Friday Photo

Here is a photo I took over the summer of the New Year's ball in New York City's Times Square. They now leave the ball in the dropped position throughout the year. Hope you have had a nice year and hope 2012 is even better!

LifeWay's "Pink Bible" Recall Shows Politics of Association

Ethics Daily ran my latest article today, which is entitled "LifeWay's 'Pink Bible' Recall Shows Politics of Association." It covers the decision by the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing house to stop selling a special Bible--just two months after first publishing it. The Bible was partly a fundraiser for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest breast cancer organization in the U.S. However, the Bibles were pulled because of complaints that Komen works with Planned Parenthood to provide breast cancer awareness services--a partnership that has helped screen thousands of women and detect nearly 200 cases of breast cancer. Even though none of the money was paying for abortions (and this is not a new relationship), LifeWay decided to end its partnership with Komen.

Week to Beat?

Iowa voters will converge across the state next Tuesday to decide who they believe should be the Republican presidential nominee. With only one week left, many still seem unsure about who to support. Leading the pack in most polls are the two candidates who most benefit from the indecision--U.S. Representative Ron Paul and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Both have solid support from a little more than one-fifth of the Hawkeye Republicans, but neither is likely to jump very high and therefore need a divided field to stay on top. Paul's supporters are perhaps the most loyal, but he is highly disliked by most other voters. If a huge snowstorm hits Iowa next week, he could win big because his supporters will show up! However, he will struggle to win in a race with only a couple of other major contenders. Paul has been slowly and steadily rising in the polls because he is operating a good, traditional Iowa strategy (the photo is one I took of him in Iowa in August). In addition to building up the grassroots organization better than he did during the 2008 campaign--when he placed fifth in Iowa--he has also reached out to the key voting bloc of conservative evangelicals better this cycle (see post here). Since placing a close second in the Iowa Straw Poll in August, Paul has continued to use confessional politics to reach out to evangelicals. A recent campaign ad for Paul calls him a pro-life "man of faith" "who truly believes." In another recent ad, Paul's son, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, praises Paul's "commitment to faith, family and the Constitution." Thanks to the efforts of Doug Wead, who led religious-political efforts for George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Paul now works in biblical citations to justify various public policy positions--which is a common strategy with those using confessional politics. Paul also spoke to a group of 400 pastors last month at an event put together by religious-political organizer David Lane, who helped lead Perry's prayer rally in August (see post here). Paul's main rhetorical strategy in reaching evangelicals seems to be stressing his pro-life record. Although many of Paul's libertarian views have led some conservative evangelical leaders to criticize him, he might win enough evangelical voters to make the difference next week. He is helped by the fact that evangelicals are divided between former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Texas Governor Rick Perry, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann, and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (see post here).

Also benefiting from the divided evangelical vote, Romney has remained steady in the polls for months. He seems unable to build on his support, but will still do well next week as long as the anti-Romney Republicans split up their votes. Although Romney's problems with the electorate include the fact that he consistently flip-flops on issues, his Mormonism is also part of the problem. The concern about Mormons is a symptom of our age of confessional politics. Proving this, several conservative evangelical leaders recently criticized Romney's faith to justify not voting for him. Bob Vander Plaats, who leads the conservative evangelical group The Family Leader, referred to Romney's faith when explaining why he does not trust Romney. Vander Plaats, who recently endorsed Santorum (see post here), stated:

What Iowans want to know is, 'Be honest with us, who are you?' ... When you go to bed at night and bend your knees, who are you bending your knees to? ... To us, it's to our lord and savior Jesus Christ, and that's how we gain access to the throne of God. It's only through Him. Because we don't know enough about the Mormon theology. That is where some of that pause comes from.

Vander Plaats also attacked Romney for not speaking at events hosted by his group and other conservative evangelical organizations. Going even further, Brad Atkins, President of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, claimed:

In South Carolina, Romney's Mormonism will be more of a cause of concern than Gingrich's infidelity.

He added that this is because Christian voters are willing to "pray their way through the issue of forgiveness toward a Christian" but "will struggle to understand how anyone could be a Mormon and call themselves 'Christian.'" Really?! Do Southern Baptists in South Carolina really trust a twice-divorced adulterer over someone who is Mormon? How are such religiously-motivated tests helping pick the most qualified candidate to be president? Gingrich, who is falling in the polls, and other Romney opponents this cycle have mostly avoided directly raising questions about Romney's faith--but they benefit from those who use confessional politics to attack Romney. Gingrich's campaign fired a staffer earlier this month because the staffer attacked Romney's faith. Craig Bergman, who had just been hired as the Iowa political director for Gingrich's campaign, had previously stated:

A lot of the evangelicals believe God would give us four more years of Obama just for the opportunity to expose the cult of Mormon. ... There's a thousand pastors ready to do that.

It was good for Gingrich to condemn such an attack, but Bergman's conclusion does not even seem accurate. Although a lot of pastors are ready to defeat Romney in the primary, it seems likely many of them would instead flip-flop and justify voting for Romney over President Barack Obama in the general election. This is what Southern Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress did back in October when he sparked a controversy by endorsing Perry and attacking Romney's faith as a cult--but insisted he would support Romney over Obama if it came to that (see post here). As the examples of Paul and Romney demonstrate, this presidential cycle is seeing yet another strong dose of confessional politics in Iowa and beyond.

