All Comments (226)

Why does Sally defend the comments of Rev. Wright?

Ms. Quinn --

I hope you have been receiving tons of email about the following.

On the Charlie Rose show the other night, you stated that Barack Obama had no choice other than to be viewed as a Black man because he "looks" Black.

Your statement implies that given a choice that no person in their right mind would choose to be Black.

In fact, Barack did choose, just like Tiger Woods made a choice. Tiger's choice was to not identify as Black, but as CaBlaAsian and marry a White woman. And others who look as White as you have chosen to self-identify as Black. Barack certainly had the same choice. Obama could have chosen to identify as a person of mix-race, like Tiger Woods and others, and marry someone other than a Black woman. But Barak - at some point in his life - chose to self-identify as Black.

So despite what White folks like you may think, there are many Black people who proudly choose to identify as Black. And even many more who in the words of Trinity United Church of Christ are unashamedly and unapologetically Black.

All the best to you ---

C. Robinson

I am an undecided voter, but since the Wright controversy, I am begining to lean towards B. Obama. My reasoning is not entirely clear in my head, but I can't help wondering what really would happen to America if Obama did become president. So, the only reason I can see for wanting B. Obama is based on curiosity. Another thought is, if I am leaning toward B. Obama, I wonder if others are too for the same reason of curiosity. If so, then was this whole episode staged to get people like me to side with Obama. I wonder.

I heard your comments on the BBC's program "World Have Your Say."

I take exception to your benign and affectionate depiction of Black Liberation Theology. While it certainly has made Christianity more relevant for Black Americans, there is an ugly facet to it as well. And Rev. Wright's controversial and divisive rhetoric reflects that unpleasant side of this theology.

James Cone, who can rightly be regarded as one of the 'founding fathers' of Black Liberation Theology, wrote in his his book, "A Black Theology of Liberation," the following: "Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy."

He also wrote, "The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community ..."

I was raised to believe that any God Who is not the God of all humanity is a false God.

As such, it is not unreasonable to question a theology which validates itself by invalidating people of other races.

Furthermore, such an exclusive belief system is an affront to me and all other Americans of every color who fought so hard for racial equality in the 1960's and 1970's.

I am an undecided voter, but since the Wright controversy, I am begining to lean towards B. Obama. My reasoning is not entirely clear in my mine, but I can't help wondering what really would happen to America if Obama did become president. So, the only reason I can see for wanting B. Obama is based on curiosity. Another thought is, if I am leaning toward B. Obama, I wonder if others are too for the same reason of curiosity. If so, then was this whole episode staged to get people like me to side with Obama. I wonder.

I am an undecided voter, but since the Wright contoversy, I am begining to lean towards B. Obama. My reasoning is not entirely clear in my mine, but I can't help wondering what really would happen to America if Obama did become president. So, the only reason I can see for wanting B. Obama is based on curiosity. Another thought is, if I am leaning toward B. Obama, I wonder if others are too for the same reason of curiosity. If so, then was this whole episode staged to get people like me to side with Obama. I wonder.

I heard you on Imus this morning and there was not enough time for you to share more. I have been brought up Catholic and I too embrace many religions. My sister once brought me to a black womens church in Brooklyn. Let me tell you, "this church rocked." The women were dress to the nines and every women in the church got up and spoke. Nobody attending this church was anxious to leave. Everyone look like they got there and intended to spend a good part of the day there and they were going to enjoy it to. My sister and I enjoyed the joy that they seem to spread among each other. The support system that they had for each other seem to more then get them through the week ahead. What is wonderful about life, and that is what makes me beleive. No matter how bad things are it is what we do with the bad things that count. The way people pull together in bad times makes for a better life. Bottom line, without bad times, life would not be as wonderful as it is.

Ms. Quinn; I'm very impressed with you on
your expressions concerning religons, and
Faith. I tuned in to c-span and watched you and your comments on these matters and was very inpressed. Thank you for your comments on the Rev. Wright and his church nad all of their activities. You are a breath of fresh air and command sinse in a mad society thats full of wholesale sins. may you always report the truth and the news with such power na d truth.

