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McCain's pastor

spincrazy

spincrazy

I love to climb
Jul 19, 2001
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Brooklyn
McCain's Pastor Problem: The Video

In a taped sermon, the preacher McCain calls a "spiritual guide" calls on America to see the "false religion" of Islam "destroyed." Still, the candidate won't reject Rod Parsley's endorsement."

During a 2005 sermon, a fundamentalist pastor whom Senator John McCain has praised and campaigned with called Islam "the greatest religious enemy of our civilization and the world," claiming that the historic mission of America is to see "this false religion destroyed." In this taped sermon, currently sold by his megachurch, the Reverend Rod Parsley reiterates and amplifies harsh and derogatory comments about Islam he made in his book, Silent No More, published the same year he delivered these remarks. Meanwhile, McCain has stuck to his stance of not criticizing Parsley, an important political ally in a crucial swing state.

In March 2008—two weeks after McCain appeared with Parsley at a Cincinnati campaign rally, hailing him as "one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide"—Mother Jones reported that Parsley had urged Christians to wage a "war" to eradicate Islam in his 2005 book. McCain's campaign refused to respond to questions about Parsley, and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee declined to denounce Parsley's anti-Islam remarks or renounce his endorsement. At a time when Barack Obama was mired in a searing controversy involving Reverend Jeremiah Wright, McCain escaped any trouble for his political alliance with Parsley, who leads the World Harvest Church, a supersized Pentecostal institution in Columbus, Ohio. Parsley, whose sermons are broadcast around the world, has been credited with helping George W. Bush win Ohio in 2004 by registering social conservatives and encouraging them to vote. McCain certainly would like to see Parsley do the same for him—which could explain his reluctance to do any harm to his relationship with this anti-Islam extremist.

Here's a video—produced by Mother Jones and Brave New films—highlighting Parsley's remarks and McCain's praise of the pastor:


In the 2005 sermon, Parsley repeatedly blasts Islam. "It is not a God of love that is presented to those of the Islamic faith," he tells his parishioners. He notes that 9/11 was not "anything new," describing the terrorist attack as merely the latest battle in "a war between Islam and Christian civilization...raging for centuries." Speaking from the pulpit, and wiping sweat from his brow, Parsley exclaims,

I can't begin to tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam. That we see it for what it really is. In fact...I do not believe that our nation can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam…I know that this statement sounds extreme. But I am not shrinking back from its implications. The fact is that...America was founded in part with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed. And I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we no longer can afford to ignore.
Parsley approvingly quotes Christian theologian Jonathan Edwards' reference to Islam as "Satan's Mohammedan kingdom." He points out that the United States' first war—the battle against the Barbary Coast pirates—was "waged against Muslim pirates who took our people captive because they believed in a Jesus crucified by the Jews." (With that one statement, Parsley slams both Islam and Judaism.) He repeatedly refers to the United States' "historic conflict with Islam," and adds, "We have no choice. The time has come. In fact, we may be already losing the battle. As I scan the world, I find that Islam at this moment is responsible for more pain, more bloodshed, more devastation than nearly any other force on Earth."

With the crowd in the pews listening intently, Parsley continues to denigrate Islam, claiming that the religion itself was responsible for 9/11 and that hostility and violence is "the spirit that has come to fill Islam or perhaps that Islam encompassed from the very beginning." He tries to frighten his followers:

This is about to freak you out...Since September 11, 2001, 34,000 Americans have become Muslims...This means that thousands of Americans have embraced the very religion that inspired the worst assault upon their nation in a generation. Did you know that there are some 1,209 mosques in America? Twenty-five percent of which have been built since 1994. Did you know that there are nearly a billion and a half Muslims in the world...But how would you know it? After all, it's not in People magazine.
According to Parsley, there's no coexisitng with Muslims. He tells the tale of a Christian man who once dared to sell land to a mosque rather than to a church—an ominous sign that Christianity is losing the struggle against Islam. "You need to understand today" who was responsible for 9/11, Parsley nearly shouts. "Muslim Islamic fundamentalists and extremists are what did that, and your government and politicians and preachers want you to snuggle up next door to them and allow them to build a mosque next door to your church, while you sing hallelujah."

