herded) snow?

But he's good enough for Fox, which undoubtedly hailed his wretched stupidity.

Brit Hume claims to be a Christian, but he doesn't act like one.

He complains that Buddhism, unlike Christianity, doesn't offer easy forgiveness.

Insofar as I understand Buddhism, it seems to me that Buddhism doesn't offer forgiveness at all. It offers something much better: the possibility of enlightenment.

"Sin" and "forgiveness" are verbal concepts detached from the reality of the universe. They are, like all such concepts and perceptions, illusions.

A person advancing on the path toward enlightenment will see through those illusions and perceive what's really going on.

"Forgiveness" has no real, inherent identity and doesn't exist in the realm of absolute truth. It has only a kind of shadowy, illusory, transitory existence in the realm of relative truth (everyday reality)."

"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives." His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

So Hume is advising that Tiger convert to Christianity because in Christianity adultry is a sin which can only be forgiven through belief in Christianity. Sorta circular logic if you ask me.

Lets see how Hume likes this:
In the religion of the Flying Spaghetti Monster anyone making millions sitting pretty on a stool reading news from a monitor for an hour a day is making a sin that can only be forgiven by eating 3 plates of spaghetti a day. So Hume, to save his soul, should convert to believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster religion since that is his only hope.

Yeah, that works...

HEY! HEY ! HEY!

Gaddy, above, the writer of this column, ISN'T Jewish? He isn't even a rabbi. What goes?

For the third day in a row, a non Jew.
What goes?

I wonder how people who agree with Brit Hume would feel if Tiger was a Christian, and a Muslim said that Tiger should convert to Islam?

Does Brit Hume assume no one knows his
background?

THere are still a lot of old timers around.
Suppose he would lean very hard on the
"redemption" part...which has made him
pure as the driven (or herded) snow?

But he's good enough for Fox, which undoubtedly hailed his wretched stupidity.

CTFROMWV: your first three points are well taken. the next two, not so much. Gaddy recoils from Hume's utilitarian argument for good reason. you can't choose christianity BECAUSE it offers forgiveness. it can only offer that if it is the one true religion and you are lucky enough to have found faith in it, otherwise it matters not. and if it is the one true religion, you would not have the freedom to choose another regardless of what it preached. Gaddy is making the point that utilitarian arguments are theologically absurd. you have to decide what you believe is true first, not what you would like to be true because of what it preaches. and as for your last point, given the above, Hume might just as well have said "I would like to take this opportunity to proclaim the Christian God as the one true God, and all others as false. And oh, by the way, Tiger, that means that if you want forgiveness, you need to convert." Even Hume might have realized it was inappropriate to say that if he had realized what he was actually saying, and in fact that's what he was really saying, because if Bhuddism is true and Christianity false, the latter's teaching of forgiveness is moot.

Athena4 wrote: "I find it ironic that Mr. Hume, who has been married twice, is giving spiritual and marital advice to Tiger Woods. Because we all know that Christians don't cheat on their spouses, right?"

Especially Hume's current spouse. She's Fox News vice president and former Washington bureau chief. If he messed around he'd get more than a thrashing, he'd lose his job and never work in this town again. Nothing like having your wife also be the boss to keep one from sleeping around. Maybe Brit's advice should be for Tiger to make his wife president of Tiger Woods Incorporated.

I'm a so-called Christian and I don't pretend to tell anyone what they need to do regarding their faith/belief/non-belief/marriage/etc. For those of us who are Christians we go to Heaven or hell or our own. "...judge not lest ye be judged..." so I won't judge Hume but...

Sonofliberty09: yes, it was commentary. but would it have been OK if Hume had said, since I have the floor (microphone) at the moment I would just like to take this opportunity to say that my god exists and no one else's does?

If that isn't what Hume was actually saying, then he's an idiot. It can't be the case that Bhuddism and Christianity are both true, and that it's just a good idea to choose the later if you are in the market for forgiveness, and that Hume was therefore just giving Tiger some consumer information to make a product choice. And if Christianity is true, you don't choose it because of a doctrine that it happens to preach - you don't get any choices, you are stuck with whatever the one true god is selling.

I am so tried of these nutty Protestants preachers talking about something they no nothing about; religion. Whether Brett was right about bring religion into the Tiger Woods question we can all have our opinions but some nut out of so called "preacher land" offers no value.

I find it ironic that Mr. Hume, who has been married twice, is giving spiritual and marital advice to Tiger Woods. Because we all know that Christians don't cheat on their spouses, right?

Gee, Brit... all it takes to alter bad behavior is convert to Christianity? So the premise is that Christians are moral and all other religions and belief systems are not. I always knew FOX simplified issues for their knuckle-dragging uneducated viewers, but this takes the cake!

Ugh, what nonsense from Hume and from those trying to apologize for him here. First, if you study the Buddhist concept of karma, you will find that it is basically a concept of repentance and forgiveness. Wrong actions and wrong thoughts lead to a build-up of negative karma; right actions and right thoughts lead to a dissipation (or forgiving) of the bad karma. In fact, might the Christian ideas of sin and forgiveness have their roots in the Hindu concept of karma, in fact, since Hinduism precedes Christianity and is from an area of the world in contact with the Middle East? Any coincidence that both Christianity and Buddhism focus on the concept of rebirth? Second, most of the Buddhists I know are also Christian or Jewish. And, third, do you ACTUALLY think that Hume was trying to "help" Tiger by making that suggestion and was not just scoring points on non-Christians by implying that Tiger's decisions were rooted in his lack of Christian faith? (As if Christians never cheat on their wives...) C'mon, folks. God knows when you are lying to yourselves.

Britt Hume??? Please!

"Mr. Woods could start a series of Protestant Houses of Ill Repute"

The Wood's Hi-dollar nookie house. Not a bad idea.
.

Hume's comment is precisely why this "network" is known universally as Pox News.

This is nothing new with FOX - - FOX personalities always shoot from the hip and make ignorant, intolerant comments all the time.

FOX well represents America's misinformed and uneducated.

Nothing at all wrong with urging someone to convert to their religion. In Mr. Woods case, a conversion to Protestantism might be well advised. The bible mentions harlots on occasions numberless, yet most conservative Protestants oppose this profession. Mr. Woods could start a series of Protestant Houses of Ill Repute (PHIR), whence persons of his sexual mores could be better accepted.

Tiger really has nothing to be forgiven for. He messed around on his wife...something that millions of Americans of all faiths do every single day...and they all lie to their wives, just like he did. The only person who committed a real, punishable crime was his wife, who knocked out Tiger's teeth with a golf club - that's called spousal abuse and it is a punishable crime. Sleeping with other women is not a crime. Why don't you demonize the individual who deserves to be demonized - his wife, who is an acknowledged violent spouse abuser? If Tiger had hit his wife with a gold club, the outcry would be heard in China. What's with the double standard, Christians?

I personally believe that while Hume has every free-speech "right" to make such statements on-air as he did, he'd also have no real recourse if he were to be disciplined because of it. That's the chance he takes, but he earns no points from me because of it.

I also believe, as a Christian myself, his comments served no purpose either strategically or tactically.

Strategically, because he was in effect "preaching to the choir". His words will find favor with certain Christians -- though not all -- but among nonChristians, they will bring disrepute on Christianity rather than making it seem more attractive to those of other faiths. They will resent him using his "bully pulpit" to proclaim his Christianity in a forum denied to them.

Tactically, because his words will surely have no effect on Tiger Woods' beliefs; Tiger will likely simply dismiss them, sincere though they undoubtedly were. Thus, Hume's words were merely as tinkling brass or clanging cymbals.

Yes, we Christians are supposed to share the good news -- but by deeds, not words. What Hume did is not truly proselytizing. Christ had little respect for those who strutted their piety and proclaimed their faith loudly in the public square. Instead, he offered a Samaritan -- member of a tribe despised by all pious Israelites -- as the true example of a good neighbor who served God rightly. He also said that those who pray in the temple for all to hear, and clatter their gold pieces ostentatiously when dropping them in the collection plate, have already received their recompense; but those who do good secretly -- like the widow who quietly slipped her only penny into the alms box -- will likewise be rewarded by God in privacy.

Simply compare Hume's words to Mother Teresa's deeds and the point will be abundantly clear. The rooster who crows from the rooftop is despised by the neighbors, but the hen who lays eggs in secret and in silence is the one who feeds the hungry.

Hume, I suppose, considers himself an evangelist-journalist in much the same way that Michael Gerson, Post op-ed writer, considers himself a lay theologian and yet promotes elective wars. "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," saith the Lord.

Gee, let's get more specific and refer Mr Woods to individual in-your-face, self righteous Christians. Just off the top of my head, I can think of several that can offer advice:

Jimmy Swaggart
Jim Baker
Newt Gingrich
Gov Sanford
Sen Craig

Mr. Hume should express all of his superstitions as just that: superstition, fair and balanced.

If Mr. Hume finds solace in his particular faith, good for him. But he should not expect that Tiger Woods or any other individual will necessarily find the same kind of abstract satisfaction one gets from being uplifted with fairytales and other tall tales.

Mr. Hume might find a more receptive audience in his Queen's Great Britain, where the fairytale originated.

Pastor Gaddy -

Fox is not news. Fox is slanted political propaganda and commentary directed at a specific audience.

Please ...

Just to correct a few of the errors in Rev. Gaddy's article.
1. Fox News is the name of a network. Not every minute of every program is devoted to news reporting. Its hours are filled by news, analysis, discussion and opinion. His criticism that Mr. Hume should be engaged only in news reporting indicates either a lack of basic understanding or a deliberate distortion.
2. Moreover, the Tiger Woods "saga" is BIG news ('though I don't understand why).
3. Rev. Gaddy inserts "[sic]" into Mr. Hume's quote that "I don't think that faith [i.e., Buddhism] offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is (sic) offered by the Christian faith," apparently citing a subject/verb disagreement whereby the verb should be "are" to correspond with "forgiveness and redemption." But the antecedent of "is" is the word "kind," not the phrase "forgiveness and redemption." Should others disagree, it can be argued that Mr. Hume's expression was a singular, hyphenated "forgiveness-and-redemption," a construction that cannot be identified from his spoken words. Either way, Rev. Gaddy appears petty and pedantic with this criticism.
4. Rev. Gaddy's statement that "I am delighted to see my [Christian] faith discussed in public. However, I am not pleased to see my faith used in a utilitarian manner" is staggering. Mr. Hume and presumably all the rest of us are not to find utility in faith? Embracing a belief system that has the capacity to provide meaning in life and comfort in death is to be criticized? What an astonishing assertion Mr. Gaddy makes with this criticism.
5. No longer a news anchor, but still a news analyst, Mr. Hume violates no journalistic or ethical principles by expressing the opinion he voiced, nor in the forum he chose. Pity Rev. Gaddy if this is unclear to one who has "served as a Christian minister for 50 years." Shame on him if his substanceless criticism reflects the pettiness and closemindedness that his words suggest.

I won't be attending this Pastors church. Britt was doing what Christ has asked us Christians to do; spread the gospal. I guess this pastor must feel like Britt might be cutting in on his business and he won't be able to fill his coffers.

What part of the Judeo-Christian Ethics is still in our Government someone asked earlier... How about "In God We Trust" printed on our currency? I don't see anything about Buddha, Allah or any other."

Allah is simply Arabic for God. The Buddha is not seen as a deity, but an enlightened being, something all beings are seen as capable of. The line "In God we trust" was added to the printed money to make religious believers happy, in other words for political reasons. The "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance was added for similar reasons. And the separation of church and state is in our constitution, and firmly supported by most of the founders of the U.S. Any remotely objective reading of the body of their works brings one to that conclusion.

I'm Buddhist and no Buddhist would take offense at Mr. Hume's stmt. I think the comparison is silly. I would give Mr. Hume the benefit of the doubt and assume he said it with the intent of offering help to Mr. Woods who clearly has some serious problems. We tend to offer help from the sources that have helped us. I would assume Mr. Hume's Christianity has helped him and therefore he is offering help from the sources he knows. Nothing more, nothing less. Without knowing Mr. Hume's soul presuming more seems pointlessly silly.
Posted by: kchses1 | January 5, 2010 1:19 PM
-------------------------------
How do you know that "no Buddhist" would take offense? Do you speak for the millions of Buddhist across the world or just yourself? I believe your just speaking for yourself. Therefore, your statement is just as arrogant and absurd as Hume's statement.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Matthew 6:5

"--- It is a fact that Buddhism doesn't offer any concept of redemption or forgiveness. Its a fact. Its not that one is better than the other, or that there is a better deal to be had, its just a simple fact that Buddhism doesn't offer a path to forgiveness. Also, it wouldn't be the first time in history that a man gets in over his head and finds Christ.
What Britt Hume said was 100% correct. Was it pedantic? Yes. Any of his business? probably not. But, like it or not Britt has a point. Also, if a Buddhist, or a Muslim would have suggested a religions conversion, I doubt we would be having this discussion. There is zero tolerance for Christians. Its makes me sick because the left gushes about being tolerant, but they are anything but. They are bigots."
------------------------------

Wrong on all counts. Hume was suggesting Christianity to Tiger Woods as a better way to be redeemed. However, redemption IS possible through Buddhism. So is making up for one's sins.

Moreover, Hume was assuming that the goals and perspectives he was suggesting as "Christian" are suitable goals and perspectives for Woods at this time- which is a bigoted assumption based on Hume's religious bias and his own way of seeing the world. Unfortunately, the claim that non-Christians are the intolerant and biased people is here belied by the reality of yet another evangelical Christian assuming that their faith is somehow more true than the beliefs of others. They call it "faith" for a reason. Smearing the beliefs of liberals and non-Christians as "less true," and asserting that there is zero tolerance for Christians, are just plain lies. Christians are dominant in the U.S., and many are attempting to forcibly make their beliefs everyone's beliefs-- by legislation and altering the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If that isn't bullying and bigotry, those words don't mean anything. Other religions are not attempting that in this country. In addition, if a Muslim or Buddhist had made comments similar to Hume on television, there WOULD be a major flap that would be much louder and more violent than the reaction to Hume. There would be people calling for boycotts, smears of all Muslims and Buddhists, etc.

Mr. Hume is free to speak as he wishes. However, did he counsel Senator Ensign or Senator Vitter or Gov Sanford (adulterers all) on being a Christian. Did he counsel Senator Coburn on the evils of bribing mistresses in an attempted coverup?

I suspect not but would be glad to hear from those that saw him do so. If he did not, then he is a hypocrite (at the very least).

How wopnderful it is for Christians to be able to sin and then say -- well, God forgives me and then they do it again and again. Does God forgive them for repeated sins? Just asking.

Hume expressed exactly what Christ did. Repent now and be forgiven. Whether you *believe* Christianity is true is another matter, entirely personal.
But the definition of Christianity cannot be changed.
Posted by: fishcrow | January 4, 2010 3:24 PM
I guess that is made up in the "New" testament

Sonofliberty09
Is it inappropriate to proselytize in a place of business with co-workers and customers? Isn't saving people from the Lake of Fire more important then mere business etiquette?
Of course, this is just a rhetorical question; even people like you seem to know the answer. But what is the difference? Proselytizing is just a horrible and nasty practice, please respect my beliefs as I respect yours but let's keep them to ourselves.
In asking that, I am sincere.
Posted by: DanielintheLionsDen | January 5, 2010 2:33 PM
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The answer is I do not need saving ,I go to work to work, you want to pray go to church, that is why we have and need seperation of church and state, what part of the way you believe it is your right to force your religion on someone else is it different than being a taliban or muslim? please explain the answer is ones religious beliefs are their own and no one's business and at work it is a work place not a church or place of worship.

TOM56: you, and many others, continue to miss the point. yes, bhuddism lacks any doctrine of forgiveness, and yes, christianity has one, but it is logical and theological absurdity to argue for the truth of one religion versus another based on its doctrines. You can't get forgiveness from the christian god by converting unless he is, in fact, the one true god and only gives forgiveness to those who profess belief. You don't shop religions based on the attractiveness of their doctrines, you are either praying to the right god or you aren't. Brit was essentially telling Tiger to convert because bhuddism is false, christianity is true, and, oh, by the way, since our god exists and offers forgiveness only to those who believe, that's the only way to be forgiven. Had he said that, he would look like a fool, but would have been clearer. You can't argue that someone should convert on the basis of doctrines that are irrelevant unless the god is true, and irrelevant if the god isn't.

