freeman3 wrote:This is the key passage: "This is the fundamental problem. Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned."
And, I cited THAT passage. One key difference: I didn't cut off the very words of Jesus!
You want a Christian who stays silent about the words of Christ! Can you not see the fundamental contradiction?
"It's fine that you're a Christian--as long as you believe all other faiths, or no faith whatsoever, are equally valid."
Um, that's not Christianity.
If Senator Sanders wants to have such a test for government positions, I think he runs afoul of the Constitution. What about you?
I think if you are planning on working in government--where you are expected to treat everyone equally--you probably would want to say things differently.
So, he should put political considerations ahead of his faith?
Btw, did Senator Sanders introduce any EVIDENCE that Vought had EVER treated someone unequally? If that's the standard, where's the evidence?
This is the 21st Century...not the 15th. We live in a multi-culultural society with people who hold many different beliefs. We need to be respectful of other people's beliefs at least when those beliefs are within reason.
And, in the 15th Century, or the 25th Century, it will always be the same: I must be permitted to disagree with you without being discriminated against. There is no evidence that Vought had ever or would ever discriminate on the basis of religion. However, the State may not dictate what he may/may not believe. That's what Sanders was trying to do.
The government needs to be neutral and Vought used language that was excessive pertaining to Muslims in my opinion with regard to a doctrinal dispute over whether Muslims and Christians worship the same god (by the way, I believe Muslims would hold that People of the Book--Jews and Christians--do worship the same God...though I could be wrong about that)
Do Muslims believe Jesus is God? Did Jesus say He was God?
Since the answers are "No" and "Yes," there is a rift between Christians and Muslims. We must be permitted to disagree and to do so agreeably. That is to say Christians cannot and ought not insist that others share their beliefs, but they also may not be denied the right to believe what they will--and to write about it.
There is zero evidence that Vought's faith would impact his ability to serve. None.
At the end of the day there is no way for any religion to prove that their interpretation of God is right as compared to another religion. So religiin divides over issues that can never be proven. Somehow religion is never a private thing, it always spills over into the the public space. That's the problem. At least in the West we have separated the Church and State so people have the freedom to live their lives without someone else's religion dictating how they should live. But we have to be mindful to keep it that way.
Oh, don't pull the Establishment Clause. Vought's nowhere near that--so it's a red herring.