The preacher paints a dark picture:

Islam is growing rapidly and is becoming more violent. America has historically understood herself to be a bastion against Islam in the world…History is crashing in upon us...Americans need to wake up...We can tell you...Britney Spears' lyrics to her latest CD. But we don't know anything about other religions...'We ought to just all get along'...'We shouldn't say anything about other faiths.' Excuse me. Excuse me. The fact is that Americans are woefully ignorant of other faiths. This is not only tragic. But when it comes to Islam, now the greatest religious enemy of our civilization and the world, it's dangerous.
The problem, Parsley insists, is not radical Muslims who have hijacked a faith, but the religion itself:

I must state three important truths...No. 1, the God of Christianity and the God of Islam are two separate beings...Mr. Bush, I support you. You need to stop saying that the God of Islam and the God of Christianity are the same God...No. 2, Muhammad received revelations from demon spirits, not from the living God. No. 3, Islam is an anti-Christ religion that intends, through violence, to conquer the world. Did you get those three truths?
In a long riff, Parsley maintains that Muhammad was tricked by a demon into believing that he had heard the word of God. Thus, he asserts, the entire religion of Islam is based upon a satanic deception: "Muhammad was tragically beset by a demon which he mistook for the living God. He thus became a mouthpiece of a conspiracy of spiritual evil...There are so few who will talk about [this]."

But Parsley is willing. And he also readily offered McCain his endorsement during that February 26, 2008, campaign rally in Cincinnati. At the event, McCain extolled Parsley for his "leadership" and "guidance." Since then, McCain aides have said that the senator's acceptance of Parsley's endorsement was not an endorsement of Parsley's views. And they have dismissed any comparison between Reverend Wright and Reverend Parsley, noting that McCain has never attended a service conducted by Parsley. But imagine if Barack Obama had campaigned with an imam who had called for destroying Christianity. A media and political uproar would ensue—with wide-ranging calls for Obama to condemn the imam.

McCain has also refused to reject the endorsement he received from the Reverend John Hagee, a Texas-based televangelist who referred to the Catholic Church as "the great whore" and a "false cult system" and who called Hurricane Katrina retribution from God for the sins of New Orleans' homosexual residents. But Parsley may be the more politically crucial pastor for McCain. McCain probably cannot win Ohio in November without the support of large numbers of social conservative voters. In 2004, Parsley, whose megachurch boasts thousands of members, led so-called values voters to the polls, where they helped propel George W. Bush to victory over John Kerry. If McCain were to repudiate Parsley, he would risk losing Parsley as a surrogate and, perhaps worse, alienate his flock. So McCain has ducked, keeping quiet about an anti-Islam extremist who repeatedly proclaims in sermons, "I will be silent no more."

David Corn is Mother Jones' Washington, D.C. bureau chief.
 
moff_quigley

moff_quigley

Why don't you have a seat over there?
Jan 27, 2005
4,402
2
Poseurville
spincrazy said:
Separation of church and state should mandate that a president or candidate be atheist or agnostic. How many thousands of years more do we need of this ignorance and intolerance?
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Are you proposing we (royal we = USA) adopt a new Constitutional Amendment seeing how "separation of church and state" is a Court term and not actually mandated by any part of the Constitution?

As an aside, Parsely (and most preachers you see on TV) is a retard.
 
spincrazy

spincrazy

I love to climb
Jul 19, 2001
1,529
0
Brooklyn
moff_quigley said:
Are you proposing we (royal we = USA) adopt a new Constitutional Amendment seeing how "separation of church and state" is a Court term and not actually mandated by any part of the Constitution?

As an aside, Parsely (and most preachers you see on TV) is a retard.
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Yes please.

TV preacher or not, he's McCain's.. and the shoe fits ("Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran!!")

an aside: Both Hillary and McCain have shown a dangerously cavalier attitude towards the option of a nuclear strike against Iran. McCain would do it because of his religion and just to get the old blood pumpin into war again and Hillary would do it for pure meanness, pride, ignorance and political gain.
 
JohnE

JohnE

filthy rascist
May 13, 2005
13,563
2,210
Front Range, dude...
spincrazy said:
Separation of church and state should mandate that a president or candidate be atheist or agnostic. How many thousands of years more do we need of this ignorance and intolerance?
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Never work. You cant put limits on a candidates faith any more then he can put limits on yours. HOWEVER...it should not be allowed to influence governmental policy or position in any way.
Why not just a man of quiet, confident faith who prays (Or doesnt...) in private and wants to do good things for the country as a whole, and in turn benefit the world at large. And has no agenda of religious zealotry or power base of trailer park dwelling war and hate mongering morons?

Ron Paul is looking pretty damn good...
 
J

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
JohnE said:
Why not just a man of quiet, confident faith who prays (Or doesnt...) in private and wants to do good things for the country as a whole, and in turn benefit the world at large. And has no agenda of religious zealotry or power base of trailer park dwelling war and hate mongering morons?
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Damn that sounds good.
Exactly, just keep religion out of it all. I don't care if you pray or not. STFU and just try and do good.
 