As a self-professed believing Christian, it strikes me as curious that Mr. Gaddy would have any problem with Brit Hume's statement. Mr. Hume simply spoke from the heart (and referenced his own personal journey in faith) while encouraging Tiger Woods to turn to Christianity, just as Jesus would have done. Knowledge of other religions is unnecessary to make this assertion. Second, Mr. Gaddy seems to be baffled as to why Mr. Hume would make such a statement on a "news" show. Mr. Gaddy concedes that the portion of the show involved commentary, but apparently he believes that Mr. Hume should not have commented. That is just absurd. There was no objective news to report and Mr. Hume, along with the other panelist, were there for the express pupose of presenting various views and opinions.

If anything, Mr. Gaddy presents a flaccid and apologetic tone for his view of Christianity. As a minister, Mr. Gaddy should have been the first to pat Mr. Hume for advocating the faith in non-politically correct terms.

I for one was deeply disappointed in Bret Hume whom I admire as a political commentator.
His comments were out of place and were uncalled for! His "faith" is just that, HIS FAITH and personal belief.

Posted by: carsten1 | January 5, 2010 1:47 PM
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Said perfectly, sadly these phony christians feel they must impose themselves on everyone there by diminishing the good of being a christian. My guess is Jesus would hate the conservative intolerant christians of today

Sonofliberty09

Is it inappropriate to proselytize in a place of business with co-workers and customers? Isn't saving people from the Lake of Fire more important then mere business etiquette?

Of course, this is just a rhetorical question; even people like you seem to know the answer. But what is the difference?

In asking that, I am sincere.

In an earlier post, I said that Karl Rove had just gotten his THIRD divorce.

I was wrong; it is his second divorce. I got his marriages and divorces mixed up with Rush Limbaugh's, so I decided to read the article about each of them in Wikipedia.

WOW!

They both make Tiger Woods look like a Babe in the Woods.

"In order to make that kind of statement, Mr. Hume would have to have judged Tiger Woods."
===============

Uhh, no kidding!
Outside the peculiar universe of relatavist academics, we all do "judge others".
At last count, the "judgment on Woods" was that most people had concluded he really screwed up.

And many that like him a lot are offering what they believe are helpful suggestions to get someone still believed by most to be a talented, caring man - back on track.

Christians, in particular, believe all of us have the potential to fail, to fall, then do things to get redemption.

Hume must have been drunk or he's gone insane....
Posted by: lucygirl1 | January 5, 2010 2:22 PM
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Amen I vote for drunkenly insane

Maybe Tiger will tell Brit what he can do now...

I really do not think a psycho-philandering phoney like Tiger Woods would make a good Christian.
He ought to remain a Buddhist. That seems to fit his phoney, Hollywood lifestyle much better.
Posted by: battleground51 | January 5, 2010 2:00 PM
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Wow you phony self-righteous christian conservatives are really f*$ked up even Jesus would not like or forgive you

Hume must have been drunk or he's gone insane....

Since Christianity basically stole wholesale from Buddhism, I find this all rather funny.

Do unto others?-Buddhist
Try and do good on earth and not do "bad things"-Buddhist
Rebirth?-Buddhist

The sanctity of life?
Compassion for others?
Rejection of violence?
Confession and emphasis on charity?
The practice of virtue?-

Buddhist and Pre-Christ by about 500 years.

DanielintheLionsDen,

Did you note the part of my post that said Brit's comments were appropriately placed during the commentary section? I guess not.

Sonofliberty09
A friend of mine was a customer service agent for a major long distance telephone company. He proselytized his religion with customers on the phone, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, and asking each customer if they had been saved?
The company fired him.
What do you say to that?
Posted by: DanielintheLionsDen | January 5, 2010 2:09 PM
I say they did the absolutely only and right thing fire him good for the company!

Sonofliberty09

A friend of mine was a customer service agent for a major long distance telephone company. He proselytized his religion with customers on the phone, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, and asking each customer if they had been saved?

The company fired him.

What do you say to that?

Dear Welton,

The following is one of the things you say you and your church believes on your church website:

"The proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospels, and the call of God to all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope, social and economic justice" (http://www.northmin.org/covenant/).

Brit was obeying God and proclaiming the, "Good News of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospels, and the call of God to all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope..."

I am wondering based on your article if you believe in what is stated on your website or if it is merely a meaningless statement?
Brit's comments were appropriately placed during the commentary section of the program.

The Bible says that if a person repents and believes the "good news" then they will be saved. That calls for an action on part of the one needing forgiveness repentance towards God and faith in Jesus(means if you will). The end is a person is saved. Sure the Gospel calls for more once a person is saved. But a person is saved simply by repenting and believing as your covenant states. Your point about a "means to an end" makes no sense and is anti biblical. In fact it contradicts the Northminster Church Covenant.

http://www.northmin.org/covenant/

Karl Rove just got his third DEEVORCE.

Governor Sanford of South Carolina abandonned is wife and four sons for his Argentinian bomb-shell.

They are both Christians, and in describing their sins, they pepper their speech with religious references, as though they have not sinned. Because they are "christian," they get a free pass.

What Tiger Woods has done is not so bad, in the scheme of things. I have no doubt that he and his wife were unhappily married and this just gives them a chance to get out of it, and start fresh with a more suitable partners.

It is just embarrassing for him, because he had been leading such a double life, and now all of his personal business is now world news for anyone to read.

I think it's great. And HIGH time! Why should FoxNews hide behind being a news network anymore and just join their breathern ranks of evangelist christian programming? It's not like they were ever being subversively christian at any point. They should celebrate it! Come out of the closet!

I really do not think a psycho-philandering phoney like Tiger Woods would make a good Christian.

He ought to remain a Buddhist. That seems to fit his phoney, Hollywood lifestyle much better.

Very sad these christian conservatives are almost like the Taliban their way or highway Tiger has a lot to overcome and who is say to say being a buddhist a jew a christian or whatever is best way to overcome. That is one problem w/Christianity to proselytize is horrible and ugly just like the Taliban or Muslims no tolerance sad I always liked Britt, no more, and it is a news show not a religion show what a mess too bad

Dear Welton,

The following is one of the things you say you and your church believes on your church website:

"The proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospels, and the call of God to all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope, social and economic justice" (http://www.northmin.org/covenant/).

Brit was obeying God and proclaiming the, "Good News of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospels, and the call of God to all people to repentance and faith, reconciliation and hope..."

I am wondering based on your article if you believe in what is stated on your website or if it is merely a meaningless statement on your website?

Brit's comments were appropriately placed during the commentary section of the program. The Bible says that if a person repents and believes the "good news" then they will be saved. That calls for an action on part of the one needing forgiveness repentance towards God and faith in Jesus(means if you will). The end is a person is saved. Sure the Gospel calls for more once a person is saved. But a person is saved simply by repenting and believing as your covenant states. Your point about a "means to an end" makes no sense and is anti biblical. In fact it contradicts the Northminster Church Covenant.

http://www.northmin.org/covenant/

In order to make that kind of statement, Mr. Hume would have to have judged Tiger Woods. Rather than preaching to him, he could have just offered love, respect and support. Much more Christlike.

Christians who judge might be part of the reason we have so many problems understanding the Muslim world.

I for one was deeply disappointed in Bret Hume whom I admire as a political commentator.

His comments were out of place and were uncalled for! His "faith" is just that, HIS FAITH and personal belief.

What part of the Judeo-Christian Ethics is still in our Government someone asked earlier... How about "In God We Trust" printed on our currency? I don't see anything about Buddha, Allah or any other

Response:
"First, a news program should.."
--- Britt Hume has always given his opinion on his show. If it was Walter Cronkite giving his opinion, something tells me you wouldn't say a word. So, your a hypocrite.

"Second, the implication of Mr. Hume's suggestion to Mr. Woods is utilitarian--you will get a better deal related to... "

--- It is a fact that Buddhism doesn't offer any concept of redemption or forgiveness. Its a fact. Its not that one is better than the other, or that there is a better deal to be had, its just a simple fact that Buddhism doesn't offer a path to forgiveness. Also, it wouldn't be the first time in history that a man gets in over his head and finds Christ.

What Britt Hume said was 100% correct. Was it pedantic? Yes. Any of his business? probably not. But, like it or not Britt has a point. Also, if a Buddhist, or a Muslim would have suggested a religions conversion, I doubt we would be having this discussion. There is zero tolerance for Christians. Its makes me sick because the left gushes about being tolerant, but they are anything but. They are bigots.

Congratulations Brit. He is entitled to his opinion isn't he. The other day the Washingtonn Post wrote an article about Religous leaders supporting Amnesty for ILLEGAL ALIENS--Where was the outrage based on separation of Church and state---particulary in light of the fact that 70% of the Church's flocks are opposed to amnesty. Where was the liberal left outrage over the Church supporting criminals? Remember the US motto on all our currency, In GOD We TRUST"

This misses the point that Hume spoke from a bigoted perspective. It is obviously a bigoted perspective because there is no rational reason for believing that one's faith is any more "true" than any other religion. To say that Christianity if a better path to redemption than Buddhism reveals an ignorance and bias that is totally unacceptable in a free and respectful society.
To excuse Hume by saying, as one poster did, that "Hume expressed exactly what Christ did," is to miss this point. Anyone recommending any one religion over others as "THE TRUTH" is simply fooling themselves that they have a monopoly on the truth. They call it "faith" for a reason, people. Get over your arrogance and bigotry and get some respect for other beliefs, as long as they are compassionate and respectful of others.
Posted by: mightysparrow
---------------
More relevist B.S. "All things are equal", "There is no right or wrong" crap. Once man can define what is absolute right and wrong, we are doomed. History has shown over and over that, left to our own devices, we will subjugate and annihilate each other. There is only one truth. To think otherwise is to be the fool. People might disagree on what the truth is, but, in the end there is only truth left. Read up on near-death experiences and see what they say about the truth. It is quite an eye-opener for those who want to know the truth.
Posted by: dishonest_abe |
-----------------------------------

dishonest_abe: you didn't understand what I was saying. What I was saying is that you have no basis for saying your faith in your religion is more "true" than any other faith. There ARE facts that are provable as true or false, using the scientific method. However, religious faith in Christianity or Judaism or Islam are NOT such truths, as they are based on the FAITH that the Bibles, or Qur'an are the word of God-- and there is no historical or scientific evidence showing that faith is based on demonstrable reality. Do you understand now? Religious faith is fundamentally different from provable historical or scientific fact. You and Brit Hume seem to believe that your religion is "factual," whereas other religions are not. That is simply false, and it is rude and disrespectful of other religions to claim that your faith is true, while there's is false, when you have nothing to base your opinion on outside of your own faith that your faith is true and theirs is not. Are you beginning to understand the difference between provable fact and faith in God?

Your example of near-death experiences is irrelevant to the issue of "truth," versus belief, because you have no way to prove that such "memories" from near-death experiences depict actual reality that can be proved or simply the results of what happens to the brain when we are near death. Such reports are almost certainly just waking dream-states remembered by people when they become conscious again. Dreams are not real- they occur in our brains only.

I'm looking forward to Fox next selling advertising space to Indulgence hawkers. Hume has a right to his opinion, but when it insults anyone who is not of his brand of Christianity, he really goes too far.
I'm sure that Christianity has healed people like Tiger Woods, but it's arrogance to assert that it is the only way. As many of the posts suggest, Hume is not alone in his absolutism. Believe what you want, but if there is an omnipotent god, don't presume that your version of his/her truth comes closer to whatever the ultimate truth might be than does any other. Hume presumes to limit how a divinity chooses to act.

Actually, there is far more evidence, both in ubiquity and antiquity, that Jesus existed and said the things attributed to him than there is that Socrates existed and said the things attributed to him.

Posted by: Ken16 | January 5, 2010 1:12 PM

-------------------

Perhaps, but that's not really saying much, is it? After all, most of what we know about Socrates is what Plato said about him. Plato could have made most of it up, it's true. But the same is true of Jesus and the people who wrote about him.

There's also a great deal of evidence that there was a historical city of Troy and a large battle was fought there. That doesn't mean that we take everything Homer said about it at face value.

So interesting that Brit Hume, on his second marriage, should be telling other people who to clean up their lives.

Congratulations Britt! Fianally someone not afraid to be a witness to the truth! This is the United States of America, we are a Christain Country, we also have our 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech. Don't listen the spineless liberals and muslims that want to destroy our freedoms and capitalism. The point is you are so correct for Tiger to find redemption and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. At this point it is Tigers best way to change his life style and gain back his fans and sponsors. I honor you Britt, and I hope the best for Tiger Woods.
Jeff

Mr. Hume provided his opinion, appropriately, in the "Commentary" portion of the program. Perhaps Mr. Gaddy's problem is with the First Amendment.

My faith includes proselytizing it was commanded by Jesus. So stop trying to push your belief that no one should proselytize on people whose faith includes proselytizing. Your faith does not include it, well, good for you. Then stop proselytizing that Christians should not preach. Mine includes it and the law allows it so I will keep on preaching.

By the way you need to turn from your sin and put your faith in Jesus and His work on the cross. He is the only way of salvation. If you have Him you have life if you do not God's wrath remains upon you.

"Even though Mr. Hume's remarks occurred during a portion of the program devoted to commentary..."

And is therefore opinion and not news. Catch up, Gaddy.

I'm Buddhist and no Buddhist would take offense at Mr. Hume's stmt. I think the comparison is silly. I would give Mr. Hume the benefit of the doubt and assume he said it with the intent of offering help to Mr. Woods who clearly has some serious problems. We tend to offer help from the sources that have helped us. I would assume Mr. Hume's Christianity has helped him and therefore he is offering help from the sources he knows. Nothing more, nothing less. Without knowing Mr. Hume's soul presuming more seems pointlessly silly.

"To bad our school system has been dumbed down so much that most people don't even know this country was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs."

It was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs? Hmmmm...do show me where in the Constitution there is ANY reference to God? There is only one: in the signatories section where it says "Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven." This was a common way to refer to the year in both religious and secular contexts. There are no other mentions of the words God, Lord, Yahweh, Allah, Jesus, Creator, Buddha, or the Great Flying Spaghetti Monster. Indeed, the only other tangential references to God are the stipulation AGAINST using any religious test to hold any federal office and the amendment AGAINST allowing Congress to establish a national religion.

How about the Declaration of Independence? "When in the Course of human events...the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

Strange, isn't it, that the Founders reference "Nature's God" and the "Creator" instead of Jesus, or "our" God, etc., etc. Why would they do that? Perhaps because such words allowed for the inclusion of the several religions being practiced in the colonies at the time the Declaration was signed? Possibly because not all the signers referred to God as "God"? Thomas Jefferson and several other famous signers did not use the term "God". If you read TJ's letters, he uses the term "Providence", if memory serves. BF, if memory again serves, preferred the term "Father of Lights". Several other signers were Deists and would have used the terms "Grand Architect of the Universe", "Supreme Being", or "Divine Watchmaker."

Furthermore, the Declaration says governments are instituted "among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." They derive their powers from the consent of the governed, not from God.

Strange, isn't it, that the men founding a nation on Judeo-Christian principles were going out of their way to avoid explicitly acknowledging the Judeo-Christian God, especially in the document setting forth the rules under which the federal government operated? It's almost as if they wanted to keep religion and the affairs of government as separate as possible...

What "recovery" was Hume referring to? Recovery from broken marriage vows? Recovery from an STD? Financial recovery after paying thousands of dollars to some of these women?

Hume is correct that Buddhism doens't offer "forgiveness" for one's sins. Instead, there is Karma. You pay the price for your own sins. Some would call it cosmically enforced personal responsibility.

Tiger Wods doesn't need to change religions - he just needs to shoulder the consequences of his behavior, and learn to keep his johnson in his jockeys.

"Historical fact? Um, sorry, but there's very little evidence that Jesus existed, and even less that he said many of the things attributed to him."

Actually, there is far more evidence, both in ubiquity and antiquity, that Jesus existed and said the things attributed to him than there is that Socrates existed and said the things attributed to him.

If his name were Brit Abdul and he was defending the practice of suicide bombing, the angry liberals who are roasting him would be finding reasons to defend him. Liberals get enraged easily; and particularly when someone voices opinions they dislike. Liberals, after all, are idelogical descendants of Josef Stalin- totalitarians. Go take a Valium and lie down until you all feel better.

It's interesting that the Washington Post quickly jumped on the CHRISTIAN story. I wonder if it had been a Buddist making the comment would the Post have even mentioned it, probably not.

I also noticed that the liberals immediately used it as an opportunity to jump on the conservative Republicans. I am a born again Christian and a life long conservative Democrat. Yes there are thousands of us and we do make a difference.

