Without a Better Vision This Administration Will Perish

US Conscience

The problem with you and people like you, is that when you speak, you think you hear the voice of God and you think other people should also hear the voice of God through you pronouncements. But you are not God and you do not speak for God.

I have a Bible and I can read. So has just about everybody. Your assumption is that I am some dumb primitive ignorant scowflaw, who doesn't know anything, and that I will be justly punished for my willful "ignorance". You have made that clear that you like to imagine the suffering of other people.

You are in some way mentally diseased, and there is nothing you can say to change my opinion of you on this matter, except to apologize and say you have changed.

You are never, ever, ever going to change anyone's beliefs by the lobbying methods you have so far tried on me. You are more likely to drive people further from Christ and not draw them nearer. People like you are the ones destroying Christianity, and people like you are the ones causing the decline, because it is hard for people like me to be around people like you, with your insistence that you know better than everybody else what God wants.

At least we agree on one thing: you are a very bad person.

Still at it Mr. Reynolds? Well, no surprise, no doubt. Hate is a hard devil to beat.
Hate is what you preach. Divisiveness, elitisism, egocetric religious dogma, separation and judgement.
Without changing their evil ways the Obama Administration will "Perish"?

Isn't that what happened to your sainted boy, Bush? Your political Savior? Your Proxy to Social Change?

Insincere spiritual humility, and arrogant, elitist spiritual self-importance were no small part of Mr. Bush's failures. You represent that mindset that believes that You Know God.
Rubbish and Puke. You know your version and vision of god. And the Administration that you cheered on feverently did not have, or chose, a better vision. And they Perished.

You are now wishing on the Obama Administration the fate of your Fundamentalist one.

How christian of you.

It is why fundamentalism fails. It breeds self importance, elitism, self-indulgence, hatred of difference.

Liberalism at least looks to be inclusive, and to evolve a spiritual message as society and human consciousness evolves.

Of course you do not believe in evolution. Not enough time for it anyway. 6000 years is hardly a speck of time to evolve in.

Please try to do something that has a brighter heart in it, as opposed to that dark and hateful place you speak from. It would do so much more Good in the world than the direction that you tend to lead in.

Quite the opposite Daniel, I dont imagine or hope for anything except reconciliation. You see, I am the worst person I know. If anyone deserves to be in Hell this moment its me. Its only by Gods grace that He saved me, a wretch. My prayer is that you and all people would come to a knowlege of the Truth. If a patient saw a doctor, and the doctor found out by his examination that the patient had a disease, would it be mean spirited and wrong for the doctor to tell the patient the truth. If he told him that he was fine and healthy that would not only be mean spririted but evil. In the hopes that the patient would believe his diagnosis and in response take the medication needed for healing is the only motivation behind the doctor telling his patient the unwanted and unwelcome truth of their sickness.

US Conscience

No, I am afraid that you are wrong, not me. Your most basic concepts of God and the nature of existence are silly, simple-minded, mean-spirited and wrong. Obviously, you take delight and pleasure in the imagined and hoped for suffering of other people, and in shoving your religion down other people's throats.

People like you demand respect that you would not extend to others. So, why should I give it to you?

I'm afraid your wrong Daniel, the message of Christianity is simple, unless you repent and put your faith for forgiveness solely in Christs atoning work on the cross you will perish on that great and fearful day of judgement. He gave us they mirror of the ten commandments to see ourselves in truth, and Daniel, have you ever told a lie, used Gods name in vain, taken anything that isnt yours, lusted after a woman ( Jesus said to even look with lust is adultery in your heart ) - if you have you are in Gods eyes a liar, a thief, a blasphemer and an adulterer and thats just four of the commandments. Listen to your conscience, you know your guilty and in need of a savior. When Christ died on that cross it was a legal transaction: you broke the law and Jesus paid your fine. If you repent (agree with God that your not good but actually very bad and deceitful) and turn to Christ for forgiveness you can be saved, otherwise eternity in Hell awaits you on the day you die. If you repent and cry out to God, He will give you a new nature with new desires and affections and you will be changed forever, a new creation. This is the message of Christianity. Dont wait, you never know when you will die and eternity is a long, long time.

US Conscience

You and your friend John Mark Reynolds are the ones who have confused the meaning and message of Christianity. You are the one who is wrong, wrong, wrong, in your considerations of Heaven and Hell, the earth, God and Satan, morality, sin, and goodness, and things like this. You are the one who is mixed up, benighted, and clueless. You are the one promoting and spreading false doctrines, to the ruinaiton of Chrisitanity.

Merely to be compusively consumed with Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and to quote mindlessly from the Bible to prove everything you say is not good enough. You will have to do better. If that is all you can do, then don't bother.

As I advised John Mark Reynolds, you need to read some books, and get out of your conservative Christian bubble with it false sheen on all that you see and perceive of the world; you need to grow up, as Obama suggested, put aside your childish ways, join the rest of us in the real world.

I don't know what this author means by "liberal Christianity," except that he thinks "liberal" is an insult, and liberal Christians are some kind of parasites, perhaps tapeworms or mosquitoes.

He is not specific about what he sees as lacking in Barack Obama's theology.

It might have been interesting to read more about "the unique combination of theological orthodoxy and progressive politics found in the Evangelical African-American community," and how such a combination might have been appropriately expressed in a speech that must embrace all of America, if Mr. Reynolds had been asked to write a speech for a hypothetical Evangelical African-American President of the whole USA.

I am hopeful for the continued success of the President we did elect. I share Joseph Lowery's hopes and prayers for Barack Obama, his family and his administration.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far along the way;
Thou who has by Thy might
led us into the light,
keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee,
shadowed beneath thy hand,
may we forever stand
true to thee O God, and
true to our native land.

I don't need any more theology than that.

Mr. Reynolds
Your article astonished me with its negative, vacuous and divisive content. What you have written epitomizes the divisiveness of religion; now you are attempting to drive wedges between "liberal christians" and "orthodox christains". This is just another example of so called religious leaders splintering their groups for their own gratification and egos. Stop believing in fairies, saints, gods, santa claus and other imaginary beings and then using these myths to spread division in the real world.

I'm gratified to see the extent to which most of the commentators here think that there is nothing positive in your output.

The American south is the only place where fundmentalists and their narrow minded, we're better than any other Christians, way of thinking exsists in the world. Trying to separate Christians by their political views is a new one. Religion deals with the spiritual world and whatever Obama wants to believe is his business. America is a secular nation and we still have all our freedoms. Your views on abortion and gay rights are not global, freedom of choice is what America is all about, individual freedom is the basis of our Constitution, you and your fundamentalist friends are in the minority and Obamas victory proved it.

yup, thats it :Super ultra uber liberal times two.

I think he said he "was" a part of the liberal...

Mr. Reynolds, in your writing I see a lot of criticism of liberal christianity but no clear description of what you have to offer. So, you are entirely reactionary. You have a forum here, why not use it positively?

Wait... if you're part of the liberal Christian church, then what in the hell does that make me? Super ultra uber liberal times two? Oh man...

John,

I believe that you are over studied, but I may be misunderstanding. You break-up Gods Believers and children into Liberal vs. conservative vs. Blah-Blah vs. Blah-Blah, etc, etc, etc....! I really don't think you understand the U.S. Constitution ( and it's spiritual Intention ) At All. It is in the interest on the part of many evil people to surround a subject with( pardon the term ) BAD ENERGY. I don't think you want to see this country and this administration survive. I say this because I understand that an Administration is the ELLECTED body of this country. Never in this country's history has so many people had Such HOPE for their country than this Administration lead by this President. White,Black,Asian,Indian,Catholic,Protestant , Lutheran, Buhdist, Muslim, Sihk, Hindu, etc, All fiLled with hope and Love for their country. Still, weeks after the Inauguaration, people all over this country are rolling up their sleeves and saying to themselves, " I believe in America, a little more, now, than ever before. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP." We are not decieved into thinking that this man can do it alone. We WANT to get dirty in the Battlefield left to us by the greedy,unconcerned, facist, anti-American Traitors, that left this mess. We WANT to help ALL Americans get Back on track. We answer Gods call to rebuild this great Nation that God only could have envissioned. NotiCe the words on the back of a Dollar Bill " ANNUIT COEPTUS - HE(God)SO ORDAINED." A place of Tollerance, a place of Hope, a place of Faith, and a place of Love. So when you tell people that God is not with an Administration or Religion That you don't subscribe to, remember that it was your own doing. You have the choice to build or destroy. God gives you that choice. I have great faith in God that I know he is in everyone doing his work so, please don't work against Him ; for your own sake.
God Bless America.

I am amazed to read an article in this most ironically named "Faith" section in which the person writing it actually seems to hold a modicum of orthodoxy and at least understands somewhat of the implications of true Christian faith.

I read comments that say "I am amazed by individuals who claim to practice Christianity and the true teachings of Jesus - to love unconditionally. " but they neglect that God IS Love and He places conditions on His adoption. Jesus taught that He will Judge the world in righteousness and many are they that will perish and few will be they who find life.

I read comments like " Judge not lest you be judged is a precept I, a liberal (in the best sense of the word) Christian, try to practice." But Jesus said right after that to Judge rightly, not as hypocrites who condemn people while they do the same and worse. We are to judge, but we are to judge rightly and not as the hypocrites.

I read "Lastly, do you really think Jesus was a conservative, or was he, in fact, very liberal and rather radical? Wasn't this the chief reason for his crucifixion? " When in fact the real reason was that he told those in high esteem that they were sinners and in need of repentance, and to top it off, what got them really inflamed was that He claimed to be equal with God and that no one can enter eternal life except through Him. How intollerant, how arrogant, how true.

Someone else quoted "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." This day will come when and only when the King of Kings, The Lord of all Creation, The Alpha and The Omega, The Prince of Peace, Jesus the Christ, Adonai, returns to judge the world according to His Righteousness and establish His kingdom.

I am amazed by individuals who claim to practice Christianity and the true teachings of Jesus - to love unconditionally. I read here of a person with very negative views toward others and a desire to find fault in others who share an alternate view rather than centering in love and openness and seeing the beauty in others. It is most unfortunate that in their desire to pursue "religious zeal and dogma" many fundamentalist Christians fail to see and live to the teachings of their own savior. I hope the author and everyone else learn to seek out and love all that is different for only in truly loving others - whether a plant, animal, or person - can we truly love ourselves.

All in this world eventually perish. How proud John Mark sounds. Judge not lest you be judged is a precept I, a liberal (in the best sense of the word) Christian, try to practice. I am being tested by this column, but I try to remember that pride goes before destruction & a haughty spirit before a fall!

"The potential problem is the predictable product of the liberal Christianity Obama embraces." Therefore, the potential problem was the predictable product of the fundamentalist Christianity Bush embraced.

And, of course, keeping your last paragraph in mind, I take it you're under forty and subject to change; thank goodness for this hope.

Lastly, do you really think Jesus was a conservative, or was he, in fact, very liberal and rather radical? Wasn't this the chief reason for his crucifixion?

"Obama is a great speaker cursed with bad speeches that are the product of an inadequate view of God. Say what you will about the God of Sinai and Calvary, but He would never give His servants such speeches." It is almost inconceivable that such a discussion can take place in the face of the incontrovertible fact that zero plausible evidence exists for the existence of supernatural beings called gods, and overwhelming evidence exists that such beings do not exist. How can such a waste of effort and intelligence be at all justified?

Frankly, I do not understand your concerns.

President Obama did not come to the office, claiming to represent Christianity. He merely identified himself as a Christian and has gone about his responsibilities acting as most of us believe, a Christian ought to act - considering:

"He has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you. But to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

Jesus called us to be His witnesses and it seems to this believer, he is on track to becoming the kind of witness that should cause all Christians to rejoice.

First, let me say that the "Faith" section in the WaPo is superfluous and belongs in some church publication - because it ain't news!

Second, the crap that flows from the mouths of these bible-college educated fools about how people are not holy enough for them does not warrant publication in any national paper.

Third, the Catholic church and the pope, are responsible for most of the plight on the planet - overpopulation and pressure on natural resources are a direct result of their policies.

Finally, faith is but a state of mind and has nothing to do with reality - it will not move a mountain nor heal the earth - we, the people with an education in reality must face up to that task.

it grieves me that parents are allowed to warp their children's minds, deny them health services because of their faith, and create yet another generation of fanatic bible-toting, home-schooled, better-than-thou, right wing nuts who will go to war to bring their belief to others while robbing them of resources.

Walk the walk - don't talk the talk!

Dr Reynolds sounds angry! Can't believe that a solid majority of Americans support the kind of vision and theology espoused by Obama, so he rants, like a child who has yet to put aside childish ways. Typical "evangelical" tantrum, I say. "I lost, so I'm taking my cookies back!" I am a member of one of those "Barney-style" denominations, who never takes back cookies given in true love, the ELCA, EVANGELICAL Lutheran Church of America. I claim the ELCA's style of evangelism over the fundimentalist version. We actually converse with sinners in our loving of them, as opposed to sermonizing them to death. Fundimentalism in any religion is what brings division and separation. The heart of SIN is separation, and fundimentalist religion always brings SIN to the world, in the form of terrorism, exclusion, war, etc. Sorry Dr. Rwynolds, you lost, live with it, and maybe grow up some while you are at it.

phoenixresearch (and CODoggie),

In regards to the Biblical authority for "judging others", you wrote "Matthew 7:1-5, you twit"

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

In an effort to be brief, here is my response. I hope this provides some insight for you in regards to the Bible.

Clearly the judging forbidden is the hypocritical kind that finds fault with others while neglecting to obey God oneself. However, note this important point: Jesus did not say one could not “take the speck out of the brother’s eye”; he said, “one must first remove the beam in his own in order to “see clearly”. Obviously, no one is above transgression and personal perfection is not a requirement in order to correct others. Jesus’ point is, we
should start with ourselves and correct our own greater flaws before we attempt to help/correct others with theirs.