Yours in Christ:
Rev. W.B. Jackson
303 Courtney Dr SW #51
Decatur, Al. 35603

Ms. Quinn is far to tolerant and polite towards religious nuts.

Sally,do you practice any religious persuasion at this moment in time? Why do you not try attending Roman Catholic, Protestant sect of your choosing & a Synagogue.

The news about the Pope's visit and the recent passage of "Easter" point to a selective reality concerning the reporting of news events by the media. I hope that "On Faith" will provide equal reporting time for the Non-Roman Catholic Christian denominations.

1. The Roman Catholic Church does not speak for Christianity, it is simply one of many Christian denominations.

2. As an Orthodox Christian it was distressing to me that the media when it reported on this past "Easter" that there was no apparent acknowledgment that Orthodox Christians would be celebrating Easter on April 27, 2008. I hope that the Post will be providing coverage of Orthodox Easter, including analysis of the Orthodox Christian Church.

3. It would be nice if the movie/televison industry would have religious figures other than Roman Catholic clergy such as: Rabbis, Mormon Elders, Episcopal, and yes Orthodox Priests. Moral/religious guidance is not limited to the Roman Catholic Church.

I honestly believe Sally Quinn had it right the first time when she saw religion as evil and of little redeeming value. It makes people stupid enough to vote for the current idiot in the White House not just once, but twice. And when bad things happen, the stupid people believe it was Satan's fault or that their god works in mysterious ways. The stupid people also allow child rape farms in Texas and on the Arizona/Utah border because the polygamists just might be religious people. My senator Barry G. was correct when he said our congressmen should park their bibles at the door.

Thank you to Ms. Quinn & Mr. Meacham for starting this site. I just discovered it and will be a constant visitor.
I've been aware of Mr. Meacham's spirituality for a long time. I've admired everything about Sally's brilliance for years and seeing her in this light adds even more to her impressive aura.
Emily MM
Tulsa, OK
Cornwall, UK

Thank you to Ms. Quinn & Mr. Meacham for starting this site. I just discovered it and will be a constant visitor.
I've been aware of Mr. Meacham's spirituality for a long time. I've admired everything about Sally's brilliance for years and seeing her in this light adds even more to her impressive aura.
Emily MM
Tulsa, OK
Cornwall, UK

Thank you to Ms. Quinn & Mr. Meacham for starting this site. I just discovered it and will be a constant visitor.
I've been aware of Mr. Meacham's spirituality for a long time. I've admired everything about Sally's brilliance for years and seeing her in this light adds even more to her impressive aura.
Emily MM
Tulsa, OK
Cornwall, UK

I haven't been up to anything these days. Not much on my mind today. I just don't have anything to say lately. I haven't gotten much done lately. I've just been sitting around not getting anything done. Pretty much nothing exciting happening today, not that it matters.

Does the bible "say to blame the sin and not the sinner?" Where?

Does the bible "say to blame the sin and not the sinner?" Where?

Does the bible "say to blame the sin and not the sinner?" Where?

I just wanted to let you know that I saw you on MSNBC during the Barak Obama speech. Your words and how you analyze things are superb. You are so refreshing to see because you do not put spin on anything you tell it like it is. You are the exact opposite of Pat Buchanan. I am so sick of people like him always putting a political slant and always trying to stir up controversy that will create division. I am a man of strong faith and I look forward to reading your articles and getting to know you better. I hope to see you more on MSNBC, CNN or where ever you are needed to represent honesty and a unbiased opinion.

Thank you!!

I haven't gotten anything done. Shrug. I've pretty much been doing nothing worth mentioning. So it goes.

Easter, Christmas is the best holiday - Or choose your own favorite and create another persuasive speech topic

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More or less nothing seems worth thinking about. Not much on my mind today. Today was a total loss. My mind is like a bunch of nothing, but maybe tomorrow. So it goes. I just don't have much to say recently, but whatever.

I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning. Today was a total loss. That's how it is. Today was a loss. Basically nothing seems important, but eh. My mind is like an empty room. Basically nothing notable happening these days. My life's been completely boring today.

Prejudice will always be a part of society

My life's been basically bland recently. I can't be bothered with anything recently. Pretty much nothing seems important. I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning.