Don Imus (surprisingly) did a good job of putting this in context:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugXF52PoYpw

Mr. Gaddy gave a very fair and rational response to Hume's comments. The disingenuous tone of the zealots posting her is absurd. First and foremost, what is Tiger Woods story doing as a subject on a political show which rarely deals with cultural stories? Answer: ratings. Then the obvious comparison is whether or not Fox (in its Fair and Balanced way) has attributed the same scrutiny to other public figures who have been infidel in their marriages? Answer: no. Everyone knows whom I speak of and if you don't start with the letter "C" as represented by a quaint brotherhood in DC.

Whether he offended Buddhists or not is just icing on the cake. I don't think Hume was denigrating Buddhism; he just sees that Fox and he are bulletproof because of superior ratings, and he decided to go for the fences.

We get it. Fox is the Christian, conservative (add "neo") television station and its ratings are a testament to the effect of t.v. turning viewers into beta receptors. The impact on the brain from watching a particular brand of t.v., whether "reality", sports, or Fox "News" is well documented by sociologists, physiologists, or psychologists. Fox has perfected this means for the past 20 years. They've just simply done it better than CNN or MSNBC.

Fox "News" should be viewed with a understood disclaimer; this is not news. Since this is entirely opinion, Brit Hume is entitled to say whatever he wishes about Christ or Buddha. If viewers "pray" to Fox as they pray to a marble recreation of Christ, they are committing ths same form of idolatry. The marble statue is not Christ, and Brit Hume is not a newsman, Fox News is not news.

A right wing zealot friend of mine said, "Well, why does Fox have the best ratings? Because more people agree with them and therefore the majority of Americans agree with this way of thinking." Unfortunately, if you look at the ratings, the majority of Americans don't watch that program, or don't watch television. Just because Fox News leads MSNBC by double the ratings, Katie Couric out numbers Fox by huge margins. So, with that logic, Katie Couric is what most Americans believe in. That or the Bachelor. Or Pro Football.

So, see the Fox is superior argument is reduced to fantasy inside the small bubble that it lives in. With that said, it appears to garner even better rankings, William Kristol is converting from Judaism, and Fox News will now be The Fox News/700 Club Hour featuring our crack news panel; Pat Robertson, Lou Engle, Dick Morris (who has repented), and Brit Hume.

After reading through most of the comments, it's pretty clear, there are two camps. Pro Mr. Hume folks who also have no problem with prayer in school, as long as it's a good old fashioned god fearing prayer. Or for that matter erecting the Ten Commandments plaques in ever town square

Then there are those who find themselves alined with Mr. Caddy. The believers of separation of church and state crowd. Most of whom believe in the freedom of religion, and more than likely many would defend that right to the death, since it is in the Constitution. Bottom line, Mr. Woods is free to claim any faith of his choosing, which include, free of incrementation.

From my place on the planet, Mr. Hume owns Mr. Woods and all the people of the Buddhist faith a public apology. A inappropriate public statement requires a public apology. Step up to the plate Mr. Hume.

FR14R_TUCK

"Of which "flavour" of "that faith" do you speak? Your comment may be accurate with regard to some, but is most certainly highly inaccurate with regard to others."

Okay, what sect of Christianity does not think of suicide as a grave sin? Have some retired that skewed view of sin, faith and forgiveness that gives us this short stay on the mortal plane to decide our fate for eternity?

Seems to me that Mr. Hume was merely pandering to his audience. If he was sincere in this desire to aid Mr. Woods he could have contacted him personally. Using the broadcast media to encourage a specific individual to change religions seems rude and ill-mannered. The same would be true if Hume had been urging Woods to join any religion, but by standing foursquare for Christianity, Hume clearly was stroking the Fox demographic.

The fastest growing faith group in America today is labeled as "non-believers."

I think Fox is doing a great job!

A heckuva job!

Job!

All fine and good, but that wasn't Christ's message. After all, lots of people preached that. Christ's message was that He was God, and that salvation was through Him.

Don't tell that to any zealous atheists though, that's the kind of historical fact their Faith requires be ignored.

Posted by: fishcrow | January 5, 2010 10:20 AM

--------------------------------

Historical fact? Um, sorry, but there's very little evidence that Jesus existed, and even less that he said many of the things attributed to him.

But even if we accept the "fact" that he existed and the "fact" that he claimed to be God...what of it? David Koresh claimed the same thing, as have many others.

Atheists certainly don't ignore these "facts." We're more than happy to point them out free of charge.

CHRISFORD1 at January 5, 2010 12:05pm

Excellent post! Well-said! Thank You!

How many of them have empty tombs?
Posted by: hofbrauhausde
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ever herd of Osiris???? he has an EMPTY TOMB

RDTucker: Many objections to Christianity seem directed at relentless, incompetent, close-minded, hard-sell proselytizing.

It does not take many people doing this before it seems like MOST people associated with the group/creed/product are the same sort of barge-in-on-your-life jerks.

One need not oppose a business to dislike its barrage of advertising.

Religious and lifestyle hard-sells provoke more irritation than the same tactics by businesses. The guy whose commercial suddenly blares at you is just trying to sell you a car. The person who says you should be a Christian or a vegetarian or whatever is saying "A substantial part of you, and maybe the essential you, is deeply flawed and you should be like me" with the implication that the seller is better than the audience member.

The most effective salesman I ever met didn't cajole me or talk incessantly. He asked what I was looking for, showed what was on the lot, and told me if I had questions to come find him.

Hume isn't saying it for Tiger's benefit, but for his own. Nothing makes unspiritual conservative so-called-Christians feel better than feeling superior to someone else.

Whenever politics and religion or culture cross, fireworks usually ensue. Mr. Gaddy's column is a good example. I tell my fellow NT believers not to bother quoting scripture as the world is dead in it's sins and isn't listening anyway. Mr. Gaddy, while serving in some branch of the Baptist faith, seems to have thrown his lot in with the liberals of the apostate mainline denominations. As for Brit Hume, I have no idea where he is in terms of faith, but Mr. Gaddy must not watch foxnewssunday much or he'd know it's an OPINION show, not hard news. As such Hume is not only entitled to give his personal views and analysis, but expected to. No one in my house knew Tiger was Buddhist. More importantly, Hume was pointing to the simple fact forgiveness in Christianity is not the same as in Buddhism. After #15 came forward, Elin and forgiveness parted company anyway. As for Gaddy and his supporters here, your minds are made up and your fates are sealed. For NT believers reading this, talk to and pray your unsaved loved ones into His Kingdom. There is no time to waste.

Edbyronadams said:
"I find it incongruous that Brit Hume should embrace Christianity after his son's suicide since that faith condemns his son's soul forever for his grave sin."

Of which "flavour" of "that faith" do you speak? Your comment may be accurate with regard to some, but is most certainly highly inaccurate with regard to others.

It may have been more accurate to say something to the effect that one's experience of Christianity was less than gracious, which may have been part of the reason for looking elsewhere for spiritual guidance.

I agree with Sharonsj1 - If Hume had suggested anything - ANYthing - other than Christianity, the Christians would be screaming bloody murder - to the point that Hume would likely be looking for another job.

?Fair and Balanced?
"Faux" is Right!
They lost me a long time ago.

1. Brit Hume is no longer a reporting news anchor. He is a commentator. As such, he is as free to give his opinion, for whatever it is worth, as "I have this pet peeve" Andy Rooney or "Christians are wrong, gay rights are wonderful and essential" commentary by lesbian Rachel Maddow.

2. As opposed to religious leaders like Gaddy, who love to gather with other religious leaders from the Wiccan, Jewish, Buddhist, Wahhabi Islam, Baptist faith and proclaim all religions wonderful and morally equivalent (the mullah is always silent at this kumbaya moment) - the average person DOES believe their religion is better than others, and that others would benefit from it.

3. Brit Hume is like a lot of people that have followed Tiger. Hume recognizes Woods is not only hypertalented, but like people who knew him growing up and at Stanford all say he is one "of the good guys" - Hume thinks that, and offers up something he thinks may help Woods..Tiger has a hole in his psyche, something unexpected that led him to betray family and sponsors...and whatever Buddhism's other merits...it doesn't appear to have helped Woods fill that hole within himself.

Don't forget good old turd blossom, Karl Rove. A good Christian, if there ever was one.

maybe Brit SHOULD apoloigize

for ONLY telling Tiger how to seek Jesus Christ

and NOT Obama also

anyone can repent, even Obama

Perhaps Fox News and Mr. Hume ought to send Tiger a letter offering him Salvation Through Christ and signed by prominent Christian-family-values Republicans and conservative family-values theologians who were Saved by their Christian beliefs. Look how well that worked for these guys (who, no doubt, would sign the letter):

Sen. John Ensign
Pastor Jim Bakker
Pastor Richard Roberts
Pastor Ted Haggard
Gov. Mark Sanford
Rep. Vito Fossella
Rush Limbaugh
Sen. Larry Craig
Sen. David Vitter
Rep. Mark Foley
Rep. Newt Gingrich
Gov. Jim Gibbons
Rep. Don Sherwood
Rep. Ed Shrock
Neil Bush
Reporter John Fund
Rep. Donald "Buzz" Lukens
Rep. Dan Burton
Rep. Helen Chenoweth
Rep. Henry Hyde
Rep. Jim Bunn
Rep. Ken Calvert
Gov. Rudy Giuliani

Better yet, perhaps Fox News can foster a new political movement, the T(&A) Party.

Yep, Repent and Be Saved, Tiger!

Thanks, Brit. Right as usual.

"Mr. Hume was delivering an opinion, not the news regardless of how many "Fox News" insignias adorned the screen." Although Mr. Gaddy wrote these words, it is not clear that he understood them.

What is clear is that Mr. Gaddy forsakes intellectual honesty in favor of left-leaning partisanship, which he is well-known for doing and which he exemplified in his gives-and-takes with Keith Olbermann, easily locatable on the 'net.

And, in not informing its readership of Mr. Gaddy's bent, the Washington Post continues its incremental descent into irrelevance, forsaking the greatness that was its when I began reading it in 1946.

Pity.

Julian Tepper in Placitas, NM

Lots of folks here are missing the point. Of course there's freedom of speech. Anyone can suggest to Tiger that he repent. He is free to take the advice or not. Hume's comment that he should convert because his faith offers forgiveness while Bhuddism does not is just plain stupid, logically and theologically. If Hume's god is the one true god, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of that god's doctrines, you are stuck with them. If he isn't, it really doesn't matter what his doctrines are, they are bogus. And conversely, and no matter what god or faith you fill in the blanks with. You don't get forgiveness by converting to a religion that offers it. Unless you find faith in a god who offers it only to those who believe in him, it matters not what doctrines the organized religion advertises. Hume was simply saying my god is true and yours is false. that really doesn't belong on a commentary, first amendment or not.

Fishcrow: "the definition of Christianity cannot be changed."

Pfft. The definition isn't even agreed upon. Pope Benedict, George Bush, Rick Warren, the Duggers, and that couple down the street who puts up Christmas lights but doesn't go to church all claim to be Christians. And who is to say they are not, besides those who arrogantly insist they are able to determine what "true" Christians are?

"Christian" is a self-applied label and impossible to confirm or refute definitively. If someone claims to be an FBI agent or a member of the Elks Lodge, there are ways to check on that. Not so with "Christian."

The term "Christian" gives no useful clue as to what to expect from a person in terms of looks, dress, behavior, personality, or outlook on life.

Notice how Liberals will defend the Muslim Faith to no end but boy they get their panties all bunched up when a Christian dares to challenge them on faith? But that is modern day Liberalism. They use the courts to get their way. Man November can't come fast enough. Liberals Suck!!

I thought this was the land of free speech. Does that apply to every subject except faith? Secularists wouldn't have minded at all if Hume had suggested anything but Christianity. Why is Christ so threatening? Only through Him can one find forgiveness and grace. Hume was right, and he had the right to say it.

What a ridiculous article. An obvious attempt at humor is givin during a comentary section of the program, and you compare it to proselytizing? You folks can continue to lambast Fox for not being a "real" news organization while you participate in exactly the same kind of opinion pieces- just not nearly as well!! There's a reason Fox is spanking other news organizations in the ratings! They're smarter funnier and more often correct!!!

I thought this was the land of free speech. Does that apply to every subject except faith? Secularists wouldn't have minded at all if Hume had suggested anything but Christianity. Why is Christ so threatening? Only through Him can one find forgiveness and grace. Hume was right, and he had the right to say it.

I have always thought that Brit was a straight laced sort of person with a one lane view of the world. However, I did not associate him with stupidity until now. I expected him to be better informed about a subject before expressing an opinion. The notion that so many people believe distortions spewed by influential media personnel is frightening.

Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Hume is not allowed to comment in the commentary section of a broadcast? Wow, this country is really heading for trouble.

To Christian1941 and other Christians: if Hume told Tiger he needed to convert to Sufism or Wicca, I bet you'd be screaming your head off.

Proselytizing is and interesting conundrum. Should someone offer a spiritual practice that has made them happier out of compassion or not?

Certainly one should avoid attacking another faith. It converts no one. Is offering another spiritual view an inherent attack?

Not simple. However, from a Darwinian perspective, putting religious institutions as a species, it is proselytize, procreate or die.

No one should be surprised at anything originating at Faux News. They are nothing more than a constant infomercial for the right wing of the GOP, including the evangelical crazies.

Brit Hume probably meant well in his bumbled attempt to cleanse Tiger of sin. Still, it's difficult to understand.

Was Hume, speaking on God's behalf, offering Tiger the position of golf pro at Jesus Christ's exclusive, all-white country club? His odd suggestion is the same familiar story of a righteous crusader bringing eternal salvation to the unenlightened heathen.

Brit Hume probably meant well in his bumbled attempt to cleanse Tiger of sin. Still, it's difficult to understand.

Was Hume, speaking on God's behalf, offering Tiger the position of golf pro at Jesus Christ's exclusive, all-white country club? His odd suggestion is the same familiar story of a righteous crusader bringing eternal salvation to the unenlightened heathen.

Americans, probably Brit Hume, know so little about Buddhism, that they should shut their mouth when trying to do a compare and contrast. Since I was raised a Christian and am now a Buddhist, I can make a comparison.

I find it incongruous that Brit Hume should embrace Christianity after his son's suicide since that faith condemns his son's soul forever for his grave sin. At least in Buddhism, while we recognize suicide as a very bad cause, you will get other chances to expiate the bad karmic result.

Wouldn't it be better for Tiger to switch to a religion that doesn't believe there is a hell, and not run the risk that he may not go to heaven by making a last minute transgression after he asked for forgiveness, but right before he died?

It sure is interesting to see libs/progressives go insane over someone extolling the virtues of being Christian and believing in Jesus Christ. Brit is a commentator and has every right to express his views, which I agree with. To bad our school system has been dumbed down so much that most people don't even know this country was founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs. But it is fun to see the libs/progressives go nuts!!

People like Brit Hume are just one of the many reasons I stopped calling myself a Christian, and then abandoned the whole thing entirely.

Religions are such sad and horrible things.

Can Tiger only be forgiven by Christians if he himself is a Christian? I'm told that Christ forgave the pagans that crucified him. That's pretty forgiving....far more than what I have read in many of these posts.

Organized religion is replete with hypocrisy. To try and sort it all out in a WaPo forum is as idiotic as the statement made by Mr. Hume.

Let's all try a little Humanism for a change.

“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”
- Dalai Lama

Sometimes, evangelical Christianity reminds me of the movie, "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers". They won't be happy until everyone has become a pod-person and ascribes to Christianity--and not just any one of the miriad versions of Christianity that abound--the Brit Humes, Reverends Robertson and Warren mean THEIR particular brand of Christianity. I'm nearly 60 years old and I remember the days when religion was a private matter. Now, the public marketplace is full of people either feigning belief (Hume, perhaps?) or publicly expressing what, when I was younger, was between that person and whatever God he or she chose to follow. Religion is being used cynically for politics and ratings (profit)and is thereby diminished.

Brit Hume is now a commentator and not a newsman and free to give his opinion.

Is the right advice? Lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Do I agree? Yep.

PLEASE TELL THE VILLAGE IDIOT ...TO SHUT THE HELL UP............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"You are just a hater who sees evil everywhere. there is no other rational explanation for your insulting remarks. In fact, I suspect that when your liberal buddies, like Al Gore, give advice to people on how to live their lives, in your warped world they re just helping humanity."
Posted by: RealityCheck28

Where did Al Gore come from? I took Trippin to task for the extreme language of the world "hate" but you went right around the bend. Mr. Gore is an environmental activist, and a Nobel prize winner who is doing what he believes is right. What the heck is wrong with that? And what does it have to do with Mr. Hume's comments?