Mr. Reynolds, aren't you a touch old for having an imaginary friend?? It is people like you that have been stalling progress for centuries because of some ancient fairy tales. This is the information age, no reason to be so misinformed.
Get a life and enjoy it...

Dr. Reynolds offers insults, arrogance, and blindness. And he thinks Obama has no vision?!

Well written, sir. This piece summarizes your beliefs quite well.

The founding fathers got it right - there has to be a clear separation between the Church and the State - this is the reason that America has prospered and was(is?)held as an example the world over. Anything else is subverting the constitution.
Any state that has allowed religion to get mixed with politics and governance has not done well economically or for its citizens - and has always lagged behind in innovation.

"If you want someone to talk about compassion for the poor, you call a liberal Christian. If you want someone to feed the poor, you call the Salvation Army."

As a follower of Christ, for what purpose do you make such sweeping, judgmental generalizations? That is not the way that was given to you.

Why is it that the so called "Conservative Christians" think that they are the only "correct christians"??? Why do they think that we who are of the more liberal persuasion are bad or inadequate??? What he is saying is just plain insulting and demeaning. I come from the Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) denomination and we have Christians of all stripes and we all work together toward what God wants us to do, serve others and love one another. It is obvious to me that Mr. Reynolds and others like him have completely forgotten God's primary commandment. Jesus died on the cross so we would do those things and lead by example. He served us all by cleansing our sins and by doing so said we should serve each other as well. No faith Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist is superior to another, no means of worship is superior to another and Conservative or Liberal Christianity is not superior to one another. When we all learn this and steadfastly adhere to this we will no longer fight over religion any more.

The god of the liberal christian, the god of the conservative christian, the god of..., welcome to the pantheon. Come on in, let's mythologize. But, leave your brains at the front door.

"...but the platitudes of the purple dinosaur are not enough to move nations to greatness."

Yeah, "purple dinosuar" and patented cliches!

I think we can see how god has moved "nations to greatness."

Godly nations like:

1. Iran
2. Afghanistan
3. Vatican
4. Tibet
5. Pakistan
6. Israel
7. Saudi Arabia

Ah, the platitudes of the Green Monsters, Blue Whales, White Elephants, Black Rhinos, Red Tilapia and, yes, Purple dinosaurs!

Ha ha ha.

Hmmmm. Imagine a country where folks will have original ideas rather than trying to push the world back into the tunnel view of primitive fairy tales of a talking snake and an all-knowing all-powerful god who somehow is powerless to make the Israelis and Hamas stop killing innocent women and children

Another 'Christian' that will not be happy until we all hate each some much we all are dead. Take your OT and your self-fulfilling views of Pentacost and leave the rest of us who are seeking peace alone...

This other view is familiar in its content. The use of english and grammar makes it an easier read than is Limbaugh a listen. This writer is part of a larger group that I see locked into a corner that they have prepared and are continuing to paint. Christianity is a personal faith which is built on a belief. Intelligent people do not condemn others who allow facts to trump a personal feeling.

Mr Reynolds,

I think you're wrong. I think it's faulty logic to believe that your worldview and Your God is better than "The God of Liberal Christians". I also find error in the fact that your worldview doesn't allow for change; it's rather stifling. And to suggest that the Evangelical African American community can offer Obama anything when they are some of the least progressive in the Nation... are you serious? What this country needs is progress, and we'll not get it with a God that's stuck in 10 B.C.

I believe that there are some things about God that will never change. One thing is his Love, but there are plenty of things that does change. That's why the God of the Jews is strikingly similar to the God of the Muslims and is almost the same as the God of the Christians and why Catholics and Southern Baptists worship the same God.

I hope you're ready for the change Mr Reynolds, because plenty of us are.

But, but, but, what about those who believe in the Great Spaghetti Monster?

Moderator, I'd like to report Reynolds' essay as an offensive comment. Good god.

This guy is morally bankrupt and really sick

Liberal Christian???...huh....how many times did you use this label? right. too many.

I wonder, is GOD a liberal christian, a conservative christian, an independent, a left of center, right of center, centrist, or, maybe he is a muslim, a jew, catholic, or, maybe, just, maybe, he is a she or an it or just plain all of the above and more. I mean, for god to be picking out "liberal christians" like he is picking his nose seems kind of "ungawdlike" no?

I guess what I am saying, in my, roundabout way, is that John Mark Reynolds critique of President Obama's speech, and, his "liberal christian" beliefs is amusing in an "ah, does this kind of ignorance" still pass as some kind of intelligent thought process, in this day and age? Too bad for us if it does America.

Umm. You need to check your facts .... "secularism failed in the 20th century"? Not quite. China? Europe? Mexico's revolution? The reform branch of Judaism's growth? The decline in theology depts at universities? The decline of the Jesuits? The lower attendance at church? The decline in Catholic priest numbers? The removal of the ten commandments from courthouses? The decline in state-sponsored Christian events/displays?

Study your history before writing columns.

John Mark Reynolds heart must swell with pride seeing such praise from alltheroadrunnin, spidermean2, whizzer and globealone. LOL

Well, John Mark Reynolds, coming late here, this commenatary of mine will soon disappear.

Accordingly, unlike many posting about your article, I understand what you mean.

See, I've read a lot of history, a lot of history. Few, nowadays, have. When one knows it was a religion that sustained the Roman Empire for a thousand years; and then a different religion that sustained them for another thousand years, well, one begins to understand some things -- especially the unchanging nature of human beings.

Yes, indeedy, the need for a firery God, or god or gods, is what it takes, to keep 'em all in line. I'm all for it, because it helps keep me safe.

All the rest is wishful thinking.

This is a wonderful peace. If WW3 erupts at the time of Obama, you know the reason why. Liberal Christianism is a failed ideology.

The arrogance one must always associate with those who pompously dare to claim special knowledge of a god they, and all humans, are too puny to know (if indeed only one or any at all exists) bleeds through this article.
Recently PBS aired a show about the true origins of the jewish faith (and by extension the endlessly parsed "faiths" of christianity and islam). It reveals a ragtag band of basically anarchists and should have been required viewing by all humans.

All organized religions are cons, their leaders wealthy leeches of the truly pious, fostering tribalism and thus the antithesis of their stated beliefs. They prey on the fear of death.
It's past time for humans to move beyond the evolution stifling voodoo of the torah, bible and koran. Our wise forefathers knew to keep this madness seperate from their noble experiment and you should heed them.

The bible wasn't written by god. It was written hundreds of years after the man Jesus was murdered for daring to claim his own special knowledge, which was different from the majority's.

We felt your hands in our taxdollar pockets during the hypochristian regime of Bush and I suggest you quit while you're ahead. Otherwise we, the people, might cast our eyes towards the obscene tax free dollars and property you've amassed.

DanielintheLionsDen,

I fully agree that John Mark Reynolds has a twisted view of Christianity that goes against all that I believe. What he needs to read are the Gospels. If he reads them with an open heart, he will find that the bumper sticker is correct: Jesus is a Liberal. But I'm not holding my breath - like all his type, his mind is frozen.

And he has the holier-than-thou crudeness to compare my church to Barney the Purple Dinosaur. Well perhaps we should compare his church to the Beavis and Butt-Head show.

John Mark Reynolds

I think that your vison of the world, of the Earth, of Heaven and Hell, of God, and Man, and sin, and morality, are all wrong, and theologically ill-founded, and even more, that you promote false doctrines, that are actually against Christianity and that your views are actually a menace to society.

You need to read some books, and go out and meet some people, and get out of your bubble of false Christian doctrine. There is alot more out there than, apparently, than you can imagine.

The substance of this article is superficial and myopic. Although the author is overreaching in his certainty of Obama's theological views, I would only like to comment on his representation of "Liberal Christianity."
Liberal Christianity is not one that speaks and does not act; often, it is one that does act in compassion, even though they may not have a complete understanding to articulate the outpouring of love. We only know that God is love and to love is to know God. I could go on and spout out stereotypical images of Conservative or "Orthodox" Christianity, but we have seen enough of it and how it acts when given access to power.
IF President Obama identifies himself as a "Liberal Christian," I would be pleased. I would hope that people in positions of power would understand God's prophetic call to people of faith to love mercy and do justice, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. That is a beautiful image. That is the image of the Kingdom of God, and though I am not hopeful that it will be realized through government, I would welcome those in government to be under the idea that there is a responsibility - human, Christian, or social - to care for one another.
One thing we can all do, is allow one another to define ourselves, to be patient in seeking to understand one another, and to strive to see the divine love in everyone - especially those with whom we may differ.

I guess I have a mixed response to this posting. Though I wouldn't call myself a "liberal Christian," I do understand why people should be cautious about dogma. Years ago I spent a year in Konstanz, Germany, where they had a great church council sometime in the 15th century to settle some issue or other. The issue didn't get settled, and the only decision that was taken was to burn John Huss at the stake.
To me, the writer doesn't have an adequate understanding of how religious dogma and zeal can turn murderous. The religious wars of the 17th century, which drove some of my ancestors to the New World, were a terrible disaster. Today's Islamic terrorists believe they are following dogma and being zealous.
I would also argue that Russian Communism, whose downfall the writer holds up as evidence of the failure of secularism, actually drew heavily on religious sentiments. Without a doubt the Soviet Union had dogma. So, while fully recognizing the power of religious feelings (I feel them myself at practically every religious service I attend), I say, "be careful." Religion doesn't always unleash humanity's better side.

(Sorry, pet peeve there. 'Good Heavens! Evil 'Pagan' Barbarians took down the holy and gentle Eastern Empire!)

Gee, Honorious, maybe you shouldn't have promised refugee warlords glory, conquest, not to mention eternal validation and forgiveness in the name of Christ for whatever they might do in the process....

And then *stiffed the mercenaries.*

Wow, who coulda seen *that* coming, right?

Seems to be something that is forgotten in most people's sense of history, but by the fifth century CE, both halves of the Christianized Empire had Christianized most of the leaders of displaced peoples known as the 'barbarians at the gate,' because they'd been *using* them as fighting forces and promising them better lives.

As Imperial influence contracted, particularly cause those tribes were under further pressure from the East, thanks in large measure to the Empire having basically decimated their way of life in their own lands, kept making promises, and essentially cheesed everyone off, you had Christianized Goths out in the hills deciding it was time to take some of what they'd been promised. And using Christianity to justify how they went about it.

How many centuries after Constantine was all this?

Seriously. Stop claiming that sticking a cross on something makes it infallible goodness.

"The Dark Ages descended with the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire in 472 AD. Christian monks kept learning and knowledge of classical antiquity alive after the pagan barbarians plundered Europe."

Err, actually, you might want to look at the professions of the 'Pagan barbarians' who sacked Rome.

Actually, they were Christians, who, 'Bi Gott,' felt they could justify their foreign policy. :)

"The Spanish Inquisition is an example of this. It was part of a distinct period in time when fundamentalists did, in fact, run the world. We now call it the Dark Ages."

The Dark Ages descended with the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire in 472 AD. Christian monks kept learning and knowledge of classical antiquity alive after the pagan barbarians plundered Europe.

The Spanish Inquisition began in 1478. You're off by only 1006 years. Judging by what others have posted, you're one of the better historians on this blog.

"I don't see secularists fanning the flames of hatred every time they open their mouth."

Start by reading your own post.

Over 185 comments, mostly negative, and Reynolds still doesn't have a clue.

I guess alls I can say right now is that this administration has a better vision than *anyone* who claims 'Obey some random Fundie or we're all gonna die!'

Didn't we just vote that *out?*

Uh, the Red Cross was founded by a unitarian, not exactly a group known for radical fundamentalism.
Never noticed much Bible thumping going on at the SPCA, Doctors without Borders, Green Peace, and Amnesty International, so what they do, day in day out, doesn't count?

Read Three Cups of Tea and you will find a perfect example of humanitarian thinking not rooted in a literal minded misinterpretation of the Bible.

I know religious right has been served a major blow to it's confidence in Obama's election, but you'd think they might try to learn something from his inspiring positive attitude rather than throwing tomatoes. This editorial was nothing but a sad case of the sour grapes. More cutting off your nose despite your face from the nation's angry, frightened religious zealots.

This is absolute nonsense, and illustrates quite well the atavistic and morally regressive nature of "orthodox" Christianity. Indeed, the theologies of the Abrahamic religions pose the most series dangers the world has ever faced, and we must evolve beyond them morally, intellectually and civically. The best Obama or his nation could do would be to abandon the Christian God, who has failed us in every instance and leaves the word a husk of ruin.

Of course Obama now has to govern--crises no doubt make that hard, but the religiously-induced incompetence of the prior administration also makes it easier. Bush has lowered the bar not only on theology and public speaking, but on governance. If Obama simply shows up and is not a traitor, he'll be better on all fronts.

"Of course, liberal Christianity has many advantages over secularism."

JMR,

Dude, if you think liberal Christianity and American Secularism are mutually exclusive then you are totally confused. Liberal Christianity is the father of American Secularism! American Secularism was invented by liberal Christians!

One of the most influential colonial secularists was the Baptist Rev. John Leland. Remember him or did you completely miss that lesson in American history? How about James Madison, does that name ring a bell? (hint: Liberal Christians -> Fathers of American Secularism.)

Please get your story straight and save your B.S. revisionist history for the blind sheeple who don't know any flocking better.

"and ready to lash out at anyone who comments on our new President. [...] Everything every president has ever done has been commented upon or criticised."

I have no problem with people commenting on the president, and even criticizing them. I do have a problem with people like Reynolds.

After eight years, it should be clear to everybody with half a brain that the religious right is morally bankrupt and has wrecked our nation. So-called "conservative Christianity" is a failed philosophy, and if America is going to regain its power and its moral authority, we need to reject the kinds of philosophies that people like Reynolds expound.

This article is beautifully written. I I didn't have a job I could go through each of the criticisms posted here and easily show the flaws in the arguments. There are too many people that are way too hyper and ready to lash out at anyone who comments on our new President. Your argumens are poorly thougt out and sometimes plain silly.

