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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 07/14/2010 : 23:30:55
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US immigration reform itself is a serious and complex issue over which fair-minded and decent people (not even to mention the extremists) may disagree sharply. But the tone in Congress on the issue is not only highly sectarian, it avoids the real issues and possible pitfalls in favor of debating essentially over which Biblical passages should be cherry-picked and implemented as law, and which should be ignored.
[Groan.]
If there was ever a kind of debate that should never have taken place in a Constitutionally religion-neutral nation, it is this atrocity:Congress debates biblical stance on immigration
Congress tackled the role of religion and ethics in the politically explosive immigration debate Wednesday as biblical passages and church doctrines were invoked during a heated discussion of various reform proposals.
The argument exposed a sharp philosophical divide on an issue that has taken center stage in the wake of Arizona's passage of a controversial law designed to crack down on illegal immigration.
"We are so far apart philosophically," one Democratic congresswoman said, that it's hard to see how a middle ground can be found.
The debate occurred during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing featuring Richard Land, a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention; Bishop Gerald Kicanas from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Mathew Staver, dean of the Liberty University law school; and James Edwards Jr., a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
Edited by - HalfMooner on 07/15/2010 01:27:26
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 04:34:12 [Permalink]
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| I must have missed something: the only people bringing up the Bible in the quotes in that article were identified as "uphold the law" Republicans. The pro-reform people quoted, even though religious, say that the current situation is immoral, but don't quote the Bible. So how is this a theological debate? |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 04:51:01 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dave W.
I must have missed something: the only people bringing up the Bible in the quotes in that article were identified as "uphold the law" Republicans. The pro-reform people quoted, even though religious, say that the current situation is immoral, but don't quote the Bible. So how is this a theological debate? |
Spoil-sport.
Actually, what you mentioned seems to me to be mainly a product of the Bible being on the whole a right-wing document. The moderates and lefties simply could not quote chapter and verse in support of their positions, so went for the broader "moral" message of their religions. It's simply not the debate we need. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 07/15/2010 : 14:29:04 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by HalfMooner
Actually, what you mentioned seems to me to be mainly a product of the Bible being on the whole a right-wing document. The moderates and lefties simply could not quote chapter and verse in support of their positions, so went for the broader "moral" message of their religions. |
Well, I wouldn't call the bishop of the Catholic archdiocese in Tucson, Arizona, a "moderate" or a "leftie." I'm sure he could quote Bible verses that might tangentially have something to do with immigration. And Richard Land, "a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention," sounds downright sane near the end of the piece.| It's simply not the debate we need. |
As far as I'm concerned, the Bible should never be a part of any debate we need. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Congress debates THEOLOGY of immigration reform