Everything is not political. For the record, I know many "liberal" devout Christians and Jews, and many "conservative" atheists. We really need to get past this idea that politics and religion are married.

The idea that religion and politics must be conjoined is one of the most dangerous ideas on the planet. It makes for silly stereotypes, bad information and stupid decisions, no matter what religion is involved. Religion involves faith without hard facts and beliefs that can't be compromised, but politics must deal with the real world and compromise with opponents in order to accomplish anything. This basic incompatibility is demonstrated by the relative success of secular governments all over the world, compared to nations that embrace a state religion of any kind.

"When politics and religion ride in the same cart, you inherit the whirlwind."
Frank Hubert, in the novel "Dune."

First, Brit Hume is an idiot.

Second, to the commenters who say one can be both Buddhist and Christian, that is not really so, at least from a Christian perspective. Roughly speaking, A practicing Buddhist aspires to the attainment of nirvana through the gradual elimination of desire, which will entail slow, gradual purification over many, many incarnations. A Christian is saved by faith in Christ through Christ's death on the cross. The buddhist concept of Nirvana is not the same thing as the Christian concept of Heaven, and Christians do not beleive in reincarnation. So, at least from a Christian perpective, one cannot be both.

Generally, I'm anti-conversion. What I mean by that is I'm against people telling others to convert just out of the blue. This sort of thing, definitely.

Look, IF I decide this religion I'm in isn't working out, I'd like to think people would have the decency to allow me to make my own choice. And if I'm curious about your faith, by all means, give me some info. Ask and ye shall receive, right? But stop telling me what to do when I'm not asking for your advice. We all have free will, so let us use it.

Chill....the Dude abides.....

Whether the topic is religion or politics, everything is evangelical nowadays. You can't have a differing opinion about anything without having some ideological political or religious nut trying to convert you. They are like the old campus crusaders that used to attack us on the beach during spring break. They will not give up and go away. Who would have thought that one day these tactics would become mainstream journalism!

""I can say this with 100% assurity, that had Tiger professed his faith as a follower of Christ and followed that path, agree or disagree with the faith, he wouldnt be in the situation he is in!!"
What a crock. Does the name Ted Haggard ring a bell? Jimmy Swaggart?"

This hits the nail on the head. Whatever religious path Tiger chooses to follow, the entity from which he needs to seek forgiveness and whith whom he needs to rebuild trust is HIS WIFE!

Unfortunately, there seems to be no evidence whatsoever that men who are Christians are any better than men who follow any other religion at staying faithful to their wives. There's a long, LONG list of men who go to church on Sunday and cheat Monday - Saturday.

Brit may have the right to say whatever he likes, but his commentary was laughable because his recommendation was naive and irrelevant.

"Mention Christianity and even so-called men start clutching at their pearls and swooning like old ladies.

That's a point in favor of Christianity being Truth - the over-reaction (and faux outrage)"

By your "logic", the outrage that would be a CNN analyst suggesting people turn to Islam and away from Christianity is proof that religion is the Truth.

Conservatives always resort to the freedom of speech crutch when they get heat for some of the more crackpot things they say. Hume has the right to say what he wants. But he has no more right than anyone else to be taken seriously.

Look. If you want to peddle the laughable notion that Obama's father conceived a fantastic plot in the 1960s to birth a Muslim son who he would somehow train up magically to become President of the United States one day and establish a Muslim Caliphate, you can do that. But don't act so surprised when people start laughing at you and putting their fingers up to their heads in a circular motion to indicate that you are a mental case. You have no inherent right to be taken seriously when you say crazy things.

What foolishness to consider Faux News to be news in the first place. It is a mouthpiece of the Christian Right, what ever that is. Christianity is a huge umbrella, covering people who view each other as heretics. The right wing evangelical form of Christianity was itself invented in the last 200 years. Before that, the bible was viewed as symbolic literature, and creation as a sort of parable. This too shall pass.

Dishonest Abe: I agree..people would find near-death experience books very interesting. I have read every single one I could get my hands on.
Also, I have found that (in my opinion) REAL Christians don't even GET INVOLVED IN these kinds of discussions. Instead, they quietly go about their lives JUDGING NO ONE and basically living by the Golden Rule. And some of the NICEST people I've known in my life DIDN'T EVEN GO TO CHURCH. I find it hard to believe that these people will be condemned to Hell. Re the near-death experience books: The basic message that these people came back with was: We will be judged by HOW WE TREAT OTHERS...that is God's MAIN CONCERN!!!

@fishcrow, who wrote: "All fine and good, but that wasn't Christ's message. After all, lots of people preached that. Christ's message was that He was God, and that salvation was through Him."

If you do not think Jesus also preached peace, helping the poor and rejection of material wealth to enter the kingdom of heaven, may I suggest you re-read the Gospels, where you will find that Jesus is a liberal activist who makes Al Gore look like Dick Cheney.

"Think about this for a minute: How many of you out there would want to be part of a Heaven that was dominated by people like Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Bill Kristol"

Bill Kristol is Jewish and therefore destined to burn in Hell for all eternity unless he accepts Christ as his Savior and Lord before he dies.

That's what people like Hume believe anyway

"That's why we hate evangelicals who believe it's their mission to cram their superstition down everyone's throat in this belligerent manner.
Brit Hume needs to take care of his own damn house first and keep his flapper shut about others' beliefs. They are NONE of his goddamned business."
Posted by: trippin

Hate, Trippin? Really? I think that's a bit strong. Hating people for their beliefs is pretty far out on a limb, don't you think? Perhaps even as far as those you decry.

It's foolish to hate people for attempting to share their beliefs. How else will you learn about them? Ignorance is not bliss, and even if their beliefs seem silly or childish, you have learned something. In fact, if everyone is civil, discussions of individual beliefs can make for a very enjoyable dialogue. You don't have to agree to have a pleasant discussion. (I know many folks have forgotten that, but it's worth remembering.)

I agree, aggressive proselytizing can be annoying, but I can always close the door, turn the cannel, or excuse myself from the conversation. People have every right to share their beliefs. I just wish they would be more civil about it. Yourself included.

FISHCROW, It does not matter what Jesus said about himself. What matters is that there are people who believe it and people who do not. Indeed, the vast majority of the inhabitants of planet earth do not believe it.

Indeed, how many millions of people lived and died on this planet before Jesus was born. If indeed God had this salvation plan, why in the world would He wait so late in human development to reveal it? What does he tell those who died before ever knowing Christ?

But all of this is pure gibberish. The truth is that even this morning, science writers reveal that five new planets have been found out there and many more to come. One of these days, we are going to find out that there are zilklions of intelligent life forms in the cosmos most of them having no clue as to the narrow little religious belief systems of a small planet in a solar system revolving around an ordinary star we call the sun.

Indeed, the most probable reason they have not contacted us is that we are simply too primitive and hostile and possessed of such irrational beliefs as those peddled by Brit Hume.

If Hume had suggested that Tiger should take up meditation and maybe look into Buddhism, people would not be so upset.

Mention Christianity and even so-called men start clutching at their pearls and swooning like old ladies.

That's a point in favor of Christianity being Truth - the over-reaction (and faux outrage).

"All fine and good, but that wasn't Christ's message. After all, lots of people preached that. Christ's message was that He was God, and that salvation was through Him.

Don't tell that to any zealous atheists though, that's the kind of historical fact their Faith requires be ignored."

I suppose the people Buddha preached to weren't quite as gullible as the one's Jesus bamboozled. Either that or Buddha didn't think it possible anyone would be foolish enough to believe that a man standing before them was actually a supernatural being.

Nice work Jesus! Took some real stones to pull that one off.

And for your info- there were many claiming to be supernatural gods and conduits to salvation in the afterlife during Jesus' time and in his vicinity.

Heck, what do you think Simon Magus was doing?

With regard to the 'free speech' angle some have raised on this issue of Mr. Hume's theological advice to Mr. Woods, the problem I have is that it was not a guest on Fox who provided this 'commentary', it was a person on the Fox payroll. There is no question that Mr. Hume is free from any governmental restriction on this type of speech, but I am thankful that most news outlets would not condone such inappropriate broadcast comments from their personnel.

Think about this for a minute: How many of you out there would want to be part of a Heaven that was dominated by people like Brit Hume, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Bill Kristol--well, you get the picture.

No. I don't think so Brit. If Heaven and redemption is about people like you--if indeed, you are Christ's chosen people--then Jesus can go take a hike and good riddance!

"Buddha walked around preaching peace, non-materialism, and pacifism a full 500 years before christ..."

All fine and good, but that wasn't Christ's message. After all, lots of people preached that. Christ's message was that He was God, and that salvation was through Him.

Don't tell that to any zealous atheists though, that's the kind of historical fact their Faith requires be ignored.

Besides, if you want the "best deal" in forgiveness, pick atheism. No forgiveness offered or required.

Hume displayed a shallow arrogance with regard to his take on Christianity. Basically, it amounted to an expression of cheap grace. Christianity is so much more than that.

Many faiths have aspects that can speak to the heart of a spiritually at risk individual. Buddhism, with its emphasis on releasing one's self from attachments...
contemplative Christinaity, with its emphasis on union with God and the death of the false self, Judaism, with its
emphasis on atonement and wisdom (Cf. David and Bathsheeba)...the problem is not that Buddhism is lacking vis-a-vis Christianity, the problem is that it was not being practiced.

kathy5501 wrote":

"Mr. Hume's comments were bold. "

No, not really. His comments were stupid and bigoted....which is to say, of course, that they were bold. In a stupid and bigoted way.

You diden't mention stupid and bigoted. Why not?

"You Christians need to get over yourselves... Jesus is no better than Buddha or Vise Versa."

The Buddhist phenomena in the East was arguably the cause for dozens of so-called Saviors to pop up all around the Middle East in jesus' time.

Buddha walked around preaching peace, non-materialism, and pacifism a full 500 years before christ...then lo and behold, individuals started preaching essentially the same thing not coincidentally along the trade routes between East and Near East.

Don't tell that to any zealous Christians though, that's the kind of historical fact their Faith requires be ignored.

"You've got it. Most religious leaders like Welton avoid simple, declarative statements of Christianity's superiority to other religions. So, a Baptist doesn't like it when someone states that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ? Is that a problem for you, Welton?
I guess sincere belief is in poor taste with the crowd you socialize with, eh Welton."
posted by Grohlik

Groglik, you miss the point. Mr. Hume was in no way interested in converting Mr. Woods, or aiding him in any way. He was just polishing his "born again" credentials with folks like yourself, and insulting a whole belief-system and it's believers to do it. It was rude, pure and simple.

For example, if I was to say to you, "You really need to get past your juvenile, simplistic, off-the-shelf 'religion' and come to a more mature, well-rounded, responsible belief," I would be being rude. If I said it on national television, I would be both rude and arrogant. (And, note, I'm not saying that, I'm just using it as an example. I'm happy for you that you have a belief that fulfills your needs.)

Not only was it just a political move, but it was poor religion. If you want to show someone the beauty of your beliefs, insulting them, arrogantly touting your superiority, and doing all that in a public setting is just about assured to turn them off completely. If Mr. Hume is sincere about wanting to win converts, not just win conservative brownie-points, he might want to learn how to express himself a bit better.

He reminds me of a job-seeker who comes in, says that this wreck of a company better hire him or else face ruin, and that it's obvious that all the current employees (including the one interviewing him) are fools. Then when he isn't hired, he rants about "discrimination". He's not being discriminated against. He's just rude and unlikable. And, frankly, that's how you come off.

"Religion on Fox: News or evangelism?"

Fox is and never has been about news. It is an appendage of the republican party which is an appendage of Christian America.

Honest Abe: I get it now...wink, wink...nudge, nudge...high five... I'll see you at church Sunday. ;)

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” quoteth the Right Reverend Hunter S. Thompson. Congratulations, Rev. Hume! You made the All-Star squad.

The fastest growing religion in America is Wicca (witchcraft). Wicca has grown from 8,000 members in 1990 to over 134,000 members in 2001. Wicca is doubling its membership every 30 months! In contrast, Christian affiliation in the U.S. has dropped from 86% to 70% in the past 20 years and is expected to be less then 50% by 2050! Christianity is a dying breed! This is great news as it is proving intelligence is on the rise and stupidity an endangered species!

The best aspect to me was that about halfway through his comments Hume appeared and spoke like an unthinking, brainwashed, zombie. Which is of course, exactly what the non-religious perceive people like himself to be.

You Christians need to get over yourselves... Jesus is no better than Buddha or Vise Versa...
In God's eyes Jesus Buddha Mohammed et al were his messengers....

==========================

How many of them have empty tombs?

Forgiveness for Woods will come from within - NOT from some supposed, imaginary "God". Which seems much closer to Bhuddsim than Christianity.

As an aethiest (from very early in life now in my 60's) I have never cheated on my spouse, stolen or done other things that Christians would consider to be "sins against God" - since I don't believe in this "God" why have I not cheated, killed, stolen if indeed it is He who "shows me the way"?

The answer is simple - humankind are born with the ability to separate good actions from bad actions and we don't need a make believe "God" to tell us the sins of doing bad - I think many of us may need the forgiveness of that make believe "God" in order to justify our continual "acts of sin". i.e., "it's okay, I'll just ask God to forgive me of my sin and all will be swell with the world". Ah, FORGIVENESS!

Archaeologists are convinced by new findings that some 15,000 years ago an advanced, technical, global society existed on our planet. They flew about in machines that flew over the entirety of the globe so these myths tell us. They had developed magnificent cities all over the planet, had advanced communication devices that may have used objects in orbit around the planet that facilitated instantaneous communication, and had global educational systems that in effect had made them into one world, an organizational feat that we at our present stage of development can scarcely imagine.

The myths uncovered also inform our scientists that they had many contending belief systems that resulted in wars that may have resulted in a breakdown of their society. But there is one thing our scientist agree on: They used a system of time reckoning that is completely mysterious and puzzling since it seems to break time up int two distinct categories they defined as BC and AD.

Beyond that little is know except in that reckoning of time something truly catastrophic happened in the year 2039 AD that affected our entire planet. Our astronomers are convinced that a large comet impacted the planet Gore in that year approximatedly 15,000 years ago. But, the most astonishing thing about it is that all of these contending belief systems seem to have to do with a concept or a substance called "faith". The nearest our Philosophers can come up with is our own concept of Nannism--the fount of our society and our technology.

Who knows?

Of course, rather than offering Mr. Woods advice about Christianity we can always send a suicide bomber to his next PGA event and blow him up because he isn't a Moslem.....

Mr. Hume can say anything he wants to as long as it is not libelous. So says The Constitution. Every individual who hears what he says has the right to determine if they agree or disagree.

Posted by: fgshul | January 5, 2010 9:32 AM
Report Offensive Comment
******************************************
Such useless banter...Yes, of course he has a right to say anything he wants....Blah, Blah, Blah...Everyone also has a right to think he is a complete moron for his simple minded and high falutin' statements...What's your point?

"So all you putzs who complain about the "many paths to God" nonsense regarding Buddhism start off in fantasy land. I think the 8-armed-elephant-headed-lady-god-thingy is a little off-putting myself."

It's clear that ignorance is not bliss for some angry so-called Christians.

---------------

It was a joke. Get over yourself. People who claim to know what Buddhism is about on here apparently don't. Referencing a Hindu god-figure was funny. Admit it.

Personally, I am tired of listening to the hypocritical religious right. It seems that most of the folks doing the bible thumping don't even go to church or if they do it is on Easter or Xmas.

I think they are paranoid and don't really believe what they preach anyway. Who are they trying to convert - themselves.

Apparently, they fear Moslems, the non-religious and other faiths because they know their faith is bankrupt. The real issue masked by their 'religiousity' is their real fear of not being the big dog in the world neighborhood and diminishing returns on their wealth. If they were sane, they would take overpopulation seriously and do something to change their 'evil' ways.

"So all you putzs who complain about the "many paths to God" nonsense regarding Buddhism start off in fantasy land. I think the 8-armed-elephant-headed-lady-god-thingy is a little off-putting myself."

It's clear that ignorance is not bliss for some angry so-called Christians.

There is nothing wrong in turning to God for redeeming oneself. Every one does that though he or she may not be willing to accept. If Tiger Woods is a christian by religion what is wrong? Should he go to Counseling where in he will be sqeezed by greedy counselers who themselves may not be above board ?. The media and the commentators forget that they usually say "Oh God" or "Jesus" without their knowledge to acknowledge some surprise. Do they beleive in a terrorist getting rehabilitated but not Tiger Woods?. This is a stupid argument by media on Bret Humes just because he was on FoxNews sunday. Tiger Woods is the greatest golf player in the world and will come back if he works his way through. The media in this country is ditching him only for creating sensational news.It is hightime the media stops worrying about him.