Everything every president has ever done has been commented upon or criticised. Obama will be no different. So relax folks or you will have a nervous breakdown if you try to keep up this pace for the next four years.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. I'm from Minnesota and we used to have relatives living in the "Bible Belt". Driving around down there to visit brought us through most of the deep south and I was always amazed at the number of porn shops down there. From what I saw there appears to be a 1:1 ratio of churches to porn shops.

I'm no prude be Evangelicals are. It's obvious why Jimmy Swaggart survived his scandal. All of his parishioners had already run into him and each other in the porn shops.

Were Obama to even hint that he was contemplating such a dramatic shift in belief, the main stream media, along with the Democrats and the Left would politically tear him to shreds. If you doubt this, just recall Justice Clarence Thomas' persecution during his confirmation hearings.

This man's picture says it all. He's got those evangelical "crazy eyes." If he sat down next to my son and I on the bus, I'd switch seats with the kid to make sure he was as far away from this guy as possible.

Moreover, he is apparently incapable of understanding that Obama does not, in fact, need a coherent religious theology to accomplish political change. The Bush administration *had* just such a theology-driven worldview, and look how that turned out. A theological agenda is something clergymen need - not politicians. And conservative preachers are forever forgetting that Jesus was the original liberal - up with the poor, down with violence, up with loving your neighbor, down with hating them for being infidels.

Obama gave a nod to our religious heritage (descended from colonists that were "religious heretics") and to recognition of what Steven Covey calls "near-universal principles," that are embodied by most of the world's religions but do not depend on any single one of them for their origin or truth.

We are a SECULAR nation, by the design and intent of our founders; to avoid the strife of competing theologies/bases of ecclesiastical influence, and do away with the historically unsavory relationship between rulers and state-sanctioned/endorsed religions, wherein there is an intrinsic conflict of interests.

Lest we forget, the crusades, the inquisition, and witch-hunt/burning were all examples of collaboration between government and religion.

Let us recognize the unifying priciples contained in religions, and respect and protect every individual's right to be exposed to, choose and practice from among them, as they wish. Other than that let's respect the "intelligent design" of our Republic.

Let's read a random paragraph from Mr. Reynolds' column and insert "Islam" every time "Christianity" is mentioned. It should make us all feel better.

The good news for ISLAM in the twentieth century was that secularism failed. The bad news for liberal ISLAM was that secularism failed. Liberal ISLAM has faded away in most of the world, but has continued a parasitic existence within ISLAM. When traditional MUSLIMS fail, liberal ISLAM is energized and grows a bit. Mostly liberal ISLAM is parochial and isolated. It is obsessed with taking away rights from the unborn and destroying traditional marriage. Globally its future does not look bright.

Mr. Reynolds:

I have no idea what you are trying to say. You speak about liberal Christianity. What do you mean by that? You criticize Obama's speech but don't tell us why. It's like you're speaking in code. To whom? Stop trying to be clever and speak to the people, like Jesus would do. I will take a so-called bad speech over incoherence any day.

I welcome the blogger's comments. I was raised and evangelical (Nazarene.) I became a liberal in college. It enabled me to keep my faith. This led me to a mainline seminary in the 70's but ultimately to public interest law where "I could do more good." I now count myself a liberal evangelical. The problem with liberal Christianity is that it has no basis on which to build a passionate Christianity. If you are not sure what you believe, why act on it? Thus liberal preachers primarily spend their time straightening out the errors of fundamentalist whom they think are in the pews -- but have already left. But they are right about biblical literalism. As a local United Methodist pastor in the south I now can hold my liberalism and evangelicalism in a positive tension. As a young man I though that I had to prove that I was smarter than my congregants. Now I no longer think that I have to "save" my fundamentalist members from their biblical literalism. I instead preach the Bible as authoritative -- and insist the they take seriously its call to compassion and critique of US culture for is narcisism and greed. I also preach the need for a deep personal commitment. (What is the Christian faith without it?)It works. It is intellectually honest. It is the real thing

This is the UGLY face of intolerance.

He said before, he is having his kids home-schooled. That is so that he can pass on his intolerance to them, so they may not be "infected" with "liberal-lefty" thinking, so they will not be taught "to hate America" and "to destroy the family."

Oh brother! What piety.

His Christianity does not seem to be doing him any good.

Amazing, no grace ()

Brother Reynolds, JM et al; "History is OUR Jury"

i confess: i once referred to Evangelical's as "EVILJEALOUSICALS", But time is the best medicine. i'm rehabilitated now. [????..]

If one looks between YE rant(s), not lines, then There is a hint of "Sanity to Ye Insanity" Ya.

Yes! To be Elected is one thing but to LEAD is another. It's like a Rich sales man/Womb & a Poor one; Ye either have [the sell Skill + Experience] it, or you don't!

In a way; When Mr. GW Bush saith, ".. in the future (7 + years) America & the World will look back & see All that i [WE] did in the Middle-East & Asia etc.. that i [WE] was rightious.." [Similar sayth].

Hint; i [& some, not ALL] agree!!!!!!

Note: In a Way, if Humans think about it, that GEB & Co. was like the modern NAPOLIAN whom turned the Middle-East on their Theorcratic & Monarchic Heads!!!!!! Soo,

For the Same Reason, if YE giveth the Obama "Olive Branch" and his chances of bringing about genuine Global-Peace, meaning Reversing alot of the Bush's "Executive Orders" etc.. and fullfilling the OMAMA purpose or reason, THEN

i [& some, not ALL] introVISION in 20 + Years how OBAMA & Co. via that omnipresent 'invisible Hand' (not YAWH, ALLAH, ISHVARA, G-d etc.. et al) will have a Major role , looking hindsigh in 20 years, like the Bush's Legacy or any past Presidents Leadership results, the WORLD will realize (by those not yet borneth in Miracle, not sin) How

OMAMA MANIA (2009-2017), Starting with KENYA, Had turned the Continent of AFRICA [Cradle of Man] into a Majority Christian Nation.

In other words HIS (& CO. of vintriloquists) Legacy will be known as "The Man Who REVERSED ISLAM on the CONTINENT" [Similar]. Ya Ya! He will be remembered as the Liberator of Africa, America et al!

Imagine: In 25 Years, where a 70% ISLAMIC AFRICA evolves & converts into a +70% Christion African CONTINENT? Where Jews, Hindu's, Buddhists et al can finally roam freely & be all classified as 1st-Class Citizen's & no more 2nd Class Citizenz, via Islam Domination-ISM. And the Best thing no one will be afraid in Continent U.S.AFrica (CUSA)! aka no Fear to live there. Soo

BO's legacy will the rhightous MON who snuffed-out the Jealous FEAR Flamers, Hater's etc (Islamic Al TAQIYAHists, Jihaddist , Fundamentalist etc..) living in that blsseth yet curseth Continent.

Imagine a [Seclar] "UNITED STATES OF AFRICA"?????

So He will be remembered as the NAPOLIAN OF AFRICA! Ya Ya!

---

Happy G-d Hunting & good Selling "IT" [G-d is Never a HE/HIM or HIS nor is G-d a SHE/HER]!

The errant belief by this author that he can speak for other religious people is interesting. I as a liberal cannot began to fathom why conservatives think the way that they think. I as a believer in God cannot begin to understand how others perceive God. I do believe that God and politics are and should be separate concepts.

Obama should govern politically. If he doesn’t and allows religion to influence his governing as Bush did with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict Obama, like Bush, will be destroyed.

John Marks Reynolds is juvenile, his thoughts are juvenile and I assume his constituents are juvenile. Let’s pray that Obama is a grown up.

A perfect example of when smallness of mind is confronted by generosity of spirit - generosity of spirit loses !

I'm from Mississippi - a State that has more churches per capita than any other State in the Union. It also practices the type of religion that Mr. Reynolds would appear to like -- most of the white churches are somewhere between conservative and fundamentalist and most of the black churches are quite conservative in their theology as well, even though they might be socially liberal. There are very, very few liberal Christians and the politics of Mississippi are completely dominated by white Christians who supported Bush twice and voted for McCain. In fact, white Christians in Mississippi went 97% for McCain in the last election. And they run things. From the Governor on down. So according to Mr. Reynolds, Mississippi should be God's paradise on earth, where the poor are fed and peace reigns in every heart.

Except it isn't. Mississippi has the highest rate of everything you don't want -- like teenage pregnancy, hunger, infant mortality, high school dropouts -- etc etc. And it has the lowest rates of everything you do want, like jobs, income, education, good health etc etc.

One day I was listening to a panel about about race and Mississippi -- racism is another problem we have -- and one of them, a black woman from the civil rights movement, made a comment about how Mississippi has more churches per capita than any other place -- and then she wondered why there were so many problems when we had so many churches? She thought the churches needed to do a better job of addressing the problems.

Of course that's true. But that's when I also realized that our churches aren't just not part of the solution -- they are the problem. I think Mississippi offers some pretty clear proof of it.

But if you want more -- Just look at what happened these last eight years with George Bush. White Christians -- conservative Christians -- prophetic Christians to use Mr. Reynold's phrase -- voted overwhelmingly for George Bush TWICE -- they own him, because without the white Christian vote, he wouldn't have been President. So in my view, they also own his faith-based Preidency -- and they own the results.

Thank God we have President Obama instead of President McCain -- and thank God he didn't sound like a Conservative Christian at the inaugural. Hopefully we can start to clean up the mess that was made of our country by the Christian right. I've seen enough of their prophetic Christianity to last me a lifetime, thank you very much.

i hope you won't see BHO ending up with his boyhood religion in Indonesia which seems to be an option in this kind of theology.

If the author truely believes that Obama will fail based on his "liberal christianity", it would have been useful for him to offer specific examples of the policies and decisions put forward in Obama's speach that fill fail. He repeats over and over that liberalism has nothing to offer and that Obama has to look to conservative traditional christian values for guidence, but what does this mean? What policies put forward by Obama won't work? What in Obama's speach was so poor? What conservative policies does he need to propose to be successful? What of the last 8 year can be pointed to as a road map for the future? For all of its length, the essay was surprisingly empty.

Jesus, save me from your followers.

ATS0J8 wrote:
"Well, here's another funny tidbit. Reynolds wrote in a piece entitled 'Why Bush will be Important for Decades to Come:'

http://tinyurl.com/br6ktr"

Thanks for that - what a hoot! Bush on Rushmore??? That'll be the day!

you have some nerve writing about "corrupt democrats" when it is your gop w/ its phony, fervent language full of hypocrisy that has put this great nation into the toilet! what a self-righteous bunch of twaddle you've just penned. fundie xtians are a BLIGHT not only to this nation, but to the teachings of christ. go back to your hole. we've had enough of your tripe to last an eternity.

John Mark Reynolds sounds like an angry white man. an argument is an interplay between claim, evidence and assumption. It's hard to agree with the author's assumptions especially when he doesn't provide any evidence for his claim.

Some of the things brought to you by liberal Christianity (and pardon me, but I am a member of the Quaker faith community, so I'll focus mostly on that community's work):

1. The abolition of slavery
2. The woman's rights movement
3. War relief (including millions fed in Germany after WWI), work that won the Quakers a Nobel Peace Prize in 1947
3. The non-violent civil rights movement
4. (In part) the ultimate rejection of George Bush and his strategy of preemptive war (yes, we were the folks who brought you "War is not the answer.")

Liberal Christianity has been a force for change in the world for a very long time. Believe what you may, but don't belittle the compassionate and enlightened ministry of Jesus -- the calling to which liberal Christianity holds.

Mr. Reynolds,

So many users above show deep understanding, intelligence and responsibility, you would do yourself a lot of good by reading the comments about your post.
In fact, one of them says you are neither stupid nor an idiot.

To be confirmed.

Obama will fail due to the fact that he is merely the attractive face of the Soros Administration. Soros says jump, Obama says "Yes, Sir". Soros hates Christians.

Are you kidding me?
Liberal Christianity is the fulfillment of Christ's message. It is the only hope for a wounded world to be healed. It is a natural progression. Sadly, some simply will not hear the message through closed ears, and minds.

So "He [the Christian God] would never give His servants such speeches". We better hope that Obama is the servant of Americans and not the Christian God. George W Bush was full of his version of Christian theology. He even consulted his "higher father" before sending other people's children to a wasteful war. But his "higher father" did not help him win - despite his self proclamation "we are winning" from time to time - in that war.

Perhaps it is true that "liberal Christian" churches have indeed failed. But where have the "fundamental Christian" churches succeeded? Ramming one's version of religion, or trying to do so, down the throat of others is not going to make even their God happy. Just ask W's "higher father". All eight years of piety to his Christian God, all the funding of Christian groups, aside from the issue of separation between church and state, surely did not help not only his, or is it His, war in Iraq, it did not help the economy either.

So where is Mr. Reynold's God when we needed Him the most? What has the servant He gave us for the past eight years done?

Secularism failed? When? I must have missed it.

What a load of crap.

After 8 years of Bushs so called (phony) "Christianity" I'll take my chances with Obama's "liberal" Christianity any day.

Boy you sure wasted a whole lot of words and said nothing of consequence.

I suggest you read his speech - real slowly - maybe it will sink in.

Re J.M. Reynolds' blog on Obama and liberal theology. If anyone re-reads Obama's inaugural address, then re-reads Reynolds blog, the reader will immediately notice that Obama had something specific to say--quite a lot, in fact--whereas Reynolds uses up his entire blog by saying virtually nothing at all. Reynolds himself seems intelligent enough to notice this if he would simply perform the dual re-reading exercise himself. J.P. Grace - Huntington, WV

Seriously, can't the Post find someone thoughtfully critical of Obama's speech, making a reasonable case for Orthodox Christianity? Instead they find this irrelevant idiot, projecting onto liberal Christians a reactionary posture when his whole column centers around the sophisticated debate technique of "I know you are, but what am I?"

