Articles like this make you wonder about who are the "real" Christians

[theHandpuppet]

You know, it's articles like this that make me wonder just how one defines a "devout Christian". If I were a Christian I'd find this article insulting... but perhaps it's just me.

Note: bolding is mine

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MIDEAST_RICE?SITE=OHCIN&SECTION=AMERICAS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Oct 17, 7:55 AM EDT

Rice Visits Jesus' Birthplace

By DALIA NAMMARI
Associated Press Writer

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a devout Christian, visited Jesus' traditional birthplace Wednesday in a symbolic bid to urge Israel and the Palestinians to move quickly to resume formal peace negotiations.

Rice has been meeting with Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian leaders this week as part of preparations for a U.S.-hosted peace conference in November or December. On Tuesday, she won public support from Egypt for the gathering, and then headed to Israel and the West Bank for more talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

Her day began in biblical Bethlehem in the West Bank, with a tour of the Church of the Nativity, built over Jesus' traditional birth grotto. In the grotto, she lit a candle and paused for prayer...

[babylonsister]

1. She's stalling:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2065613&mesg_id=2065613

[trotsky]

2. I don't think it's anyone's place to judge who is a "real" follower of a religion.

Unless you have a direct pipeline to that religion's god, your guess is just as good as theirs.

[theHandpuppet]

3. I guess I'm confused by that word "devout"

Just what does that mean, anyway? How does one qualify as a "devout" Christian? Is staging a photo op at Jesus' birthplace while scheming your next war qualify for "devout" status? Why would a reporter use such a descriptive?

[gratuitous]

5. Jesus had some pertinent things to say about that

And strangely enough, it had nothing to do with saying "Lord, Lord." In Matthew 25, the righteous are the folks who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, visited the sick and imprisoned, and not a word is said about whether they prayed, lit candles, or witnessed to strangers who wished they would shut up and leave them alone.

So I'd say that by observing how a person conducts herself is a pretty good clue to determining how "devout" she is.

[trotsky]

6. I'll simply repeat my statement.

I don't think it's anyone's place to judge who is a "real" follower of a religion.

Because your Jesus dude also said something about "Judge not, lest ye be judged," did he not?

[gratuitous]

7. I'll leave the judgment to God

But as for who is "devout," Jesus said that we should listen to what the big shots say because of their position, but we should by no means follow their behavioral example. I suppose in some fevered brains that would equate to "judging" them, but not mine.

[theHandpuppet]

9. Or there's this...

Jesus' Teaching on Prayer
Lk. 11.2-4
5 ¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Lk. 18.10-14 Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

[blondeatlast]

11. That's the one that trips up the Fundies when you call them on it.

I'm a Christian in that I follow His teachings but I won't self-declare my devoutness--I hope my actions speak for themselves.

My opinion is, if you have to declare it, you ain't doing it right--and that goes for anyone in politics as well (maybe even moreso).

I find that phrasw "a devout Christian," suspect--and really bad reporting to boot.

[immoderate]

13. The difference between a "devout Christian" and a Christian...

...is like the difference between a "free gift" and a gift. A free gift will cost you some money. Substitute "phony" for "devout" and most of the time, it works.

--IMM

[blondeatlast]

17. That's a good analogy! nt

[acmavm]

8. He sure did. And it went for ALL of us.

[Mad_Dem_X]

4. A "devout Christian" wouldn't

work for or support a power-mad warmonger like Bush.

[mondo joe]

10. They're all real Christians as far as I'm concerned. Beyond that it's a matter of theology,

better left to religion discussion boards.

[blondeatlast]

12. The fact that it declares her "devout" in the opening sentence is suspect,

IMHO--and really, really bad journalismn as well.

[theHandpuppet]

14. Yes, I think that's what really got to me

Why would any legitimate journalist include the phrase "devout Christian" in this article?

[Monk06]

15. So she claims Christ as the prince of peach and her Lord and Savior

before meeting a meeting with Jews and Moslems.

I guess she plans to 'Perfect' them to use
Coulter's term.

"Being here at the birthplace of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been a very special and moving experience," said Rice. "It is also, I think, a personal reminder that the prince of peace is still with us."

She is either grossly incompetent, crazy or doesn't want peace at all.

I vote for the third alternative. It's in the US interests that the ME
remain permanently unstable.

[Javaman]

16. She's milking it for a nobel nod lol nt