To dishonest_abe regarding: "I think the 8-armed-elephant-headed-lady-god-thingy is a little off-putting myself."

Avail yourself the use of Google or Bing before you comment, please. You have your religions confused . . . .

Fox News…Not a Christian?..Not a Republican?? …Go Somewhere Else!!

If Mr. Hume is so sincere about saving souls, perhaps he will volunteer to counsel inmates at the nearest state prison each week. My hunch is he won't be doing that anytime soon.

Mr. Hume's comments were bold. Let's remember that he was appearing as a commentator, not a news anchor - a job he no longer holds - on an analysis program. Most commentators on the Sunday morning news talk programs let us know what they think - whether we like it or not. It's America, folks - free speech and all.

Too much religion here and everywhere else.

I don't care what they do in their churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues but for the life of me why can't they keep their mythology out of everyday life and more specifically, out of my face. As much as they have a right to worship as they please, I have right to be free of their in your face proselytizing. If there is freedom of religion there is also freedom from religion. That too is a belief system.

Tiger woods will figure it our for himself without the religious preening of a talking head clown.

Here again is another prime example of a know-it-all who was indoctrinated as a child to believe in supernatural and spiritual myths and, because of that is sure he has all the answers. Talk about hubris. Thank goodness there is the PBS News Hour to offset the drivel being peddled as news at Fox.

Here again is another prime example of a know-it-all who was indoctrinated as a child to believe in supernatural and spiritual myths and, because of that is sure he has all the answers. Talk about hubris. Thank goodness there is the PBS News Hour to offset the drivel being peddled as news at Fox.

Glad to finally see some religious leaders taking a responsible stand and calling out fools and poltroons who are bent on remaking christianity in their own image

Tigers ancestors were brought here in shackles by Christians. The same Christians made the laws of buying selling and owning humans. The same Christians segregated in USA, South Africa, created the KKK, the Nazi, caused two world wars, exterminated Native Americans, Jews...
Yet this imbe*cile thinks he is so superior and enlightened to tell other people what their faith should be.
Leave Buddhists and other religions alone and mind your own misery.

Since there is no one, personal God in the Buddhist dogma, what's all the fuss about. They don't even believe in God. So all you putzs who complain about the "many paths to God" nonsense regarding Buddhism start off in fantasy land. I think the 8-armed-elephant-headed-lady-god-thingy is a little off-putting myself.

I find it interesting that the reporter went from reporting the NEWS to evangelizing his Christian Faith...Although I respect most Christians I do not agree with their opinions concerning who Jesus of Nazareth was and why Jesus and Buddha cannot be considered as Spiritual Brothers.... You Christians need to get over yourselves... Jesus is no better than Buddha or Vise Versa...

In God's eyes Jesus Buddha Mohammed et al were his messengers....

Now concerning Tiger Woods and whether he needs to convert to Christianity to be forgiven... Believe it or not Jesus was not the First to talk about forgiveness....Therefore before anyone makes any ILLOGICAL Assumptions about Buddhism you’ll need to read about it...

Hume is laughable. Look. There are well over 6 billion people on this planet. Hume's tiny, crappy, little fundamentalist sect comprises a negligible part of the broad spectrum of religious and social beliefs that exist on this planet. Moreover, the fundamentalist brand of Christianity that Hume subscribes to is a warped, rural brand that grew out of the Spiritualist movement in the 19th century. It is not sanctioned by any of the major branches of the Christian faith and is generally considered to be more of a cult than anything else, along with Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses.

What brands this sort of sectarianism is a peculiar conviction that their tiny little sect is chose by God to save the world and spread the message so that everyone on the planet who hears this message and does not conform to their silly, tiny little belief system, is damned to an eternity of pain in a lake of fire.

This narrow view of repentance is not based on a sincere compassion and concern for the soul of the individual but on a hateful warning that if one does not comply, an angry, vengeful God will take out his vengeance on them.

Sounds sort of like the claptrap one always hears on talk radio doesn't it? Confrom or we will blow your brains out!

Mr. Hume can say anything he wants to as long as it is not libelous. So says The Constitution. Every individual who hears what he says has the right to determine if they agree or disagree.

Regardless of how egregious his advice is from a religious perspective, as a marketing strategy he is correct. If Woods suddenly began shouting that he's "found Jesus", he would immediately be forgiven and unreservedly praised by a significante segment of the population. We've all seen many a scoundral use this cynical ploy. Aside from his proclivities as a hound dog, Tiger has tried to maintain a "class act". Lets hope that he can continue.

While Fume is as you describe, you should be ashamed of yourself for castigating him when you have an enitre denomination behind you that uses any method they can think of to stuff their pews with more head nodding homophobes and tea baggers.

Shame on the Baptists: a dying and irrelevant religion

I have been a practicing Buddhist for more than 25 years. Buddhism is a religion which provides a means for people to bring out the best potential they have to lead fulfilling and value-creating lives. This means behaving as a trustworthy and caring person in all relationships, including marriage.

Buddhism is based on respect for all people, regardless of their religion or belief. This is something that Brit Hume and Fox News might well try to learn from, instead of pursuing an agenda of trying to impose Christianity as an official, or favored, religion, something that goes against the US Constitution.

Having said this, Buddhism and Christianity also have much in common. Both believe that human beings have the potential to develop their better selves and lead lives devoted to the happiness of other people. In that sense, Brit Hume's narrow and bigoted remarks were distinctly un-Christian.

Of course it's appropriate for FAUX News to tell someone to convert to Churchianity.
It's appropriate for them because they're right wing christo-fascist nut cases.

You guys are being much to hard on Brit! As a Christian, he is charged with spreading his faith just the same as Muslims are. Sure, many Christians don't do this and probably find such proselytizing offensive- but if you look at the original tenets of the faith you see it's quite clear- a real Christian tries to convert others to Christianity.

So as offensive as some may find Hume's remarks, cut him some slack, he's just practicing his religion as it was intended.

EVERYBODY knows that the Christian god is the one and only. Good ol' Brit was just articulating what, perhaps, 80% of "us" already know: There's no god like Jesus!
And all of the other so-called gods simply do not exist. If you atheists and the rest of the infidels out there don't believe me . . . well, beware . . . Leviticus has your number and you are doomed to the Christian hell! And the rest of us can't wait until the Rapture happens to really sock it to you guys . . . and the Jews if they don't repent and recognize the top critter of gods!
Seriously, folks, is it any wonder why millions of people have died through the ages from having a religious sword thrust into their bodies simply because they admit to having no god or are worshipping the wrong one?
Here are the facts: ALL of us were born atheists. It's only through indoctrination from childhood that we are forced to accept one of them. Fact two, even the most fervent fundamentalist is an atheist of sorts, only he believes in one god and I believe in none.
It just takes one step away from one ficticious, ethereal being to join my camp.
Come on in! The water's fine!
And you don't have to worry about sacrificing a significant portion of your income to institutions of pedophiles, flimflam artists, tongue-talkers, hypocrites and tax-cheaters.

Tiger Woods has never carried himself as a gentleman, this code was missed on the first tee. Take a mulligan Tiger

I am not in the least surprised at Hume's comment. It is the arrogant, self-serving, sanctimony and piety that defines the more fundamentalist practitioners of Christianity. Hume is full of himself and always has been. He was let go at ABC because like so many fundamentalist thinkers on the right, he simply could not contain his partisan devotion to political conservatism and fundamentalist Christian theology which have become so intertwined as to be indistinguishable.

If US were a poor and illiterate country, it would be characters like Brit Hume, who would be calling for a "Jihad" to go after everyone who does not share his faith.

The language and methods of religious fanatics might be different (whether they are Muslims, Christians or any other religion); but they all think alike: that they alone have "the true path" and everyone else is worthless.

1) It is absolutely beyond the pale that a REPORTER should exhort someone to change religions during a news show. Was this a news show or an episode of the 700 Club?
2) The idea that Christianity is somehow a better vehicle for dealing with Woods' problems is, well, just bizarre. Do we really need to go through the list of prominent Christians who have been caught up in adultery scandals?

1) It is absolutely beyond the pale that a REPORTER should exhort someone to change religions during a news show. Was this a news show or an episode of the 700 Club?
2) The idea that Christianity is somehow a better vehicle for dealing with Woods' problems is, well, just bizarre. Do we really need to go through the list of prominent Christians who have been caught up in adultery scandals?

Why is anyone surprised? "Fox News" is at best a malapropism.

if the boozy mr. hume and the other louts who seem to populate fox news are examples of good christians, then where do i sign up for rastafarianism?

Fox has never been about the news anyway. Now their entertainers, like Hume, are proselytizing for Christianity and demeaning another religion, Buddhism, on the air. Hume should be fired and Fox needs to apologize immediately.

interactidiomas

"How about King David or King Solomon?"

Please try to be consistent and realize that they were NOT even alive during the Christian era, so how can you include them in your post? Hume talked about Christianity, which David and Solomon did not experience. Really, it is simple history. Do some homework before you further embarrass yourself...

How can you say Swaggart was taking advantage of a prostitute, wrong and illegal as it is, when she surely did not offer her services up for charity; that is a business transaction. They were both using each other. Dont most of us for some reason, whether we realize it or not?

This misses the point that Hume spoke from a bigoted perspective. It is obviously a bigoted perspective because there is no rational reason for believing that one's faith is any more "true" than any other religion. To say that Christianity if a better path to redemption than Buddhism reveals an ignorance and bias that is totally unacceptable in a free and respectful society.

To excuse Hume by saying, as one poster did, that "Hume expressed exactly what Christ did," is to miss this point. Anyone recommending any one religion over others as "THE TRUTH" is simply fooling themselves that they have a monopoly on the truth. They call it "faith" for a reason, people. Get over your arrogance and bigotry and get some respect for other beliefs, as long as they are compassionate and respectful of others.

Posted by: mightysparrow

---------------

More relevist B.S. "All things are equal", "There is no right or wrong" crap. Once man can define what is absolute right and wrong, we are doomed. History has shown over and over that, left to our own devices, we will subjugate and annihilate each other. There is only one truth. To think otherwise is to be the fool. People might disagree on what the truth is, but, in the end there is only truth left. Read up on near-death experiences and see what they say about the truth. It is quite an eye-opener for those who want to know the truth.

Trippin my boy, you epitomize the morons and haters that i was commenting on. thank you for proving my point. Your statement that ... And all we're doing is expressing how ignorant, arrogant, presumptuous, pompous, and self-righteous that act is.

Really, why was Hume's attempt to simply share his feelings on the best way for Tiger Woods to find inner peace and moral redemption anything more than one person providing inisgights from their personal experience to another person. What in the world is sinster about that, there are thosuands of self help books written every year, are all those authors ignorant, arrogant, presumptuous, pompous, and self-righteous as you describe Hume. I bet its because you simply dislike religon and that explains your smear against evangelicals as well. You are just a hater who sees evil everywhere. there is no other rational explanation for your insulting remarks. In fact, I suspect that when your liberal buddies, like Al Gore, give adivce to people on how to live their lives, in your warped world they re just helping humanity. But when Hume does it, you become a hater. Ever consider therapy, you really need it.

If Jesus were alive today he would be unrecognizable to many people who claim to be Christians today, including many of those in the so-called Christian right. Jesus was way too pure to be truly understood by many in the Christian right. He'd be considered a peace freak by today's standards. Don't forget, this is a man who allowed himself to be murdered by his enemies. That's a far cry from the gunslinging philosophies of many Fox News viewers.

I didn't watch Fox News last Sunday but on those Sundays that I have Mr. Hume's co-panelists were often Chris Wallace, Bill Kristol, Morton Kondracke, and Charles Krauthammer - all Jews. I wonder what they thought of Mr. Hume's contention that "forgiveness and redemption" could only be found in the Christian faith. I suspect that in reality they could care less - as long as Mr. Hume also keeps proselytizing for the bombing of Iran. Which I'm sure Jesus would support, too.

Brit, old boy, did you repórt on Governor Pete Sanford? He was quoting scripture as he was commiting adultery....

Jimmy Swaggert was in the back of a limosine, leaving services, as he took advantages of a prostitute.

Remember Jim Baker and Jessica Hahn?

How about King David, or King Solomon?

Obviously, there is a hole in your theory.

One step closer to the "Handmaiden's Tale"

I'm Christian- and "Judge not, lest ye be judged" comes to mind.

Another thing, we hold God to be a universal being- and all these puny human minds are all bent on saying God has only ONE channel, which of course is their channel. Take care of your own salvation, because we can see- professed Christianity isn't and never has been a "cure-all" for sin. It's a path- not a destination.

I love the Right Wing delusion of the first amendment right to free speech.

Just because you said it doesn't mean you are free from criticism or accountability. We expect this kind of craziness from a brainless Carrie Prejean but soon after even hate groups like the National Organization for Marriage adopted this belief. FOX news is no exception.

"It is remarkable that Brit Hume's remark could generate such a backlash and all of these nasty comments about chritianity. All the guy did was share his opinion on the best way he feels a person can find redemption."

And all we're doing is expressing how ignorant, arrogant, presumptuous, pompous, and self-righteous that act is.

That's why we hate evangelicals who believe it's their mission to cram their superstition down everyone's throat in this belligerent manner.

Brit Hume needs to take care of his own damn house first and keep his flapper shut about others' beliefs. They are NONE of his goddamned business.

"I don't think Brit Hume said anything controversial at all. Christianity DOES mean you can change and become a better man.
People get so bent out of shape when you mention Jesus Christ."
---------------------------

This misses the point that Hume spoke from a bigoted perspective. It is obviously a bigoted perspective because there is no rational reason for believing that one's faith is any more "true" than any other religion. To say that Christianity if a better path to redemption than Buddhism reveals an ignorance and bias that is totally unacceptable in a free and respectful society.

To excuse Hume by saying, as one poster did, that "Hume expressed exactly what Christ did," is to miss this point. Anyone recommending any one religion over others as "THE TRUTH" is simply fooling themselves that they have a monopoly on the truth. They call it "faith" for a reason, people. Get over your arrogance and bigotry and get some respect for other beliefs, as long as they are compassionate and respectful of others.

The year is 2010 for most of the civilized world except for FOX (NEWs?) it is 1020.

I Mr. Hume considers himself a Christian, he is a very ignorant one. Not to mention his complete lack of knowledge of Buddhism.

Actually, Buddhism is much more incluse and forgiving of humanities vulnerabilities and ignorances...

Fox News caters to a portion of our society that values ignorance, exploitation and manipulation in information gathering and deliverance to the public. It is a stretch to call it a news organization.

Hume? What can one expect from a superstitious imbecile who vests more credibility in the supernatural than the natural?

He's a role model for the Rapture Right, and he's just reinforcing his street cred with the War on Christmas battalion.

"Convert to Christianity?"

Is that how Brit Hume repents?

One name: Megyn Kendall

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/01/axed-fox-newser-behind-brit-hume-affair-rumor.php

FOX in general is a hypocritical joke. Their news side is ultra-conservative, and their prime-time programming is full of sleaze and junk. FOX is in it for the money, that's all. And they are doing a great job at that, sucking money from both sides, the sleazy and the "righteous". Can't wait for the next American Idol and hope an Adam Lambert style guy/girl wins! Never hear anything against Amreican Idol on Fox News, by the way.

So why am I not surprised? Fox is the only channel, short of TBN or EWTN, whose job it is to cover religion, where anyone could get away with saying something like that on the air. Guess I know why Brit Hume doesn't work for ABC any more.

Christianity is all about the Good News that Jesus brings to ones life. In contrast, main stream media news is all about what's bad. That said, I don't care what people choose to believe in, however, unless the Bible (Old and New Testament) can be proven wrong, I suggest, no urge you believe and be saved.

I don't particularly like Hume, so anything thing he says, has an "I'm the authority" sound to it. He's just a paid pundit.

It is remarkable that Brit Hume's remark could generate such a backlash and all of these nasty comments about chritianity. All the guy did was share his opinion on the best way he feels a person can find redemption. Whats the problem, you disagree ... fine but whay the incessant attacks here. The insanity of these attacks on Fox news, jesus, Hume and anyone else is that they are from some nut job who wants to write his blog post and think he is important. this is an example of how the internet, with these stupid blogs, does nothing to create dialogue but simply provides an outlet for every hater to express themselves. Run a benign piece on Jews helping to make the world a better place and read what gets posted. Good work WaPo, you picked some guest columnist to go after Hume and now you can take credit for the hate that is posted here. At least it appears that your posters are equal opprotunity haters who see fit to attack anyone and everyone.

