Howard Dean, religon, and pundit Charles Krauthammer

[Eric J in MN]

The extent of direct quotes from Howard Dean on religon in the Dec. 25, 2003 Boston Globe article which the wave of news reports are based on:

''Christ was someone who sought out people who were disenfranchised, people who were left behind,'' Dean said. ''He fought against self-righteousness of people who had everything . . . He was a person who set an extraordinary example that has lasted 2000 years, which is pretty inspiring when you think about it.''

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Charles Krauthammer tonight on Fox New Special Report:
"Dean belives in a socialist Jesus."

[Dagaz]

1. Do you think that will help in the South?

Bush went way right in SC even going to Bob Jones but will this move help Dean? P3ersonally I don't judge a person by how much or what religious activities they involve themselves in but I'm curious how Dean is going to tie this in with his overall platform. How will this work with the sanctity of life? How does this work with his views on a Doctor's responsibility? What is his view of Islam? How does Islam work with his view of Christianity? What is his view on the Jews and their claim on Israel? Is the Bible right?

Now that Dean has opened this box these questions are now fair game.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. HIs wife and children q

are Jewish... so that tells me he is far more open


Also Krathaumer does not understand the Jesus of Dean (I am not christian but have had many a discusion with theologians) is closer
to the real Jesus... at least theologically

[tishaLA]

2. Krauthammer, I'm afraid, is certifiable...

if I may use his own "lingo" (after all, he is a "licensed psychologist" )...when it comes to Dean. I'm no great supporter of Dean myself, but two-buck Chuck Krauthammer is virtually blinded by his hatred. Sometimes I think one of the moles on his face will explode when he talks about the Doc.

[eileen_d]

5. Krauthammer is a psychologist?

Ick.

[tishaLA]

13. Yeah! Can you believe that NUT is a psychologist?

Daily Howler did some great stuff on him last week, I think. You should go read it....very funny stuff.

[mouse7]

4. Apostles believed in Socialist Jesus then, too

Hey, the Jesus of the New Testament would not have been a supply-side capitalist.

Period.

If Dean's comments open this subject up for discussion so that the born-agains have to really go back to their Bibles and look at who they really believe in, I'll take everything back I said.

[chocolateeater]

6. I would say from looking at that

Dean has at least read the Gospels. I wonder if Krauthammer has read them. :shrug:

[alexwcovington]

7. As if Jesus wasn't socialist

Splitting up a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread between a couple hundred people. Like that isn't socialist.

[eileen from OH]

8. The thing about fundies. . .

is that they take the tone of the Old Testament (lots of revenge, fear, sin, an angry God) and give those attributes to Jesus, who was a man of peace, love, and forgiveness. Outside of when he tossed the money changers out of the temple, I don't believe there is an instance of his anger. (Could be wrong - I'm not a Bible scholar.)

Quite frankly, Jesus was a socialist. He advocated giving what you had to the poor - he who does this for the least of my brethren, does it for me. (paraphrasing obviously, see above re: not a Bible scholar.)

eileen from OH

[mouse7]

10. Evangelical movement based on Paul and Old Testament

Almost all the stuff you hear from fundamentalists are based on the Letters of Paul. Paul wasn't even alive at the time of Jesus.

About all you get from them from the Gospels is Crucifixion. They like talking about Jesus' blood a whole lot.

[Orangeone]

14. My Theory

about religion is that sometimes if a person is a bad person, it doesn't matter what religion he practices--he/she still be bad. If he/she is a good person he will still be good no matter what religion he practices. So I guess I doubt the efficacy of religion to change people.

Also, bad people tend to think that all people are bad too. That's why they tend to lean toward harsher aspects of their religions.

[pasadenaboy]

9. that's a coincidence

so did the early christians! (believe in a socialist jesus)

"And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need."

Acts 2:44,45

Boy, it's so rare to meet a Conservative who knows anything about Jesus.

[w13rd0]

12. Yep, and I've actually lived in a Christian commune...

...where they actually did the feed and clothe the homeless and needy, and share all things, etc etc. Of course, nowadays, it's usually referred to as a cult. Interestingly enough, Christianity was considered an odd schism/cult of Judaism couple thousand years ago.

[jmaier]

11. Dean's

quote sounds about right to me. Coming from a 6th generation white trash pentecostal. :-)

[AntiCoup2K4]

15. Better a "socialist" Jesus than....

...the PNAC fascist fictional "Jesus" that Chuckie and his Boy George believe in.

Let's take a look at Jesus.... Trained as a carpenter by His stepfather, so he grew up working class, but apparently didn't carry on in the business after Joseph died. In fact, other than His ministry, Jesus was basically unemployed during the three years of His adult life chronicled in the Bible. He didn't hang out with the rich and famous, but associated with fishermen, tax collectors and ex prostitutes among others. And He had no home of his own, and very few posessions. In spite of all this, he mamnaged to feed a crowd of 5000 with one kid's box lunch and provided free health care coverage to anyone who asked. And he had no problem telling the rich what He and God thought of them.

Socialist? Perhaps.... but we can definitely be sure He was no Republican :)

[Dudley_DUright]

16. Al Franken has a great section in his new book called

Supply Side Jesus. Someone should send Krauthammer a copy. I am not sure he would understand the irony, however.

[Lefty48197]

17. Krauthammer should visit Michael Jackson's cosmetic surgeon

then he can look somewhat human.

[stickdog]

18. Krauthammer believes Hitler was the second coming.

And that Dr. Strangelove was a poignant political drama.