J

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
$tinkle said:
it would be easier & more practical for ron paul to dismantle the irs
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easier yes, practical, i don't know. At this point in my life I would rather pay taxes than have some randon fella telling me to believe in....... oh oh wait a minute, I started to talk about it, glad I caught myself.
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
jasride said:
At this point in my life I would rather pay taxes than have some randon fella telling me to believe in....... oh oh wait a minute, I started to talk about it, glad I caught myself.
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so when some people prefer homosexuals keep their chosen expression of their lifestyles to themselves, they are called bigots.

what would you be called?
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
$tinkle said:
so when some people prefer homosexuals keep their chosen expression of their lifestyles to themselves, they are called bigots.

what would you be called?
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Get back to me when we stop letting evangelicals marry because they have higher rates of divorce and are likely to be found high on meth sucking cock in an alley somewhere...
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
Silver said:
Get back to me when we stop letting evangelicals marry because they have higher rates of divorce and are likely to be found high on meth sucking cock in an alley somewhere...
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divorce rates are statistically indistinguishable, but marriage rates are far higher for us. marriage means little to you lot from the jump, whereas we're slow learners. from this a case can be made for arranged marriages quite seriously.

as far as that other thing: if we're so prone to slurp up cocks of the varieties glass & actual, it wouldn't be news when it happens.
 
J

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
$tinkle said:
so when some people prefer homosexuals keep their chosen expression of their lifestyles to themselves, they are called bigots.

what would you be called?
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I guess a bigot, In the sense of religion. I just liked what JohnE said. "Why not a man of quiet, confident faith who prays (Or doesnt...)".You don't have to tell and express to me what God you believe in. If he or it's out there I'm sure they know what your doing with your life, you don't have to tell me what to do and think just because YOU think it's good for YOU in your Gods eyes. This is just a perspective I see in my eyes, I know it doesn't pertain to everybody.
 
$tinkle

$tinkle

Expert on blowing
Feb 12, 2003
14,591
6
the only people who come to mind who fit this description are either ben franklin or george washington, but upon closer inspection we find their behavior was on par with society in those days, which was a great deal more religious than today, and their religious points of view were therefore barely noticed.

anybody you can think of who expresses many things, but not a religious point of view? and how practical would that be in this country bristling w/ rabid jebus freaks?
 
Silver

Silver

find me a tampon
Jul 20, 2002
10,840
1
Orange County, CA
$tinkle said:
divorce rates are statistically indistinguishable, but marriage rates are far higher for us. marriage means little to you lot from the jump, whereas we're slow learners. from this a case can be made for arranged marriages quite seriously.

as far as that other thing: if we're so prone to slurp up cocks of the varieties glass & actual, it wouldn't be news when it happens.
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I'm still married to my first wife.

You?
 
J

jasride

Turbo Monkey
Sep 23, 2006
1,069
5
PA
$tinkle said:
t

anybody you can think of who expresses many things, but not a religious point of view? and how practical would that be in this country bristling w/ rabid jebus freaks?
Click to expand...

You're right, it'll never stay behind closed doors. I guess I'll just keep my walkman on.
 
spincrazy

spincrazy

I love to climb
Jul 19, 2001
1,529
0
Brooklyn
$tinkle said:
the only people who come to mind who fit this description are either ben franklin or george washington, but upon closer inspection we find their behavior was on par with society in those days, which was a great deal more religious than today, and their religious points of view were therefore barely noticed.

anybody you can think of who expresses many things, but not a religious point of view? and how practical would that be in this country bristling w/ rabid jebus freaks?
Click to expand...
More than Ben or George (Deists)

"These beliefs were forcefully articulated by Thomas Paine in Age of Reason, a book that so outraged his contemporaries that he died rejected and despised by the nation that had once revered him as "the father of the American Revolution." To this day, many mistakenly consider him an atheist, even though he was an out spoken defender of the Deistic view of God. Other important founding fathers who espoused Deism were George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Ethan Allen, James Madison, and James Monroe."

http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/farrell_till/myth.html
 
J

JRogers

talks too much
Mar 19, 2002
3,785
1
Claremont, CA
spincrazy said:
Just what we need (again) in this administration, more religious zealots.

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/05/john-mccain-rod-parsley-pastor-problem.html

lovely video.

Separation of church and state should mandate that a president or candidate be atheist or agnostic. How many thousands of years more do we need of this ignorance and intolerance?
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Requiring that would, I think, violate any principles we have of separation of church and state- the government starts screening on a religious basis? Seriously?

Don't confuse religious people with religious nuts. They are not the same thing, despite what Silver tells you.
 
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