Let me identify myself first: I am a Christian believer. Jesus is my savior. That said, let me address my perception of some misperception of scripture.
1. Jesus healed and offered salvation to those people who came to him. Not once in scripture did Jesus approach someone and force himself on that person, male or female. People were drawn to Jesus.
2. Jesus said to "Go out and make converts...." Scripture also warns that the prophet receives no honor in his own town. Here the meaning is that we are not to proslytize in our workplaces, our homes, our neighborhoods, etc. The reason for this is my own failings are to well known by those who see me every day. Jesus recognizes that I can do more harm by preaching the Word to they who can criticize me than they who know me not. (Even still, I am not to accost people when I preach.)
None of this is to say that I shouldn't share my faith. If I am in the workplace and my behavior is so exemplary that a co-worker asks me what makes me so, then I can share my story, Jesus's story. If I go to another town, to where no one knows me and my failings, then I can place myself so as to offer healing to those who would come. To do otherwise, to "force" myself on others is to violate another of Jesus's injunctions: casting pearls before swine.
Neil A. Bourjaily
Durango, Colo.

Rev. Gaddy, the underlying mistake is to take FNC at its word that it is a "news" channel.

It's about as close to being a "news" channel as a top 40 radio station that gets its news from a one-person newsroom.

Repent from FAUX News Hume and God might just forgive you. Me, I think you are already damned.

The Walls around the Fox Nation are there not just to keep out those outside, but to keep those inside from seeing past the Walls. Mr. Hume has been inside so long he no longer even knows 98% of America is "outside" (or 301 million of the 308 million total). So, Mr. Hume simply "believes" the other 301 million are just like him and doesn't realize he has nothing in common with the other 301 million.

I don't think Brit Hume said anything controversial at all. Christianity DOES mean you can change and become a better man.

People get so bent out of shape when you mention Jesus Christ.

Someone once sang "Love Hurts", well...I guess the truth said in love Stings a little bit too.

"I can say this with 100% assurity, that had Tiger professed his faith as a follower of Christ and followed that path, agree or disagree with the faith, he wouldnt be in the situation he is in!!"

What a crock. Does the name Ted Haggard ring a bell? Jimmy Swaggart?

Make no mistake... what the Right has in mind when it comes to "freedom of religion," is that it's for Christians only.

With folks like Gaddy in the pulpit, it's no wonder the Baptist Church is losing members as fast as CNN is losing viewers. New Age spiritualism doesn't cut it Welton. You're leading your followers to the good-intentioned path straight to hell.

The part of Hume's comments I found really distasteful was that part at the end where he said Tiger could become "a great example to the world."
Really, Hume sees this conversion as a PR ploy. Convert to Christianity, he advises Tiger, to regain his standing with the American public and those product endorsement contracts which will no doubt be offered once this prodigal son has returned to the fold.

I would expect no less from the propaganda factory that is Fox News.

No, that would be the Jews. Old Testament stuff. Jesus saved the woman from the stone throwers. Read the New Testament, get a clue, and perhaps save your soul.

Posted by: dishonest_abe

Well well, this does not sound very "Christ Like" and a bit antisemitic. Sorry I won't
be seeing you in the Kingdom of Heaven. I will pray for you. by RJCLAY

----------------------

No, it is not antisemitic at all. It is a fact. Your thin-skinned response is what I would expect from a humanist-centered liberal. You may or may not see me in heaven, but you won't be the judge of whether or not I will get there. I appreciate your prays however.

Mr. Hume can say anything he wants. Though I would expect that Fox News would be "fair and balanced" and have a Buddhist commentary.

Isn't that what a fair and balanced network would do?

I'm at somewhat of a loss why anyone would broadcast a message to Tiger Woods to begin with. Does Mr. Hume have some insight that Tiger follows Fox News Sunday programming? Do demographics show that Buddhists pick Fox News.

Brit is not knowledgable at all on Buddhism. For a serious Buddhist, not a new age dillatante, one of the core precepts is to not engage in improper sexual relationships. Which of course, includes adultery. Tiger's Buddhism is no different then the Christianity followed by scores of supposed Christians who have abused sexuality. It's not serious.

Watching Hume's comment was not surprising nor offensive to me, because I know the man's opinions to be off-based and biased.Hearing him suggest that Woods indulge in Hume's superstitious delusions is to be expected.

Like all closet perverts clinging to the GOP, Brit Hume just whats the phone numbers of all those girls. Then, off on a hiking trip in the mountains he will go.

As for Brit Hume preaching like an Evangelical, that is the GOP safe haven for which they really have no belief in GOD, they just like using his name.

Like all closet perverts clinging to the GOP, Brit Hume just whats the phone numbers of all those girls. Then, off on a hiking trip in the mountains he will go.

As for Brit Hume preaching like an Evangelical, that is the GOP safe haven for which they really have no belief in GOD, they just like using his name.

Just more proof as the Obama administration says...Fox news is not news. It's 95% opinion(all far right, the extended arm of the republican party no doubt)and 5% news. Whenever I enter a restaurant, place of business that has Fox news on, I turn around and walk right out the door. It's my personal attack on this phony news station.

I find it humerous that people are upset that Hume expressed an opinion. Seems like some people cannot separate news from commentary. Brit is now a commentator, folks. He provides personal comments. He is no longer a news reporter.

No, that would be the Jews. Old Testament stuff. Jesus saved the woman from the stone throwers. Read the New Testament, get a clue, and perhaps save your soul.

Posted by: dishonest_abe

Well well, this does not sound very "Christ Like" and a bit antisemitic. Sorry I won't
be seeing you in the Kingdom of Heaven. I will pray for you.

Alert to all Fox Viewers: Gaddy didn't dispute Hume's message just the venue. Go back and organize another Tea Bag rally...

Who's Brit Hume? Is Brit short for Britney? I think we all know that Fox doesn't really do news. It's all about the dollars. With respect to Brit's comment, each person must find their own path and their own answers about the Great Mystery, or not. If Brit was so spiritually wise, he would know that, and he would also know that Christianity is not The Path, just a sign along that path

If this had occurred on a real news channel, it would have bothered me. It was FOX.

Of course Mr. Hume was right, Christians never urge the murder of gays, cheat on their wives, rape their children, ET AL. They are the epitome of self effacement, humility, and leading by example.

I've seen Hume a few times and always found him to be level headed and calm with a dry wit. As someone mentioned, he isn't doing "news" but commentary, in which case what he may have said is merely a statement of his opinion. Nothing wrong with expressing your opinion in an opinion piece, and is no different than what Gaddy is doing here. What it has done, though is to open the flood gates for those who are eager to trash Christianity whenever the opportunity is presented, and level nasty attacks at those who identify themselves as "Christian". My advice to Hume or anyone else like him to simply ignore them; apparently it makes them feel better about themselves. Sad.

I agree with Gaddy that it is good to see religious issues discussed in public, but disagree on two points: 1) that only professionals should discuss them, and 2) that seeking forgiveness is a bad reason to follow Christ. He said Himself, "I came to seek and to save the lost."

If Gaddy disagrees on the content of Hume's remarks he should debate them. He should say how, within Buddhism, one finds forgiveness. And he should be more specific about why he thinks it is wrong to come to Christ seeking forgiveness, particularly when Christ himself invited it and said he came, "to seek and to save the lost."

I think we benefit from discussion and debate of important topics, even within the public sphere.

I just wish someone would amend the constitution to not only guarantee
us the right of "freedom of religion", but "FREEDOM FROM RELIGION"......What a bunch of SUCKERS!!

"I am a Buddhist, and as such, the concept of an 'original sin' and 'forgiveness' from some ancient Middle-Eastern deity is seen for what it is -- a lot of weird, inhuman, nonsensical (and peculiarly violent) psycho-babble used by a lot of rather confused dualists (those like Muslims, Jews, and Christians who believe that the mind and body are separate things).
Buddhists do not believe in any kind of 'God', so, we do not need its or anyone else's forgiveness, but only to understand and forgive ourselves (which is what matters most). We are merely an expression of peaceful coexistence here, and I am innocent of your crimes -- they're YOUR crimes, not mine Christian.
That people like Hume act as if they understand Buddhism is sad, yet predictable and all too common. That he, a man obviously working for a paycheck, pretends that he is better than Woods and therefore entitled to judge and lecture him, is getting close to what I would call "evil".
But I am certainly not offended by Hume's ignorant ravings -- I am actually laughing my head off!
Posted by: Frank57 | January 5, 2010 5:43 AM"

the fact you are laughing your head off shows you are no buddhist...
but you are as ignorant...

I can say this with 100% assurity, that had Tiger professed his faith as a follower of Christ and followed that path, agree or disagree with the faith, he wouldnt be in the situation he is in!!
Should Brit Hume be evangelizing on tv...as a believer in Christ? I say no...but I am sure glad he did!!!

This is exactly why Christianity was eliminated from my list of Search for God. Jesus was a great ideal and certainly a worthy one, but the fervent followers of the faith are the most distasteful hypocrites of them all. The search continues, and probably will not end in this lifetime. Our small minds can't handle the concept of the Real God...

Posted by: seakeys

---------------

Yes, all those darn Christians killing people by the hundreds of thousands every year....oh wait, that's the followers of the "religion of peace" muslims. Did you know that Christians give more money to charity in the United States than any other group on a per capita basis? Your need to tear down Christianity shows that you have a looooooooooooooooong way to go in your search for God. He is all around you. Yet, you can not see because you have already closed you mind to Him. Too bad, because you're wrong. You're not getting another chance at the plate on this sparky.

I pity anyone who thinks that Brit Hume or any other FOX personality believes what they read from scripts on TV. In exchange for the loyal viewership of 25% of the U.S. population, FOX deliberately massages their religious arrogance and various phobias. It's really good business if you can get away with it. Unfortunately, it's becoming apparent that more than 25% of the U.S. population are shallow, unthinking, arrogant idiots. It won't be long before other broadcast media start mimicking FOX in order to get their share of this growing viewership.

"Didn't Christians used to stone adulterers in the bible?" posted by RJCLAY

No, that would be the Jews. Old Testament stuff. Jesus saved the woman from the stone throwers. Read the New Testament, get a clue, and perhaps save your soul.

How can Cheatah Woods be judged by the content of his character and not the color of his skin, when his character has no content? Didn't Christians used to stone adulterers in the bible?

Fox News, just like the Republicans, are shameless when it comes to stooping to new lows and crossing boundaries that should not be crossed. Does anyone really expect anything better from Faux News? They feed into America's Empire of Illusion. Seems like Republicans use their so-called Christianity to excuse being sinful. They apparently think they can say and do anything because, after all, as long as they profess to be Christian, they believe they'll be forgiven. I can only imagine that if Jesus is indeed watching, he's deeply disappointed in all things Republican.

I thought FOX was the Hindu channel

It is common in people for religious faith to become a reality more real than real reality. Recommending a change of religious belief to one of God's children (who has strayed from the righteous path) is highly inappropriate on a news program. But, who in his right mind would consider Fox News a source for news? Goebbels would have given his eye teeth to have such a propaganda arm for the promulgation of his party's principles. News models could have applauded the rounding up of back stabbing, hook nosed vermin for "resettlement."

Yonkers, New York
05 January 2010

I don't think pastor Welton Gaddy knows Fox News that well.

If he did, he would not at all be surprised that Brit Hume, a prominent fixture on Fox News, should turn evengelist and, with a straight face, ask Tiger Woods to convert from Buddhism to Christianity.

Obviously, Fox News and all of its fixtures, have no problem with making the fine distinctions between journalism from evnagelism. They have no problem with being obsessively partisan and ideological, either. As far as Fox News is concerned, anything goes!

And, finally, they have no problem with their claim, "All the news that's fair and balanced."

Mariano Patalinjug

This is exactly why Christianity was eliminated from my list of Search for God. Jesus was a great ideal and certainly a worthy one, but the fervent followers of the faith are the most distasteful hypocrites of them all. The search continues, and probably will not end in this lifetime. Our small minds can't handle the concept of the Real God...

Come on folks go easy on FOX. Fox is ment for entertainment, you know like the old TV program Beverly Hillbillies.

Hume is not a news caster. He was giving Tiger his personal advise, which by the way was fine with me. I am Christian and so are about 80% or more of the population in the US. I think you folks are mixing up that mythical separation of church and state stuff with Hume's commentary.
Christians are not all free from sin and wrong doing, but they do have a good set of rules to guide their lives if they choose to follow them. Also, whatever happened to free speech?
Is "free speech" only when you morons come out of the woodwork to spew your venom?

I am a Buddhist, and as such, the concept of an 'original sin' and 'forgiveness' from some ancient Middle-Eastern deity is seen for what it is -- a lot of weird, inhuman, nonsensical (and peculiarly violent) psycho-babble used by a lot of rather confused dualists (those like Muslims, Jews, and Christians who believe that the mind and body are separate things).

Buddhists do not believe in any kind of 'God', so, we do not need its or anyone else's forgiveness, but only to understand and forgive ourselves (which is what matters most). We are merely an expression of peaceful coexistence here, and I am innocent of your crimes -- they're YOUR crimes, not mine Christian.

That people like Hume act as if they understand Buddhism is sad, yet predictable and all too common. That he, a man obviously working for a paycheck, pretends that he is better than Woods and therefore entitled to judge and lecture him, is getting close to what I would call "evil".

But I am certainly not offended by Hume's ignorant ravings -- I am actually laughing my head off!

.

"Compare religions at Patheos.com"

Cute site, Welton--if you're a Christianist, that is. Notably missing are the various man-gods of the period and the region and JC's commonality with those myths. Also missing are any references to the bread/flesh, wine/blood business, derived from the mystery religions.

I could go on. But, no, Christianity is wholly unique, or, so, this bogus web site would have us believe.

Is there any point at which you Christians become just a tad less self-serving, self-righteous, and delusional?

Egads, another Jerk for Jesus--one more guest ripe for an invitation to an Alice in Wonderland tea party along with the Mad Hatter and a passel of ightwingnuts. "Twas brillig and the slivey toves....

fox news thrives on controversy and outrage. Perhaps this has more to do with some internal sense of declining interest in their product than any personally held beliefs. Hume may be a prick, but he's a smart prick. He knows the level of intelligence of his audience.

I wonder what it's like, around the fox conference room table in the morning. Do the real puppetmasters ask each other how they're going to fool the idiots today, are they laughing at you?

Hume was only catering to the narrow minded viewership of Fauxnews. Can anybody imagine the backlash if someone on Fauxnews had suggested to Mark Sanford that he convert to Islam or Judaism as a cure for his transgressions?? And the argument could have made quite easily ....

"If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." Hebrews 10:26,27

To call yourself a Christian and WILLFULLY continue to sin will result in the same judgment as those who are an outspoken enemies of God.

The false assumption that ALL sins are forgiven if you are a Christian is perpetuated by the false prophets of Christianity to entice others to join. Most main line churches don't preach this, cause if they did, their churches would be empty on Sunday. Because being a Christian ain't as easy as the leaders profess it to be.

Before anyone choose to respond ... the word "Willfully" is VERY important... It seems to me that many intolerant and judgmental Christians have who lack intellectual curiosity of their own religion have crossed the line.

Christianity has always been conversionistic.
Whether it's a matter of Hume's offering cheap grace, or missionaries offering food in exchange for conversion, the whole enterprise rests on extortion and arrogance.

Monotheism might be a good direction for Christianity to take. Ditto polytheism. Worshiping a man-god is idolatry, as is the nonsensical notion of angels abounding.

Polytheism might be also be a worthwhile alternative.

But for the Christians, I suspect Buddhism would be best. Not Tiger Woods' version, needless to say. Buddhism could have a salutary effect on Christians, perhaps, treating their blindness, hardened hearts, conversionism/imperialism, arrogance, and narcissism.

Let's hope Mr. Hume doesn't stop at Mr. Woods and Buddists and instead calls on Mark Sanford, Rudi Giuliani, Newt Gingrich to follow their professed faiths.

Mr. Hume is right, Buddhists generaly hold people responsible for their actions: False Christians like Mr. Hume say it doesn't matter how you act as long as you say the right things.

Fox News is no more a source of "news" than is the National Inquirer.

It is a haven for right wing screwballs who listen to the blabbing of Glenn Beck and then attempt to spread it as if were news.