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I think Sally Quinn is a product of the republican nazi machine who has so vigorously put out the anti-Hillary propaganda. It is women like her that make me think of the young ignorant, submissive, and very impressionable high school girls who felt that their job was to open their legs and let men have their way with them and then follow blindly as they were told. It is saddening that Hillary is being attacked by the women in the media who have only the views that have been forced upon them, you women are setting the bar even higher for the equality and respect that women have been fighting so hard for. People think we have a long way when it comes to RACE but we have an even longer road when it comes to women's equality and respect for the positions that they seek that many americans feel is not a woman's place... Sally Quinn I hope that the Jon Meacham's of the world lead you to the gate of HELL!

I've basically been doing nothing to speak of. Pretty much nothing exciting happening. I haven't been up to anything lately. My life's been really bland these days, but it's not important. Not much on my mind today.

Genetic testing on unborn children is, is not ethical

I've basically been doing nothing to speak of. Pretty much nothing exciting happening. I haven't been up to anything lately. My life's been really bland these days, but it's not important. Not much on my mind today.

Not much on my mind lately, but that's how it is. My life's been dull these days, but such is life. I haven't been up to much recently.

Prejudice will always be a part of society

I haven't gotten much done , but it's not important. Not much on my mind lately. Today was a total loss, but so it goes.

I can't be bothered with anything these days. Basically not much noteworthy happening. I feel like an empty room. I've more or less been doing nothing.

Dear Sally Quinn,

I saw your conversation with Tavis Smilely the week of December 14, 2007. So much of what you said made we want to say something. This result is this. I hope it’s appropriate to contact you through this website. I heard you mention it during your interview.

I was raised as a Catholic. My father was a Navy man for over 40 years. We attended a Catholic church on the base. When we sang hymns about God watching over our men on the sea and in the air, even though I was in elementary school, I understood those men were going to war. And I thought, didn’t Jesus say love your enemies? I didn’t “get it” and I just assumed like math, it would be something I would understand later. It never stopped bugging me. Over the years more and more about the Catholic church would “bug” me. But, I wanted to be “good” like my father and he was Catholic- besides, it was the “oldest Christian religion”.

In 1987, I went to see the pope in Los Angeles. His motorcade was to go down Western Avenue. I arrived early and the streets were lined with kiosks selling pope tea cups, pope tea towels, and pope soap on a rope- I thought of Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple. The street was strewn with trash and several people were drunk. It was 10 a.m. Finally, the motorcade arrived. The pope passed by, behind the Plexiglas of his pope mobile –doing the queen’s wave. It was over in seconds. As I drove home I said aloud, “God, this cannot be your representative on earth. I just want to live right. Show me how to live right.” The next day, a co-worker asked me about my experience with the pope. Thus began my first satisfying Bible discussion. My co-worker was also a Bible teacher and I began to study with him and his wife.

During your discussion with Mr. Smiley, you mentioned expert views on religion. It is frustrating to me when I hear people say they want to get an expert view on religion (and I especially mean Christianity) and they refer to some doctorate who teaches at Harvard or some other elite school. Jesus’ disciples were “unlettered and ordinary”- this was one reason why they were criticized by the Pharisees of their day. The Bible says understanding comes with humility and holy spirit. No university can offer the “truth” of the Bible. If they could, they could show from the Bible the answers to these questions: What is God’s purpose for the earth? Why does God permit suffering? Why do we die? What happens at death? What is God’s Kingdom? The answers to all these questions are in the Bible. And you might be surprised as I was to learn the answers are not taught in church.

It’s interesting to me that the very horror that caused you, when you were young, to not believe in God anymore, was the thing that not only strengthened my belief in God, but led me to what I believe is the true religion of authentic Christians. Next time you’re in Washington DC, go to the National Holocaust Museum. Walk through the section regarding Jehovah’s Witnesses. You’re a reporter- do some research on the Witnesses in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Burundi and now in Kenya. Go to www.watchtower.org and get information about Witnesses world wide enduring persecution because of their faith. Go to www.pbs.org and see the documentary Knocking. This is a much maligned religion. I would love to hear a real discussion among those running for president regarding whether an authentic Christian would even be involved in politics. Would an authentic Christian be nationalistic or a “patriot”? Would an authentic Christian serve in the military? What’s the record of Jesus and his first century followers?