Hmmm. Ironic that here in the DC area, the churches that actually provide social services for the poor are liberal churches (Western Presbyterian with Miriam's Kitchen and ST Margaret's with Charlie's Place) while the conservative churches are suburban country clubs.

This man doesnt like Obama to begin with so he wrote some drivel without adding a single fact. WTF?

I and plenty of my liberal (and real) Christian friends do more than sympathize with people, we make efforts to help them with food, household supplies, and time. It continues to be offensive to hear far-right evangelicals claim to be the only real Christians. Jesus would have had a few words for people with this attitude... and a name: Pharisee.

This column is just another wolf in sheep's clothing from a right-wing extremist. This piece is nothing more than an extreme right-wing political diatribe dressed up to look like religion. If I can find it in the print version of the Post, I'll use it for something useful, like wiping mud off my shoes.

Mr. Reynolds:
What a bunch of cheap shots you have taken. You are not even explaining what you mean, just mocking another man's faith because it doesn't come out in words that speak to you. President Obama was a community organizer with a faith-based network. Seems un-Christian to dismiss another person's faith journey just because it doesn't look like your own.

I am saved by the blood of Jesus. I am very proud to be. Nevertheless, President Obama's pledge to include all despite their beliefs are rooted in the American culture, and this does not anger me. Why should that be an offense to an religion? Its his job to include everyone, what you are asking is to have him draw lines. His job is bigger than that right now. His soul will be saved based on his personal decision, not how the majority of the country feels. Thats why I think it was important to make EVERYONE feel a part of the solution.

I almost missed this enlightening article. What a loss would it have been. It is not everyday that you have a chance to read a piece written by someone who seems to have a direct line to divinity and to enjoy the enviable power of unequivocal discernment. What a unique opportunity to illuminate oneself this is. So much certainty, buttressed perhaps by a prophetic, unerring ability to judge others without the conventional help of expert opinion, any kind of opinion. Please stop studying government, political theory, economics or public policy. Nothing, nothing will ever match this transcendental gift that allows some privileged people to correctly interpret sacred books in order to predict our sad future.

Other elements of our War on Terror:

1. Saddam, his sons and major henchmen have been deleted. Saddam's bravado about WMD was one of his major mistakes.

2. Iran is being been contained. (beside containing the Sunni-Shiite civil war in Baghdad, that is the main reason we are in Iraq. And yes, essential oil continues to flow from the region.)

3. Libya has become almost civil. Recently Libya agreed to pay $1.5 billion to the victims of their terrorist activities Apparently this new reality from an Islamic country has upset OBL and his “crazies” as they have threatened Libya. OBL sure is a disgrace to the world especially the Moslem world!!! Or is he???

4. North Korea is still uncivil but is contained. With the opening up of rail traffic between North and South Korea after 50 years and with the assistance of the US Navy in retrieving NK ships and personnel hopefully a fresh sense of civility is afoot.

5. North Korea was taken off the terrorist country list recently.

6. Northern Ireland is finally at peace.

7. The Jews and Palestinians are being separated by walls. Hopefully the walls will follow the 1948 UN accords and the Annapolis Peace Conference is at least somewhat successful. Unfortunately the recent events in Gaza has put this situation back to “square one”. And this significant stupidity is driven by the mythical foundations of both religions!!!

8. Bin Laden has been cornered under a rock in Western Pakistan since 9/11.

9. Fanatical Islam has basically been contained to the Middle East but a wall between India and Pakistan would be a plus for world peace. Ditto for a wall between Afghanhistan and Pakistan.

10. Timothy McVeigh was executed. Terry Nichols will follow soon.

11. Eric Rudolph is spending three life terms in prison with no parole.

12. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Kaczynski, the "nuns" from Rwanda, and the KKK were all dealt with and either eliminated themselves or are being punished.

13. Islamic Sudan, Darfur and Somalia are still terror hot spots.

14. The terror and torture of Muslims in Bosnia, Kosovo and Kuwait were ended by the proper application of the military forces of the USA and her freedom-loving friends. Radovan Karadzic was finally captured on 7/23/08 and is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the law of war -- charges related to the 1992-1995 civil war that followed Bosnia-Herzegovina's secession from Yugoslavia.

15. And of course the bloody terror brought about the Japanese, Nazis and Communists was with great difficulty eliminated by the good guys.

Our War on Terror and Aggression:

An update (or how we are spending or how we have spent the USA taxpayers’ money to eliminate global terror and aggression)

The terror and aggression via a Partial and Recent Body Count

1a) 179 killed in Mumbai/Bombay, 290 injured

1b) Assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh

2) 9/11, 3000 mostly US citizens, 1000’s injured

3) The 24/7 Sunni-Shiite centuries-old blood feud currently being carried out in Iraq, US Troops, 3,402 combat and 822 non-combat) and 90,253 – 98,521I raqi civilians killed, http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ and
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf

4) Kenya- In Nairobi, about 212 people were killed and an estimated 4000 injured; in Dar es Salaam, the attack killed at least 11 and wounded 85.[2]

5) Bali-in 2002-killing 202 people, 164 of whom were foreign nationals, and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 209 people were injured.

6) Bali in 2005- Twenty people were killed, and 129 people were injured by three bombers who killed themselves in the attacks.

7) Spain in 2004- killing 191 people and wounding 2,050.

8) UK in 2005- The bombings killed 52 commuters and the four radical Islamic suicide bombers, injured 700.

President Obama is moving the country in the right direction, and that is to simply re-erect the wall of separation that Bush and his minions tore down. Organized religions, all of them, are the cause of every war since recorded time; there is no reason to allow any of them to become enmeshed in our government. Our Founding Fathers understood this all too clearly, but it seems we now have people like you that want us to go back to the dark ages. Sir, I respect your religious beliefs, but do please keep them to your self!

I, for one, am grateful that the type of christianity advocated by this fundamentalist was not specifically included by BHO. The religious right has come very close to creating a disaster for our country.

Very rewarding: everyone rejected this man. Thanks to all!

Well, here's another funny tidbit. Reynolds wrote in a piece entitled "Why Bush will be Important for Decades to Come":

http://tinyurl.com/br6ktr

"Bush has set a course for victory that will transform the world for a generation and he is well on his way to success."

Of course, the real reason why Bush will be important for decades to come is because it will take decades for us to recover from the toll the Bush presidency has taken on our armed forces, our national debt, our reputation, and our ethics.

Read the whole piece. It would be funny if it weren't so sad how Bush and the religious right have wrecked this nation.

It's truly impressive how Mr. Reynolds misunderstands both America and Christianity. He should refrain from voting in the future, unless he changes; but then, it's hard for a man to change at his age. Fortunately, we have a president who doesn't need to change his vision. Unlike Mr. Reynolds, President Obama is both a Christian and an American who understands the Constitution. Mr. Reynolds, it appears, is neither.

This is, perhaps, the dumbest article I've ever read in Washington Post.

It is usually a good idea to look at where a person is coming from before evaluating their comments. So I googled www.biola.edu to see where Mr. Reynolds is coming from.
Biola University is a private Christian university where "all students and faculty are professing Christians. By inference, non Christians of whatever faith are not welcome. Biola offers a number of majors, not including physics. Its biological science major has four principles:
"(1)An ability to integrate known biological facts with scriptural principles
(2)An understanding of scientific method and its application
(3) An understanding of important issues in various biological disciplines and their responsible applications in life
(4)An ability to discuss theories of origins and evolution within the context of a Scriptural view of creation."

So one is welcome at Mr. Reynolds' university only if one accepts certain narrow constraints regarding belief and reality. Apparently, curiosity about theories challenging these beliefs is not acceptable at Mr. Reynolds' university. IMHO, we have been at Mr. Reynolds's university A LOT over the past 8 years. It is time to leave it and to focus, as Mr. Reynolds would have us ignore, on how best to deal with the yawning black hole of a catastrophic mess. His guy left this behind.

Surprise surprise

A SoCal "Christian" who doesn't practice what he preaches.

A sad melange of ignorance of the world, ignorance of science, ignorance of reality blended with his lily white surroundings.

I wonder his version of "Great Books" would be.

Ban Catcher in the Rye and bring back the Inquisition, eh??

wow

where is the 'report hate speech' under this article ?

"The strength of liberal Christianity comes when orthodox Christians fail. They sound good, but don't do much good. If you want someone to talk about compassion for the poor, you call a liberal Christian. If you want someone to feed the poor, you call the Salvation Army. "

Really?

The Religious Society of Friends? From 1652 to present day, the Friends have a FINE tradition of liberal Christianity.

And as for doing nothing? Oh, ok, let's see...

The Colony of Pennsylvania, originally founded by William Penn, as a "holy experiment" and now proudly the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania... is NOTHING? (Guess I live in that "other America" Palin was talking about during the campaign season.)

The Underground Railroad freeing the slaves was nothing? The Abolition Movement, nothing?

The University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Ivy League and one of the most respected institutions of higher education on Earth... nothing? (Not to mention hundreds of other schools and the countless students they have educated for over 300 years.)

The temperance movement was nothing? No impact on the country at all? (Seemed like Prohibition lasted a good decade, the last time I checked my history books.)

Of the five women who organized the first women's rights convention in 1848 at Seneca Falls, FOUR of them were Quakers: Lucretia Mott, her sister, Martha Coffin Write, Mary Ann McClintock and Jane Hunt. But hey, equal rights for women, to not be property, to vote, to own their own posessions, that's a BIG NOTHING to you, I guess.

Prison reform?
Civil disobedience?
The right to be a conscientious objector during war?
Homosexual Civil Rights?
Race relations?
Nonviolent conflict resolution?
the Sanctuary movement for refugees in the US?

How about Greenpeace? ever heard of it? Founded originally as the Don't Make A Wave Committee by 5 prominent members of the Friends in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hrm.... no, I suppose not. those Greenpeace folks have just sat around talking, doing nothing for the environment, since 1969. Right?

Yup. Whole lotta talk, no action at all from those lazy-ass liberal Christians.

"The good news for Christianity in the twentieth century was that secularism failed."

In what world has secularism failed?

I don't see secularists fanning the flames of hatred every time they open their mouth.

I don't see secularists acting as a cheer squad for torturers who are illegally imprisoning people kidnapped from their homelands.

I don't see secularists full of derision and sneering disgust at what most people consider healthy and natural.

You evangelical godbotherers live in la-la land.

Remember 'do unto others?' Oh, I forgot. You only quote parts of the arcane holy books that might be able to back up your right wing fascistic agenda.

Your evangelical god wears a Nazi Uniform, a Stalinist uniform, the robes of the Inquisition, and rejoices in the words of all the intolerant throughout history.

I do hope you choke to death on your next stream of vitriol - it would make the world just a tiny bit better.

To the WaPo: There is a line, "REPORT OFFENSIVE COMMENTS" below each post. Why is there none below the article itself? If there was ever an offensive comment, that article is the prototype.

To John Mark Reynolds: Like you, my wife speaks English as a second language. But she, after reading your article, asked how anyone, even in a second language, could be so disconnected and so opaque. Whatever you were trying to say was completely lost in the random sentences you kind of threw together on your computer. Frankly, did you actually write a dissertation or was it ghost written? There is no way that I would ever accept something so poorly constructed and poorly written from my undergraduate students.

Who is this Dr. Reynolds and who in the heck does he think he is? Dr. Reynolds, you are obviously one of those wacko Christians who think that only those who toe the "Christian" line are worthy in God's eyes. You and your kind are so certain you are right and everyone else is wrong.

Frankly, Obama's inaugural speech was thought by many to be a fine speech. Who are you to deem it to be the prooduct of an inadequate view of God? I suppose you and God talk every day?

You make me sick. People like you are the cause of wars, of fighting, of intolerance, of injustice, of torture and killing, all in the name of the "right" religion.

As a liberal Christian I AM OBSESSED with taking away the rights of the unborn and destroying traditional marriage.
Yes. I'm going to call my parents and try to convince them to divorce so they can remarry (gay or trans-species even). Gosh. What a load of old tosh.

Whizzer: Actually, "liberal" theology simply means picking and choosing how to be a Christian (as opposed to orthodox Christianity)

Excuse me? I could have sworn that "picking and choosing" is the definition of orthodox Christianity. It's the regressive christianists who want the Commandments, not the Beatitudes, in every court. It's the christianists, not the liberals, who pick and chose about which pronouncements in Leviticus they will follow.

Sorry, bud, but the liberals think by taking Christ's commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself", and basing their behavior on that. They don't need an authoritarian daddy figure telling them every move. It's the christianists who need to have every move defined because they need an "authority" to tell them everything.

You're right, Mr. Reynolds, Obama will need to govern. That means the day to day discussions on what policies to implement to move the nation forward. Obama does not need to grab an idea and run off with the nation after it.

There's nothing like creating a crises to give yourself an excuse to look like a hero.

Sorry, but that 7PM Executive Order enabling the abortionists has made what was all too clear even clearer. This is an administration with Abortion as its first principle. But we knew that right? Any protestations to faith are merely lip service. Faith is not politics, and politics wearing a mask of faith need not be referred to as Christianity, Liberal or otherwise.

I'm not sure exactly what this article was supposed to say. It sort of rambled like a bunch of insults sort of thrown out there randomly. What I sort of think Reynolds was trying to say is that fundamental christianists have a monopoly on God and what God wants (funny how their god always seems to have the same prejudices that they do). But in any case, that he is at Biola says a lot about his worldview and its value or lack thereof.

While I feel that being a christianist does not prevent one from also being a decent person who lives a good life ("good" in the Biblical sense, not the materialistic sense), it does make it difficult. If Reynolds would actually get acquainted with what the liberals have done for mankind, then he might have enough shame to be quiet. On the other hand, maybe he DOES know what they have done, and in some Calvinistic mindwarp, feels that people deserve to suffer and relieving their suffering is contrary to God's will.

MikeB8 says:
"As for the notion of liberal Christianity, I'd note that picking and choosing theological content is widely practiced by many Evangelicals - thou shalt not kill is a great example..."