Britt Hume, giving life advice to anyone about anything is disgusting?
Father to a Suicide Alcoholic Gay man.
I say that pretty much says alot about his counsel.
This guy actually believes his son is burning in fires of hell. Now theres a dogma you can grab onto.

Why should anyone be surprised at vitually anything that is said on the Fox News Channel? Fox is nothing put the propaganda arm of the Republican party. And Christianity is the official state sanctioned region of that same party. Anyone who is not white and Christian need not apply (and women are allowed, but are subservient to their male counterparts). The GOP long ago abandoned the notion of separation of Church and state---they have some of the best minds of the 19th century.

Monotheism is the highest level of religious arrogance.

Divinity, if there is such a thing, has never revealed itself to any human explicitly, in the manner that Christianity claims Divinity has to it.

There could be more than one God or no God. But to cllaim that there is one God and that belief in other Gods is a sin is an arrogant teaching. That is why throughout history Christians have proven to be among the biggest mas murderers, for example the massacre of the six million Jews in Europe and the massacre of Native Americans by white Christians from Europe or of European origin and the subsequent theft of their lands.

True Christians would return the stolen lands to the Natives and return to Europe.

First, Buddhism doesn't really have the concepts of sin and forgiveness, although Tiger may certainly see the effects of Karma coming his way. But since I'm not a Christian, I won't give all happy inside about the prospect of Tiger getting what he "deserves" according to Christians.

For Christians, sin and forgiveness are just Trojan horses that allow the Christian to do anything he wants...and then claim repentance and forgiveness. And if there's a check in it for the local pastor or preacher, better (that's probably why Hume's after Tiger).

Finally, what ever happened to the "good, old days", when Christians would lovingly allow persons who were going to be executed, including for being "heretics", to be repent and be forgiven...and then the forgiven person was executed anyway?

Forgiving is an arrogant act. Only God forgives. The best us humans can do is to not retaliate, no matter how immense the harm done to us. Tiger should show the real face of Buddhism, and he has already shown it, by not pressing criminal charges against his wife from Sweden. She attacked him with a cell phone and broke his teeth and then chased his vehicle with a gold iron, smashed the rear window and nearly killed Tiger who crashed into a public hydrant. he could have died.

Buddhism, unlike Christianity, is not an "holier than thou", arrogant faith. Buddhism teaches non-retaliation, a much superior value than forgiveness.

Tiger's wife could never be a Buddhist because of her violent tendencies. But she can always be a Christian and claim she forgave Tiger.

"True character arises from a deeper well than religion."

E.O Wilson

Hume has never read the Dhammapada, especially the chapter " Who is a Brahmin". Had it he read the Dhammapada with an open mind he might even have become a Buddhist.

I am not a Buddhist but Buddhism is certainly a religion of a much higher morality than Christianity and does not have the arrogance of Christianity. Instead of joining the Christian cult centered around a man of dubious historicity, aka Jesus, Tiger should instead become a Buddhist monk for six months to get his mind back in shape.

My father always told me in no uncertain terms that I should never put another religion down and that the only evil religion is the religion that says it is the best and others not so good.

It is this arrogance, that they are the only ways, that has caused the two largest monotheistic faiths in the world today to be responsible for the most number of massacres in history. Hume has identified one, Christianity. Let us not forget the massacre and theft of Native American lands by the settlers from Europe, the white Christians.I will let readers guess at the other.

I for one will never watch Fox again until Hume leaves the channel, is fired or apologizes and asks Tiger for forgiveness. I was willing to tolerate Beck, O'Reilly and Sean Insanity but adding Hume to list is not possible anymore for me.

I hope like minded humans will also join my boycott.

For someone who is a foreigner, accidentally tuning in to FOX channel is a shocking experience. All white,although with a token "Uncle Tom," all redneck shouting at each other.
Christian heaven help us if the U.S. is peopled by extremists like the Fox 2dimensional cardboard cut outs.

Hatred of others speaks loudly for the validity of one's faith. Out of hand ignorant dismissal is quite often part of that same conversation.

Practicing intolerance is no God's work.

wiseowl1, Also as you seem so patriotic, and nationalist (like the Germans were in both the 1st and 2nd World Wars), I am wondering how much you own that is exclusively American made? Or are you supporting the Chinese Communists by owning things made in China? Or are you supporting S. Korea, Hong Kong or Taiwan by purchasing things made in those countries?? For instance, I bet your TV was not made in America! How about your car?? How about your Golf equipment? My God, you must be a hypocrite! Geez, your making money "off this country" and spending it on foreign goods! Common wiseowl, you "should show some morality" here man! How disappointing you are, buying foreign instead of American! A real traitor!!!

wow, just wow. just reading some of the comments of this blog make me feel sorry for christians man, are you REALLY this stupid? jesus christ.

Christianity is a religion of forgiveness but the believer must accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Should Tiger accept this grace and give his heart to God in this manner, surely he would find forgiveness. Bret Hume is certainly free to ask him to take a look at this path.
It's is still Tiger's choice.

On the lighter side of life, and yes, I believe God has a sense of humor to laugh at his subjects, poor old Tiger will have to give up trying to out perform Solomon. Whatever the dude decides, he has established himself as super stud and it's is hard to see him as a Bhudda, since all you ever see of that character is a statue of him sitting around. And old Tiger ain't been a' sitting around.

Khote14, As for me, I am not a true Christian, although at one time I ignorantly and stupidly use to be! I am an Atheist! The only true God is none! I am answerable to know one but myself!

wiseowl1, wow, you are pretty ignorant! Like Christianity was started in this country?? You act like America is the true Christian nation when it is anything but! And I'm sure the Italians and Christians in the Middle East would disagree with you! So, lets see, if I am a Christian in say Spain, I'm not a true Christian because I am not an American christian?? Interestingly, Muslim extremists think the same way as you regarding their religion! The only difference is that they are far more true believers because they are willing quite readily to give up their lives and die for their Allah, but I bet you are not willing to die for your God! Which leads me to believe you are not a true believer, but an idiotic follower of nothing! It is obvious you not only know nothing about Christianity, but are clueless about its history! Try reading the Bible where there is absolutely no mention of the United States! Christianity existed on foreign soil far far longer then in these United States! It is obvious you bare false witness to your God sinner!

It's great fun watching all you christians cutting each other's throat over who is the better christian.

Rolling on the floor laughing my ass off, you can't pay for this kind of comedy :-)

What nonsense. Who takes Birt seriously. Who cares what the says for he does not think does he?
I canot stand to wathc Fox sunday stuff nor can I stand to watch that pretend catholic bilr mouth Ed or whatever his name is baseballnut turned polical nut.
With so much TV time we have accumulated a who trail full of nutty Rushes on tv. The deep recession may help us all in that the channells may not be able to pay
Chris Matthews and his ilk Hume, Kristol, money to sit around and act a political drama part.
It will be hard on the working class but think we may get rid of Chris, Ed, Britt, Bill, Stottlemier and all.
And if it does that will be goooooood.

chris Mattews

Reverend Dr. Gaddy, thank you for this gentle chiding. Such reasoned hyperbole-free commentary is lacking in today's vitriolic world.

I have to disagree with the basic premise here. One of the core values that is embraced by our constitution and by our culture has always been the right of newspapers, news stations, internet gossip columns, and anything else that looks remotely like news, to editorialize about whatever they please. Opinion - about everything under the sun, including, *gasp*, religion - is essential to a free press. News services have always been used to proselytize, scandalize, sympathize and generally offend all and sundry.

I can't stand FOX as a general rule, but I don't understand how someone can question whether Hume was "right" to do what he did. "Right" under what standard? The question should be whether you agree with what he said. If you don't like it, maybe you should write an editorial in the Washington Post or something like that . . . or perhaps that wouldn't be "right" either.

You go, Bret Hume! I know there is still free speech in this country. You bet Tiger needs religion. He needs to go with the flow and not some religion that is prevalent in a foreign country.

He is making money off our country, hence, he should show some morality. Leave Hume alone. Analize those writers of the Health plan like Harry Reid.

I'm a long-time Brit Hume fan, but found that comment out of line, and inappropriate.

I have to add, as somewhat of an "aspiring/practicing/developing" Buddhist - meaning I find great beauty and utility in the central tenets of the philosophy - that there is no burning reason for Hume to apologize. No one was harmed, because ultimately "harm" is an illusion.

The classic Buddhist take on his comments (ignorant as I see them with my superficial, ego-bound consciousness) is to not take any "offense". Offense would entail an attachment - something I try to various degrees of success (less so on these forums directly after reading a story I find outrageous!) - to avoid, or free myself of. And attachments are forms of self-delusion. The classic Buddhist way of dealing with this is to simply note it, and say, "so, this is where Brit Hume is today - I wish him well in his continuing journey", or something like that.

And so, I say "Namaste". I bow to the Divine which exists within Brit Hume, as well as within me and you. I am sure that I am as prone to self-delusion as Mr. Hume apparently is today. May we all one day be free.

I get the distinct impression in this that if Tiger was a Christian that everyone would forgive, but since he's not, they won't. It's not the actual religion that provides the forgiveness, but rather, the opinion of others who will be willing to extend forgiveness to another Christian that they wouldn't extend to others. Says a lot about the cultish Christian personality and why so many people are being turned off by it.

I was wondering how folks like John Ensign and Mark Sanford can call themselves "Christians". Thanks to Britt Hume, I think I now understand.

"Evidently the reporter has expertise in both Buddhist and Christian thought."

I seriously doubt that Brit Hume has the slightest inkling of what Siddhartha Guatama Buddha's teachings were - or what they might offer to someone like Tiger Woods at this point in his life's journey. Rather, I suspect Hume is like most fundamentalist Christians, who have had a ridiculously shallow Bronze Age text - and the "fear of God" hammered into them since Day One of their existence - such that any other faith or thought system is "dangerous witchcraft that Angry Father will strike me dead for if I even look upon it with curiosity".

I hate to stereotype, but my experience with fundamentalist Christians is that almost uniformly they lack curiosity, and as a result have never expanded their minds beyond a very narrow, fear-based view of the universe. The very phrase "fear of God" that they cherish so is characteristically demonstrative of the limited, life-denying philosophy that they live out on a day-to-day basis. The universe and its wonder is not something to be feared, it is something to be embraced, in all its dualistic, holistic glory.

Oh, yes, Brit Hume is right. Of course Tiger Woods should convert to christianity and join all those other wonderful born again christians like Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Amy Semple McPherson, Father Coughlin, all the Catholic pedophile priests and, of course, GWBush and Rupert Murdoch. They are/were all such fine moral exemplars for America.

Brit Hume is a notorious fool and his comments reflect that fact.

The problem is that Hume does not understand Christianity. If he is a Christian, I believe it would be of the heretical kind, not a true Christian.

And isn't that the problem with TV personalities talking about religion? They do not understand Christianity, and they do not even know what a conversion is, so I would suggest that true Christians would be deeply offended by the heretical kind that is on Fox news, the kind that does not have the first inkling as to what it is to live a Christ-like life. As George Fox said, Mr. Hume, let your life speak, and shut up.

Wow, Fox has slowly but surely moved away from a news organization to a preacher's TV organization . GOP , necons and friends of Fox should take notice of this change in Fox network . Brit Hume needs to educate himself about Buddhism , Lord Buddha a great man of peace in his time and his teachings.

Good article Reverend Gaddy. You expressed my thoughts when I heard Hume. Hume's comments sound like the philosophy of The Family on C Street. I am Christian, go to church every Sunday, and my faith is a very important part of my life, but I'm appalled at how many of these people use religion for their own purposes. Hume was stepping across boundaries and I share your concerns about the manipulation of faith.

I have noticed that those who seem to profess Christianity the loudest tend indeed to be intolerant and live in a way that I think Jesus would find dubious. Bearing false witness, as Mr. Hume and his longtime employer and colleagues do on a daily basis? The kind of intolerance demonstrated by, for example, the Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., over gay marriage and the bishops over health care reform? The same people seem to be losing no sleep over the use of the death penalty, which their church also opposes, and I don't think Jesus would tell people to go ahead and die because they have a pre-existing condition. Very sad.

Wow!!! I can't belive the hatred here. I ran across this looking at something else. Why are the most seriously intolerant people so often the ones that yell about tolerance? Intolerant hate as long as its a group you've been told your allowed to hate.

So there are bad religious people too. Are you really shocked, they are human too. There are horrible atheists, christians, buddhists and everyone else. But not all. So why judge with all the hatred a religious person? I don't know but I guess I shouldn't be so shocked at the sick vitriol, but I still am. Not all atheists are bad but the people here spewing this sickness, you know who you are, are giving a bad name to all the rest.

I'm not a member of any religion, but this makes me want to join one and attend often just to differentiate myself even more from you. Seriously, theres something wrong with you if you can work up that much hate for anything except rape murder etc... Something worth the hate.

Hey Grohlik, at least you got wordsmith right! I've decided to up your IQ from a generous 60, to a 61!

And also Grohlik, I sure do hope and pray my God is not your vision of a God!

Grohlik, I really wish you were intelligent enough to understand what "web rant" is! I bet the only book you've ever read, and very poorly at that it seems, is the Bible! I think you seriously need to go to confession! You still have avoided explaining your casting off of Jesus and his beliefs? hmmmm! wonder why?? Not a true believer huh?? Go figure! Ah, I get it! Just like a Muslim extremist, you pick an choose what you want to believe in! Are you willing to die for your God? If someone put a gun to your head and threatened to kill you unless you deny your God, would you choose to live, or die? The one thing I can respect from most Muslims is their willingness, almost without question of dying for their Allah! Are you that devout to your God?? I bet not! If it was a matter of life and death, I bet you'd deny your God in less then a split second!

brit hume joins a whole list of idiots associated with the fox news cable network.he has to be a schmuck to feel that buddhism is not a forgiving religion.

Yankeechess: You win you wordsmith you!

Grohlik, "I couldn'r care less what others believe?" So, I guess Jesus falls into that category of "what others believe"! Right? Because Jesus believed in tolerance, compassion, forgiveness, Love, caring for the less fortunate among us, etc. Tolerance you obviously don't believe in! I bet you don't like Baptists either! Oh, and by the way, the couldn'r above was copied from your post! Please do learn how to spell better if your going to post here! You have already given us enough ammo regarding your low robotic, blind unintelligent ramblings! You really should go visit your Swaggart and partake in his prostitutes!

I have a feeling that Brit Hume and his buddies have stock in some of the companies who have dived since this scandal emerged. Nothing like a good old Christian plea for forgiveness to make Americans love you and start buying your sponsor's sneakers again.

Yeah, Tiger, just say that you've turned to Jesus. The people in this country will let you do anything as long as you say you are a devout Christian. It worked for Bush.

Yankeechess, I'll be happy to continue our little chat, but can't you up your game a bit? So far it looks like you're just copying and pasting standard web rant.

Brit Hume comparing world religions on Fox News does seem a bit ridiculous.

But then again, is it any less ridiculous than community college dropout Sean Hannity shouting the alleged "facts" about global warming to a panel of Stanford and MIT PhD Geophysicists? Or any less ridiculous than high-school educated Glenn Beck's daily econometric pronouncements, calling educated economists from both political parties "idiots"?

Fox News is a joke, a depressing reflection of America itself rapidly becoming an idiocracy. Brit Hume's silly religious pronouncements are just one more indicator of that.

Whose the "big man" to you Yankeechess? Is that how you deal with it? An offhand acknowledgment of a vague persona?

If so, you're in the right place. Send Welton a few bucks and he'll put you on his listserv.

Grohlik, hmmm, so Jesus is not your man?? What he preached and practiced is meaningless? Just a die-hard belief in God is all that matters? No matter how you live your sick corrupt life! I mean, isn't Jesus the son of God! Do you really think that if you are a sick sinner, which you seem, that just believing in God will absolve you of your sinning ways? As long as you believe in god that it is OK to hate, kill, steal, etc.? Sound just like an extreme Muslim Fundamentalist to me who rationalizes killing innocent people as OK as long as he believes in Allah!

Why embrace Christianity to attain forgiveness? If Tiger wants forgiveness in this life (what did he do "wrong" if he wasn't Christian?) then Christianity would be a good choice, Hume being on target. As a Buddhist, Tiger can simply live his life as he wishes and face his next life with trepidation. Remaining Buddhist Tiger may well return as a tiger, probably endangered and certainly not as comfortable as he is in this life.

Cotton2g: How can there be a spiritual redemption without a God? And what purpose would it serve?

Philosophy is great. If you don't beleive in a God, who cares? But the point of being religious is that you do believe in the existence of a God. If not, why concern yourself with it?

