Cory Booker could be a candidate for the 'religious left'

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Questions about religion can paralyze some politicians, but not Cory Booker.
If anything, the topic seems to relax him. …

“When I get up in the morning, I meditate,” the New Jersey Democrat said, a practice he has often linked to his spiritual health. He paused for a moment, then quickly corrected himself: “Actually, I pray on my knees, and then I meditate.”

Booker’s comfort with his faith is unusual for Democrats in Washington, but it’s standard fare for the 49-year-old former mayor of Newark and has even become a mainstay of his blossoming political persona: Even the hyperbole-averse Associated Press recently compared him to an “evangelical minister” after Booker addressed a group of Democrats in Iowa.

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2018/10/24/cory-booker-fashions-himself-as-a-candidate-for-the-religious-left/

For much of the US corporate media, the words "religious left" rarely appear. The prevailing myth is that religious people are mainly conservative. And yet the message of Jesus is anything but conservative, anything but supportive of supply side economic theory.

[msongs]

1. no thanks, not interested in a religionist of any persuasion nt

[guillaumeb]

2. Intolerance?

Interesting response. President Obama and Hillary Clinton are also "religionists".

[trotsky]

9. Respect for freedom of religion.

There should be no religious litmus test for Democrats to support them, as you are insisting.

[guillaumeb]

11. And where did I insist what you claim?

You certainly have a unique way of interpreting what you read.

[trotsky]

15. Why does your religion have to be shoved on everyone?

The nones are now the largest "religious" voting bloc in the country. Do you want to attract or repel them?

[guillaumeb]

16. Again, a very interesting viewpoint on your part.

And this group is an open group. If you prefer a different DU experience, you might look at the group reserved for non-theists.

[trotsky]

17. AHA!

TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE, G-MAN!!!!

[guillaumeb]

28. One might say much the same to you.

And with more relevance.

[trotsky]

39. Ah yes, it's always others to blame.

Never yourself.

How Christian.

[guillaumeb]

41. Self knowledge is a good thing.

But it takes work.

[MineralMan]

35. What religion is that, anyhow?

It never gets defined. Guy won't even tell us what he believes, so I have no idea what religion he's talking about, really. Clearly, though, it is superior to all others. Or something.

[qazplm135]

43. I mean

every candidate is going to be religious this next time around.

[edhopper]

3. The election of Trump shows us

religious voters don't care about how religious their candidate is, only that they will push there extreme agenda.

[guillaumeb]

4. Yes, some religious voters are like that. eom

[edhopper]

5. the polls show

it's the majority of religious voters.

[marylandblue]

6. Most American politicians claim to be religious

There aren't any avowed atheists in Congress.

Booker does sound like a revival preacher, in the black tradition, which is much more progressive than the white tradition, and makes good television too.

[guillaumeb]

7. We agree on these points.

There is a long line of progressive preachers, from MLK Jr. to William Barber, and others.

[MineralMan]

8. I'd rather the word "religious" were left out of that equation altogether.

What Cory Booker does by way of meditating and praying is fine, but it is in no way a qualifying factor for high office. What he does for others while in office is what matters.

Our nation is made up of people of all faiths and of no faith at all. Government should have nothing whatever to do with matters of religion. I'm glad Booker is "comfortable" with his faith. That's nice for him, but irrelevant for me. I want to know his goals for governance.

[guillaumeb]

10. The words are necessary because the US media insists on

viewing people of faith as right wing.

[MineralMan]

12. I did not say that. I said what my preferences are.

Read my words, not what you believe I mean by them, please.

[guillaumeb]

13. You misunderstood my response.

And my reference to my reason for posting the article.

[Act_of_Reparation]

25. Maybe you miscommunicated your response.

Fascinating how the verb "misunderstand" is deployed in such situations, how it acribes agency or perhaps intent to the acting of failing to comprehend what's been said. One might think the onus on communicating effectively lay on the communicator, particularly when they are speaking to ostensibly intelligent people, but I am probably alone in that sentiment.

TL;DR: Write better. Or don't. We both know why you respond the way you do.

[MineralMan]

26. I regret that I am unable to read other posters' minds.

I do not have that ability. Some posters, however, apparently are able to do so, since they take pains to tell me what I meant to say. I wish I was as skilled, you know...

[Act_of_Reparation]

37. Have you tried praying?

Maybe if you submit to the Lord, he will fill you with the Spirit so that you might better comprehend his Will.

Or you could try being a wizard.

[MineralMan]

38. I can't say I have. It would seem like talking in a place

with nobody else there. People might think I was talking to myself or something.

[trotsky]

18. So you're claiming "fake news" now?

The fact of the matter is, a majority of believers lean right. I understand you think that's "fake news," but it's the truth.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

20. It's a burden to be a person of faith in this country.

I'm hopeful that some day in the US, the religious are not the most hated minority.

[trotsky]

21. Indeed.

I hope that someday, there might be a church in almost every state in the union. Or perhaps ten thousand of them.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

22. Imagine if they were able to wear symbols of their faith openly.

Like on the streets and stuff.

How crazy would that be?

[trotsky]

27. Dare we dream?

Wow, what a world that would be!

[Mariana]

31. It must be awful to endure such persecution

as religious people do in the United States today.

[Mariana]

23. Why shouldn't the US media view them that way?

Most people of faith in the US are right wing.

[MineralMan]

24. But, see, guillaumeb considers himself to be progressive.

So, the media is wrong to assume that most religions people are conservative. I think that's how it goes, anyhow.

[guillaumeb]

29. Some are. some are not.

But the media generally prefers to simplify.

[Mariana]

30. You're full of it Gil.

Most newspapers, for example, have pages or even entire sections set aside for happy, feel-good positive stories about religion.

[MineralMan]

32. Yup. They do.

Plus, they gladly sell ad space to churches to pay for those spaces. There's no war against religion in the media. That's a made-up, long-held shibboleth by some.

"Shibboleth definition is - a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning."

[Mariana]

36. It's a ridiculous proposition on its face

that the media misrepresent religious people on purpose. What advantage would they gain by doing so? After all, the overwhelming majority of those in the US who watch, listen to, and read the media are religious people, as are most of the advertisers.

[guillaumeb]

40. A totally unsupported claim.

[MineralMan]

42. Which claim is unsupported?

That you are full of something or that newspapers have religion pages? Please be more specific, won't you?

[MineralMan]

33. Unlike others, eh, who think that religion is a good thing for society?

Talk about simplification. All religion is good! Opposition to any sort of religion is bad! Where have I seen that attitude?

[trotsky]

14. "The prevailing myth is that religious people are mainly conservative."

That's not a myth. It's FACT.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/how-the-faithful-voted-a-preliminary-2016-analysis/

[Act_of_Reparation]

19. Now they're going to blame atheists for "driving religious liberals" away from the Dems.

Cause we're powerful like that.

[MineralMan]

34. Truly! Our numbers are small, but:

We Got the Power!