Among many others - I didn't notice them stoning Ted Haggard to death. I've seen quite a few eat shrimp, too.

Here's a scary thought - Mr. Reynolds' views are probably echoed by the likes of Sarah Palin.

Whizzer wrote: "The purpose of this essay was to analyze "Obama's Faith Vision" and to evaluate the spiritual content of his rhetoric. It seems that nearly every poster on this thread has failed to grasp that purpose. Worse, they fail to understand the basic content of the essay. Worst, they conflate any analysis that is not "Obama-worshipful" as being bitter or reactionary. Okay, this is the internet, so quality thought is not the norm."

---

Um, perhaps so many readers in your view "fail to understand the basic content of the essay" because the essay is so very poorly written. This very educated liberal Christian had a difficult time navigating the bitter ramble that is this essay.

Mr Reynolds:

Please go somewhere else to whine. You lost. Your politics lost. Your biblehtumping "old testament" nonsense lost.

If it makes you feel any better, go stone an adulteress or two.

"'Secularism' HAS failed as a religion."

Whether secularism has failed as a religion really doesn't matter. What matters is that Christianity has failed as a form of government. Christian government brought Europe a millennium of corruption, torture, oppression, and endless wars. We must never return to that.

Western societies became wealthy and powerful during the age of enlightenment, when they rejected theocracy and embraced secularism. America was the first nation founded on the principles of secularism and enlightenment, and it has served us well for more than two centuries.

And if you think that secularists are morally weak or indecisive, you're making a grave error in judgment. Theocracies are one of the greatest evils ever visited upon humanity and we will fight to defend the Constitution against people like you.

It's unfortunate that Evangelicalism has come to mean that corrupt branch of Christianity that defines itself in opposition to the "evil other" always knocking at the door. It certainly doesn't have to be that way; "evangelical" really means nothing more than spreading the Good News. It is, therefore, up to Evangelical apologists like Reynolds to show others that it is not the paranoid movement it so often appears to be.

Sadly Reynolds has drunk the same Kool-Aid. "When liberal Christians win their fight, they are good at purging the fundamentalists"... yet this same author, not long ago, praised the worldwide Anglican church for its desire to purge its ranks of liberals (specifically American Anglicanism)! My dear, your slip is showing -- underneath the calls for inclusion of conservative voices is the same tired, sad and lame wish to exclude those who see things differently.

A serious disappointment here -- so many public representatives of conservative Evangelicalism present an image that can scarcely rise above shrill, lunatic baying of wolves. An intelligent, articulate Evangelical is a welcome voice. So it makes me sad when an intelligent Evangelical can't see what's wrong in his own house -- how he would prefer to meddle in others' houses while the sewer is backing up in his own.

Oh well... better luck next time.

Biola University. Another one of those institutions which give high-sounding credentials to intellectually weak right wing bigots. I am ashamed of the Washington Post to giving space to someone like Mr. Reynolds. Perhaps the Post wants to lend strength to an opposing view by carrying one so obviously weak.

Of course more Christianity is the answer that evangelicals give to any problem. This is not satisfying. Christians are either insular or they are not. If they are insular, they have no idea when to question the many ridiculous ideas contained in the bible. While we certainly can acknowledge some deep wisdom and insight, the bible also features many instances of barbaric cruelty perpetrated by god. If the Christian is not insular, then they are relying on a moral sense that is itself not rooted in christian mythology, and this moral sense is evidence that something other than christianity counts. Either way, civil society ought not entrust our well-being to our true-believers. It's embarrassing that this stuff is still being uttered in the year 13.7 billion.

I can't imagine why the Post felt a need to publish this poorly written diatribe.

Maybe the Post is trying to illustrate what shallow fools that Evangelical leaders have become.

What a waste of bandwidth.

Mr. Reynolds,

You really need an editor. Or writing skills above the level of a mediocre freshman.

I found it incredibly interesting that this post certainly leveled nasty charges about how Obama will fail due to his "liberal Christianity," but completely ignored the minor issue of how this is true. We had eight years of Evangelical theology motivating the views of our President and I'd hardly say that it led President Bush to greatness.

As for the notion of liberal Christianity, I'd note that picking and choosing theological content is widely practiced by many Evangelicals - thou shalt not kill is a great example...

The purpose of this essay was to analyze "Obama's Faith Vision" and to evaluate the spiritual content of his rhetoric. It seems that nearly every poster on this thread has failed to grasp that purpose. Worse, they fail to understand the basic content of the essay. Worst, they conflate any analysis that is not "Obama-worshipful" as being bitter or reactionary. Okay, this is the internet, so quality thought is not the norm.
I think it is unfortunate that Dr. Reynolds failed to define the term "liberal Christianity," so unschooled readers might think he actually means "Democrat Christians." That is not the case at all, even though "liberal" Christians are often also politically liberal. Actually, "liberal" theology simply means picking and choosing how to be a Christian (as opposed to orthodox Christianity) and might be called "Christian-Lite" with simply an emphasis on being nice people and doing social good. It is like an empty suit, or a fluff sandwich. Looks nice on the outside, but there ain't much meat.
Now, to comment on the essay:
"Secularism" HAS failed as a religion. It was enforced by Marx, et. al. with disastrous results, and it was celebrated in Europe until Europeans became an impotent shell. Vibrant orthodoxies are filling the holes left vacant by secularism, whether they be Muslim or Christian. So, when there is no "reason" for your choice, and your choice becomes a watered down "niceness", it is doomed to fail. That is because secularism has no basis for the formal construction of ethical frameworks other than relativism and public opinion.
Oh, wait....why the heck am I wasting my time here? Nobody on this thread has the capacity to understand what I am talking about! Sorry dudes, got carried away...lol

It's truly hard to know where to begin to respond to this. Obama can only be inclusive if he hews to a hard-right exclusionary religious view? "Secularims failed?"

Ah, yes, Bush's calls to bring the world back to God were so successful. And you complain about vague platitudes? Aside from brandishing a sword on your bully pulpit, and telling everyone here and abroad how to believe, what are you advocating?

This myopia seems sadly typical of the conservative evangelical community: judging a person's worth based entirely on their professed beliefs rather than the quality of their deeds. The irony is that this attitude is completely antithetical to theology, which is fundamentally based on the principal that faith does not automatically confer understanding.

Well Reynold, I hope you read the comments here and look at yourself in the mirror to find the small and petty little man who pimps poor old Jesus for fame, outrage and money. You are nothing like Him.

If John Mark is representative of his university Biola should change their name to Bileola. People like John Mark are the reason our nation has the problems we currently experience. His intolerant, ill-informed and harsh judgemental approach will lead us nowhere except turmoil, hatred and conflict.

Dr. Reynolds reminds me of one of my colleagues. Somehow, his version of Christianity gives him an a priori knowledge of the inner religious thoughts of others. He therefore makes his summary judgment of Mr. Obama. I have one question for Dr. Reynolds: Precisely how have you arrived at this judgment? Have you spoken individually with Mr. Obama to ascertain his most personal beliefs? The simpleminded arrogance of your position is astounding. I prefer to let God judge others and to trust Him. He is all wise, and I am but a man. Exactly what are you, Dr. Reynolds?

Wow, speaking of mediocrity...w.o.w. Beyond simple long-winded banal derogatories from Mr. Reynolds, I couldn't even find his point in that grand ramble. I read til the 8th paragraph gleaning nothing but his disdain for what he perceives to be President Obama's religious beliefs and inaugural speech, then I jumped to every other paragraph only to find more of the same. And he dares to critique Obama's speech? IMO, the writer's point is as obscure as the writer himself.

So, apparently, Mark Reynolds' god is a Republican. The last election calls into question his omnipotence.

I don't know which liberal Christians Reynolds knows, but those I know feed the hungry at the localDorothy Day Center, provide foster care for battered and injured children, and provide hospice services for people with HIV and abandoned elderly addicts.

A few of us even work against abortion with the same ferocity we fight against the death penalty and unjust war.

Maybe both left and right have picked the wrong battles. Maybe it is possible - even logical - to be for gay marriage and against abortion and the death penalty. Maybe the real value is life, wherever it exists - maybe the heterosexual romance is what has doomed the unborn and problematized traditional marriage.

I'd bet on it.

Pretty sad!

Sorry Sir: You've been bamboozled by some cult leader.
First of all, all Christians like all African Americans are not alike spiritually. I don't agree with Evangelism.

Second: I know how to separate God from man. I know Obama is not God or Jesus and don't expect him to be.

Third, I don't like cults or mind control.

Fourth: I appreciated what Reverend Jeremiah Wright said in the context of his speech...not the sound byte.

You sound like one of those Christians who believe Your God IS better than God.

Get over yourself!

Wow. It would be nice if the Post would at least recommend that their writers provide some statistical or otherwise objective evidence to support their claims.

Reynolds' assertion that "secularism failed" is probably the most laughably ignorant part of the piece. Typically a movement gains "failed" status only after its numbers have dropped, fervor has declined, and mainstream media coverage is sparing. Gallup and other polls show open American atheism rising nearly three times in the last 2 decades. Writers like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennet are increasingly renowned as harbingers of an enlightened, rational (and therefore godless) age. Secular progressives have banded together to create several formidable organizations in response to the recent rise of the Christian right. In fact it's partially fear of Christian fundamentalism that tipped the scale in Obama's favor with a plethora of votes from fundamentalism-wary moderates. There's even a network of Humanist summer camps whose goal is to challenge our youth to use logic, reason, and sensibility to guide their beliefs and their lives (Camp Quest: http://www.camp-quest.org/).

Is secularism the most thriving religion-related (or religion-inspired) movement in America? Certainly not. But by most measures, its future looks far more promising for the fields of ethics, science, technology, healthcare, government policy, and social reform than any absolutist doctrine's. And at any rate, in spite of what they read and say on Sunday mornings, Americans believe in whatever maintains their way of life. The medicines we take are forged in secular laboratories and administered in Humanist hospitals. Our mp3 players and flat screens are engineered by people who overwhelmingly reject the idea of a personal god. The CEOs that keep our businesses running believe in promoting a robust economy as much as they do in religion. In short, our lives are dependent upon the ingenuity and industriousness of people who could care less about the divine. So, I'm sorry Mr. Reynolds, but, contrary to what you say, secularism is not dead. In fact, it is alive in the parts of American society that matter most.

Mr. Reynolds:

All your words of Godliness and theology mean nothing when you show prejudice and contempt for a set of human beings:'the corrupt Democrats". All Democrats are corrupt, are they? Do you think Jesus would have said that? Instead he decried the religious high command of his time for having little love or compassion. Although actions speak louder than words,you willingness to call a group of human beings corrupt simply based on their political affiliation shows you to be guided by politics than from Jesus.

Repent

Diane of mn

The author of this piece is under the impression that Americans have just elected a pope of some kind (small p as I doubt he is Catholic). In actuality they elected a president, who's job it is to govern, not preach. Where a slavish devotion to conservative Christianity genuinely the correct prerequisite for a good president then W would have been one of the greatest presidents in history instead of the shambolic failure that he was.

This article is "right on the money". Liberal Christianity will fail because it is not Scripturally sound. Mr Obama (who is typical of this genre)will initiate a thousand programs, spend a few tons of money, and accomplish little or nothing. Mankind requires regeneration from the inside out--not the outside in as teaches liberal Christianity. In the political arena we need an apostle of responsibility who refuses to buckle to the crowd (as did Mr. McCain in approving the stimulus package). Borrowing more to stimulate is like an alcoholic downing more booze to cure his addiction. It should be an interesting 4 years.

The author of this essay is a truly evil man.

As the fundamentalists are losing their power to influence they are beginning to form circular firing squads. Apostates are identified, and they begin to shoot each other.

It's too bad the people of Germany didn't seen Hitler for the evil man he was .. fortunately for us we have identified the evil in our country. Let's hope it has been done in time.

The author of this essay is a truly evil man.

As the fundamentalists are losing their power to influence they are beginning to form circular firing squads. Apostates are identified, and they begin to shoot each other.

It's too bad the people of Germany didn't seen Hitler for the evil man he was .. fortunately for us we have identified the evil in our country. Let's hope it has been done in time.

Ronald Reagan boasted that he would make "liberal" a dirty word. While he was doing that he was also selling weapons to the same people that he blamed for killing 242 Marines in Beirut.

Selling weapons to the enemy? That puts him in the same group as Benedict Arnold.

I'm proud to be a liberal. After 50+ years of studying history/the human condition, I've come to the following conclusions:

Liberals Live and Let Live.
Conservatives Shoot the Bastards.

Please, conservatives, when you shoot me, take your time and aim well. A head shot is preferred. I don't want to linger.

Sigh . . . the lesson I derive from Reynold's article is that ALL OF US WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF WE UNDERSTOOD THAT RELIGION IS THE ROOT OF MOST OF THE WORLDS CURRENT MISERY.

Dear Reverend. You limit yourself and your people when you compare Barack Obama's speaches to odes to Barney the dinosaur. His inaugural speak still haunts me. I have gone back to read it over and over and it grows within me. The concepts are truly universal and continuous - a collection of thought that sproud in our minds that multiply and expand. This is the genuis of the speach and I think many people throughout the world feel like I do - except you. You don't because you have choose to put your faith in a god that doesn't exist except within a strict and confined ideology cramps growth and change; and until just recently, claimed to have a monopoly on what is good in the world. I feel sorry for christians, they were taken in by the biggest lie ever told and fight so hard within themselves and against everyone else in order to keep the myth going - long past its time to join the olympians and norse gods in the anals of our collective mythology. Mover over Reverend, the people are looking to believe in one of us - a human being - who not only can be great, but he can inspire all of us to be great! God is dead, long live Man.

And if you want a cold and heartless moralism devoid of compassion and grounded in theology rather than reality...call a conservative Christian. They conveniently conduct there moral crusades in a mentally constructed vacumn, not the real world where the rest of humanity resides.

President Obama is not the leader of Christians. He is the leader of a country of Christians, Muslims, Bhuddists, Hindi, Jews, and even atheists. His speech does not come from God but from the issues he confronts as president.

President Obama's speech was powerful in that it addressed the necessary issues without devolving into one-liners or soaring oratory. His speech was not about him or about wonderful speaking abilities, it was about us, just as his campaign was about us. It was what this country needs, sober, clear thinking and speaking.

As a Christian I find this opinion piece reprehensible and exactly why Christians are driving a wedge in this country. They demand that every secular action reflect God although those actions affect people who may not believe in God. While calling themselves merciful Christians they seek to hack out any influence and any inclusion of those who are not.

Here's an idea. Start a society that is Christian and Christian only. See how long it lasts. Remind yourself why our founders did not set this country up as England is, with a head of state who is also the head of a church. See firsthand why our Constitution makes no mention of God.

If you don't see the hand of God present in this administration it's because your heart is closed to God.

The statement of doctrine of Biola University is helpful in interpreting Professor Reynolds:
http://www.biola.edu/undergrad/about/doctrinal_statement.cfm

The, predictably, orthodox jist is that the new and old testaments are without error. I guess that means everything must be interpreted literally and not metaphorically. Humans did not evolve from other life forms, the rapture is imminent and non-believers will suffer Hell. Hard to endorse tolerance if you take these ideas as inarguable truths upon which your world view depends.

Many people act like they know the words of their particular religion but don't seem to understand those words.

The saddest thing about Reynolds' screed is that it is such a polar opposite of the Jesus in the Christian bible. (No, I'm not Christian; I have just read a lot.)

Jesus was all-inclusive. He hung out with prostitutes, tax collectors, the poor, and a wide assortment of lowlifes. He wasn't judgmental like Reynolds and his ilk. He actually seemed to love people of all shapes, sizes, denominations, and ideologies.

You don't feel the love with Reynolds.

Labeling something "liberal" or "orthodox" or whatever is just propaganda, designed to promote a particular ideology.

Read the statements of Jesus and you'll find a very different idea -- and no doubt a very radical, "unorthodox," "liberal" one from Reynold's view -- of how God supposedly wants us to live our lives.

Do you advocate return of the Inquisition also?

"Conservative Christianity lost its integrity when they backed a torturer."

You think this is anything new? These people have been around for two thousand years. They brought us the crusades, the inquisition, book burnings, witch hunts, executions for heresy, and genocides. They justified slavery, racism, and opposition to women's equality with the Bible. Just because people like Reynolds call themselves "Christian" doesn't make them Christians. People like Reynolds call themselves "conservative Christians" because they can derive power and authority from it.

Ask yourself: do you really think Christ would have said "oh, yes, send 300000 soldiers to Iraq and start killing Iraqis to liberate them"? Think about which so-called "conservative" policies Christ would have endorsed, the guy who said "But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love." and "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."?

One can only smile at the notion that this blindly religious dogmatist from a 4th-tier Bible college is critiquing the vision of Barack Obama.

Even though both parties are reportedly Christians, what we have here is another sad example of "My religion is better than your religion."

Then there is this: "Great movements and religions are rarely motivated by fear, worry, and caution..."

...because they are certain they are right and everyone else is wrong. Fear, worry, and caution are the tools they use to manipulate the public.

The Spanish Inquisition is an example of this. It was part of a distinct period in time when fundamentalists did, in fact, run the world. We now call it the Dark Ages.

And about Barney -- More proof that if you tell people a falsehood enough times, they will believe it over what their eyes tell them. Barney is magenta, not purple.

Mr. Reynolds,

Thank you very much for your post. For years I'd been looking for a way to articulate why I gave up on organized religion and chose to find spirituality within myself. Your musings are the best explanation I've ever read.

I find the author's tone reminiscent of the recent news that the Vatican admonished Obama for being "arrogant" about lifting the gag rule for international women's health programs. The Vatican calling someone arrogant I found to be the height of hypocrisy.

It's steeped in myopic "my God is better than your God" arrogance, girded by faux-populist fascist group-think, and lubricated by the incessant poor-little-persecuted-me whining of the oppressing majority: a world view that could be sustained only by abandoning the burden of free thought and surrendering one's self to something unquestionable and absolute, or some-ONE, more specifically, one who is not seen nor heard and who lives in the sky, watching each of us to see if we err, in order to punish us with unspeakable torture lest we accept the dogma of salvation. Making a list, and checking it twice, as it were.

Well, all that might make life easy for some, and that's great, but let's not take on this mantle of superiority just because no one broke the news to you that there is no Santa Claus. You sound ridiculous. And to get so downright snippy about it!

Take a break, pal. Relax. Everything will be just fine, and you'll benefit from an Obama administration despite the misgivings of your superstitions.

Paganplace, Paganplace, Paganplace,

How goes the "deflawing" of Paganism???

This guy is a conservative Christian who should be writing about the failure of conservative Christians. Instead he has buried his head in the sand and is pretending that liberal Christianity has a problem. Conservative Christianity lost its integrity when they backed a torturer.

I am mystified by this column. The author condemns something he calls "liberal Christianity" but fails to define it or to state with any level of coherence what is objectionable about it - except that it is not his brand. It cannot be rebutted because there is no "there" there.
The anger, sense of smug superiority - even hatred - that lingers just below the surface is unfortunate. It surely is not Christian of any brand.
The notion that secularism lost in the 20th Century is factually incorrect. Church attendance data are notoriously suspect but all data show a significant decline in church attendance through the 20th Century - as much as 50%.
Even our evangelical George W. Bush rarely attended church and never bothered to join one. He may have been our most secular president in action if not in words.

To suggest President Obama as being with Muslims and other religions, but not with all Christians, misses one serious item. It is impossible to have all Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, whatever in favor of or with any one leader. Each religion that remains a force over centuries is also filled with disagreements, differences, falling outs. Honest people within each will still disagree. Each also has some dishonest people who are quick to resort to accusations and violence. No, President Obama will not coincide theologically with all Christians. I would fear for the country if he did.

Last time I checked, Barack Obama was elected President, not Ayatollah, Pope, or Christian-in-Chief. I realize you must be deeply disappointed that the closest thing America has ever had to a Theocrat, George W., turned out to be a collossal failure. Maybe you had better get used to the idea that a president is not in office to meet your narrow theological requirements, but instead to serve our secular needs as a united people.

The arroganct intolerance and exclusionary presumption of your column are the very sorts of things that give religious fundamentalism a bad name, deservedly so. Thank goodness the zenith of your ilk has come and gone.

was there a coherent thought in this dreck? i confess that i didn't have the mental discipline to do more than scan after the first three or four paragraphs. i rather suspect the writer is more at home before an audience which accepts his arguments without question or consideration. that's where he should remain. all he's done with this column is embarass himself.

Christopher Hitchens has it wrong. Religion doesn't poison everything, it just poisons most things, because of people like you.

Hmmm, to equate Reynolds with the Taliban.

That is a hoot.

Who is this guy? Obviously someone not familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan.

As far as feeding the poor and sheltering the homeless, of which I have a couple decades of experience, I have witnessed the gracious activity of Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Liberal Jews, Orthodox Jews, Muslims and any number of sects. I prefer their self=less action to the self-righteous all talk and no action criticism of the intolerant author.

A classic example of the danger of politicizing religion. It shows why dealing with the Taliban is so tough.

I am sure God appreciates your wonderful insights that dismisses millions who worship and believe in Him. Your narrow judgemental and hate filled world has failed and will continue to fail because you are not God and you are not filled with grace. Rather you are filled with pettiness and hatred.

I'll go with Reynolds this far: for me, Obama's speech gets a B for empty patriotic hogwash. What else, on Inauguration Day? Mind, I wouldn't grade any other president any higher, and some lower.

But this: "If you want someone to talk about compassion for the poor, you call a liberal Christian. If you want someone to feed the poor, you call the Salvation Army."

A mean-spirited shot, a cheap one, and self-righteous withal. In the liberal Episcopalian church where I was recently on the vestry, complete with lesbian priest, the food bank and homeless shelter are the central projects of the whole church. You want someone to feed the poor, you call someone who cares, whether it's the Salvation Army or the Red Crescent or a bunch of liberals. Conservatives care plenty, some of them, liberals too. Anyone who can't admit such elementary facts about the diversity of the real world has jumped without an intellectual parachute. Pouring great books over closed minds is like -- ah -- throwing pearls before swine?

I don't expect or want the president of the United States to be a religious leader. That might be appropriate for a theocracy, but this is a secular government meant to provide protection and general welfare for citizens of diverse religions and beliefs.

Religious leaders and their followers are protected in our country by the separation of church and state. That way, groups of people who have strikingly different beliefs are free to worship (or not worship) a god of their choosing, without worrying what the president or members of congress, or mayors of towns etc. believe.

Our current president, like those before him, believes in the importance of our constitution. Their support of the American political system allows people like yourself to keep on expressing your desire for a religious leader in the guise of a political one, without fear of punishment.

Insane sky fairy commentary like this just makes me appreciate President Obama even more.

I can understand a partisan hack writing a piece like this, but a college professor who heads a great books program? It's hard to believe someone can be that educated and that narrow-minded.

The Bible contains so many trees that it's easy to obscure the forest with them.

The most important thing Jesus said, and he said it in many ways, was to put yourself last.

The most important thing Jesus did was to take the rap for someone else.

The Sermon on the Mount gave us the roadmap to heaven, but no Evangelical wants to go that way. It's so much more fun to demonize others.

If everyone did follow Jesus down the road he chose to tread, there would be peace on earth and good will toward all humanity.

But that's no fun. It's so much more fun to be better than your neighbors.

Being superior to others is the first step on the road to injustice. As the first step, it is the worst step.

What stunning bigotry! Only fundamentalist Christians have done anything for the poor -- didn't know FDR was a bible thumper! It's sad to think that students at Biola are subjected to Mr. Reynold's mean-sprited hubris.

ats0j8 wrote:

Reynolds' vision is apparently that he wants to use the US government, its financial and military resources, to impose conservative Christian views and morality not only on Americans, but also on other nations.
----------------------
I think you're absolutely right. As far as I see it, there's really no difference between Reynolds's view of the world and the Taliban's.

I wonder how the Post editors judged Mr. Reynold's contribution worthy of printing? Did this piece contribute to any sort of dialogue or offer productive ideas? Did it even have a coherent thesis beyond "Mr. Obama is unworthy because he failed to extoll my views on God"?

I'm all for differing viewpoints, but let those views be supported by some level of rigor. The Post risks its reputation by publishing this sort of drivel.

"Obama is a great speaker cursed with bad speeches that are the product of an inadequate view of God."

How presumptuous and silly. I didn't realize Obama had been elected preacher-in-chief. Why exactly does the Post let "academics" from fourth-rate universities fill its pages? This rant could have been written by the average college freshman at Bob Jones University.

No kidding, WIC8. I might call the Salvation Army, but in my city, I would more likely call Catholic Charities, which in my experience is dominated by liberal Catholics. I might also call the American Red Cross, which is a secular organization. Or I'd go to the food pantry at the mainstream, liberal Lutheran church I used to a ttend. Or the one at the liberal Episcopal church I currently attend. Or one of the several in AME, Baptist, and other predominantly African-American churches in the inner city, whose congregations reliably vote for the liberal candidates.

Oh, but I forgot. Charity is good. Only good, hardworking people do charity. Most good, hardworking people are "orthodox" Christians and almost none are "liberal" Christians. QED, only an orthodox Christian organization of which Dr. Reynolds approves actually does charity. There's a logical flaw in there somewhere, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

"We are all sinful (and doomed) and need God's mercy through Christ"

I don't.

And you don't need God's mercy, you need a good psychiatrist.

Amazing the number of people who hold forth on who are and are not "true" Christians, especially since so many of the people holding forth do not agree with each other.

Before long, such talk sounds like a barroom loudmouth proclaiming what makes a "real" baseball fan.

The need for deviance holds true it seems.

Also sort of interesting to see how many folks seem to feel the need to come here to announce the irrelevancy of religion in their lives. Why? If an ex-boyfriend calls you every week to remind you he's over you, he's not.

John mark, why do I have to read your nonsense when I can just as easily watch FOX News? That really is your region isn't it? Attack theology!

RE: "The strength of liberal Christianity comes when orthodox Christians fail. They sound good, but don't do much good. If you want someone to talk about compassion for the poor, you call a liberal Christian. If you want someone to feed the poor, you call the Salvation Army."

During a 12 year stretch when I lived in a large southern city, the conservative Christians were entirely concerned with saving the unborn. The only churches actually engaged with serving the poor were liberal churches, the exception of course being black churches.

This author is so busy fighting a culture war he can't even see the facts. He honestly sees his political and theological opponents as a mirror image: just like us, only wrong on everything. So very sad, so very deluded.

Shorter Reynolds: Waa! My guy lost! WInner is a liberal. And a Christian. But he can't be a Christian like me, because he's a liberal. My side can't really be losing, so everyone else must be losing. They only seem to be winning when my side fails.

Facts? Analysis? Logic? Those things are just liberal catchphrases.

Oh, and everyone knows that liberal programs are petty and small, unlike the grandiose, inspiring, brilliant programs my side would propose if only we had a chance. Examples? Um . . .

There's not even an argument to engage here, it's so incoherent. I understand that it's hard to back up assertions like "secularism and liberal Christianity are failing/failed worldviews" when the wealthiest countries in the world are, and have been for some time, dominated by secularism, but the very fact that it's so hard means that the assertions require more than hand-waving to back them up. Any credible academic knows that. Ergo . . .

This writer tries to sound knowledgeable, academic and authoritative by he cannot disguise his sadness over the last election and his hostility toward liberal religion, Democrats, and especially Barack Obama.Perhaps he should seek counseling to become more self-aware or an anger management class.

Reynolds' vision is apparently that he wants to use the US government, its financial and military resources, to impose conservative Christian views and morality not only on Americans, but also on other nations.

