Conservative Theology

September 05, 2008

Religion and Politics / Palin, Religion, War, and Teen Pregnancy

JB

I don't know a lot about Palin.  I have a feeling I'm going to like her, but I haven't dug enough to know for sure.  However, there are two things that are in the media about her right now that I find absolutely outrageous.

1) Palin's view of the war in Iraq

This is probably one of the most misreported, prejudicial things that I've seen.  This is based on people who either (a) don't know English grammar, or (b) are so prejudiced against conservative Christians that they literally can't be rational around one.  Here is the text of the graduation address in question (from Huffington Post):

Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God

The left-wing media is taking this as Palin saying that the war in Iraq is a mission from God.  But that actually isn't what the text says.  What she is praying is _that_ our leaders are sending the soldiers on a task that is from God.  She is not saying, "our foreign policy is the same as God's" - she is saying "pray that our leaders put their foreign policy under the sovereignty of God".  The former is the assumption that what's good for us must be what God wants, but the latter is a humble request that God lines up the hearts of our leaders with His heart.  I would hope every Christian would pray that prayer.

2) Palin's Pregnant Daughter

Many are painting Palin's pregnant daugher as being the epitomy of her own failed policies.  I, however, see it as the opposite.  Unlike others, I don't think that "teenage" pregnancy is a problem.  Your age has nothing to do with it.  The problem is sex without commitment (i.e. marriage) and babies being denied a family in order to not inconvenience a lazy father.

Did Bristol have a moral failing in getting pregnant before being married? Yes. But so what? Everyone has moral failings.  The question is, where do we go from here?  Bristol is marrying the father, and they are going to keep and raise the baby.  That's fantastic!  I can't see a better end to the story.  The morality which Palin is trying to instill is the morality of personal responsibility, and that is exactly what is being evidenced by her daughter.  She screwed up, and is taking responsibility for it by doing the right thing!

Palin's daughter is not evidence of her policies failing, but of them working.

August 28, 2008

Religion and Politics / Books on Religion and Politics

JB

I've asked several friends to send me what they think are the best books on religion and politics.  Here are the responses I've gotten so far.  What are yours?

Here were some author references I received with no specific book titles attached: