A Christian Perspective on Evil: Rick Warren's Question
I watched the forum with Rick Warren posing question to Barack Obama and John McCain. There is not time or space, in this forum, to go over the entire program, but I would like to begin a discussion of one of the questions Warren asked, each of the candidates.
Warren asked: "Does evil exist, and if it does, do we ignore it, do we negotiate with it, do we contain it or do we defeat it.?" No political candidate could possibly answer this question other than to say “We defeat it.” However, the way this question was asked, was a perfectly designed to fit John McCain’s hard-line, social-conservative view. McCain was quick to indicate his leaning toward very aggressive tactics wherever evil is encountered.
Now, I most surely do not want to argue that we should refrain from using whatever means are necessary to protect ourselves from terrorists who would do us harm. Just to be sure I’m not misunderstood, I believe that when you are attacked, you fight back hard using whatever force is necessary. However, there is a more important question with respect to this issue. The question Warren should have asked was not do we try to defeat evil – of course we do -- but how do we defeat evil? For Christians that is the key question. Many Christian leaders have noted that violence is not the answer to the question of evil. Violence, they argue, simply creates more of the very think it seeks to destroy. Violence brings violence!
So, I would have liked to have heard Warren ask the following question of each of the candidates. “As a Christian, committed to the teaching of Jesus, what is your long-range plan for confronting and defeating evil?
Personally, I think Obama would have provided a more Christian answer to this question than would have McCain. But, who knows for sure? We did not get that question.- Bob Hertzog's blog
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Thanks, Bob.
Maybe one day sites like AFP will be able to host debates...
BTW, PM me where you want me to send a copy of AFP 1.2 since I used your letter.
I hate like hell I forgot that "town hall" was on, so I didn't get to see it. I've heard bits and pieces of what went on. Sounded to me like Obama walked right into the lion's den. Big surprise there!
I agree, Bob, that yours would've been a better question. Or why not just be straight up and say, "If you're elected President, how exactly do you intend to deal with Iran?"
http://anythinggoesforum.us/
Official AFP Tourist
Is it online somewhere?
I fully believe if there is such a thing as evil~Bush is evil. Does that mean I think al Qaeda is not, of course not. Does changing Presidents make the Bush War just. No, it is still an evil endeavour. But, Bush's evil.
I personally have a belief that there really isn't evil, there is a balance ~ Yin and Yang. The 1st mistake that Bush made is that this is not war. War is a noble cause we honorable people ~ on both sides. al Qaeda are a bunch of criminal thugs. By the simple fact they are not a sovereign nation is fact enough. To create a battle ground in a sovereign nation that was not part of the "action" and then lead our military into action that has killed over 1/2 million civilians on a basic foundation of lies makes Bush and cohorts similarily, criminals. Bush's criminals acts has caused or created a situation to cause far more deaths and destruction than all al Qaeda's actions rolled together. "Shock and awe" it a term that associates Bush with terrorists ~ ie, a terrorist slogan.
It is sad!
Life only goes around once, have fun and love, people. -VicNormal
Hi folks thanks for your comments.
I think another question, Warren might have asked the candidates is how do you define evil. In this nation, particularly by the current administration (and I think by John McCain) evil might be defined as radical Islam, or perhaps even mainstream Islam. I don't think there is an evil religion, just evil people, who might associate themselves with any religion.
Another Obama ad - this time cloaked in Religion! Bob's good!!
I, personally, find it (this thread) ironic in that most Americans view Presidential elections as choosing between the lesser of two evils! This campaign appears to be no different. *sigh*
I have spoken!
I don't find it that way at all. I'm looking forward to Obama being President. I think he'll be a good, fair, smart one. Something we haven't had in a long, long time.
http://anythinggoesforum.us/
Official AFP Tourist
Hi Irish Fan,
I think Sippy is correct in that most people do not see this campaign as a choice between two evils. Both Obama and McCain have generated some real passion in the ranks for their respective supporters. The Obama campaign and the former Hillary Clinton campaign in particular have brought in thousands of new voters and developed some high levels of passion for their candidate.
In any event, have no doubt about it. I'm not a totally objective reporter here. My personal view is that the best choice for America in this campaign is Obama.
I'm not implying in any way that Obama or McCain is actually "evil" - it's simply a figure of speech that I found ironic based on the nature of the post.
I have spoken!