Why I Don't Believe in the GOP's God

[NanceGreggs]

Why I Don’t Believe in the GOP’s God
By Nancy Greggs

It is the favorite taunt of the right-wing: As a Liberal and a Democrat, I am a godless heathen who does not accept the word of God. And they are right.

It’s not that I don’t believe in God, my Republican friends. It is just that I don’t believe in your god, the one you have created in your own image and likeness.

My God is the creator of all things; the universe and all of its wonders were his gift to mankind. But your god doesn’t care if you destroy what he has created through pollution and lack of stewardship. Your god only cares about the corporate bottom line.

My God is the creator of all people, and they are equally His children. But your god is only interested in white Christians. Your god doesn’t hear the prayers of Muslims, he only hears yours.

My God set down the laws to be followed in His name. But your god attaches signing statements to the Ten Commandments, and continually alters their meaning when you deem it politically expedient to do so.

My God is all-powerful. But your god’s abilities are limited to what you can comprehend. He could not have created man through evolution, choosing the moment of divine intervention. He could only have worked his miracles in a way that you can understand.

My God is all-seeing, and measures a man’s worth by what is in his heart. Your god is content that a man be able to quote chapter and verse, and does not expect one’s actions to reflect his word.

My God is all-loving, and bids us to do unto others what we would have done to ourselves. Your god sanctions torture, war without purpose, and the meting out of death without conscience.

My God endowed us with free will, and encourages us to think, to choose, to strive for the betterment of all mankind. Your god demands that you follow those who have appointed themselves to speak in his name, without question or dissent, no matter how contrary to God’s law their intentions might be.

My God invites a personal relationship, a oneness with his Being. Your god demands a middle-man, who will speak for you when and if he so chooses, and only when your financial contribution to his coffers are considered to be sufficient.

My God is constant in His sense of what is right, what is fair, what is just. Your god is fickle, and right and wrong are determined by your interpretation of fairness and justice at any given moment.

My God expects me to be my brother’s keeper, to help the sick, the hungry, the friendless and the homeless. Your god only wants you to look out for yourself; he expects you to ignore anyone who is less fortunate, less monied, or anyone who worships him in a way different than your own.

My God values every life he has created equally, without regard to religion, country, or ethic origin. Your god only values American lives, Christian lives; all the rest are expendable.

My God is not a product to be sold to the highest bidder, nor a fictional character to be endowed with the characteristics I deem to be suited to my purpose. My enemies are not His enemies, to be exploited, maimed, orphaned or killed at my pleasure. My friends are not His friends because they belong to my church, my country club, my income bracket, my political party.

My God knows that I believe in Him. He needs no financial contribution to prove my faith, no political persuasion to prove my loyalty, no mouthing of words without a true appreciation of their meaning to demonstrate that I understand my obligations to my fellow man.

My God knows that my responsibility lies in doing what I can in this life – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it may be – to improve, protect, and make more meaningful the lives of all of His children, with whom I share the bounty of His earth.

My God doesn’t judge me on the basis of how I vote, but on the basis of how I live my life. He does not see me as better than others because I am an American; he watches to see what I am willing to do to make America a better nation for the sake of my fellow citizens.

My God did, in many ways, bless America. But He did not bless my country to the exclusion of all others; He blesses every nation that embraces brotherhood, justice, and a commitment to the betterment of all of its inhabitants, not just those who hold power, wealth, or political influence.

My God knows I believe in Him. My task is to do something that gives Him reason to believe in me.

[Madspirit]

1. 1st to K & R...n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Amen, amain, amin!

This is a great one. Though my concept of God differs from yours, it is a lot closer to your concept than the GOP concept.

I loved this part best:

My God knows that I believe in Him. He needs no financial contribution to prove my faith....


We Sufis say: When you take one step towards God, He runs ten steps towards you.

Keep up the great writing!

Salaam-Shalom-Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

[paparush]

16. The God I believe in isn't short of cash, MISTER! - Bono (u2)

[Horse with no Name]

3. Very nice.

You and I have the same God.

[huskerlaw]

4. Your god is too busy being indicted for tax fraud.

Sorry...channeling the West Wing there.

Great essay.

[NanceGreggs]

5. God will GET YOU for that, huskerlaw!

[huskerlaw]

9. He'll have to add it to the very long list!

Honestly, that scene where Bartlet lays into the fundies in the pilot episode...totally golden.

[Maestro]

6. Please submit résumé to Creators Syndicate

http://www.creators.com/opinion.html They need another liberal woman's voice to counter the vitriolic rantings of Malkin for one and I can't stand Linda Chavez but at least she is more articulate. You've been on fire lately. Great writing.