Alternative Advent 5

Today is Christmas Eve, the day when the fifth and final Advent candle is usually lit in churches. Advent is a season devoted to waiting, yearning, and hoping for the coming of our Savior as we celebrate and reflect on his first coming. Yet, it seems Advent is too often reduced to merely lighting a few candles in church services. So, this year I am reflecting on a few efforts that take Advent to the streets in hopes the spirit of Christmas will trump the focus on shopping. One effort designed to do this is an initiative of the "Simple Way" community in Philadelphia. Shane Claiborne, an author and founding member of the community, recently wrote about the group's "Christmas Carol Conspiracy" effort. The group found a suburban church that wanted to be involved with helping individuals struggling in the inner city. Claiborne's group identified a dozen of their neighbors who had a particularly difficult year and set up a day and time for something to happen, but did not tell their neighbors what the surprise was. On the set time, members from the suburban congregation appeared, sang carols, and gave some baked goodies with several hundred dollars hidden underneath so it would not be noticed until after the group left. The suburban church remained anonymous, but simply left a note with the money that declared, "Know that you are loved. Merry Christmas." Last year, they gave away more than $10,000 through this effort. Claiborne wrote recently about the effort:

Our goal was to practice generosity in a way that was so creative that even money would not corrupt the act of giving. (After all, Jesus said to be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves as we deal with the stuff of earth, like that green stuff that keeps things going but is always overstepping and trespassing on our souls.) ... Imagine if every neighborhood had a little conspiracy like this one, and imagine if every suburban congregation began plotting goodness with folks in poverty. Do an anonymous act of love this season. It was the Christ-child who said, "When you give, do it in secret … don't even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." It is an invitation to mischief — sort of like the old "ring-and-run" prank we played in high school, only better. This mischief is holy mischief. It is a divine conspiracy. It is about reminding the world that it is loved. And that seems to be what Christmas is all about.

This is an interesting idea and a good point. Hopefully we can continue to find creative ways to recapture the meaning of Christmas and share it with our neighbors.

Friday Photo

Last Saturday was the three-month anniversary of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. Activists in New York City marked the occasion by attempting to occupy a new plot of land--Duarte Square. That location is owned by Trinity Church, an Episcopalian church that literally sits at the start of Wall Street and is just a couple of blocks from Zuccotti Park (the birthplace of the occupy movement). Although church leaders initially were supportive of the occupiers, they repeatedly rebuffed calls to offer space after Zuccotti Park was cleared last month. Arguing that the church should live out its ideals, many occupiers started asking for permission to use Duarte Square, which is several blocks from the church and is currently fenced off and not being used. As one occupier stated:

We are coming to you for sanctuary.

When the request was denied, the occupiers told church leaders they would use the three-month anniversary to "re-occupy" by entering Duarte Square. On Saturday, more than 50 people were arrested after entering the Square. Among those arrested was retired Episcopalian Bishop George Packard, who was the first to climb over the fence. Now that Trinity Church is at odds with the occupy movement, its wealth has come into question. One of the largest land owners in New York City, the Church's real estate holdings are worth more than $10 billion and numerous Church lay leaders are quite wealthy. It probably does not help that the Church's website is www.TrinityWallStreet.org. The use of "Wall Street" in their name is a good geographical indicator but now makes them an obvious target of the occupy movement. To connect the criticism of Trinity with the spirit of Christmas, activists went to Trinity Church two days before the Duarte Square effort and placed a nativity scene in a little tent on the Church's property. The scene included a sign declaring:

There was no room for them in the inn. But with $10 billion in real estate, Trinity has plenty of room.

Although the argument for using Trinity's space is not the same as the original argument for occupation (see post here)--and Trinity's land would not be needed if there was public space for people to peaceably assemble in (see post here)--the occupiers make an important spiritual argument. Here is a photo I took this summer of Trinity Church as seen through the fence surrounding its cemetery.

Bethlehem Still?

This weekend as we celebrate Christmas, congregations across the nation will likely join in singing about that "little town of Bethlehem." However, few will likely pause to reflect on conditions in that city today. Fortunately, a couple of Christians in Bethlehem have written pieces about this topic that should cause us to stop and ponder. Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh, a Christian, wrote a piece about what might happen if the biblical tale occurred today. Here are is an excerpt:

Our hearts grieve for what our city has become, and it pains us to imagine what the birth of our lord Jesus Christ would look like today. Joseph and Mary would be stopped and searched entering Bethlehem or departing on their flight to Egypt. The Magi would run into a huge concrete wall. The shepherds would not be able to graze their sheep; their land would have been confiscated.

Making a similar argument, Alex Awad, a minister in Bethlehem, wrote a piece for Sojourners. Here are a few highlights:

If you are among the people who visit today's Bethlehem, what will you see, hear or feel? As you come near Rachel's Tomb at the entrance to the city, you will be stopped by a checkpoint, a military watchtower, and an 8-meter high wall. The checkpoint is guarded by Israeli soldiers whose job is to welcome internationals to Bethlehem while at the same time keeping Israelis from entering the city or Palestinians from leaving it. ... If Jesus were to be born in Bethlehem today, he would have difficulty crossing from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for the same security reasons. Moreover, because of the current political turmoil in Egypt, Mary and Joseph may have to flee to Canada instead. What one quickly learns when visiting Bethlehem is that the political climate today is quite similar to the one that was prevailing during the time of Jesus. One exception is that the Palestinian inhabitants of Bethlehem today are being occupied by those who consider themselves the offspring or cultural descendants of Jews who were under the yoke of Roman occupation in the first century.

