The 'God' of the Democrats and the Democratic Convention

By Andrew M. Greenwell, Esq.
9/9/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

This God wants these 'waiting to be born' to be 'welcomed and protected.' This God is the founder of marriage, that institution given by God 'for the nurturing of life and community.'

The God Whom Cardinal Dolan invoked was the God "of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son Jesus Christ." This God has provided us with "inalienable rights," which include "the gift of life," including "those waiting to be born." The "God" of politics is nothing less than the "God" that is derived from the cult of the State, the worship of power.

But all that glisters is not gold, wrote the bard. Likewise, a document that says 'God' does not necessarily mean the God.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - There has been a lot of brouhaha surrounding the 2012 Democratic Party platform and the removal of any reference to God from it. Following the politically-embarrassing revelation in the media, and the clear hay the Republicans were making from it, the Democrat leadership engaged in damage control.

The effort was, like most democratic things, a little messy. After Ted Strickland (OH) moved to change the platform language, there came the embarrassing vote on the floor, and the forced and plainly heavy-handed tactics of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who was chairing the convention.

The vote to change the platform was thrice put to a voice vote, and three times to any objective observer there was a more-or-less even call of "Ayes" and "Nos."

A two thirds majority of "Ayes" was required for the platform to be amended, and--when it was apparent that it was not forthcoming--Villaraigosa exclaimed that, in the "opinion of the chair," two thirds had voted "Aye," and the motion carried.

Whether Villaraigosa's defective hearing was the result of deafness or was result-driven, only he knows; but were I a betting man, I would say it was plainly the latter.

There were audible boos, cat-calls, and groans from the crowd. Whether these were because of the amendment itself or the way the amendment was undemocratically foisted upon the Democratic convention, it is hard to tell. Whether the complaints were more of Jerusalem being declared the capital of Israel or human potential being declared "God-given," it is hard also to tell. Probably, what we witnessed was a combination of all these things.

But as one might expect, the Republicans interpreted the booing as evidence of Democratic apostasy so they could capitalize on it. If this be apostasy, I imagine they are thinking, make the most of it.

For the Democrats, the whole display was sort of like wiping egg off your face by putting more egg on your face.

In any event, now we know--through the tendentious fiat of the chair Antonio Villaraigosa that there was a two-thirds majority among the Democratic delegates at the Time Warner Cable Arena who voted for it--that the Democrats believe that our "potential" is not our own, but "God-given."

The "God" of the Democrats had to be foisted upon them.

But all that glisters is not gold, wrote the bard. Likewise, a document that says "God" does not necessarily mean the God.

In a number of his writings before becoming pope, Pope Benedict XVI distinguished between three fundamental notions of God that are based upon three different approaches to theology: political, mystical, and natural. Depending upon whether our approach to theology is political, mystical, or natural, we will find ourselves with three different understandings of God.

The first two approaches rely on the social structures of men, either political structures or cultural structures, to learn of God or to understand God. The last seeks to discover God by understanding his nature, his essence.

There is therefore the God of politics. There is the God of "mysticism." And there is the God of nature or the God of philosophy.

The "God" of politics is nothing less than the "God" that is derived from the cult of the State, the worship of power. Some people, unfortunately a great many more than we would like to think, find "God" in power. The great prophets of this "God" are Hobbes and Marx and Nietzsche and even the mild-mannered Rawls. Some of the great worshipers of this "God" of politics include Hitler, Stalin, and Mao, but there are a great number of worshipers of this God that seem (and only seem) to be of liberal, gentle manner as Leo Strauss observed in his Natural Right and History.

The "God" of mysticism is perhaps more innocuous and less bloody than the "God" of politics. The "God" of mysticism identifies self with God. It does not see God as a Person that stands, and always will stand, wholly "other" from us. This view sees "God" not as Creator; rather, it tends to see creation and "God" as one. The "stuff" wherein this "God" is found is in the ebb and flow of human experience, in myths we construct, even if it be the "myth" of pure reason. Humans are the ones who seek and "find" this mystical "God" in the things of man. This God is the invention of men.

