Kansas governor criticized for speaking at religious event

[proud2BlibKansan]

TOPEKA -- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback spoke at a weekend religious event in Topeka, drawing criticism from a group that promotes the separation of church and state.

Several hundred people attended the ReignDown USA event Saturday. Organizers say the event was broadcast to about 25 million people via television and the Internet, and that no public funds were used for the event.

Brownback talked for about 10 minutes and said he turned to religion in 1995 when was diagnosed with cancer. He ended his time on stage praying for forgiveness of his sins and for the sins of others.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State said in a release that Brownback was elected to serve as governor of Kansas, “not our state pastor-in-chief.”

Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/09/3957407/kansas-governor-criticized-for.html#storylink=cpy

[codemoguy]

1. It may a mistake to put this as a first post, but this is over-reacting...

Getting elected to office does not mean you have to stop practicing your personal religion. From the article there was no public money involved, and he spoke of his personal situation.

I don't remember complaints when Jimmy Carter taught a Sunday School class while president.

[hrmjustin]

4. It is your opinion. Welcome to DU, and I hope you enjoy the site.

[etherealtruth]

6. I agree with you

I agree with the "meat" of your first post: Getting elected to office does not mean you have to stop practicing your personal religion. From the article there was no public money involved, and he spoke of his personal situation.

And

I agree this may be a mistake as a first post (I hope not)

Welcome to DU

[niyad]

7. welcome to DU

[dballance]

8. I don't think it's a mistake

Last edited Sun Dec 9, 2012, 07:30 PM - Edit history (1)

I think you'll find most people here at DU have a pretty open mind and are willing to admit it when a politician or organization on the "left" has made a mistake. That's one of the key things that differentiates us from people at Free Republic and most of the GOP base. Although Newt, of all people, has been brutally honest lately and making some sense.

You might get some flames but I support your opinion. See my post - #2.

[codemoguy]

9. thank for the welcomes...eom

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Well, this is Brownback. He has a history.

He believes marriage is the answer to poverty and prayer is the best thing we can do for the disabled.

I understand your point but Brownback has been pushing it for 2 years now.

[codemoguy]

13. Should also keep in mind that

Democratic politicians constantly speak in Black churches, in explicitly religious ways.

[dballance]

2. I'm all for separation of church and state BUT

I don't find it offensive at all that the governor spoke at this event. It was obviously not a state-sponsored event with a lot of religion thrown in. I think he has every right to speak at this type of event and feel most people would be able to understand that while, yes, he is probably the most politically influential person in their state he was speaking from the standpoint of a well-known private citizen and not necessarily as the governor endorsing religion.

I generally support the Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the great work they do but in my opinion they erred on this one. I'd have to go with the religious people on this and support the thought that just because you get elected to public office it does not mean you have to check your religion at the door.

Just for background, I'm an atheist but since I fully support our Constitution I support the right of people to be religious.

[arcane1]

3. Agreed, on all counts n/t

[hfojvt]

5. he does not say WHICH religion he turned to

From his actions, it would appear to be Satanism.

Note what his religion is about - himself. Saving Sam Brownback from cancer.

So he can continue to serve the lord.

By passing tax polcies that take from the poor to give to the rich.

Praying for the forgiveness of your sins is not considered acceptable if you have no intention to stop doing those sins.

Ezekiel 33: 11 "''As I live,' says the Lord God. 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!'"

Otherwise Mark 7: 6 "'This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.'"

Don't wave your faith in my face and pretend to be a servant of God, when you are clearly really serving mammon.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. +1

[CrazyOrangeCat]

15. Well said. Sam is a nasty hypocrite.

[jwirr]

10. This issue is especially relevant in this instance. ReignDownUSA is most certainly referring to

churches reigning in the USA. I am not any more for this than my immigrant ancestors from Germany were when they came here in the 1850s. They were running from just this kind of idea.

[dballance]

14. Could you expand on that a bit please?

I think you're absolutely right about churches wanting to reign in the US. They do want to reign.

They did at first when the Pilgrims settled here. In fact, some churches in the colonies held such sway over their communities they were prone to torture and execute people of what were just different Christian sects. Not a pretty time for our country. Right up there with the Salem Witch Trials and slavery as HUGE black marks on us.

So I'm not surprised that an organization that wants to take the position of "reigning" again. Of course I don't support that at all. I do, however, support the governor's right to hold those beliefs and speak at their convention. That is, in my opinion, one of the purposes of the First Amendment. No matter how stupid belief in a Messiah 2,000 years ago only written about at least a hundred years after he supposedly lived is. Don't forget we bullshit our kids with the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and Santa Claus.

Yes, I believe those of us in the reality-based community should continue to fight them when they try to get legislation enacted. They'll never stop because they "know for a fact" that God and Jesus are leading them.

[jwirr]

16. These groups have been here all the time but they were smaller sects and did not try to change

because to them the time was not right - that is the end time. What I call the mainstream churches were the Christian influence then and believed in the separation of church and state. Many of the mainstream churches still exist and do not try to take over the government. The first amendment does not allow for the subversive overthrow of our government. It does allow us to talk about it though.

[dballance]

17. Totally Agree With You

One of the reasons I'm afraid these days is those formerly fringe groups are taking over through hijacking state, local, and federal government through elections (see Tea Party). Then the extremist politicians are appointing extremist judges who ignore the constitution and state constitutions and laws and rule in favor of those organizations. Sure, they often write in their rulings it's because of some technical reason and avoid discussing the merits of the arguments from both sides. But the effect is still the same. Those whacko religious people are gaining ground.

As I said in my earlier post. We need to continue to fight them. Fight them at every turn because you are right. They are subversively trying to overthrow our government. Doing so from within and not with a full frontal assault.