Both writers draw connections between the political issues today and those on that first Christmas. Jesus was born into a dark and troubled world. It was not a time of peace and joy. It seems that Bethlehem still is in that state. A former professor of mine, Rodney Reeves, wrote on his blog recently that we gloss over parts of the Christmas tale that would make for a scary Christmas pageant (and he hilariously describes one possible scene to add to next year's Christmas play at church). If we forget the context of the birth of Jesus, we might not capture the full importance of his ministry or make proper connections to problems today. As Stephen Holmes, who teaches theology at the University of St Andrews (in Scotland), detailed in a recent report, the biblical Christmas story is a highly political one but since the Victorian era we have transformed the holiday into a story focused on personal charity and family time. He concluded:

Nativity plays and carol services are not - or should not be - safe, comfortable, 'feel-good' moments through which we escape from reality, but rather occasions of truth and hope, where the faithfulness of God breaks through into the ordinary, where we are invited to consider how God intervenes in the business of politics.

Some interesting points to ponder as we consider the reason for the season.

A WARM Primary Use

As we find ourselves in the midst of cold winter nights, many churches across the nation are working to provide food and shelter for those who are homeless. However, these efforts to care for "the least of these" sometimes spark interference from local officials. A prime example this year is in Waynesboro, Virginia. Several churches in town spent a year studying homeless in the community and created the Waynesboro Area Refuge Ministry (WARM) to serve as a night shelter during the winter to be hosted at a local church building and staffed by volunteers from churches in town. There currently is not a homeless shelter in Waynesboro. The WARM program is based on similar programs in nearby cities like Charlottesville and Harrisonburg. I have had the opportunity to participate in the Harrisonburg effort, known as the Harrisonburg And Rockingham Thermal Shelter (HARTS), which has been limited in which churches it can use as sites this year because of the expected increase in need. The problem for WARM is that city officials argued that a homeless shelter does not meet the city's zoning ordinances. Church leaders had to delay the opening of the shelter and argue their case before a city council meeting last week. Despite the urgency of helping people right now, the city council will not vote until next week--a full two weeks after hearing arguments from WARM organizers. Even if there are safety concerns about the shelter, it seems logical to recognize that such a situation is safer than keeping people on the streets. During the city council meeting last week, Sharon Smith of Basic United Methodist Church (the church providing the facilities for WARM) argued:

In every entrance to Waynesboro, there is a sign that says, 'Hospitality in the Valley.' ... Is that for everyone, or just those who can pay for it?

It is nice to see city officials being urged to actually live out their PR slogans. Too often today our laws are designed to remove and punish the homeless, who are not treated as full citizens.

The problem in this case is that city officials claim that the primary use of a church building is worship and that while other accessory uses can be permitted (like housing a minister), a homeless shelter does not qualify as an accessory use. As Waynesboro Assistant City Manager Jim Shaw argued:

Transient lodging or shelters for the homeless are not considered accessory.

He is right that a homeless shelter is not an accessory use--that is because it is a primary one! How can churches worship a homeless man on Sunday morning and not open their buildings for the homeless that night? To only use a building for sermons and singing songs is to turn worship into nothing more than the sound of clanging cymbals. After all, faith without works is dead. For city officials to try and decide what is or is not primary church use is to violate the religious rights of the congregations. Although there should be a concern for basic health and safety standards to be followed, to not even allow a church to apply for a permit because the ministry is not deemed "primary" or even "accessory" is problematic. As Waynesboro Mennonite Church Pastor Howard Miller, who serves as WARM Chairman, argued, the city's decision is a "gross overreach by the city zoning officials and limits the outreach of ministries." Fortunately, The Rutherford Institute, a Virginia-based organization that nationally works to protect religious and civil liberties, agrees with WARM and is fighting on their behalf. The Rutherford Institute's founder and president John Whitehead wrote a letter to Waynesboro city officials explaining how their policy to prvent WARM from operating violates the First Amendment and state and national laws. Citing laws and scriptures, he argued that WARM is an accessory use since it is clearly related to the mandate of the churches. He wrote:

As you are undoubtedly aware, the proposed temporary use of these church facilities to protect needy families and individuals from the elements is purely a function of religious exercise by devout individuals and groups in Waynesboro. Thus, any actions taken to impede these efforts must be carefully examined under the lens of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees individuals and churches the right to freely exercise their faith. ... With government budgets currently stressed beyond capacity, it is difficult to comprehend any logical reason--much less the "compelling interest" that will be required under the aforementioned laws--that would justify the City's imposition of barriers for churches wishing to provide this most basic, essential function for the neediest people in your community. In this regard, the City's actions appear to be not only illegal but also unreasonable and utterly lacking in compassion.

Amen! Although I believe WARM should actually be viewed spiritually as a "primary" use, Whitehead makes a solid argument for why city officials must legally recognize it as at least an "accessory" use. Hopefully city officials will do the right thing and allow WARM to quickly start operating. And hopefully churches in other cities will attempt similar efforts. As we celebrate Christmas, let us also make sure that in our communities it is not said that there is no room for those seeking shelter.

Two Weeks

Two weeks from today, Republicans across Iowa will gather in homes, schools, and community centers for the Iowa presidential caucuses. With the race still up for grabs, the candidates are racing to gain momentum and votes. Since Christmas will keep many voters from paying attention for at least a few days, there is little time left to campaign. Despite the fact that Iowans will soon cast their votes, many conservative Christian activists are still divided over which candidate to support. Since conservative evangelical Christians have played influential roles in previous Iowa caucuses--such as propelling Mike Huckabee to victory in 2008 and Pat Robertson into second place in 1988--a united front from them could determine the outcome. On the other hand, if conservative evangelicals remain divided, it could help Mitt Romney do what he could not in 2008--win. Although Romney has some prominent evangelical supporters, many more are suspicious of him because of his Mormonism and his flip-flopping record. The criticism of his Mormonism is symptom of confessional politics (see posts here and here). Recently, there have been a few important endorsements and efforts that could impact the Iowa results. The conservative evangelical group The Family Leader, which has hosted the candidates at various events and sparked controversy earlier this year with its marriage pledge it asked candidates to sign (see post here), had initially signaled it would endorse a candidate on Monday of this week. However, yesterday they announced they had not yet reached a decision. Apparently, some leaders in the group wanted to endorse former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich--who had recently risen in the polls but now appears to be falling--but others were uncomfortable with that because of his marital past and instead wanted to support former Senator Rick Santorum or Texas Governor Rick Perry. Today, the group announced they would not endorse a candidate as a group but that its leader, Bob Vander Plaats, would. Vander Plaats, who chaired former Arkansas Huckabee's Iowa campaign in 2008 and ran unsuccessfully for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2010, announced today he is endorsing Santorum (the photo is one I took of Santorum in Iowa in August). Vander Plaats, who had reportedly been pushing the group to endorse Gingrich, stated today:

