I never thought I'd hear a candidate for the American presidency critique a possible opponent's theology, but last week Rick Santorum said that the president believes in a "phony theology." Actually, the pope has called other Christian denominations "deficient" and Catholic theologians regard their theology as heretical. And non-Christian denominations are considered "gravely deficient," having beliefs and rituals that could lead a person away from salvation.
So except for Newt Gingirch, all of Santorum's opponents are heretics and believers in phony theologies. And since Mormons believe in three separate and distinct gods, as well as a phony book, their theology and practices would appear to be pagan and "gravely deficient."
I look forward to more of Rick Santorum's critique of the theology, rituals and practices of the other candidates, as well as his criticism of the theology of most Americans who don't know any theology or belong to heretical and gravely deficient denominations.
It will be like a replay of my Catholic school experience, only with 300 million students in the classroom and Sister Mary Richard Santorum as America's scowling mother superior. But be forwarned Americans: if Sister Mary Richard catches you chewing gum, she'll make you stick it to your nose until lunchtime.
It seems to me that there is a lot of so-called phony theology flying around out there. Those, such as Mr. Santorum,who call it as they see it are dramatically out of touch with the polemics of political process and have nothing substantive to say to those of us who are thinking clearly.
Tragically,a large percentage of their audience may not be thinking clearly. I just finished reading a little book written by the late Stephen J. Gould, in or about 1998. Dr. Gould was known for longish tomes and eloquent prose, but ROCKS OF AGES is barely over two-hundred pages. In it, Gould argued for the essential validity of both religion and science and called them NOMA (non-overlapping magisteria).
Inasmuch as politics has been called a science, one might deduce that it contains at least some (albeit tenuous) validity. If we were to consider Gould's argument, we might further deduce that religion and politics ought to be able to get along with each other. Tragically, however, there is Rick Santorum, et. al.
Posted by: Heisenberg's Eyes | February 20, 2012 at 12:09 PM
As Nietzsche said, "In truth there was only one Christian, and he died on a cross." Or as Teresa Nielson Hayden said, "Love God. Love one another. Share what you have, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, comfort the afflicted, be humble, love justice, seek peace, tell the truth, pray often, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, recognize everyone as a child of God just like yourself, and forgive trespasses as you hope to have your own forgiven. It’s a disturbing religion when you take it straight."
Posted by: Ralph H. | February 22, 2012 at 02:30 PM
Ron Paul, Gingrich, and Santorum are all Catholic. Funny that Santorum plays the "good catholic" card and supports preemptive war with the Pope himself publicly opposed.
Posted by: Atticus Finch | February 23, 2012 at 02:51 PM
*which the Pope himself
Posted by: Atticus Finch | February 23, 2012 at 02:52 PM
That's about it, right? No? What else is there, then?
Posted by: Harold G. Neuman | February 23, 2012 at 06:32 PM
Funny how some of the more niggling tenets of monotheism get the big play, while the huge theological points are passed over altogether.
Case in point: idolatry. idolatry is simply the worship of and serving of something, competitive with or supplanting God. We use the word "idol" to mean a carving or demon or even a person, but any damned thing can be an idol, for instance money, earthly power, a book, or some specific ambition. That was Faust's failing; not dealing with Mephistopheles, but selling his soul (i.e. his link to God) for medical knowledge to serve suffering mankind (things went from bad to worse after that, but that's what started it.)
And for New-Testament-focused Christians, who can forget the words of the master "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."
I swear, for these bozos to present themselves as Christians is barely acceptable, since all Christians confess themselves to be sinners. But theologians? Hah.
Noni
not a very good Christian. or theologian.
Posted by: Noni Mausa | February 24, 2012 at 09:51 AM
I haven't been able to do much here in the last few days, but I'm enjoying all the thoughtful comments in this thread.
Posted by: Dr X | February 24, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Love you Noni. Neither am I, nor do I make any apologies or excuses for the fact.When (if?) I vote this year, I'll be going to a church to cast my ballot. This has always galled me as a slap in the face to those of us who would prefer to keep our political activities separate from any theological acts of faith we might wish to engage. Alas, we have a bunch of clowns (or bozos, if you wish) who try to flaunt their own religious virtues, while denying any such virtues to their opponents.
It is an attempt to distract us from their innate incompetence as humans, generally. The only one who rises, intellectually, to challenge the sitting president, seems to be Ron Paul. I voted for him once. I only learned yesterday that he is DR. Ron Paul.
Which,all said and done, is probably better than Reverend Ron Paul.
STS (or: Sad To Say), we will always get the best government money (and obfuscation) can buy---because "if you always do what you've always done; you'll always get what you've always got." Some guy has said the effect is "historionic".
People have been writing about our faulty decisions for scores of years---yet, we seem to have learned nothing substantive. I wonder WHY that is? Status quo?---is this all there is for the American consciousness?
Maybe that historionic guy is on to something? Stay with us, Doc. This is just starting to feel good...
Posted by: Dave the Carpenter | February 24, 2012 at 06:05 PM
Rick Santorum is a Jelly Donut. JFK was an American---some will recall the Berlin speech---others will not.
Posted by: Paul D. Van Pelt | February 26, 2012 at 06:35 PM
A reference to Rick Santorum's criticism of JFK's reassurance that he would not be taking orders from the Vatican? Mr. Santorum blamed JFK for the secularization of U.S. politics, which is a hoot given how religion-saturated political discourse has become in recent years.
Posted by: Dr X | February 26, 2012 at 06:46 PM