What Reynolds suggests is a reprehensible and unconstitutional abuse of the power of the presidency.

Biblical morality and biblical notions of absolute truth, destiny, religious authority, and the coming of the end time are a bad basis for sound government. That is why Republicans associated with the so-called "Christian" right keep ruining the country and make enemies around the world.

Good government is not about vision or greatness or destiny. Good government is about compromise, tolerance, keeping the budget balanced, and staying out of people's lives as much as possible.

Anybody with an ounce of patriotism and morality should strongly oppose people like Reynolds.

The Constitution of the USA acknowledges that individual religious beliefs are to be respected and our government shall not favor any specific religious beliefs. The author seems to think that our nation will fail because it should favor his particular belief. By this reason he fails to understand or accept the basic principles of America.

Our founding fathers in their wisdom recognized that fundamental religious beliefs if allowed to control our government would bring about a bad situation for we the people. Religious persecution was one of the reasons we the people came to America.

Obama understands what it means to be American and his inauguration address was a perfect reflection.

"Mostly liberal Christianity is parochial and isolated. It is obsessed with taking away rights from the unborn and destroying traditional marriage."

Whoa! Who let Krauthammer in here?

A pompous and prejudiced critic:

1. Puts down the president as a person and leader;
2. Puts down his religion, then;
3. Tells him what he should do do (as if he really knows).

What kind of religion is that? What kind of follower is that? No wonder Christianity is dying in America! That was awful!

This article a perfect example of why Separation of Church and State is so important.

How ironic. Reynolds complains that Obama's speech was ineffective in an article that is badly structured and badly written--basically, incoherent. The article would get a D in a college composition course. It doesn't develop an idea logically or systematically; it simply makes a series of assertions. There is no reasoning, no substantiating, no connecting of one assertion or paragraph with another. What a joke this man is!

Wow. Talk about intolerance ... This article sums up in no uncertain terms why our founding fathers sought to separate church from state.

Narrow-minded conservative venom seeps from nearly every word Mr. Reynolds writes. Not even liberally inclined christians escape his wrath ... "parasites".

Wow.

This man is precisely why I do not believe.

4th rate drivel from a 4th rate mind

While I agree totally with Dr. Reynolds, I also pray for God to bless President Obama and his administration. I wonder who amongst the posters, who are so crassly and vehemently blasting Dr. Reynolds' comments, have done that with President Bush? We are all sinful (and doomed) and need God's mercy through Christ. I pray that God will give President Obama wisdom and discernment (just like I did with President Bush) even though I disagree with many things Obama stands for (and no, I am not some knuckle-dragging Neanderthal creating large carbon footprint, etc. etc.). You can disagree with Dr. Reynolds, but in a faith essay (this is the category which this was written was it not?), he is more than within his bounds to write what he did. And I just happen to agree with what he wrote.

Sectarianism advances no cause, in fact, it is the reason we have the form of government that we do in the U.S.

Be respectful of Christ!

I suppose that with all the negative comments regarding liberal Christianity, the author is a proponent of conservative, orthodox Christianity. The fundamental flaw in his argument is that if his strand of Christianity is better, why did it lose it preeminence? If orthodoxy has all the answers and is not sterile, why is this proponent speaking as one on the outside looking in? Looking back on history, most orthodox Christians have been apologists for every social vice from slavery to child labor. While there have been some conservative, fundamentalist Christians who have labored against social injustice, liberal Christians, as well as Jews, have been in the forefront. As far as liberal Christians talking the talk, but not walking the walk, the author needs to look back to the era of freedom riders and speak to some of the liberal Christians (Unitarians, Quakers, Episcopalians, etc.) who put their lives on he line riding buses and sitting at lunch counters with blacks. Where were his orthodox, Christian brethren then? Most were on the other side of the line. Almost all of the vicious violence directed at the demonstrators were from those who espoused his particular brand of Christianity. We can be fairly certain that the KKK is not promoting liberal Christianity during its pseudo religious rituals. Conservative orthodox Christians have not and do not lead the course of history, but begrudgingly follow along in its wake. It has been liberal Christians, not conservative Christians that have led the advance of freedom in this country, often shedding their blood in the process; conservative Christians have been noticeable by their absence and obstruction of the process.

global writes ...

Colorado,

As an FYI: The Biblical scriptures do not prevent people from judging others. That is a common myth disseminated by people who have either never read the Bible in its entirety or are simply too lazy and would rather regurgitate the talking points of others.
___________________________________

Luke 6:37 What's wrong with you? Have you never read the Bible in its "entirety" or are you simply too lazy and would rather regurgitate your own cherry-picking of Scriptures.

What poor recognition of truth and poor judgment you possess Mr. Reynolds. I hope that some conservative Christians will be swayed to the center by President Obama's election and future policy decisions. However, I believe there is no hope for you because something seems to be missing in your intellectual ability.

There is sure is a definition of liberal versus conservative Christianity.

The second a so called "Christian" denies the deity of Jesus Christ, the redeeming sacrifice and physical resurrection of Christ from the dead, then I know that person who still goes to church is in some kind of liberal Christian mind-think.

True Christianity is the whole ball of wax- knowing Christ is knowing his redeeming power, and acting like the good Samaritan by the side of the road in the gospels. They help the poor, give to the poor, and support helping others that are downtrodden whether they convert or not. It's telling people about that power to overcome the seed of sin that sits in every single one of us, doing so in a humble manner and doing so with love and hope for a better tomorrow, both here on earth and afterwards.

As for those that think the founders did not respect religion- they did. Many were yes deists but were also respectful of those that had deeper beliefs and thought they had something to bring to the table. Just read Washington's farewell address.

If ever a reminder was needed as to why the Founding Fathers in their wisdom thought it necessary to establish a distance between church and state this article is it. America is a plural society, composed of people of many beliefs (and no belief at all). Christianity is but one faith and the multitude branches of that faith do not represent everyone. If anything, the last eight years should have taught us that strong theology and good governance for the benefit of all the people simply do not mix in such a diverse society as this one. The President should govern for everyone. We've just had eight years of a president governing for the benefit of a right wing Christian minority base. The country voted conclusively that it no longer wanted this. Just look around at how terrible the outcomes of the past eight years were for Christians and others alike.

Mark Reynolds certainly has an academic view of God and religion. There is no such thing as liberal or conservative Christianity. I would bet my bottom dollar this scholar couldn’t even give the definition of religion.
He puts himself in the place of God, judging others from this pedestal, doing exactly what Jesus said not to do. Obama is a man with great intelligence and poise. He cannot possibly do any worse than W did in his eight years in office.
Bush and cheney will go down in history as the most destructive force this country has ever seen.
What Mark Reynolds doesn’t understand is that organized religion in any form dilutes the truth and develops dogma that is acceptable to its followers. The real Christians are the body of Christ, those that follow his admonishments to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. You do not have to go to some building that man built to do any of this.
Today we have lost our sense of wonder and have made a fetish of our own inventions.
Perhaps the most difficult teaching of Jesus was to love your enemies and to pray for those that persecute you and despitefully use you. Our country has fallen far short of this and has long as we keep setting the example that violence will make things better we are doomed to failure.
Jesus said that God is a spirit and those that worship him do so in spirit and truth, Mark Reynolds does not speak the truth, he judges.

Why the WaPo is giving a space for sectarian bigots like Reynolds to spew their ignorance is a mystery to me.

It used to be I would simply say I am a Christian. Now I have to add whether I am a conservative Christian or a liberal Christian. To that required qualifier, I would say that I lean towards liberal--and not because I am obsessed "with taking away rights from the unborn and destroying traditional marriage," but because I believe in a Christian orientation that is more inclusive and, in my opinion, reaches out to all people...tries to find common ground...and instills hope--not fear--that if we could learn to work together regardless of creed, we could build a better world.

Judging how Obama will fare as a president less than a week into his administration strikes me as being very biased so early in the game. And as for his Inauguaral speech and his other speeches, you're entitled to your opinion but I think that they (Obama's speeches) are deeply inspiring.

What I picked up from your column today is that you detest liberal Christians and you see Obama as a liberal Christian, so you would rather judge him prematurely than work with him.

And if I may turn to more a more "sectarian" mode:

The U.S. economy that Obama is inheriting is NOT of his making. We may each have contributed to its downfall but I think that the lack of responsible (not necessarily extensive, which we don't need) government regulatory checkpoints was the straw that broke the camel's back. People did not listen to the few economic commentators who saw unfettered greed and warned of bubbles bursting while the majority then only saw blessed prosperity.

Yet, it now falls into the hands of Pres. Obama to lead the way from this mess. It won't be easy because it IS an economic Pearl Harbor (to paraphrase Warren Buffet) and things WILL get worse before they get better. But if we heed our intelligent and big-hearted new president's call to "put away childish things..."

YES WE CAN!

I'm not a native speaker of English. Forgive my mistakes. I'm apalled at what I've just read!
The Bible is the hors-concours best-seller in the Fiction list! All religions are ridiculous attempts to explain the unexplainable.

I once tried to read the Old Testament for children to my kids. After listening to the plagues of Egypt my then 5-year old asked "Mom, isn't God supposed to be good?" Well, only supposedly... The plagues are still everywhere in the name of God... children killed, rivers poisoned, skin problems due to attacks with chemicals.. you name it!

Obama, please, go on being down to earth, not pie in the sky! I'll be more than happy if you forget God and base your administration on realistic secular values and principles.

I have a hard time imagining Jesus writing an article like this...

This is a vacuous post with only contempt and no understanding of non-fundamentalists. It is also filled with the arrogance of those who convert personal, distorted misreadings of often inconsistent scripture into the unopposable word of God. This country has been wrecked by those who are intolerant of debate and opposed to their narrow world view. Your time is over. Reconcile yourself to it and learn from your mistakes. Your core dispute is with rationality. Reality is a hard thing to accept sometimes, but in the end it cannot be ignored.

Unlike the outgoing President, President Obama understands that he is the President of the United States of America and not some church; that he is the President of all Americans, not just those of one "faith".

He is the Chief of State and Chief Executive, neither of which calls for governing out of a religious philosophy--the Deists who founded this country would be appalled at the sentiments in this column.

I too welcome an end to the horrendous failures brought on by the past eight years of secular leadership in America. Oh wait...

This is the typical hate that has fueled faith based Christianity for a thousand years, and millions of dead in wars for Jesus. Christianity at its core, like the essence of all religions, is experience based, not faith based. And the experience of divinity is inclusive and harmonizing, not divisive and criticizing. Who gives a Doctorate and a platform to someone as narrow-minded as this hate robot? All one can do is pity his lack of the unifying experience of divine love.

It is quite something to have someone critisize the inauguration speech when their own writing is so poor. The author leaves the reader completely confused as to what he is trying to say. If there is a valid point to be made, besides glorifying 'liberal christianity', it is completely lost on me.

I have an old friend who went to Biola. Now I understand how she developed into such a fool. Whatever story there is behind how this guy got to be the director of an "honors institute", it is certainly a tragedy.

I just can't see my Jesus calling liberal Christians "parasites." I do recall him saying such words about the small minded, divisive, litmus test, in-it-for-their-own-personal-politics religious figures of his day. You might want to think that through before you write your next column.

Bubba, this ain't no way to represent the Savior.

From your "essay" sir I'm left to wonder if that you "Christians" can't even agree on what it means to be a Christian and spend your time sniping at your fellow Christians (which is just not charitable at all) why in the world would I want to be a Christian?

As many have said with a "friend" in Christ like you who needs enemies!

Noun 1. nonsense - a message that seems to convey no meaning

hokum, meaninglessness, nonsensicality, bunk
subject matter, content, message, substance - what a communication that is about something is about

absurdity, absurdness, ridiculousness - a message whose content is at variance with reason

amphigory, nonsense verse - nonsensical writing (usually verse)

balderdash, fiddle-faddle, piffle - trivial nonsense

buzzword, cant - stock phrases that have become nonsense through endless repetition

cobblers - nonsense; "I think that is a load of cobblers"

crock - nonsense; foolish talk; "that's a crock"
fa la, fal la - meaningless syllables in the refrain of a partsong

gibber, gibberish - unintelligible talking
unintelligibility, incoherence, incoherency - nonsense that is simply incoherent and unintelligible

jabberwocky - nonsensical language (according to Lewis Carroll)

mummery, flummery - meaningless ceremonies and flattery

empty talk, empty words, hot air, palaver, rhetoric - loud and confused and empty talk; "mere rhetoric"

rigamarole, rigmarole - a set of confused and meaningless statements

schmegegge, shmegegge - (Yiddish) baloney; hot air; nonsense

hooey, poppycock, stuff and nonsense, stuff - senseless talk; "don't give me that stuff"

baloney, bilgewater, boloney, bosh, drool, humbug, tommyrot, tosh, twaddle, taradiddle, tarradiddle - pretentious or silly talk or writing

courtesy of FreeDictionary.com

This article is to thinking what a black hole is to matter.

Your religion, sir, has turned you into a fool.

Remind me to send the flowers to the funeral of secularism, for when secularism dies, so dies the United States of America -- for as a country it is FIRST, LAST, and ALWAYS a SECULAR country. No matter how many imaginary friends one has, and how many share them.

Perhaps you should pull your nose of the bible and read the US Constitution: "Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of religion." It is the FIRST Amendment, because it is the most important, as the founders knew as does President Obama.

Wow, could you be anymore condescending? I hate to put it like this, but it appears that you need to have it said:

Liberal Christians are people too, and they care as much about the world as you do.

If you don't have anything nice to say about a religion, then don't say it. In a harsher term, shut up and give the man and the religion its due. There's more than enough criticism to go around (including YOURS, Dr. Reynolds), and simply lambasting an entire group makes you nothing more than a bigot. I love the evangelicals I know. I'm just glad you're not one of them.

Secularism "failed?" Last I checked, evolution is accepted as a scientific fact, and atheism is trendy... Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens are rolling in book profits.

Meanwhile, religions have been dragged down by sex scandals, violence, and terrorism...