My problem with people like Welton is that I doubt they believe in an actual diety. Religion is just an avenue they use to money and success. And that's a low that needs addressing.

Cotton2g, you got it right! These so-called Christian idiots would follow the Pied Piper to Hell! But then again they won't need a Pied Piper, because at the time of their death, the big man above will most certainly shuttle them all on the fast track to the Devil's abode!

Yankeechess, thank you. I was hoping Welton or one of his buddies would come out to play.

You don't really understand religious faith, Yankee. The point of belief is to acknowledge and worship a diety, God. It isn't to get along with others. It doesn't want you to take the position that "my God is no better than anyone else's God". It demands that you live a life of testimony to the truth of ONE God.

Your position seems to be that there are a number of belief systems without dieties and it's largely irrelevant which one you choose. That's how you pick a philosophy - not a God.

And once again, I'm calling out Welton as a false minister and a hypocrite. I couldn'r care less what others believe.

Yes, forgiveness and being born again worked great for Karla Fay Tucker, assuming her conversion to Christ was genuine. If it was, she's alive in Heaven tonight. It proves that God's grace is "amazing," that even a murderer like Tucker can be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life. There is no other Name -- Jesus Christ -- under heaven whereby we must be saved.

Joneu316, You are obviously not a genuine Christian! But you'd like your God to believe you are! Your Christian fraud is obvious! If someone doesn't believe your fundamentalist Christian extremism, you feel sooo threatened! No, I don't want to experience Jesus' cross venture for one big reason! Jesus has to be sorrily disappointed that his futile suffering and sac on the cross proved such a useless and wasteful effort in trying to save the save-less behind of you Joneu316, Grohlik and others of your sorry intolerant kind!

The ignorance on this post is rampant. So unless you're christian there is no mechanism for redemption? Some of these same fools would be howling at the moon if a news personality suggested someone convert to Islam in order to better handle some transgression.

Mr. Hume et al, shut up and keep discussions of faith in its proper context.

Forgiveness and being born again worked wonders for Karla Fay Tucker, didn't it. Worked splendidly for George W. Bush, too -- just ask the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis (and families of our own soldiers) whose lives got disrupted.

Why would any genuine Christian be upset w/Hume presuming the Christian faith can meet the need that Woods has (and that we all have)? I guess "Amazing Grace" is just a song to Gaddy, rather than an actual experience. Do you see yourself as a "wretch" spiritually, Mr Gaddy, saved by the unmerited grace of God through Christ's shed blood, death on the cross and bodily resurrection? Why would you not want Woods or anyone to experience that same amazing grace?

Grohlik, Are you christian? Are you all about what a christian is? Name calling is Christian?? Would your Jesus be pleased at how you so disgustingly defend his faith? I didn't know a Christian had such hatred and disrespect for other faiths! I bet you find it hard to be even a small bit compassionate, forgiving and tolerant as your Jesus preached! But then again, Jesus ideas were extremely liberal: freedom, respect, compassion, tolerance, loving, forgiveness, caring for others, especially the poor and suffering! None of which you seem to exhibit! I'm curious as to the sick type of Christian religion you espouse to that doesn't encourage you to practice Jesus' ways! Its obvious that you are unable to walk the talk and talk the walk of true Christianity! Grohlik, you are really no better then the Muslim fundamentalist who twists the Koran to their sick way of thinking! I bet you are prepared to be a suicide bomber for Christianity!

What's the big deal? It was a panel segment where each person is allowed to share the OPINIONS. It wasn't a news segment. And how is that any worse that MSNBC's overt-propaganda paraded as news? Brit Hume happens to be one of the most level-headed people in Washington news. Even before the advent of cable news, I used to like Hume, because you could tell that he was even-handed and fair to all involved. Give us about 1,000 more like him...

Britt is right. Wood's Karma coming around will leave him a flattened pancake.

You miss my point, DJ. Welton presents himself here as a Baptist minister with 50 years experience. He takes someone to task because he dared to imply that Christianity is superior to Buddhism in what Welton considerd to be the wrong place and time.

Welton isn't claiming to just be another Christian. He claims to be a religous leader. A committed Baptist. But, you won't find a lot of Baptist ministers that have a problem with traditional believers the way Welton does. The true believers witness to their faith anyplace at anytime.

Look at his archives. He takes boiler plate liberal positions and dresses them in a little psuedo-religion.

I could care less what other people believe, but I hate a hypocrite. And Welton out does even Jimmy Swaggert on that.

Only a Christian who is afraid someone will find a reason not to believe in Christianity would be afraid to have someone compare religions.

I agree that Britt Hume's comments cheapen the notion of Christianity and Buddhism. Neither should be taken so lightly, or on such a juvenile level. Of course what can you expect from Fox.

I find the whole Tiger Woods media hoopla to be deeply offensive. First there are players in the NFL who've been accused of murder, robbery, not to mention cruelty to animals.

I don't hear anyone asking them to repent, what I hear in the media are requests that they behave so that their teams don't get penalized during the NFL season.

I'm a fan of Tiger Woods, because he is the world's greatest golfer. If I want a role model for marriage, I think I'll pick someone else.

Welton writes, "Mr. Hume is engaging in a practice that most religious leaders in the nation try to avoid."

You've got it. Most religious leaders like Welton avoid simple, declarative statements of Christianity's superiority to other religions. So, a Baptist doesn't like it when someone states that the only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ? Is that a problem for you, Welton?

I guess sincere belief is in poor taste with the crowd you socialize with, eh Welton.

Here's an idea that will play well with your liberal buddies: the Sacrament of Abortion. Go for it, Welton! Be the first to sanctify the practice. Think of all the tv shows you'll get invited to! The books you'll sell!

The very notion that 'Christ' died for someone's sins is abhorrent to many faiths...

Posted by: journeyer58

----------------

The very notion that Christ died for everyone's sins is irrational to many thinking people. Especially since the Biblical God apparently dared Adam and Eve into original sin. That's a right kerfuffle.

Once you glide past that, however, Christ has a lot of good things to say. Same as many mythical founders of various religions.

Hey Welton! See that link under your attack? It goes to a web site that lets people do a little religion shopping by comparison. Is that how you see it? All religions are equal? Christianity is just another choice, no better than anything else.

Or you didn't know about the link. You were just so eager to cut up a Christian that you didn't bother to see how you were being used.

You see Welton is a book writing, radio talking celebrity. That means he mixes with a lot of non-believers. And guys like him like to rough up real believers as an appeasement to these liberals, whose approval is so important to him. After a while they become liberal pets. Need someone to stab a believer in the back credibly? Call Welton.

Why does the Post bother putting in a "Faith" section that consistantly denigrates traditional believers (you know, people who actually believe in God) while giving soap boxes to people who view religion as a nice wrapping to their liberal belief systems.

Welton, you look like you've done real well for yourself in the psuedo-God worshipping business. Couldn't you cut a little slack for someone like Hume, who probably just expressed his own faith-inspired opinion. Scared he's going to cut into your revenue stream?

Guys like Welton, like all the other sham ministers, are the lowest of the low in terms of con artists. The least they could do is keep their mouths shut when real believers witness.

Most people should know fox is hardly a "news" reporting channel. Do not pay attention to what any of their "news" reporters say on any subject.

The very notion that 'Christ' died for someone's sins is abhorrent to many faiths.
For how can another person expiate the sins of the whole world? To then claim, that it is because the 'bible' says so, is a solipsistic argument. You have to have proof, verifiable and repeatable proof, that someone existed before claiming that this or that person can expiate your 'sins.'
What is sin anyway? Nothing more than a breaking of societies mores. It was not long ago, that a person of Tiger's colour would not even have been admitted into many
of the golf courses that he plays on.
A break with a cultures norms, happens all
the time, whether a person, takes that as sin or not is entirely up to them.
Buddhism, is a philosophy of life, just as Christianity is a philosophy of life. A world view which considers many things sin, should be recognized for what it is, a pathway to self-recrimination and self-doubt, nothing more, nothing less.

Brit Hume demonstrates an appalling lack of understanding of Buddhism. I wonder what other pronouncements of his reflect such an ungrounded grasp of the facts. I would hope a reporter in a pluralistic and open society might be more "fair and balanced" in his/her comments and opinions.

Talk about hubris!!! Brit Hume is such a ninny.

my buddhist faith is all about kindness and forgiveness....
as a recovering catholic i am able to practice what the church merely professed... "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."
-- The Dalai Lama

That was an offensive comment towards Buddhists. Only on an illegitimate news outlet like Fox News would such a comment be made.

In an opinion portion of the show, Hume has every right to say whatever he wants. The degree to which his personal opinions color his news reporting is up to his viewers to decide. And, my guess is that they've already decided and are cheering him on.

Fair enough, but not "fair and balanced."

If a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Muslim, or an atheist had made a similar appeal on the same show, the outcry from the people defending Hume would have been deafening.

And that's a truth that none of Hume's fans can dispute.

I did not hear his opinion but I'm assuming he was referring to the depths that Woods would go to violate his marriage vows and exploit women like he cares nothing for anybody but himself.

In my experience as a Christian, I have seen many transformations from a destructive lifestyle with nothing more than a full realization by an individual of the love Christ has for him or her. The guilt melts away and the softening of the heart is transforming.

I'm assuming he was referring to this common experience among Christians.

Brit Hume urges Woods to convert
Damnation is what he'll avert;
For his indiscretion
He gets at confession
A mulligan when chasing skirt.

News Short n' Sweet by JFD8
http://twitter.com/JFD8

Mr. Hume is doing that "white male thang"-telling another man what to do without being asked and suggesting that his knowledge of Buddhism is much larger than the knowledge and practice of Mr.Woods.Mr. Hume's power is natural, neutral and objective. (or so he thinks)

Let's see, Hmmmmm, such Christian stalwarts as Senator Ensign, David Vitter, Gov Sanford, 3 Wives Newt Ginrich, have an affair and leave your ailing wife John McCain, Even ole Carl Rove just got in on the action. Republicans and Christianity, how do you guy's sleep at night? Christ did nothing to have to repent for, or he never would have been Christ! JEEEZUS!

OK, I have to ask this one question. Why would anybody waste one minute of their day watching the infotainment network that is Fox News? And if you do waste your time watching Fox News, why would you even bother taking any of it seriously? All Fox does is pander to their demographic of Karl Rove clones and ditto heads so their network sponsers can sell more boner pills, insurance and financial services.

I heard Hume's commments. They were made in the context of an editorial panel: that would be opinion, folks. MSNBC is as obnoxious in theirs, to some of us, as Brit Hume is to some of you posting here. That's the beauty of a free society: we are free to offend equally the far reaches of the opinion spectrum.

All anyone has to do after they kill or have an affair is claim christianity in this country and suddenly they r good christian folk. Huckabee would let em off thats for sure.

Its a joke. Shut up Britt, u r a moron.

http://fablog.ehrensteinland.com/2010/01/04/pastor-brit-and-the-boys-in-the-band/

But what is truth? Is truth unchanging law? We both have truths, are mine the same as yours?

Bravo to Mr. Gaddy. Brit Hume is just another Fox blowhard who uses terms like God, Jesus, faith and Christianity to bolster his credibility with the Christian Right which Fox panders to. Fox is decidedly unChristian and has never allowed truth or reality to get in the way of its agenda.

Lastly, Buddhism is not so much a faith as it is a belief system. It does not hinge on a specific belief in a God like Jesus or Allah; rather it is a way at looking at the world and a way of relating to others in this world in a charitable way. Believing in Buddhism does not preclude one from being a Jew, Catholic or Muslim. If Brit Hume took the time to look at Buddhism he would know that. Thank you Reverend Gaddy.

Britt Hulme is an ass.

If Christians wonder why they get bad press, one needs to look no farther than Britt Hulme.

Let's first realize that Hulme has no clue about Buddhism. If he did he would know it's a philosophy that people of many faiths practice.

And who says being a Christian is the answer? What makes them any more special than those of other faiths?

I'm always surprised by the intollerence of many Christians when it comes to people of other religions or even other denominations. The attitude seems to be; only my faith is correct, everyone else is wrong.

Maybe Hulme can get a gig on TBN or the 700 Club.

OneBigOne doesn't live in Oklahoma were aything heard on FOX News is considered Gospel

What kind of name is Welton Gaddy. I'd like to recommend he convert to Buddhism in order to get a less strange name. Thank you.

Like others who have commented, I am surprised by Mr Gaddy's reaction. Everyone knows Fox News is 50 percent entertainment and 50 percent opinion. As far as I know, no one turns to Fox for information.

This is a blatant and vicious slur, and a new low for FOX News.

Not that it's terribly surprising, considering the source, but imagine if he'd made a similar comment about Judaism.

In FOX's playbook, it was OK to do this to America's Buddhists. They would never make such a remark about Judaism or Islam.

America's Buddhist community needs to get in touch with the Anti-Defamation League and fight!

http://www.adl.org/ for anyone interested

If anyone ever doubted what FOX represents - the bigoted, xenophobic fringe of American fundamentalism - they don't need to doubt any further.

Apparently the good Pastor has not watched Fox News enough to know they beleive they are God and everything they say is true and holy.

The recent scandals of thousands of catholic priest abusing youngsters, proves that even honest faith in one superior being, is often powerless in keeping our basic insticnts under control. What works better, is having grownup in a family that appreciate the value of The Golden Rule ( an ethic older than any religion) and a family where parents are not just preaching but also giving a good examples 24/7. T. Woods's father was... you know.

Brit Hume is a right wing dirtbag.
Why would you expect anything more from him, or expect fox actually provide news, as opposed to prosthletizing or lying?

Interesting. There are many more sects of Buddhism than there are Christian sects. Some Buddhist sects are very similar to Christianity while others differ drastically. Forgivenss is pretty unique to Christianity although repentence is not. Many Buddhists pray to expiate past bad karma ( aka something like sin for current precept breaking and even original sin for the strange negative events that appear in the lives of nice "good" people which is recognized as retribution for bad karma for misdeeds accumulated in past lives).

WV Dave: Buddhism is not a "pantheistic" faith. Hard as it may seem to home-schooled WP readers to understand, but neither is Hinduism. The spiritual concept of one-God-many-names is often lost on those who must attack another's path to the divine because they are so insecure about their own path. Or is Christianity "pantheistic" because there is God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit? Believe it or not, God does not need nor thrives on your particular cult's bigotry. There are many, many good reasons to be a Christian but solely to wipe the slate clean for boorish behavior is pretty lame. Bret Hume has always been a self-inflated idiot so there is no 'news' here.

Christianity is a wonderful religion to follow with their practice of symbolic cannibalism and various other superstitions.

I'm struck by Hume's transition from speaking about Woods to addressing Woods directly, even advising him. As a practicing Catholic Christian, I see Hume's point about the importance of forgiveness, but I'm trying to make sense out of the context. Does Woods need help? That seems to be a no-brainer. But surely Hume - smart man that he is - knows full well that becoming Christian does not happen as part of some mechanized contractual agreement, a la Pastor Gaddy's depiction of such an approach as utilitarian and woefully inadequate; rather, it happens within the larger framework of a worshipping community and one's faith experience. Simply telling him to join up for the forgiveness sells short not only Christianity - in whichever denominational form - but also Woods.

Prisoners frequently "find God" in their lives while incarcerated and be praised as new and improved human beings, why can't Tiger do the same?

DaveInWestVA- you fell for the same trap. it matters not what doctrine a faith offers unless the faith is true. if your god doesn't exist, it matters not what its false prophets "offer." No faith's "offer" is any better than its god. The true god's "offer" is all you get, take it or leave it

Where has Pastor Gaddy been for the last 30 years. The notion that News commentators should carefully distinguish their personal opinions from reporting facts was abandoned by the liberal left long ago. Hume is right on with his advice to Woods. The Christian doctine of repentance, forgiveness and accountability to a God who is active in and cares for his creation is unique to the monotheistic faiths. It is a fact that eastern pantheistic faiths simply do not offer personal redemption.

and of course the obvious reply (that can't be made by Gaddy) is that Hume's comment is absurd on it's face, unless he's assuming that there are two actual gods offering forgiveness in the first place. Neither religion can offer forgiveness at all unless it's god is the one true one. So either Hume is telling Woods to convert as the sole means of obtaining forgiveness (which is as offensive a remark to a Bhuddist as it would be to a Jew), or he's actually suggesting that you can choose gods based on which one is expedient for the purpose at hand. either way he's an idiot.

Hume expressed exactly what Christ did. Repent now and be forgiven. Whether you *believe* Christianity is true is another matter, entirely personal.

But the definition of Christianity cannot be changed.