{"id":1118,"date":"2012-09-07T11:14:16","date_gmt":"2012-09-07T15:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/cultivare\/?p=1118"},"modified":"2012-09-07T12:20:26","modified_gmt":"2012-09-07T16:20:26","slug":"why-i-dont-tally-the-god-references-at-political-conventions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/cultivare\/2012\/09\/why-i-dont-tally-the-god-references-at-political-conventions\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Don’t Tally the “God” References at Political Conventions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I\u2019m seeing a number of comparisons of the RNC and the DNC regarding the number of \u201cGod\u201d references, and references to \u201cScripture\u201d in speeches. Then there was that kurfuffle at the DNC about taking \u201cGod\u201d out of the party platform, then re-inserting the language after it was put to the convention floor. I think God must have gone through a bit of an identity crisis there. At the very least, I\u2019m sure he felt a bit self-conscious. (Do they like me? Do they not?).<\/p>\n

On a CNN blog, a commenter posted this brief dialogue from the movie Spartacus, between politicians:<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you had reservations about the gods.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cPrivately, I believe in none. Neither do you.
\nPublicly, I believe in them all.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our assessment of political discourse should be about issues, and their potential impact on human flourishing, the common good, and \"\"<\/a>justice, etc., not about how many times God\u2019s name is invoked or how many times \u201cScripture\u201d is mentioned or cited. We know that every word in every speech is carefully measured and judged, by multiple people, for its potential political impact. Our God-talk is a matter of the heart\u2013and only God knows how authentically\u2013and for what reasons\u2013we use it. So I guess I\u2019m enough of a skeptic to neither be overly anxious nor overly impressed by the use of it in public, political discourse.<\/p>\n

In sm, I\u2019m more comforted when politicians talk about the freedom of religion as a sacred, American right, than when they talk about \u201cGod.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m seeing a number of comparisons of the RNC and the DNC regarding the number of \u201cGod\u201d references, and references to \u201cScripture\u201d in speeches. Then there was that kurfuffle at the DNC about taking \u201cGod\u201d out of the party platform, then re-inserting the language after it was put to the convention floor. I think God […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1002,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy I Don't Tally the "God" References at Political Conventions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I'm seeing a number of comparisons of the RNC and the DNC regarding the number of "God" references, and references to "Scripture" in speeches. 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