I hope to see these questions discussed sometime in this forum. I enjoyed your interview.

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Not much on my mind lately, but that's how it is. My life's been dull these days, but such is life. I haven't been up to much recently.

I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning. Today was a total loss. That's how it is. Today was a loss. Basically nothing seems important, but eh. My mind is like an empty room. Basically nothing notable happening these days. My life's been completely boring today.

I've just been sitting around not getting anything done. I've just been letting everything wash over me these days. My life's been basically unremarkable lately. Pretty much nothing seems important, but so it goes. I've pretty much been doing nothing to speak of.

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I just don't have much to say recently. Maybe tomorrow. Pfft. Whatever. Today was a loss.

I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning. Today was a total loss. That's how it is. Today was a loss. Basically nothing seems important, but eh. My mind is like an empty room. Basically nothing notable happening these days. My life's been completely boring today.

I've basically been doing nothing worth mentioning. Not that it matters. I just don't have anything to say these days. I've just been hanging out waiting for something to happen. Not much on my mind these days.

Drivers who run red lights should be punished severly

Global Warming Isn't A Threat

I've just been letting everything wash over me recently. So it goes. What can I say?

I've basically been doing nothing to speak of. Pretty much nothing exciting happening. I haven't been up to anything lately. My life's been really bland these days, but it's not important. Not much on my mind today.

I've just been letting everything wash over me recently. So it goes. What can I say?

My life's been bland. I've basically been doing nothing to speak of, but what can I say? Not that it matters. Eh. Such is life.

There are too many, not enough handicapped parking spaces in our city

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Sportspeople are, are not our Rolemodels

More or less nothing seems worth thinking about. Not much on my mind today. Today was a total loss. My mind is like a bunch of nothing, but maybe tomorrow. So it goes. I just don't have much to say recently, but whatever.

i agree with congress expressing continued support for christians in the us. the majority of the citizens in the us are christians and should not have to deal with holiday trees and no merry christmas greetings. i said merry christmas to everyone who would listen this season. i normally do not say it that much. i do not object when other faiths have their holidays. it seems that christians are persecuted enough in other countries. lets not do it here.

Sally Quinn's article: "Congress' Bullying Pulpit is just another example of the depths to which America has fallen. Sally, an avowed atheist writes as co-moderator of "On Faith" and does her best to misrepresent religion in general and Christianity in particular.

She says that Congress' resolution on the Christmas holiday somehow disenfranchised millions of people. Tell me how a resolution in Congress took away anyone's voting privilege.

She seems oblivious to the persecution that Christians in many parts of the world are enduring. I guess that's the result of wearing atheist blinders.

Dear Ms. Quinn:

In an article titled "Congress's Bullying Pulpit" you wrote that you witnessed children being paddled. Many Christians believe that beating children is a godly thing to do and they cite various passages of the Bible to justify their belief. However, they fail to take into account some very important facts about human physiology.

A human female's buttocks and the upper third of the backs of her thighs contain sexually sensitive nerve endings that send nerve impulses directly to her clitoris. Those impulses can trigger an orgasm, which includes rhythmic contractions of her vagina. Those contractions can pump a male sex partner's semen from her vagina to her uterus, thereby increasing the probability of conception and childbirth. Those nerve endings are naturally stimulated during dorso-ventral copulation (rear-entry sexual intercourse).

A female's buttocks and thighs are functional components of her reproductive system. Striking those organs with a paddle or other implement is an act of sexual abuse. If a girl is beaten on her buttocks then she can become psycho-sexually deranged. She will literally have a constellation of neurons in her brain that cause her to associate violent assault with sexual stimulation. She may be so severely deranged that, like Ann, she is unable to marry and have a family of her own. See Ann's letter...