I believe Rick Santorum comes from us, he comes from us, just not to us, he comes from us. He's one of us. ... I look forward to the next two weeks to see what I can do to advance his candidacy to get him out of the state of Iowa.

Chuck Hurley, who leads the Iowa Family Policy Center, joined the press conference to also endorse Santorum. Hurley suggested that Perry and Representative Michele Bachmann should combine forces with Santorum instead of splitting the vote (meaning he hopes two of the three will drop out of the race). Vander Plaats apparently even called Bachmann a few days ago to urge her to drop out. It will be interesting to see if these endorsements and the media attention help Santorum gain votes and more attention. Santorum has clearly been using confessional politics as a foundational strategy for his campaign (see posts here, here, and here). As the candidate who has spent the most time campaigning in Iowa, he could sneak into the top tier when the votes are counted.

It seems unlikely that Perry or Bachmann will step aside for Santorum in the next two weeks. Like Santorum and Bachmann, Perry is continuing his use of confessional politics. He is traveling across Iowa speaking about his faith while riding on a bus that proclaims in large letters: "Faith, Jobs and Freedom." On Sunday, Perry spoke in an Iowa church, which raises serious questions about a church that would let a candidate speak during its service--especially on the Sunday before Christmas! During his remarks, Perry urged Christians to "not be intimidated" to speak publicly about their faith. Such a comment seems odd, but is consistent with the fact that he thinks the political attacks on him are because of his faith rather than his ideas and "oops" moments. Yesterday, he joined a tele-town hall hosted by Ralph Reed's Faith & Freedom Coalition. Perry has also started comparing himself to Tim Tebow, the outspoken evangelical quarterback for the Denver Broncos (which might be a good comparison since Perry is running on his faith rather than competency). The fact that Tebow got crushed by the New England Patriots over the weekend might not be a good omen for Perry as he seeks to beat the former governor of Massachusetts. Last week, Perry joined Santorum, Gingrich, and Bachmann at a screening of a pro-life film. The event was hosted by Huckabee, who is probably the most coveted individual as this cycle's candidates try to gain endorsements before the Iowa vote. However, as long as the four candidates who appeared at the screening remain in the race, it seems unlikely one of them can emerge as the next Huckabee.

Havel's "Words on Words"

Yesterday, Czech playwright and politician Václav Havel died. A leader of the "Velvet Revolution," a non-violent revolution that overthrew the Communist government in Czechoslovakia in 1989, Havel later became president of Czechoslovakia and then of the Czech Republic. His writings and political activities had previously resulted in his imprisonment by the Communist government. As a writer, he paid close attention to the importance of words. Here are a few highlights from a speech he wrote to accept a peace prize in 1989:

In the beginning was the Word; so it states on the first page of one of the most important books known to us. What is meant in that book is that the Word of God is the source of all creation. ... If the Word of God is the source of God's entire creation then that part of God's creation which is the human race exists as such only thanks to another of God's miracles--the miracle of human speech. And if this miracle is the key to the history of mankind, then it is also the key to the history of society. ... There has never been a time when a sense of the importance of words was not present in human consciousness. ... The point is that all important events in the real world—whether admirable or monstrous—are always spearheaded in the realm of words. ... As I've already stated, my intention here today is not to convey to you the experience of one who has learned that words still count for something when you can still go to prison for them. My intention was to share with you another lesson that we in this corner of the world have learned about the importance of words. I am convinced it is a lesson which has universal application: namely, that it always pays to be suspicious of words and to be wary of them, and that we can never be too careful in this respect. ... Responsibility for and toward words is a task which is intrinsically ethical. As such, however, it is situated beyond the horizon of the visible world, in that realm wherein dwells the Word that was in the beginning and is not the word of Man.

Amen! Words are critically important and must be read with a critical eye. Havel was an important figure in both literary and political terms, but especially in the way he mixed the two.

Alternative Advent 4

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, a season devoted to waiting, yearning, and hoping for the coming of our Savior as we celebrate and reflect on his first coming. Yet, it seems Advent is too often reduced to merely lighting a few candles in church services. So, this year I am reflecting on a few efforts that take Advent to the streets in hopes the spirit of Christmas will trump the focus on shopping. One idea that has been used in several locations to accomplish this goal is turning street windows into a public Advent calendar. This idea seems to especially occur in England. An Advent calendar is where one opens a window each day (for 24 days) to find a poem or saying or even a piece of chocolate or small toy, which is designed to get one focused on the anticipation of Christmas coming. The idea of using Advent windows on the street involves getting 24 houses with each house being one day of the Advent calendar. The individuals create artwork on their window and then cover it up until their chosen day. Thus, the neighborhood is slowly transformed as Christmas nears. Some news articles about such efforts can be found here, here, and here. One group even has a website to feature their Advent windows. This is an interesting idea that attempts to bring the message of the season to where people can experience it and that can help bring neighbors together.

