“I've remarked to a number of friends lately that there seem to be three main kinds of religious people in the world. First, there are the fearsome -- those who like to make others afraid. Second, there are the fearless -- those who refuse to be intimidated by the fearsome. Then in the middle are the fearful -- those who are afraid to associate with the fearless because they might incur the ire of the fearsome.”
--Brian McLaren, “God’s Politics Blog”
George W. Bush’ criticism of Barack Obama before the Israeli parliament brought Brian McLaren’s quote to mind. In our president’s book, there are only two kinds of people: “good and evil.” In the Bible, Christ reserved the term “evil” only for the devil, the term “good” only for God. People were neither perfect nor irredeemable.
Speaking in front of the pro-Israel AIPAC, Sen. John McCain criticized Obama for offering to negotiate with anti-Semitic leaders like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Israel is currently negotiating with the equally anti-Semitic Syria and Hamas, talks brokered by Turkey and Egypt, respectively.
In McLaren’s model, I’d classify men like President Bush as fearsome. “You’re either with us or you’re with the terrorists” is the rhetoric of a bully.
Fearfulness describes a lot of Americans these days. One study found the rate of heart attacks and strokes has spiked since 9/11. Americans are literally dying of fear.
Obama exemplifies the fearless. The fearsome portray Obama as an “appeaser. “ They know how easy it is to intimidate the fearful.
In his 23rd Psalm, David wrote, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemy.” Unlike President Bush, God’s chosen king didn’t refuse to negotiate with his enemies.
How odd that Bush and McCain denigrated Obama in front of the Israeli government and lobbyists for the courage exemplified by that nation’s greatest leader!
I have one dispute with McLaren’s premise: a psychiatrist told me that in men anxiety often presents as anger. The fearsome are actually the fearful.
There truly are two kinds of people. Not good and evil, but fearful and fearless.
--Brian McLaren, “God’s Politics Blog”
George W. Bush’ criticism of Barack Obama before the Israeli parliament brought Brian McLaren’s quote to mind. In our president’s book, there are only two kinds of people: “good and evil.” In the Bible, Christ reserved the term “evil” only for the devil, the term “good” only for God. People were neither perfect nor irredeemable.
Speaking in front of the pro-Israel AIPAC, Sen. John McCain criticized Obama for offering to negotiate with anti-Semitic leaders like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Israel is currently negotiating with the equally anti-Semitic Syria and Hamas, talks brokered by Turkey and Egypt, respectively.
In McLaren’s model, I’d classify men like President Bush as fearsome. “You’re either with us or you’re with the terrorists” is the rhetoric of a bully.
Fearfulness describes a lot of Americans these days. One study found the rate of heart attacks and strokes has spiked since 9/11. Americans are literally dying of fear.
Obama exemplifies the fearless. The fearsome portray Obama as an “appeaser. “ They know how easy it is to intimidate the fearful.
In his 23rd Psalm, David wrote, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemy.” Unlike President Bush, God’s chosen king didn’t refuse to negotiate with his enemies.
How odd that Bush and McCain denigrated Obama in front of the Israeli government and lobbyists for the courage exemplified by that nation’s greatest leader!
I have one dispute with McLaren’s premise: a psychiatrist told me that in men anxiety often presents as anger. The fearsome are actually the fearful.
There truly are two kinds of people. Not good and evil, but fearful and fearless.
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