This view of "God" comes to us in different forms--deism, pantheism, panentheism. In Eastern forms--Hinduism, Buddhism, and the like--this view of "God" ultimately results either in us being this "God," or in becoming this "God," almost always through a sort of cycle of rebirths. In Enlightenment forms, this "God" is viewed as being some sort of ...

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1 - 10 of 49 Comments

Theresa H.
7 months ago
Judy Claar, the quote you paraphrased is from 2 Thess 3:10 : "If any one will not work, let him not eat." Obama wants to take care of us, provide for all our needs. (Of course, he will need even more money [= taxes] to do this.) He is THE "Czar" of the "czars" that he has appointed..... Considering all he has done, that has come to light in his first term, I have no doubt that if he gets back in--with four more years we will not recognize the USA, and our Founding Principles (that even Pope's have lauded) will be "history." What we will become--I dare not say; but I suspect that it will wake up many who are currently mesmerized by Obama's "charm." As for Romney, he believes that allowing the private sector to grow without excessive regulation will help the private sector to create jobs and bring back a viable, even flourishing economy. On the other hand, when the government absorbs/runs the private sector, the government becomes the controller of all: we call this a Socialist or Collectivist State. "The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to all forms of Collectivism." cf: CCC 1885 (For those interested, also see CCC: all of Part Three, Chapter Two. Also see: "The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church,")
Judy Claar
8 months ago
PS. Theresa H., Naturally, those who are incapable of employment, I would not expect to work. That is only legitimate reasoning. Just wanted to Clarify. Blessings...
Judy Claar
8 months ago
Theresa H., I totally agree w/all of your post. I feel the same way as well. And it is very very sad. In the meantime, all we can do is pray, pray, pray. Read holy books to strengthen our own souls and better prepare us with encountering others. Bible studies, seminars, and retreats are good too. Not to mention Mass and the Holy Eucharist.

As much as we would like others to See, or Hear, there comes a time, as I have learned, and (already knew it), but because they were friends, my feelings and emotions became terribly entangled and got the better of me. Taking a Few steps back, a Few days Contemplating, and Rob reminding me of my and JoAnn's great wisdom! I arrived at the answer that I have shared.

Our friends will always be our friends, regardless. We just See and Hear, and pray a little more. The Nation? I cannot say that I have not had the same thoughts as your friend. But The Right To Life takes precedence over the Culture of Death. Nor am I in favor of redistribution. Reading the Gospels, I do not think Our Lord would be either. Surely we must take care of the poor, but do it so that they will feel good about themselves and have some self-esteem. Like helping them learn a trade. Then they will be working with self-satisfaction putting food on the table for their family instead of forever taking Hand-Outs. I remember, it says somewhere in the Bible, "Those who don't work don't eat". Does anyone know who said it? And I think this, plus the Work Ethic, will always equal self-esteem. There is a saying, (do not quote me), "That idle hands are the keys to the Devil's workshop". Now this, presents an entire new topic, but is really I think, a good representation for our topic...Not to mention problems in the US and around the world.

Yes Theresa, our country that we knew, is fading fast. RR Ticket! Blessings...
Judy Claar
8 months ago
Rob, Thank you for my words of wisdom. I know it. It is just sometimes harder than others, as you know. Especially when they are friends. I have always managed pretty well w/the Grace of God. But this time was a bit different. I guess because more adrenaline seemed to be pumping on the topics of both politics And religion. WOW! Now I view it as a growing Experience. Yes, JoAnn and I, and some other oldsters are still growing. As a matter of fact, if it be the Lord's Will, I plan to Grow until death...or, as the early Church members would say: "Have fallen asleep".

I also concluded, that I need more studies on Myth, Mystics, Church-Tradition. I have taken a few classes of Mythology in college, read some books on Mystics, think I know Church-Tradition, but evidently I need more reading , and/or to see a priest. That article just jingled a few bells in my brain, and I seem to have a piece of the puzzle/s missing. Or a fragment if you will.