Friday Photo

Tomorrow marks the three-month anniversary of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. In that short time, the movement has spread to thousands of cities across the nation and around the world. And--despite the criticisms on the movement for not making clear what it wants changed--it has dramatically changed public awareness and political discussions. The problem of income and wealth inequality has become a hot topic in news and interpersonal discussions. The issue has now been clearly spelled out in stark black-and-white terms. Here is a photo I took at the start of Wall Street this summer before the "Occupy Wall Street" movement started. This spot is in front of Trinity Church and just a couple of blocks from Zuccotti Park (the birthplace of the movement).

Both Sides

As 2012 nears and the presidential campaign heats up, the issue of religion keeps popping up in both parties. President Barack Obama continues to represent both sides of confessional politics. As during the 2008 campaign, he both uses confessional politics and is the victim of it. In October, the Democratic National Convention chose a Baptist pastor in Washington, D.C. to lead its faith outreach. Derrick Harkins, pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, also serves on the Board of Directors for World Relief and the National Association of Evangelicals, and has served as a vice president of the North American Baptist Fellowship (a regional body of the Baptist World Alliance). These connections place him in a unique position to be able to help Obama and the Democrats reach out to the Christian community in the upcoming campaign. Joshua DuBois, who led this effort during the 2008 campaign, now leads the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Patrick Gaspard, Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee, called the hiring of Harkins "a clear sign to everyone that Democrats will be making our case to voters motivated by their faith and values in 2012." Some liberals, however, are upset because Harkins has been for some pro-life efforts and against same-sex marriage. Adding to this new staff hire, Obama continues to voice his personal faith. For instance, during the ceremony for the lighting of the national Christmas tree, Obama stated:

More than 2,000 years ago, a child was born to two faithful travelers who could find rest only in a stable, among the cattle and the sheep. But this was not just any child. Christ's birth made the angels rejoice and attracted shepherds and kings from afar. He was a manifestation of God's love for us. And He grew up to become a leader with a servant's heart who taught us a message as simple as it is powerful: that we should love God, and love our neighbor as ourselves. That teaching has come to encircle the globe. It has endured for generations. And today, it lies at the heart of my Christian faith and that of millions of Americans. No matter who we are, or where we come from, or how we worship, it's a message that can unite all of us on this holiday season. So long as the gifts and the parties are happening, it's important for us to keep in mind the central message of this season, and keep Christ's words not only in our thoughts, but also in our deeds.

Obama clearly is not ready to cede the topic of religion to the Republicans in the upcoming election.

However, Obama continues to not only use religious-political rhetoric but to be criticized by those using confessional politics. For instance, the chancellor of the fundamentalist Bob Jones University expressed his opinion last month that Obama was not a Christian. Bob Jones III stated:

I've no reason to think he's a Christian... Anyone can say he's a Christian. Some people will say whatever they think the politically helpful thing would be. I say, 'Where is the evidence that he is a Christian?'

Jones, whose school has figured heavily in the creation of confessional politics, also refused to say if he thought Obama was a Muslim or born in the U.S. Such rhetoric is often used to try and suggest that Obama--because of religious concerns--should not be president. Earlier this month, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry attacked Obama for supposedly waging a "war on religion" (see post here). Fox News also claims Obama is against Christmas and is not a Christian. The issue, of course, is not merely that they are making inaccurate claims but that these complaints are leveled in order to suggest Obama is not Christian enough to be president. Clearly, both sides--Obama and his critics--are using confessional politics.

No Moore!

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore recently announced he will run again run to be the state's top judge. He was removed from the position in 2003 for violating the law. But now an unrepentant Moore wants to hold the position again. Perhaps the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court should not be an elected position! Moore, who installed a five-ton Ten Commandments monument in the state courthouse, was kicked off the bench after he refused to remove it when ordered to by a federal judge. Last year, my academic study on this controversy was published in the K.B. Journal. Since being removed from office, Moore has been badly defeated in two Republican primaries for Alabama governor. Last year, I wrote a column in the Birmingham News about Moore's second loss. Earlier this year, he decided to run for president. However, the media virtually ignored him as an unserious candidate with no chance of doing well. Thus, he has now shifted course and decided to run instead for his old Supreme Court seat. Hopefully, he will still be seen as unserious and will receive the same treatment Republican voters gave him in the last two gubernatorial elections.

Alternative Advent 3

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, a season devoted to removing the distractions of the world so we can reflect on God coming to dwell among us that first Christmas. Yet, it seems Advent is too often reduced to merely lighting a few candles in church services. In the midst of the craziness of the season, we hardly seem to take the time to pause and remember. So, this year I am reflecting on a few efforts that take Advent to the streets in hopes the spirit of Christmas will trump the focus on shopping. One effort designed to help us pause and reflect is "Occupy Advent." A new initiative that is a play on the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. The "Occupy Advent" creators use Twitter to post morning and evening prayers that literally break into the fast-paced stream of thoughts on Twitter in hopes of sparking moments of meditation as a respite from the craziness. As the founder of the effort--a Lutheran pastor in Texas--explained when asked why he started "Occupy Advent":

I would like to see is Christians using the power of social media to change the conversation of the "holiday season" – away from the shallow commercialism and toward the power of waiting and watching.