[BattyDem]

7. Nancy ... I want you to know something

You have your very own sub-folder in my "My Documents" folder. I save everything you write.

This one is brilliant, as usual. It's also the perfect gift for know-it-all, "Christian" friends and relatives.

K & R

[madokie]

8. My God is within me and he only allows me to do good

[Raksha]

21. Same here! Which is not to say I ONLY do good--

far from it!--but when I do less than good I do it without God's blessing or approval, and I know it.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

10. May you be forever blessed with such Faith NanceGreggs

That's simply lovely.

[JeffR]

11. OMG

I mean jeepers. Great read.

[C_U_L8R]

12. Because Thou Shalt Kill was not a commandment

The blood is on their hands.
Lets see if they can wash it off.

[NanceGreggs]

13. "Thou shalt not Kill"*

* Unless, of course, George W. Bush tells you to kill, in which case feel free to murder with abandon.

You gotta watch for those signing statements -- they keep popping up at the most politically convenient times.

[Spiffarino]

38. The RW Xtians don't read it that way

They read "Thou shalt not commit murder" and believe it doesn't apply to anyone outside their belief circle.

[bunkerbuster1]

46. Yep. RW "Christians" distinguish between them what need killin'

and them what don't.

And it's scary shit to hear first hand.

[jwirr]

58. They also consider killing in the military justified regardless if the

war is just or not. But remember *ss that puts you and your fellow warmongers at the table on judgment day! Its your war.

[Bjorn Against]

14. This needs to be passed out outside some of the megachurches

Absolutely brilliant Nance, I can just imagine how far the jaws of the lurking freepers drop whenever they read one of your rants. I am willing to bet there will be a few broken monitors in Freeperville when they lurk onto this thread. Great job once again.

[11 Bravo]

15. "Signing statements to the Ten Commandments"

That, my friend, is genius. There's nothing more to say.

on edit: K&R

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. I am "godless", a Liberal and a Democrat. I won't apologize for being so. nt.

[Nevernose]

25. No one asked you to apologize

I'm an atheist, too, but that was still a good post.

Most of what Nance said, I would assume, applies to atheists as well. And even if what she said doesn't directly doesn't apply to us, maybe we should at least respect it?

[K8-EEE]

18. YOUR BEST EVER, NANCE!

And that's saying something.....WHAT A KEEPER!

[FloridaJudy]

19. Someone please give Nancy a newspaper column!

I'd even subscribe to the local fish-wrap if they carried this.

[karlrschneider]

20. I don't believe there are any gods, but if I decide to, I'll go with the one you described!

[tlsmith1963]

22. That's How I Feel, Too

I always say that I don't believe in the Republicans' version of God. Actually I am an agnostic, but I am definitely atheist concerning the Right-wingers' God. I don't like a hateful deity.

[jgraz]

23. Brought a tear to this atheists eye

Seriously, when is your book coming out?

[roguevalley]

24. You nailed it, NanceGreggs. Thank you. I couldn't agree more. :)

[rhett o rick]

26. And I don't use my God to promote my agenda.

This goes for the republicans and the Christian Taliban

[Skittles]

27. both your gods suck

just sayin'

[Cha]

28. I like your God!

Just amazing that so many people use "god" as their defense for killing, lying, stealing, cheating..They aren't fooling anyone except themselves. Big Ol' Fools.

[WiseButAngrySara]

29. Oh, My God I thank you for this post! This is one of the

most frustrating and bewildering aspects of this current political climate. You elucidated the hypocrisies and inconsistencies just beautifully.

and R (D'ed) and bookmarked and e-mailed!

[DAMANgoldberg]

30. K&R

I'm running out of Keithism's with the quality of writing here.
Deep, and I don't think it's playable KO/SportsCenter

[hfojvt]

31. you just had to put white in there, eh?

Shame that you left out 'male'.

"My God is the creator of all people, and they are equally His children. But your god is only interested in white Christians. Your god doesn’t hear the prayers of Muslims, he only hears yours."

Many fundies are non-discriminatory and world-wide. Plenty of black Christians, even if they many not vote Republican, but some of them do. Fundies are quite willing to go on missionary trips (or financially support such) to India, the Phillipines, China, etc.

"My God expects me to be my brother’s keeper, to help the sick, the hungry, the friendless and the homeless. Your god only wants you to look out for yourself; he expects you to ignore anyone who is less fortunate, less monied, or anyone who worships him in a way different than your own."

They also give a fair amount to their churches and charities, even if they do not believe in government answers to poverty.

"My God invites a personal relationship, a oneness with his Being. Your god demands a middle-man, who will speak for you when and if he so chooses, and only when your financial contribution to his coffers are considered to be sufficient."

