Hey Guys
I’m back from a long break and I wanted to share this rich and wonderful article that was in Newsweek. This Article, written by Tony Dokoupil and Lisa Miller. This Article talks about the Youth Gap within Evangelicals who voted for Obama. Here is an Excerpt:
V.Doug Paul was born in July 1981 in Richmond, Va.—demographics that make his birth, in a sense, historic. He was born, six months after Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, to conservative Christian parents who knew for the first time the thrill of voting for a candidate who represented their values, Christian values. Graduates of Oral Roberts University, Gregg and Glenda Paul had thrown themselves into the Reagan campaign, canvassing and making calls. “I liked the direction he was going. I liked his ability to communicate,” remembers Gregg. “I liked that he was very much pro-life, less government.” When Reagan won, the Pauls felt they had contributed to his landslide.
In Doug’s childhood home, a prayer was said over every meal. The family went to church so frequently that Doug imagined it was never closed. He didn’t knowingly hear a secular pop song until he was in the ninth grade: he thought Michael Jackson was a Christian singer. His life and values were shaped by what his parents and pastors taught him about the Bible: Scripture was the divine word of God and clearly sorted righteous acts from sinful ones. Doug grew up not just believing, but knowing that abortion and homosexuality were wrong. It went without saying: when he grew up, he would vote Republican…
Here is the Article, Faith Beyond His Father’s
For me, I think what this represents is one’s growth and maturation in thinking. The dogmatic belief systems and stories that some of us grew up with about who God is and what God wants, is just that, a story. Christian Dogma is based on obedience to a supposed truth that we are separated from God and are in need of salvation, or face doom and damnation. In fact this belief system is rooted in a fear (or F.E.A.R, False evidence appearing as Real) that we are of separated from God.
Christian Theology that is based on this worldview has not reduced our fears or increased peace, but it has created an American Christian Theocracy that has made the world that much more dangerous. Adding to it more destructive policies and thinking which can only lead to more chaos, in a futile attempt to control one’s world and peoples behavior. It has also created a society that is on the brink of, economic and ecological disaster, not to mention disillusionment.
I’m not saying that the wonderful teachings of Jesus are the cause, no, rather the Dogmatic Religions we have created in his name are, I mean, think about it, would Jesus even recognized modern Fundamentalist Christianity? I believe more and more people will leave these dogmatic worldviews, rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism and embrace a worldview where God, Wants nor Needs anything. Our discovery and path to this great truth will lead to a greater freedom, unconditional Love, a understanding that we are all one and divine in nature. What else could God have created and evolved? What else is there? Separation? you against me, I against you, has not work and will not work.
Think and Meditate on it, Peace and Love.
Filed under: General, The What Tagged: | Barack Obama, Christianity, enlightenment, evangelicals, God