Thus, a couple of days ago they tweeted a prayer "For those who care more about how the cashier greets them than about the hungry & poor in their neighborhood" to encourage everyone to "Slow down, friends. Remember to leave space for God to enter into your life in this holy season." The "Occupy Advent" effort also includes a blog with longer posts designed to provoke meaningful thoughts in a time that can often be mind-numbingly busy. For instance, they had an excellent post last week about the politics of Advent. Here is an excerpt:

Now often seen as an innocuous slogan of the church, "Jesus is Lord" was a radical political claim for the first Christians. It is this creed that led to many of the martyrdoms of early Christians. In claiming Jesus as Lord, these Christians were also making the political statement - Caesar is not Lord. It was treason to confess Jesus as Lord, because that confession necessitated a denial of the authority of the Emperor. Still today, this is a troublesome claim. As a homiletical exercise prior to Christ the King Sunday, we placed various ideologies, ideas, and movements into the equation "If Jesus is Lord, then ________ is not." The not-so-shocking discovery we made? People loved when we told them that the things they despised are not Lord. People hated when we told them that the things they love are not Lord. In one night, with one train of thought, we simultaneously pissed of both Tea Partiers and Occupiers, socialists and capitalists.

Amen! This is the subversive nature of Advent--it challenges us to cast away our idols and focus on our Lord who came to us that first Christmas. Just as people occupying public parks is a powerful message (see post here), so can be the mindset of occupying Advent. It is time to not merely have a passing Advent moment, but to stop and occupy.

Friday Photo

Here is a photo I took of Bill Ayers giving a lecture during the National Communication Association in New Orleans last month. I also shot some video, including Ayers talking about about potential dangers of qualitative or oral history research (he primarily points to problem of researchers helping colonizing/military forces), Ayers talking about the power of telling and listening to stories, and Ayers talking about how to avoid self-blindness to critical social issues (pay attention, be astonished, tell about it, doubt). In the last video, he uses "Occupy Wall Street" as a main example. He is a controversial figure, but is very good at challenging people to think outside the box.

Not so Merry Christmas

With the Iowa caucuses for the Republican presidential race occurring on January 3, many of the candidates are spending this Christmas season campaigning in the hawkeye state. One candidate is even using Christmas as part of his partisan political strategy. This week, Texas Governor Rick Perry released a new campaign ad in which he uses Christmas to attack President Barack Obama. While candidates will often issue Christmas wishes to voters during this time of year, Perry's use of Christmas as a partisan political weapon is a troubling form of confessional politics. In the ad, Perry declares his faith and attacks Obama's:

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian. But you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school. As president, I'll end Obama's war on religion. And I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage. Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again.

Not only does the ad makes some factually inaccurate claims, but Perry wrongly uses religion to win votes. Welton Gaddy, a Baptist minister who leads the Interfaith Alliance (and who is cited in my book on confessional politics), reacted to Perry's ad:

Under the guise of spirituality, Perry has taken the manipulation of religion for partisan political advantage to an incredible, almost unbelievable extreme. With a smile on his face, he trades on personal attacks and provable untruths that reveal no understanding of the first amendment to the Constitution and very little respect for the integrity of religion. ... This is a race for commander-in-chief, not pastor-in-chief. His divisive and misleading message about faith has no place in a U.S Presidential campaign. ... Rather than fighting these supposed 'liberal attacks' on our religious heritage, he should focus on protecting that heritage by guarding religious freedom for everyone.

Amen! Interestingly, CNN noted that last year Perry sent out a card as governor that mentioned the "holiday season" instead Christmas. Yet, now he wants to be known as the one standing up for Christmas. Perry's ad is merely the latest example of him using confessional politics in hopes of garnering the Republican presidential nomination. As I have previously reported, Perry has privately met with conservative Christian leaders, led a public prayer rally just as he was officially entering the race, and has trekked to key conservative Christian institutions to speak. The problem for Perry is that his poor debate performances have done so much damage that he might not have a prayer of winning. Oops!

Suspending Cain

Over the weekend, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain ended his long-shot White House bid (the photo is one I took of him in Iowa in August). Hounded by several allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, Cain's poor presidential prospects became even worse--especially since he handled the charges poorly (see post here). With Cain's departure, it becomes easier for other candidates to attract attention. His departure also raises a couple of interesting issues. For instance, during his speech on Saturday, Cain did not say he was "dropping out" or "ending" his presidential run, but that he was "suspending" his campaign. This is not merely a matter of personal word preference, but a deliberate semantic decision with critical legal and financial implications. As the Washington Post explained, by "suspending" his campaign, Cain can continue to raise and spend money. If, however, he completely "ended" his campaign, Cain could not keep raising money except to retire his campaign's debt. Clearly, word choices are important.

Another interesting part of Cain's speech on Saturday was that he invoked God to justify his decision. He stated:

So one of the first declarations that I want to make to you today is that I am at peace with my God. ... So as of today, with a lot of prayer and soul searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign.

This use of God to explain his decision to leave the presidential race brought his use of confessional politics full circle. He had previously compared himself to Moses and claimed God told him to run for president (which now raises interesting questions about why would God want Cain to be publicly exposed and humiliated). Additionally, Cain said the recent attacks arising from accusations from several women were all part of God's plan and journey. With the mindset of confessional politics, it seems consistent for him to credit God with the decision to stop running and not just with the decision to run. Mike Huckabee, who used confessional politics to jump to the top tier of Republican presidential candidates in 2008, similarly invoked God to explain why he decided not to run this time (see post here). Despite falling apart in the presidential campaign, Cain will likely attempt to follow Huckabee in building a media career. In the meantime, his departure means the Republican race should have fewer confessional political attacks on Muslims.

Occupy Communication

On Friday I participated in a panel discussion at James Madison University for an event called "Faculty Flashpoint: Occupy Wall Street." The event, which included five other professors from various departments, attracted numerous students, professors, and community members for a discussion about the occupy movement. Two newspapers reported on the event. Yesterday, the JMU student newspaper The Breeze ran an article that included several comments from an interview with me. Today, the Harrisonburg newspaper Daily News-Record ran an article that included a couple comments I made at the event. Both articles are good ways to continue the discussion about this movement. The event sparked lively dialogue and I have enjoyed the opportunities to continue talking about the issues with individuals since then.

