Comments on: For They Love to Pray in the Synagogues, and on the Corners of the Streets http://www.juliansanchez.com/2007/12/06/for-they-love-to-pray-in-the-synagogues-and-on-the-corners-of-the-streets/ Just another geek in the geek kingdom Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:38:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: John Goes http://www.juliansanchez.com/2007/12/06/for-they-love-to-pray-in-the-synagogues-and-on-the-corners-of-the-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-3396 John Goes Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:59:31 +0000 http://juliansanchez.com/?p=2109#comment-3396 If you read the rest of that excerpt (if it's the same one I'm thinking of), he does mention the caveat that in extreme cases religion may be relevant, if it substantially informs ones policy decisions. If Huckabee, for example, believes that another Holocaust of the Jewish people is coming and that the four horsemen are galloping across time and space and are just around the corner, inquiry into his specific beliefs might be of interest to the rest of us. If you read the rest of that excerpt (if it’s the same one I’m thinking of), he does mention the caveat that in extreme cases religion may be relevant, if it substantially informs ones policy decisions. If Huckabee, for example, believes that another Holocaust of the Jewish people is coming and that the four horsemen are galloping across time and space and are just around the corner, inquiry into his specific beliefs might be of interest to the rest of us.

]]> By: Kevin B. O'Reilly http://www.juliansanchez.com/2007/12/06/for-they-love-to-pray-in-the-synagogues-and-on-the-corners-of-the-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-3395 Kevin B. O'Reilly Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:32:18 +0000 http://juliansanchez.com/?p=2109#comment-3395 Exactly, Jules. All the other Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are Christians, which Romney may or may not be depending on how one chooses to classify LDS. But does that tell us anything meaningful about what their core political beliefs and values are? I really do not think so. Exactly, Jules. All the other Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are Christians, which Romney may or may not be depending on how one chooses to classify LDS. But does that tell us anything meaningful about what their core political beliefs and values are? I really do not think so.

]]> By: Julian Sanchez http://www.juliansanchez.com/2007/12/06/for-they-love-to-pray-in-the-synagogues-and-on-the-corners-of-the-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-3394 Julian Sanchez Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:48:17 +0000 http://juliansanchez.com/?p=2109#comment-3394 Sure, I agree that it's totally legitimate to ask candidates about core beliefs that are likely to influence their decisionmaking, and there's no exemption for core beliefs that happen to be religious. But that's not really what's going on here, is it? It seems like what's centrally at issue isn't how the tenets of Mormonism might lead to unwise policy, but the belief of part of the GOP base that Mormons aren't "real" Christians and that this is, in itself, a disqualifier. Sure, I agree that it’s totally legitimate to ask candidates about core beliefs that are likely to influence their decisionmaking, and there’s no exemption for core beliefs that happen to be religious. But that’s not really what’s going on here, is it? It seems like what’s centrally at issue isn’t how the tenets of Mormonism might lead to unwise policy, but the belief of part of the GOP base that Mormons aren’t “real” Christians and that this is, in itself, a disqualifier.

]]> By: Dr. Kenneth Noisewater http://www.juliansanchez.com/2007/12/06/for-they-love-to-pray-in-the-synagogues-and-on-the-corners-of-the-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-3393 Dr. Kenneth Noisewater Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:55:38 +0000 http://juliansanchez.com/?p=2109#comment-3393 I hate to disagree with Dr. Paul, but... The church one attends is a conscious choice made by individuals. To choose a church is to choose to, if not always strictly abide by, at least pay lip service to, a set of beliefs. I would say that to judge the church one attends is a part of judging one's character. I appreciate Ron's thoughts in the first two paragraphs of the excerpt. But when it comes to vesting one man with as much power as the modern Presidency affords, I don't think taking a critical peek at that man's religion is out-of-bounds. The current guy thinks he's been chosen by God to bomb the f*ck out of the heathen sand-ni**ers. We might have been better served if we had known this back in 2000. I hate to disagree with Dr. Paul, but…

The church one attends is a conscious choice made by individuals. To choose a church is to choose to, if not always strictly abide by, at least pay lip service to, a set of beliefs. I would say that to judge the church one attends is a part of judging one’s character.

I appreciate Ron’s thoughts in the first two paragraphs of the excerpt. But when it comes to vesting one man with as much power as the modern Presidency affords, I don’t think taking a critical peek at that man’s religion is out-of-bounds. The current guy thinks he’s been chosen by God to bomb the f*ck out of the heathen sand-ni**ers. We might have been better served if we had known this back in 2000.

]]> By: Adam http://www.juliansanchez.com/2007/12/06/for-they-love-to-pray-in-the-synagogues-and-on-the-corners-of-the-streets/comment-page-1/#comment-3392 Adam Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:21:59 +0000 http://juliansanchez.com/?p=2109#comment-3392 Perhaps it makes me a simp, but I really do have a soft spot in my heart for many of the candidates who can't win. Even ones, like Paul, with whom I largely disagree on the merits of his policy proposals. It would be lovely to think that candidates like Paul help to provide a conscience to the horse race proceedings. Unfortunately, I've never really detected that to be the case. I wonder, in fact, if the converse isn't true. Do second-tier candidates mostly provide a way to domesticate the opposition? Perhaps it makes me a simp, but I really do have a soft spot in my heart for many of the candidates who can’t win. Even ones, like Paul, with whom I largely disagree on the merits of his policy proposals.

It would be lovely to think that candidates like Paul help to provide a conscience to the horse race proceedings. Unfortunately, I’ve never really detected that to be the case. I wonder, in fact, if the converse isn’t true. Do second-tier candidates mostly provide a way to domesticate the opposition?

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