Mr. Reynolds -

Obama has only been in office for 4 full days. I think its a tad bit premature to start calling his presidency a failure.

What gibberish.

I'm writing this from Cologne. You say secularism has failed? You say Obama lacks vision? That he lacks a theology "sufficient for the task?" It's really a question of Obama having a theology you approve of. Please.

Get over it, Mr. Grumpy. It's a new day. See the world as it is: religious idealogues fail the societies they try to coerce, be they "Christian," Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or whatever.

The good doctor required four paragraphs to inform his humble readers that Obama "now must govern." Believe it or not, sir, most of us were aware of that as early as last Tuesday.

Many historians regard Thomas Jefferson as the greatest of US Presidents. One can only imagine what Dr. Reynolds would have had to say about Mr. Jefferson's "inadequate understanding of God." I would pay to hear a theological debate between Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Jefferson...it would lend new meaning to the word "inadequate."

So, the Right Reverend Doctor Reynolds says that Obama has an inadequate view of God and and lacks a theology sufficient for the task. Now let me think, where did I see those qualifications written in the Constitution for the office of president? Oh, that's right, I didn't! In fact, the constitution calls for a strict separation of church and state. Its authors, in fact, were mostly deists, the farthest one could possibly be from fundamentalist Christianity in that day! Seems I learned in school that they had pretty fresh memories of Christian leaders forcing their religion on the state, foisting Crusades, and prompting European nations into wars against each other that sometimes lasted over a hundred years. (Wonder whether the good Dr. ever studied Church History and Western Civ.?) No wonder the founding fathers wanted to keep religion as far away from the government as possible.

Let's consider the recently retired Mr. G. W. Bush. Here's a man with all the theological qualifications Dr. Reynolds calls for. Gee, it only took the good Rev. four days to forget what Mr. Bush brought us: two wars, a collapsing economy, suspension of civil liberties, a demoralized populace, a planet in environmental crisis, an avaricial cadre of business tycoons intent on financial rape of the entire citizenry, a government not trusted by its citizens-and deservedly so for all of its mismanagement and incompetence. But then, the good Rev. will say that Bush is a great and successful president, for he had the right theology.

Methinks the good Rev. should go back and do some careful exegesis of the New Testament, particularly those sections where Jesus castigates the Pharisees for their legalisms and also the parable of the good Samaritan. More than anything, this little diatribe of yours sounds reminiscent of the Holy See Leo X excommunicating Martin Luther: an angry and morally bankrupt charletan verbally skewering a man with genuine spiritual insight. Barak Obama is far more in touch with the ruach Yahweh than you have ever been Dr. Reynolds. Repent! Open your clouded eyes and behold the man Elohim has sent to sweep away the sins brough upon a weary nation by the evil George W. Valdemort, Darth Cheney, and Carl Sauron for the last eight years! Yield your hardened heart and listen to the leader El Elyon has blessed us with, the man who is reshaping a nation, the one who can really please Adonai.

Too bad is my mantra for holier than thou Evangelicals that criticize those that are not like mike. All faiths promote themselves with the notion if you don't believe as I, you will face damnation. My view is do no harm and you can believe what you want without forcing your beliefs on others.

global writes ...

Colorado,

As an FYI: The Biblical scriptures do not prevent people from judging others. That is a common myth disseminated by people who have either never read the Bible in its entirety or are simply too lazy and would rather regurgitate the talking points of others.

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

Matthew 7:1-5, you twit.

How the heck does this Reynolds character have a Doctorate? This piece reads like the words of a tenth grader.

Seriously, there is a case to be made for Orthodox Christianity. But Reynolds knows little beyond childish namecalling about liberal Christianity. It's probably worth noting that Orthodox Christianity has begun its decline, having tethered itself too closely to discredited right wing political figures like Bush. Has there ever been a more deranged false prophet than George W. Bush.

President Obama is our president, not our prophet, priest, or sacred king. The "God of Sinai and Cavalry" does not write his speeches. Or anyone's speeches. Professor Reynolds -- with all due respect -- were you high when you wrote this?

Colorado,

As an FYI: The Biblical scriptures do not prevent people from judging others. That is a common myth disseminated by people who have either never read the Bible in its entirety or are simply too lazy and would rather regurgitate the talking points of others.

" CCNL
"Eliminate the flaws and errors in all religions, and this blog will have no reason to exist
And everyone knows what these errors and flaws are so get busy!!!!"

Great. Thanks for pointing that out. We'll take it from here. You may now return to your regularly-scheduled programming.

Mr. REYNOLDS et al; TIME IS THE BEST MEDICINE, not Fear!

O' OBAMA-TEAM; Please Fix what is Broken & not fix what is not broken, & Prevent what may potentially break.

Think Globally & Act Locally is the norm or is it the other way round?

Remember: It was Ireland who started the cascading, but inevitable Global-Bust and who's Banking/Economy got busted via his/Her Nation (an Entity like a Person) exceeding their GNP by 1000%. Soo,

Those Nations who Borrowed over 100% of GDP or GNP are now licking their wounds! Yet, the Invisible Hand is Not Broken! Mabe Swollen.

One good indicator of the good potential that America has in store for Her/His own Uncle Sam & Aunt Liberty is that, the "Leadership" quality's of the current Obama Admin, not Justly on Obamas Lap, is 1/2 Oss experienced & that Obam hath 4 Ex-Prez's to help him/Her. Not to mention V.P's & Generals etc..

Another good indicator is the Fact that America Saved His/Her own Banking System from falling face down.

Right Now Good ole U.S of A is in a Wheel Chair, so to spaketh, and during it's convelescence, He/She too will one day walk out of that wheel chair! Remember Broth-Father-Prez ROOSEVELT [pbuh]? AND

Another good indicator is the fact that Instead of OLIGARCHS (Government by FEW), that Today the White-House is dominated by PLUTOCRACY'S (Government by Wealthy). Note: All the People Running the Federal Government & States are Rich! New York City Mayorship Anybody?

the key to America's success, is NOT to forgetts or get duped by the 'Money Changers' [Robber Barons] and stupidly again Give away the U.S. "FEDERAL RESERVE" (The Untouchables?) absolute Autonomy [Treasury & Freddie Mac & Fanny Mae Too), out of "The Peoples" Over-Sight and out of Mindfullness, Else History [Hyperinflation & or Stagflation: Global Enemy #1] will surely repeat itself.

In a Way: Sweet Sweet America "..will overcometh one day, again; some how, some way. And so, in the Holy-No-Man/Womb we shall Trust, No more in Pre-Apocalyptic thinking!

May Xtra Photons shine in the souls of ALL OUR Past, Current & Future Bounded President's.

Oooops: PS: If Ye want Genuine Peace On Earth, not justly USA, then The World [this] needs less Pre-Apocalyptic think, fighting over a name for G-d or Religio MEN, and MORE Apocalyptic thinking "WOMAN AS LEADERS" of our Holy Cosmic Nebula Built Space-Ship Earth! A Miracle in Motion, Justly for a TIME in time!

Hope to 'Lasting Peace' [Globally] will inevitably cometh when the Lady's Rule; in the Majority! An Epic when Men Sit back & take care of the Kids etc..!

It's difficult to see the logic in this article. It offers absolutely nothing constructive in terms of how a more theologically conservative president could provide a better path for America, nor does it even give any evidence for how liberal Christianity or secularism is resulting in the downfall of society. It is extremely ironic in its critique of Obama's "vague" inauguration speech, as this article itself is so vague in defining "liberal Christianity"....or in defining anything for that matter. How anyone with a Ph.D. can produce such a dreadful, sophomoric argument is beyond me.

Mark,

This is probably my last post to you.

In my life, I have thus far gone through four religions. I can say, unequivocally, none of them work. I started as Jewish, went on to Islam, then to two forms of Christianity, then went back to Judaism. They don't work, Mark. Throughout this insanity, my husband, raised in a scarcely observant Muslim home remained curiously detached, thank whatever gods may be.

He, a few years after our marriage, during which time I'd moved on to Islam (understandable, I'd read the Quoran in Arabic, was raised in a Muslim culture, etc.), converted to Judaism, and a Jew he remains. It serves him well. We are raising our daughter Jewish at his insistence. Occasionally, we go to a synagogue, which is fine with me since the rabbi is brilliant, and my daughter adores her.

As for me, Catholicism attracted me because of its imagery, ceremony. A twentieth-century Heine, I was, but it didn't last long. Protestantism drew me when I'd had enough of the ritual. Judaism drew me back when literalism became impossible.

But in the end, I saw that formal religious belief didn't serve me, and it doesn't serve you. Ethnically, I am a Jew, remained a Jew throughout my various affiliations, railed against the racism in the other belief systems, just as you, I would imagine, will always be a
WASP. Be, then, a WASP philosopher, and give up the rest.

You are no idiot, or I wouldn't bother with the self-revelations, but your religion is sapping your brain cells. Give it up. Obama's speech was brilliant. Let it be. I'm trying yet another path now. This one godless. Strongly suggest you try the same.

Wow, what a thoroughly offensive essay. So short, yet it manages to insult so many!

We did not elect Mr. Obama to be preacher in chief.

Why is it that every time you write "liberal Christianity", I read, "liberal politics"?

Get over it - your side lost. You had 8 years, including 6 with majorities in both houses. In other words, you were given plenty of rope - and proved yourselves capable of tying a fine hangman's knot.

Mr. Reynolds, as a former Catholic, former Christian, present devout unaffiliated, I find, in reading your post, an ample reminder of the wisdom of my atheism. What a mess Mr. Christ bestowed upon this world, Mr. Reynolds, as your conceptual chaos amply demonstrates.

Comes now the high holy roller Parisee John Mark Reynolds judging (even though is Scriptures tell him not to) Obama for having "an inadequate view of God".

Whose God are you talking about, Reynolds - your small, shallow exclusionary god or the one energy in the universe that is us all?

The people voted to replace your corrupt, dishonest Administration that had, in your words, "an adequate view of God" We've had enough of your god and his pre-emptive, war, torture and disregard for the poor and sick. You, sir, and your pasty intolerant evangelical ilk are an abomination to Jesus. If I were Him, I would change my last name because of you.

So, Mr. Reynolds... would you like some cheese to go with your whine?

Conservatives lost. Get over it. You, sir, are irrelevant.

Mr. Reynolds: Secularism has NOT failed. It has no led-by-the-nose membership who support the likes of you with their hard earned money, but it is flourishing more now than ever in history. Pathetic to see those like you who make your living fleecing the poor barking at the Obama train as it steams by you. Your time with influence is long gone. Today, science will not be muzzled by religion; women will not be subjugated by religion; the poor will not be given homophobic bromides and extremist anti-abortion platitudes to suck on while they verge on starvation due to GOP policies supported by the evangelicals. The times are changing fast and they have long ago left you irrelevant.

Eliminate the flaws and errors in all religions, and this blog will have no reason to exist as religions converge to a few basic rules that have evolved over the last 60,000 years.

And everyone knows what these errors and flaws are so get busy!!!!

"Liberal Christianity has faded away in most of the world, but has continued a parasitic existence with Christianity"

Speaking of an inadequate view of God...

Oh, where to begin? I am sure Christ weeps every time he looks down and sees what religion has done with his teachings.

The interpretation that probably comes closest to what Christ was really talking about comes from a Hindu. Try expanding your mind and reading Paramahansa Yogananda's Second Coming of Christ.

Is it the final answer? No, but it comes a whole lot closer to reality.

Try looking at your belief and seeing if it bears any resemblance of the real world and if it doesn't then it is likely incomplete or wrong.

I always love when the high and might say "we feed the poor look how great we are." Well, if you want job security you have it. There will always be poor people to feed unless we as a species raise up the poor and at the same time fix the systems that perpetuate poverty.

This is what Obama's message tries to touch on.

It's hard to separate the rational Christian's from the dangerous ones. I am not a Christian but fortunately my Christian friends live in the real world. That's probably because I pick friends based on the people they are, not what religion they belong to.

Four days in and he's been more productive than his predecessor in as many years... unless your goals are corruption and undermining the constitution. Then you'd have to hand it to Bush.

As to his religious views, it's a big shrug, as they aren't a necessary component for morality and ethics by any stretch. Besides, only a fool buys into the 'expertise' of anyone claiming to be an expert on the unknowable, as this writer does.

Mark,

This was an inaugural address, not a sermon. As such, it was perfect. Still in the midst of unique inaugural excess, this man refused to ride high on the wave and, instead, took the occasion, to remind us of where we currently stand and of the path we must commit to if we want to restore a semblance of order to the nation and the world.

I am impressed more than I can say at the numbers of people who have downloaded, printed, and reread the speech to get a better sense of what they must commit to. He has brought a sense of focus and purpose to this nation unprecedented in the last four decades.

Even the bad taste in the mouth left by Rick Warren could not dull the flavor of Obama's message. Reread the speech, Mark. You are not a stupid man.

These people never change. The man tells us to "put away childish things," and then they say he lacks "theology." Good grief.

Mr. Reynolds,

You're absolutely crazy, bonkers, nuts, and out of touch with the real world.

Let me count the ways: no, sorry, I don't have a week to waste on that project.

By the way, we hired Mr. Obama to restore constitutional governmeent to the U.S., not to contemplate "God" or make verbal utterances about "Him".

Mr. Reynolds seems to live in a world where you can vote for Bush three times and then criticize oratory. :)

Brother, help me fulfull the dreams of Martin Luther King, Jr.:

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

While I see this as metaphorical and you may see it as literal, is not our hopes for humanity the same?

I'm sad that you feel like there is battle to be won against my ideals as a American Humanist.

Instead, I feel like there is a peace to be negotiated between the different ideas that make our country so strong.

Humanists are hard-working, moral, and patriotic Americans. Please stop trying to divide us from our Christian family and friends whom we love.

Please stop talking so negitively about what my family believes - I have children that I am raising and love.

What planet do you live on? You clearly live in a different world than I do.