They may like their TV or mega-church preachers, find them to be inspiring teachers, but very few of those preachers, if any, would call themselves a middle-man. Nor is a contribution required, although people are encouraged to be generous and support a preacher they consider to have an inspiring message.

[flyarm]

32. ANOTHER GRAND SLAM !!! WOW THAT SPEAKS TO ME!! MAY I ASK AGAIN

CAN I COPY AND POST other places????????/

i run several internet groups nationwide..would love to send out to all...

Thank you Nance..that sooo speaks to me!!

I no longer speak to a lifelong mormon friend..because of just this...

fly

[NanceGreggs]

33. Please feel free ... n/t

[Prophet 451]

34. Nailed it, Nance k/r

[Jack Rabbit]

35. (goshu)

[Shoelace]

36. Beautiful! I needed to read that - just watched "Bobby"

sobbed until I was weak after that movie. Just sat there thinking how different this world would be now had he not been shot to death. Now up comes Nancy to rescue me from my sadness for in her message there is so much hope and light. Thanks again Nancy, you lifted my spirit and I so love your/our God! It's US working all together to bring our country back into the light.

They will never kill our faith!!!

[DFW]

42. I saw it on the plane over to the States on Sunday

I, too was reminded of what we all lost that day.

[tblue]

37. It's like a prayer almost. Printing it out to hang on my mirror & keep forever. Thank you, Nance!

I bow to you.

[Spiffarino]

39. You capture what's been stuck inside me.

I can't stomach the hash that extreme Fundamentalists have made of Christianity. You hit every nail.

[shaniqua6392]

40. As a Christian, I must say this.....

That was beautiful. Thank you. My sentiments exactly.

[The Wizard]

41. My God has

In God We Trust on the houses of worship, not the currency. My God could be a black woman wearing glasses. Thank Zeus I'm a Democrat.

[Hubert Flottz]

43. Very well done...

I love it!

[wizstars]

44. Great piece, Nance! I could add one thing (not necessarily an improvement...)

My God doesn't need a government to tell me how to pray, when to pray, what to say when I pray, or whom to pray to.

[amb123]

45. The GOP God is the god of the White, Anglo-Saxon, Christian, Corporate, Heterosexual Male

The GOP God is the god of blasphemers and idolaters because they limit God, who is infinite. They limit God to one race, one gender, one set of scriptures, and one exclusive priesthood who interpose themselves between God and ourselves, limiting God still further. The Christian-Fascist Neo-Con Republicans have absolutely no faith in God whatsoever because if they did, they would not use the Government to impose their beliefs on others. This is why separation of church and state is absolutely essential in a free society. It is impossible for a free society to even exist without the separation of church and state. There is no freedom without church/state separation.

NanceGreggs is right. To impose limits on God is the ultimate blasphemy and the Republicans are the ultimate blasphemers.

[NJmaverick]

47. Excellent! Good work

It's great to be able to reclaim God from the right wingers.

[keith the dem]

48. A post well worth printing out and /or forwarding!!!!

[sinkingfeeling]

49. I would love to send this as a LTTE to the 'state' newspaper here in red state Arkansas just

to counter the dozens of LTTEs they print from the GOP god believers every week. Great job, Nancy!

[jwirr]

60. They would not let your letter be that long. However, it might work

if you took a few of the items each time and ended each letter with the words "to be continued".

[dorkulon]

50. Sorry, but I don't believe in your god either.

And my "godlessness" shouldn't make my opinion count any less, doesn't make me a less moral person, and shouldn't classify me as a second-class citizen.

[NanceGreggs]

56. Belief in God is not necessary, IMHO ...

... to be moral.

This was not meant as a Yay God essay. I am simply sick and tired of hearing that Liberals are "godless" - which, in GOP-speak, means immoral. I am especially tired of hearing it from people who use their version of god as an excuse to hate, lie, steal, corrupt, etc.

Faith of any kind is meant to be used as a shield, not a sword.

I believe in what I call 'the higher religion'. It has one tenet, one principle, one moral lesson: Caring for each other. If we do that, everything else falls into place as it should.

[jwirr]

61. Where did she say that it did? Most of us here on this thread are not

talking about what you believe, we are talking about what we believe. That is called freedom of religion. I also read the threads that talk about what you believe but I would never think of objecting to it.

[dorkulon]

63. I just think that a proper response to the "godless" accusation

is not to engage in a faith-off, but to reject the premise that faith in god imputes moral superiority.

Not trying to say you can't have or express your beliefs.

[jwirr]

65. Okay, now I understand and you are right: Not being a Christian

does not mean that you are immoral. Sorry.

[dorkulon]

66. np, I probably could have been more articulate about it in the first place. (nt)

[caseycoon]

51. You said it all...

AMEN Nancy!
Thanks so much.
You are, as always, wonderful.