Among the points I made during the event on Friday were a couple I have articulated in previous blog posts: the importance of the concept of occupation for the movement (see post here) and the problems with limitations being placed on First Amendment freedoms (see post here). I also talked about interesting communication strategies employed by the movement. I started my first presentation with a demonstration of the "people's mic," which occupiers use to amplify speeches so more people can hear them. With the people's mic, someone makes a statement and then the crowd echoes it. I started by saying "mic check," which is what one says to start the people's mic (it took a couple of tries to get the crowd going). Then we entered the speech: "The people's mic [the people's mic] is one of the most [is one of the most] fascinating rhetorical strategies [fascinating rhetorical strategies] of the occupy movement [of the occupy movement]." By the last phrase, the audience was chanting along quite well. I then cut the mic since it takes twice as long to speak and I was on the clock (and had an actual microphone). The adoption of the people's mic is interesting because it not only allows speakers to be heard better but it also seems to symbolize the movement. After all, it creates a scenario where no one really owns the message but it instead belongs to the masses. When I speak and others repeat, my message becomes their message. And when someone else speaks and I repeat, their message becomes my message. This also creates a situation where people are actively engaged with a message and not merely passively listening (since you have to pay attention in order to repeat the statements).

Another interesting communication strategy of the occupy movement is the use of the hand signals during general assemblies. This allows individuals to easily express their perspective on an issue but in a way that does not drown out the speaker (as can happen with clapping, cheering, and booing). After I mentioned these gestures another panelist taught the audience a few key ones (like agree and disagree) and encouraged the audience to use them throughout the event. By the end, the audience was quite active in using the hand signals and it added a nice dimension to the discussion. Rather than allowing those of us who were panelists to merely spout off on topics unquestioned, we were instantly receiving clear feedback on our opinions. This also gave all of the audience members a chance to have their say even if they did not get an opportunity to actually speak during the question/comment time. It made the event much more interesting and a better dialogue. Regardless of what one thinks about the occupy movement, these communication strategies are interesting and warrant consideration.

Schlafly Away

Phyllis Schlafly, a prominent conservative Christian political activist, has made her endorsement for president in 2012--Michele Bachmann. Touting Bachmann's work against "ObamaCare" and for "traditional values," Schlafly argued:

If I were an Iowa voter, I would be making plans right now to cast my vote for Michele Bachmann for president on January 3. I hope you will take advantage of this golden opportunity to support a candidate we can all be proud of.

As I noted in my book (Presidential Campaign Rhetoric in an Age of Confessional Politics), Schlafly was an important figure in helping establish our age of confessional politics. Although not as important of a religious-political figure today as she was in the 1970s and early 1980s, Schlafly is still held in high regard by many conservative Christians. Her endorsement will likely do little to help Bachmann's struggling campaign, but it might bring in a few extra votes. Regardless, the fact that Schlafly deliberately decided not to endorse "one of the two who currently lead in the polls" demonstrates that both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are struggling to unite or excite conservative Christians. Iowa Republicans vote in just four weeks, but conservative Christian leaders still seem quite divided.

No Longer a Stranger

With the growing attention to immigration issues in American politics, faith leaders are increasingly being pressed to speak out. The controversial comments by Republican presidential hopefuls on the topic and the passage of harsh laws in Arizona and Alabama and have brought the issue to the forefront of political, religious, and social discussions. Entering this scene comes a new biblical translation that includes an important translating decision. As Robert Parham of Ethics Daily noted, the Common English Bible translators decided to use "immigrant" instead of "alien" or "stranger." Parham praised this translation decision:

This is a concretizing and humanizing improvement of the biblical witness, removing the moral abstraction of "stranger" and depersonalization of "alien."

He is correct that the term "immigrant" provides a richer and more obvious meaning for today's society, which is one of the goals of translating a text. Paul Franklyn, an associate publisher of the Bible, explained they used the word "immigrant" since it "is the most up-to-date meaning" of the Hebrew word ("ger") being translated. He added:

Even when we shift to the word immigrant, as you can see in the sample book of Genesis that is posted at this site online, we have not eliminated the fear that permeates our society when new waves of immigrants compete for resources with old waves of immigrants. Most of us are by nature xenophobic. We have a fear of strangers, provided that we got here first. This phobia is not eliminated by switching from alien to immigrant in our common language. But it does help the participants in the modern political debate to think about what the Bible has to say about the ger

Although he is correct that it will not automatically stop the attitudes of fear and hate, it can help. Using one word over another will impact how people read those biblical passages, how they think about God's teachings, and how they view their responsibilities as believers. Changing the language can be the first step toward changing the attitudes and behaviors.

Alternative Advent 2

Today is the second Sunday of Advent, a season devoted to remembering the first coming of the Prince of Peace and yearning for the second coming. Yet, it seems Advent is too often reduced to merely lighting a few candles in church services. In the midst of the craziness of the season, peace hardly seems to describe this time of year. So, this year I am reflecting on a few efforts that take Advent to the streets in hopes the spirit of Christmas will trump the focus on shopping. One effort designed to focus on our hopes for peace is an annual tradition of Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Since 1997, they have used the second Sunday of Advent as their annual Peace Sunday service, and this year two other churches in the city will join this effort. Near the end of their Sunday morning church service, the congregation moves outside where crosses dot the lawn to represent the individuals killed in violence in Louisville this year. The names of the individuals will be read and the congregation will pray for peace to come to their city. The church's newsletter this week explains:

Come now, O God of peace, make us one body. These words will be sung at the beginning of our Advent services on the second Sunday of Advent, December 4. Peace Sunday is highlighted by placing white crosses on HBC's front lawn in memory of Louisville residents killed in an act of violence. To date, 45 crosses will create a sad memorial on our lawn during this holiday season. At the
same time, the crosses signify our hope that God calls the church to work actively against violence in its many forms.

A photo from a previous service can be seen here. Highland's pastor, Joe Phelps, said about the service:

We grieve with those families for whom this is not a season of joy, and hold out the life of Jesus as a model for putting away violence. ... We also pray for all who work to make our community safe and just. It is a testament to the hope that God is not done.

This public ritual is an interesting testimony to the community and helps move the message of Advent from the sanctuary to the public sphere--as experienced literally by the congregation moving during the church service from the sanctuary to the lawn.

Right to Assemble

Earlier this week, I visited "Occupy Harrisonburg." This version of the occupy movement is quite different from the ones usually on the news or "Occupy New Orleans" that I visited earlier (see post here). There are no tents and the group has not been occupying space around-the-clock. The group instead gathers each night for an hour in the gazebo on the courthouse square, which is public land in the middle of downtown. Most nights, a few individuals simply gather to hang out and discuss important political, economic, and social issues. On Tuesday nights, the group has its weekly general assembly where they use the consensus model--and the occupy hand gestures--to talk about the occupy movement, important issues, and decide on future actions. I visited the group on Monday and Tuesday of this week (photos below are from Tuesday's general assembly). At the heart of our democratic freedoms is the idea that the people have the right to peaceably assemble (along with having public space for such assembly as I argued in a post here).

The reactions to various occupy encampments across the nation, however, raise critical questions about the limitations placed on our First Amendment rights. After New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg evicted the occupiers from the park that served as the birthplace of the movement, he declared:

The First Amendment gives every New Yorker the right to speak out – but it does not give anyone the right to sleep in a park or otherwise take it over to the exclusion of others – nor does it permit anyone in our society to live outside the law. There is no ambiguity in the law here – the First Amendment protects speech - it does not protect the use of tents and sleeping bags to take over a public space.

Perhaps Bloomberg should read the whole First Amendment because it is about much more than simply free speech. It also has that part about not abridging "the right of the people peaceably to assemble." That is the section that is relevant to the occupy movement meeting in parks or in gazebos on the court square. Although the occupy movement is clearly exercising free speech rights, the problem with Bloomberg using what he thinks is his "own army" to evict the occupiers is really a matter of assembly rights. Regardless of what one thinks about the message of the occupy movement, their First Amendment rights should be protected--or else none of us can really be confident we have such rights. In his statement, Bloomberg added that protesters " are welcome there to exercise their First Amendment rights" but "going forward, must follow all park rules." Yet, when did a park rule come to trump the First Amendment? If the First Amendment merely protects free speech, then Bloomberg and other mayors are within their rights to evict the occupiers (as is being threatened at this moment in New Orleans). However, if the First Amendment is about more than free speech--and it is--then Bloomberg and other mayors are violating the rights of nonviolent individuals to assemble.

Kevin DeLuca, a communication professor at the University of Utah, recently penned a column in which he explained that the lack of respect for the right to assemble shows that "[t]he First Amendment is gravely ill." He added:

The Occupy protests reveal the architecture of oppression. First, the loss of public spaces leaves few places to protest. When people do gather in public places, local laws are used to violate the people's First Amendment right to assemble. ... Of course, arbitrary public park closing times are not considered critical to America's democracy and yet they are deployed to silence people in city after city, including Oakland, Seattle, Phoenix and Atlanta. ... Americans do not need to ask permission to assemble. The First Amendment is a right, not a privilege. Even in the Internet Age, democracy and freedom depend on the right of the people to assemble and speak. The Arab Spring confirmed this truth and now the American Autumn of anti-greed protests reminds us. From Cairo's Tahrir Square to Chicago's Grant Park, places for the people to assemble and speak are at the heart of any possible democracy. The physical and legal architecture of oppression must be dismantled in light of the right to assemble in places and protest.

He is absolutely correct. While the occupy movement originally started to bring attention to the problem of income inequality in our nation, it is also serving to demonstrate the problem of government officials trying to limit our First Amendment freedoms. As I sat in the gazebo on Tuesday night during the "Occupy Harrisonburg" general assembly, it hit me that this is democracy--people peaceably gathering in the heart of the city to talk about issues and how to improve the community. There on the court square in the middle of downtown Harrisonburg, people are exercising their First Amendment rights. Even if they do not say anything, just by showing up they are participating in democracy. As Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts wrote in a 1938 opinion:

Wherever the title of streets and parks may rest, they have immemorially been held in trust for the use of the public and, time out of mind, have been used for purposes of assembly, communicating thoughts between citizens, and discussing public questions. Such use of the streets and public places has, from ancient times, been a part of the privileges, immunities, rights, and liberties of citizens.

That is how a simple gazebo can become a sanctuary for democracy.

Friday Photo

Here is a photo I took recently in New Orleans. It is a statue that honors the city's founder, Jean Baptiste LeMoyne de Bienville (the figure at top). What grabbed my attention was the priest standing behind him. Symbolically offering divine approval to the colonizer, the priest is reading his Bible but does not seem to be aware of what is going on around him. This disconnect and the priest's subjugated position seem to perfectly depict problems that often occurred as religious leaders supported political colonizers.

Time to Occupy Christmas

My latest column is in the Churchnet page in Word&Way. Entitled "Time to Occupy Christmas," the column considers ways we can recapture a healthy frame of mind concerning Christmas. Considering the growing consumerism surrounding this time of year and the "Black Friday" violence like the pepper spraying incident, it seems clearly something has gone wrong. Hopefully we can reclaim Christmas.