"My well-meaning, loving, Christian parents, sexually abused me, without ANY idea of what they were doing." http://www.nospank.net/ann.htm

Human females have sexually sensitive nerve endings in their buttocks and thighs because thirty million years ago our ancestors had four feet (they were quadrupeds) and copulation was always a rear-entry affair. The sexually sensitive nerves in a girl's buttocks and thighs are proof we are the products of the process of evolution by means of natural selection. Most Christians are unlikely to acknowledge our quadrupedal heritage but they should at least acknowledge the sexually sensitivity nerves in girls' buttocks and thighs and refrain from striking those organs.

There is absolutely nothing godly about perpetrating sexual assaults on children. Christians should abandon that practice.

Dear Sally,

Hello my name is Elliott, and I am a wisdom-seeking citizen of the world, like yourself, but I also happen to find something compelling in what I have learned from what I have heard and read about the life of Christ. I consider myself a follower of Christ, but hesitate to tell people this and do not identify myself as a Christian for that reason. The apostle Paul wrote that disciples of Christ are "ambassadors of Christ" to the world. I won't patronize you, a political and religious journalist, on the responsibility an ambassador has to fairly, justly, and wholly represent the people of their nation to another nation. The hypocrisy you experienced as a child and have observed, as I have, through your adult life is not unique to religion or even pious people but an inescapable inevitability of the human condition.

I'm so sorry for the terrible experiences you've been through, especially in the care of those who purport to have your best interests in mind. More offensive still, these people would probably presume to have a monopoly on discerning and sharing "love."

I really liked the quote you found from Martin Buber about God being the electricity surging between two people in a relationship. Still I think if there is a God he/she/it would be more intricate to human existence than an energy that comes and goes. I believe that God is closely related to love, if not entirely comprised of and propagating love constantly. It begs the question what is love, and more importantly why would God be associated with it, considering all the suffering in the world. These questions lead to more questions which I have only begun to seek the answers to. I have an itchy suspicion that as Bob Dylan said, "the answers are blowing in the wind, my friend."

I haven't picked up a newspaper in years, sadly I am a product of the internet generation--i apologize--yet somehow today i happened upon your article in the December 23, Sunday Washington Post entitled "Congress's Bullying Pulpit."

I have yet to research what exactly H.R.847 is, and whether it establishes, destroys, or otherwise alters law in the United States in anyway. From what I read in your article it seemed just like a statement of support to a particle group of people. It is unclear in the article to me whether you are frustrated because that group is dominant in the House and seems to be patting its own back instead of recoginizing a minority, or for that matter all people of all kinds, of all faiths, or non-faiths. Or are you frustrated in the manner it was gone about. The title after all (Congress's Bullying...) indicates that you perceive H.R.847 as a majority twisting the arms of a minority to agree with their support of the majority (the majority I'm talking about here is the 3/4 of the population who identity themselves as Christians). If you're upset about the majority, isn't it the democratic republic you are upset about, not religion. It is after all a democratic republic system of government that not only enables but depends on a majority to decide on issues. It also depends on the integrity of leaders, especially leaders in a minority, to stand up to the majority if it is acting unjustly.

Jesus' teaching remind us that walking a life of love and integrity is "walking the straight and narrow" while "broad is the path and wide is the gate that leads to destruction." I have no doubt that there will always be a majority in every government and every nation that seeks its own success at the expense and neglect of others. It is when the wise leaders of the minority, the disinfranchised, the meek, and the weak sit idle and do nothing (say nothing) that injustice is allowed to prevail. I am not upset with the blind fraternity of political bullies in power, I am upset with the few conscience driven and justice-seeking individuals in power who (like the Jewish member of congress you mentioned) do nothing. I follow Jesus' teachings because when he saw wrong in the fraternity of polotical bullies of his time (the pharisees, Sadducees, and roman empire) he did not sit quietly but made a noise to wake people up. I am not upset with the noisy ignorant, for they know no better even though they ought, I am upset with the quiet wise, for they do know better and still do nothing. What good is wisdom if you do not act on it? Jesus asked a similar question of the religious-political leaders of his time. I think you might have more in common with Jesus than you think.