[Old Smokey]

52. Excellent Read

Enjoyed that

[TygrBright]

53. Thank you, Nance. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I want to hang onto this one and send people here to see what MY God looks like, too. My God has two other characteristics; maybe your God has them too:

My God created a vast system of life--and in this system all life lives at the expense of other life. My task is to navigate this complex system making my decisions about the relative values of individual lives (the life of an insect, the life of a carrot, the nascent life in a seed, the nascent life in a fertilized ovum, the life in a stranger whom I don't know, the life in a person I work with who hates me, etc.) based on the guidance I already have about the nature of God. And to treat each life, even those I cut short, with reverence and respect.

My God created a Universe so complex that the senses I am endowed with cannot perceive it all--and I don't even know what I can't perceive. Therefore, it behooves me to be humble, because I do not know that my life-form is the most "superior" in God's eyes. ALL of creation, not just my human DNA, reflects the nature of God, and therefore God is not male nor female, human nor inhuman, nor anything I can fully comprehend. I can only discern God's will and God's plan from what I observe of creation, from what I consciously set myself to learn from those whose wisdom and experience show me something I recognize of God, and from my personal relationship with God through prayer and meditation and deep enquiry. And I cannot expect others to share or agree with what *I* know-- God is too vast for that, and I am capable of knowing only a small part.

appreciatively,
Bright

[NanceGreggs]

55. Beautifully stated, Bright.

Thank you.

[ThatsMyBarack]

54. Isn't there a sign out there that says:

BUSH STEP DOWN! -God.

[jwirr]

57. Thank you, Nancy. I feel humbled. You make those of us who often

feel alone on this board because we are Christian feel welcome. I am sending your statement of faith to everyone I know.

[NanceGreggs]

59. Just for the record ...

... I am not a Christian. However, I think we can all learn from the lessons of Christ.

What the right-wing has done to the concept of God is bad enough - what they have done to the concept of Jesus is even worse; it is the epitome of hypocrisy.

[jwirr]

62. Then I respect your article even more.

[treestar]

64. Wonderful Piece

[Surya Gayatri]

67. This is surely one of the most eloquent

spiritual manifestos I've ever read.

The last line is a credo to live by:

"My task is to do something that gives Him reason to believe in me."

Thank you for this, Nance. SG

[ceile]

68. Wonderful, NG!

[Uncle Joe]

69. I feel the same way

Thanks for the the thread NanceGreggs

Kicked and recommended

[H2O Man]

70. Very good.

I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you for writing it.

Nominated, of course.

[ChrisCat]

71. Wow, wonderful post.

I really needed that. A couple of hours ago I recieved a most hateful, racist email from my husband's "Christian" aunt urging me to be careful who I vote for. I do not understand how these self proclaimed Christians cannot see their hypocrisy. She had even added her little "God Bless You!!!!" to the message. It sickens me.

[NanceGreggs]

72. Welcome to the discussion, ChrisCat!

I know exactly what you mean. They DON'T see the hypocrisy at all.

I have seen posts on other sites that spew the most venomous things about Iraq and Muslims (the "we should just slaughter them all" type of message), where the poster's sig-line is a Biblical quote, or something about Jesus.

But that's what I mean about their 'god'; he doesn't remotely resemble the God the rest of the world knows.

[madamesilverspurs]

75. Makes me wonder...

Apparently their god holds one hand in front of their eyes
while plugging their ears with the other hand.  My youngest
brother is a retired military chaplain who hasn't spoken to
me since I refused to vote for Bush in 2000.  I have yet to
figure out why he thinks I would want to be someone like him.

[The Wizard]

73. When Arlo Guthrie

bought the Church made famous in Alice's Restaurant the people there wanted to know what kind of church it was going to be, to which Arlo replied "It's a church where you bring your own God."
Now sticking with popular music, Ian Anderson made some references to God: "He's inside you and me." and "He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sunday." There are many more, but those just came to mind.
As for my thoughts, and I practice no religion, today's GOP would make Jesus vomit.

[calazini]

74. Absolutely beautiful

You capture the spirit of God. I read every one of your posts and really look forward to them. Molly would be proud if you followed her to the papers; do it. You are her rightful heir - you have earned it and she is egging you on from whatever good place she is in.

The right wing may have hijacked his name for now - people will see the truth. The tide is turning against them.

[ladym55]

76. Amen, and thank you!!!

As someone who is a Christian, I have not been happy to have my faith hijacked by a group of racist, sexist, angry, violent loudmouths.

And people who are REALLY Christians don't think they have the corner on morality or faith or anything like that. Just sayin'.