Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

"You Can't Just Be President of the Christians"
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Rereading American history for the last year for my new book, I've been struck how central religion has been to American life and how important preachers have been to momentous occasions in American history. The upshot: I'm much more comfortable standing up to the liberal orthodoxy these days that preachers stay out of politics. Of course this is a reaction to the outsized influence of the Religious Right, but I don't think it's the proper one.

Thus, how surprising to read that T.D. Jakes is saying that preachers should stay out of politics:

"I think really religion in general is struggling with politics, not just African Americans. Many, many times we've allowed ourselves to be taken up under the control of this party or that party, and I think that's dangerous when you do that," he tells Michele Norris.

"I don't think that God should be assigned to a party. When the party goes bad, then the clergy are embarrassed, and I think that faith should transcend politics," he says.

Jakes says he encourages his parishioners to vote and to be aware of the issues. But to assume that African Americans are "ignorant and need the pastor to tell them how to vote is an insult to our intelligence," Jakes says. "That day is gone."

Although it is important to Jakes that a presidential candidate has some consciousness of faith, spirituality and morality, he says he is not "myopic."

"I know many people who really love the Lord, but they might not be a good president," Jakes says.

He says that to be an effective leader, "you can't just be the president of the Christians."

Labels: Politics in America, Religion in America

Posted by B Feiler at 7:05 AM
Permalink Digg this Post Email this Post

0 Comments: