Friday, August 24, 2007 at 12:12am
What wimps
Column: Interesting Times
The worst offender was Sen. Joe Biden, who said, "The answer to the gentleman's question is: No, all the prayer in the world will not stop a hurricane."
The question, from Seth Ford of South Jordan, Utah, and asked of all Democratic candidates for president attending last Sunday's debate hosted by George Stephanopoulos, was: "Can the power of prayer prevent or lessen disasters such as Hurricane Katrina?"
Biden's statement is tantamount to saying there is no God. Or, if there is One, so powerless and impotent and so not of the Bible or the Koran, then don't you wonder why wars are fought over Him/Her?
Sen. Clinton managed — without missing a beat — to not answer the question and turn the query to herself while trying to sound humble and accessible: "Well, I don't pretend to understand the wisdom and power of God. I do believe in prayer. And I have relied on prayer consistently throughout my life. You know, I like to say that, if I had not been a praying person before I got to the White House, after having been there for just a few days, I would've become one." Sorry, Hillary, but gag me with a spoon.
"Can the power of prayer prevent or lessen disasters such as Hurricane Katrina?"
"No," said John Edwards. "I prayed before my son died. ... Some things are beyond our control. And I think it is enormously important to look to God — and, in my case, Christ — for guidance and for wisdom. But I don't think you can prevent bad things from happening through prayer."
I am not unsympathetic to the loss of a son, as it is an experience I share with the Edwards, but how can this alleged Bible-reading candidate not be acquainted with Jesus silencing the hurricane — the wind and the waves?
"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke him, and said unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:37-41).
Gov. Bill Richardson answered: "I pray. I'm a Roman Catholic. My sense of social justice, I believe, comes from being a Roman Catholic. But, in my judgment, prayer is personal. And how I pray and how any American prays, for what reason, is their own decision." Well, Bill, I say, all very well and good, but that didn't answer the question, did it — though it may have gotten some of the "Roman Catholic vote"? Thank heavens, I am a registered Independent.
Barack Obama did and did not answer: "I believe in the power of prayer. And part of what I believe in is that, through prayer, not only can we strengthen ourselves in adversity, but that we can also find the empathy and the compassion and the will to deal with the problems that we do control."
Perhaps he is saying that God can control the wind and waves and provide safety? But then: "We may not have the power to prevent a hurricane, but we do have the power to make sure that the levees are properly reinforced and we've got a sound emergency plan." Oh, I guess we cannot emulate Jesus who said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).
Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate who referenced Scripture: "I come from a spiritual insight which says that we have to have faith but also have good works. So when we think of the scriptures, Isaiah making justice the measuring line; Matthew 25, "whatever you do for the least of our brethren"; where the biblical injunction "make peace with your brother" — all of these things relate to my philosophy." One might argue whether biblical injunctions are "philosophy"? Still no real answer to the question.
Sen. Mike Gravel had a no-contest answer: "What I believe in is love. And love implements courage." Who would disagree with Gravel that love is worth believing in and that love often gives courage? But what does that have to do with commanding the wind and waves to be still?
It may be noted, perhaps, that after Jesus stilled the waves and brought peace, he went to the land of the Gadarenes where he was not wanted, as is the case in most of Mark's gospel, and cast out demons.
With candidates like those last Sunday who didn't answer Mr. Ford's question, not only will there not be peace, there will remain the question that leaps to mind: What kind of God do these presidential wannabes actually believe in? Certainly not an All Powerful God, certainly not a Good God. Spare us all.
— — —
Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her book "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture" was just published. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Lynne Bundesen.
The question, from Seth Ford of South Jordan, Utah, and asked of all Democratic candidates for president attending last Sunday's debate hosted by George Stephanopoulos, was: "Can the power of prayer prevent or lessen disasters such as Hurricane Katrina?"
Biden's statement is tantamount to saying there is no God. Or, if there is One, so powerless and impotent and so not of the Bible or the Koran, then don't you wonder why wars are fought over Him/Her?
Sen. Clinton managed — without missing a beat — to not answer the question and turn the query to herself while trying to sound humble and accessible: "Well, I don't pretend to understand the wisdom and power of God. I do believe in prayer. And I have relied on prayer consistently throughout my life. You know, I like to say that, if I had not been a praying person before I got to the White House, after having been there for just a few days, I would've become one." Sorry, Hillary, but gag me with a spoon.
"Can the power of prayer prevent or lessen disasters such as Hurricane Katrina?"
"No," said John Edwards. "I prayed before my son died. ... Some things are beyond our control. And I think it is enormously important to look to God — and, in my case, Christ — for guidance and for wisdom. But I don't think you can prevent bad things from happening through prayer."
I am not unsympathetic to the loss of a son, as it is an experience I share with the Edwards, but how can this alleged Bible-reading candidate not be acquainted with Jesus silencing the hurricane — the wind and the waves?
"And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awoke him, and said unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:37-41).
Gov. Bill Richardson answered: "I pray. I'm a Roman Catholic. My sense of social justice, I believe, comes from being a Roman Catholic. But, in my judgment, prayer is personal. And how I pray and how any American prays, for what reason, is their own decision." Well, Bill, I say, all very well and good, but that didn't answer the question, did it — though it may have gotten some of the "Roman Catholic vote"? Thank heavens, I am a registered Independent.
Barack Obama did and did not answer: "I believe in the power of prayer. And part of what I believe in is that, through prayer, not only can we strengthen ourselves in adversity, but that we can also find the empathy and the compassion and the will to deal with the problems that we do control."
Perhaps he is saying that God can control the wind and waves and provide safety? But then: "We may not have the power to prevent a hurricane, but we do have the power to make sure that the levees are properly reinforced and we've got a sound emergency plan." Oh, I guess we cannot emulate Jesus who said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12).
Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate who referenced Scripture: "I come from a spiritual insight which says that we have to have faith but also have good works. So when we think of the scriptures, Isaiah making justice the measuring line; Matthew 25, "whatever you do for the least of our brethren"; where the biblical injunction "make peace with your brother" — all of these things relate to my philosophy." One might argue whether biblical injunctions are "philosophy"? Still no real answer to the question.
Sen. Mike Gravel had a no-contest answer: "What I believe in is love. And love implements courage." Who would disagree with Gravel that love is worth believing in and that love often gives courage? But what does that have to do with commanding the wind and waves to be still?
It may be noted, perhaps, that after Jesus stilled the waves and brought peace, he went to the land of the Gadarenes where he was not wanted, as is the case in most of Mark's gospel, and cast out demons.
With candidates like those last Sunday who didn't answer Mr. Ford's question, not only will there not be peace, there will remain the question that leaps to mind: What kind of God do these presidential wannabes actually believe in? Certainly not an All Powerful God, certainly not a Good God. Spare us all.
— — —
Lynne Bundesen is the author of five books on religion and was adjunct professor at the Boston Theological Institute under a Templeton Science and Religion Grant. She is currently the spiritual expert for the physical and spiritual health website of Dr. Andrew Weil. Her book "The Feminine Spirit: Recapturing the Heart of Scripture" was just published. Her email address is {email lynnebundesen@hotmail.com}lynnebundesen@hotmail.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Lynne Bundesen.