Thank you for speaking up and not sitting idle. Your integrity inspires me, I hope you never waste the wisdom you find, and continue to act to better the world and give faith to those ignored, rejected, or neglected by the rulers of this world, again a similarity you bear to Christ. If you have the time I would love to hear a response, either here or by e-mail. You can reach me at talksnwalks@gmail.com.

God Bless you and your good works Sally Quinn.

Your Friend,
Elliott Simko

Dear Sally,

Hello my name is Elliott, and I am a wisdom-seeking citizen of the world, like yourself, but I also happen to find something compelling in what I have learned from what I have heard and read about the life of Christ. I consider myself a follower of Christ, but hesitate to tell people this and do not identify myself as a Christian for that reason. The apostle Paul wrote that disciples of Christ are "ambassadors of Christ" to the world. I won't patronize you, a political and religious journalist, on the responsibility an ambassador has to fairly, justly, and wholly represent the people of their nation to another nation. The hypocrisy you experienced as a child and have observed, as I have, through your adult life is not unique to the religion or even pious people but an inescapable inevitability of the human condition.

I'm so sorry for the terrible experiences you've been through, especially in the care of those who purport to have your best interests in mind. More offensive still, these people would probably presume to have a monopoly on discerning and sharing "love."

I really liked the quote you found from Martin Buber about God being the electricity surging between two people in a relationship. Still I think if there is a God he/she/it would be more intricate to human existence than an energy that comes and goes. I believe that God is closely related to love, if not entirely comprised of and propagating love constantly. It begs the question what is love, and more importantly why would God be associated with it, considering all the suffering in the world. These questions lead to more questions which I have only begun to seek the answers to. I have an itchy suspicion that as Bob Dylan said, "the answers are blowing in the wind, my friend."

I haven't picked up a newspaper in years, sadly I am a product of the internet generation--i apologize--yet somehow today i happened upon your article in the December 23, Sunday Washington Post entitled "Congress's Bullying Pulpit."

I have yet to research what exactly H.R.847 is, and whether it establishes, destroys, or otherwise alters law in the United States in anyway. From what I read in your article it seemed just like a statement of support to a particle group of people. It is unclear in the article to me whether you are frustrated because that group is dominant in the House and seems to be patting its own back instead of recoginizing a minority, or for that matter all people of all kinds, of all faiths, or non-faiths. Or are you frustrated in the manner it was gone about. The title after all (Congress's Bullying...) indicates that you perceive H.R.847 as a majority twisting the arms of a minority to agree with their support of the majority (the majority I'm talking about here is the 3/4 of the population who identity themselves as Christians). If you're upset about the majority, isn't it the democratic republic you are upset about, not religion. It is after all a democratic republic system of government that not only enables but depends on a majority to decide on issues. It also depends on the integrity of leaders, especially leaders in a minority, to stand up to the majority if it is acting unjustly.

Jesus' teaching remind us that walking a life of love and integrity is "walking the straight and narrow" while "broad is the path and wide is the gate that leads to destruction." I have no doubt that there will always be a majority in every government and every nation that seeks its own success at the expense and neglect of others. It is when the wise leaders of the minority, the disinfranchised, the meek, and the weak sit idle and do nothing (say nothing) that injustice is allowed to prevail. I am not upset with the blind fraternity of political bullies in power, I am upset with the few conscience driven and justice-seeking individuals in power who (like the Jewish member of congress you mentioned) do nothing. I follow Jesus' teachings because when he saw wrong in the fraternity of polotical bullies of his time (the pharisees, Sadducees, and roman empire) he did not sit quietly but made a noise to wake people up. I am not upset with the noisy ignorant, for they know no better even though they ought, I am upset with the quiet wise, for they do know better and still do nothing. What good is wisdom if you do not act on it? Jesus asked a similar question of the religious-political leaders of his time. I think you might have more in common with Jesus than you think.

Thank you for speaking up and not sitting idle. Your integrity inspires me, I hope you never waste the wisdom you find, and continue to act to better the world and give faith to those ignored, rejected, or neglected by the rulers of this world, again a similarity you bear to Christ. If you have the time I would love to hear a response, either here on by e-mail. You can reach me at talksnwalks@gmail.com.

God Bless you and your good works Sally Quinn.

Your Friend,
Elliott Simko

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