I ordered my mom a magnet that says: "I AM STILL LEARNING"...by Michelangelo. She says she is ready to go "Home". She will be 84. I ordered her that, particularly because she said that.

Thanks for the post! Blessings Always....
vance
8 months ago
KarlVDH, I'm still waiting for your suggestion on who we should vote for. Obama?? Gee, how did I guess.
Theresa H
8 months ago
Lately, I have had more-or-less frequent conversations with a Catholic who considers herself an "educated" person; she told me recently that she doesn't listen to the news any more. She says she may or may not vote--if not for an Independent. She has all kinds of reasons for not wanting Romney... (Seems to me there is more to it than she says; that she will really vote for Obama.) I have to agree with Rob, Judy and others: "Sometimes you just have to move on." Yet I greatly fear for our country, if we have 4 more years of this President. The list of anti-American things he and his cohorts have both said and done is long--and in a second term, I do believe he will take us further than we can imagine along the road of "fundamentally transform(ing)" our country. But perhaps it is what we deserve; so far have we/our culture moved down the road of a godless generation. (Pope Benedict has some alarming things to say in this regard....) May God have mercy on us and deliver us!
Rob
8 months ago
Judy, don't be discouraged when talking to those who do not believe. As both you and JoAnn have said mulitple times, sometimes you just have to shake the dust from your sandals and move on. Even God does not force people to know him and love him. If they choose to build their lives on only the things of this earth, then they will reap the fruit of that decision. Pray for them, but there comes a time when you have to just leave them to God.

God want's all his children with him, but he won't force anyone, we can't either.
Judy Claar
8 months ago
Hi Chris, I am sorry that you also have experienced what I encountered. I am glad that your strategy works for you, leaving "them", with food for thought. And I am sure, depending to whom you are speaking, this approach works wonderfully!

However Chris, in my case, swimming with the particular species of sharks I was with, your thoughtful strategy sadly would not have worked. Simply because, they do not believe in God. They do not believe in the Ten Commandments. Any suggestions?

I do so appreciate your post to me, and your sharing. Blessings in Christ...
Judy Claar
8 months ago
Rob, Thank you very much for spending the time on snopes, researching where exactly, these articles came from. I go to snopes for a few things myself. It is important for one to know exactly who and where sources come. I do know what you mean about e-letters being passed around. I'm glad you did not "blast" your friend! but rather, decided on a calm Christian friendly way to handle it. That's good! After all, you said you did get a good chuckle out of it!

On matters of Evangilization: Please read my post to Andrew M. Greenwell Esq.
I thought I could converse on my own, with atheists, the so called Intellectuals, which includes, Catholics who "became too smart to follow the herd". WOW! Was I in for an awakening! I guess that is why the the Morman's go in pairs?! Today is the day after I wrote that post. I was disappointed not to receive an answer ...but, after all, it is the week-end. And, I Was Glad To See Your Letter To Me! So, all in all my brother, a good day. A new day.
But I still feel the aftershock. Know what I mean Rob? Sunday Blessings....
Chris
8 months ago
Judy: I've been attacked by these same intellectual "know-it-alls" along the way. The best argument I have every come up with is this:

I never heard an argument for abortion or the death penalty that I didn't half agree with politically. The people who wind up on death row are the last people on my Sympathy List as I pray for those who need help. However, I do believe God gave us the 10 Commandments, and I believe when he said "Thou shalt not kill", he meant it. In spite of all of the compelling arguments that can be made for abortion or the death sentence, I still believe in my heart of hearts that God has told us not to do that to each other.

I have found that usually shuts them up, ends the discussion without a fight, and also gives them a little fruit for thought.

P.S. I have also found that their "family religion" is usually some form of anti-established religion, anti-Christianity, ant-Catholicism or Agnosticism or Athiesm. At the end of the day, they are just pushing their religions on the rest of us, with not much tolerance, by the way.

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