#faith and politics

[winderlylandchime]

I’m seeing a bunch of posts that make me think most USAmericans don’t know about The No Surprises Act.

It was passed in 2021 (thank you Biden) and essentially states that if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover a service you need (or want) you are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of care. (If your insurance does cover the service, you should be able to estimate the cost of care based on your deductible and co-pay.)

As a healthcare provider who does not accept any insurance, I am very careful to not violate The No Surprises Act. Why? Because for every penny more than $400 that the Good Faith Estimate was “off” (or if it wasn’t provided), you are entitled to a refund for that amount.

Y’all. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Get it in writing. Compare it to what you are paying. If you are not provided an estimate or if it’s wrong by more than $400, demand a refund.

[cavenewstimes]

The Antithesis of Christ: How MAGA Christianity Distorts Jesus’ Teachings

In a powerful sermon delivered at the National Prayer Service in Washington, D.C., Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde courageously confronted the disconnect between the MAGA movement and the true teachings of Jesus Christ. Her message, which urged President Trump and his followers to show empathy for the vulnerable, exposed the glaring contradictions in the brand of Christianity espoused by the far-right.…

[markwilliams54]

The Ethical Quandary of Political Allegiances in Modern Evangelicalism

In the interconnection of faith and governance, the evangelical Christian community stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the implications of their deep-seated involvement in political affairs. Dr. Mark Williams' profound treatise, DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism, delves into this issue, articulating how the relentless pursuit of political influence has precipitated a significant erosion of moral and ethical standards within this faith-based cohort.

The book dissects the gradual paradigm shift within evangelical circles, from a primary focus on spiritual enlightenment and gospel dissemination to an overt preoccupation with legislative success. This evolution, as Dr. Williams illustrates, has not merely recalibrated the community's priorities but has starkly compromised its moral integrity. The dichotomy between the espoused religious convictions and the political machinations endorsed by evangelical leaders forms the crux of the analysis presented in DECEIVED!

Central to Dr. Williams’ critique is the exploration of the moral compromises that have become prevalent as evangelical leaders forge alliances with political figures whose policies and personal conduct often starkly contradict foundational Christian ethical norms. This alliance, predicated on a transactional approach to faith-based political engagement, presents a profound moral conundrum: Should the evangelical community continue to endorse leaders who promise to champion their causes at the expense of core Christian values?

DECEIVED! lays bare the consequences of these alliances, highlighting a pervasive moral dissonance within the evangelical community. This dissonance is manifested in the widespread acceptance of leaders who, while pledging to uphold certain Christian values such as the sanctity of life and marital fidelity, simultaneously flout other equally significant biblical teachings through their personal and professional conduct. This selective morality, Dr. Williams asserts, has not only diluted the evangelical message but has also significantly diminished the community's credibility and influence.

Furthermore, Dr. Williams challenges the evangelical community to introspectively reassess its engagement with the political sphere. He advocates for a reinvigoration of the gospel's quintessential teachings—compassion, humility, and love—as the guiding principles for political involvement. By realigning their political actions with these foundational precepts, evangelicals can begin to mend the rift between their political actions and spiritual convictions.

The ethical recalibration proposed by Dr. Williams necessitates a withdrawal from the pursuit of power for its own sake and a renewed commitment to the transformative power of the Gospel. This approach calls for evangelical Christians to embody the principles of their faith in every sphere of life, advocating for policies and leaders that truly reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ.

DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism serves not only as a critical examination of the current state of evangelical politics but also as a clarion call for substantive change. It is a compelling invitation for believers to reclaim the high ground of ethical integrity and to foster a more authentic manifestation of their faith in the public arena.

DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism is available for purchase on Amazon and can be further explored through Dr. Mark Williams' official platform. Readers are encouraged to utilize the Dr. Mark Williams app to access a wealth of additional resources, including music and book previews, and to avail themselves of a promotional discount on the purchase of DECEIVED! For more detailed information and to engage with the themes discussed, visit Dr. Williams' website. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone committed to understanding the moral complexities of evangelical engagement in modern society. https://stagingclientswebsites.com/wp3/

[compassionmattersmost]

A Prayer for America

A Heartfelt Prayer for Our Nation: Embracing Unity and Compassion In this pivotal moment of transition, we are called to gather our hearts and minds, reflecting on our shared values as Americans. This prayer serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder of the strength we possess when we come together, transcending our differences. May the light of righteousness, loving-kindness, compassion, truth,…

[dkcdude]

Vote with Your Heart for Your Heart

Introduction As you may have noticed, Election Day in the United States is in just a couple of days. But fear not, this will not be a political post. As hard as it is to believe, there won’t even be any political ads anywhere in this article. Believe me when I say that I understand how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by the weight of our choices in this election. The debates, the ads, the news…

[locustheologicus]

We Catholics are taught by our Church that we should vote. This is a civil responsibility and one that our Church considers an important expression of faithful citizenship. Pope Francis expressed consern about the state of democracy especially with low voter turnout and populist temptations to vote unreflectively.

More recently, Pope Francis recognized the difficulty with the American election but still called on us all to be involved and to form our conscience for this election.

Recognizing these social concerns and the important upcoming elections that have the potential to move us closer to authoritarianism or the democratic process, the church is asking all of us to be involved and vote. The Jesuit magazine, "America" offers the following six suggestions for conflicted voters.

Prepare a personal scorecard: Where do the candidates stand on pro-life, anti-poverty, immigration, foreign policy and religious freedom issues? ...the process can help clarify a Catholic voter’s thinking before stepping into the booth.

Split your ticket:  A split ticket sends a clear message: We want both sides to address problems in a bipartisan manner, not with extreme proposals.

Assess each candidate’s character and leadership skills: A candidate who is willing to lead, reach across the aisle, strongly consider opposing views and respect the rule of law in decision-making can be vital in achieving the common good—an important Catholic principle.

Remember that you do not have to support the candidate you vote for on every issue: There are many ways to exercise your rights as a citizen in the public square besides voting, such as attending rallies, writing letters or participating in coalition or community groups.

Talk to fellow Catholics: It is worth talking to family, friends and acquaintances about the election through a Catholic lens. Even if you disagree or even argue with someone, this provides another guidepost for your decision process.

And finally, vote, even if it is a difficult decision: For some Catholic voters, neither major candidate is satisfactory, and you must “hold your nose” to vote for one of them—or at least say a prayer before doing so.

These are great points for all Catholics to ponder as we prepare for election day. Regarding the fifth bullet point, talking to fellow Catholics, I advise us all to take seriously the idea of promoting cordial diologues based on an ethic of mutual respect for one another. In the past I have promoted the "Civilize It" Campaign from the USCCB, a campaign to get American voters to participate in the electoral process with the dignity that flows from our Catholic values. The Jesuit social ction thinktank, The Ignatian Solidarity Network, offers Catholics a different opportunity. This campaign is more follows Ignatian spirituality and is more friendly towards sociel media engagement. It has Catholics take the pledge below and then widely promote their political enagement.

[biblepreacher]

War & Politics: Conquer Evil with Good

We are continuing our series answering the questions of "war & politics". In this post we talk about how to conquer evil with good, which is a crucial point in my framework. For this reason, this post is larger and deeper in scope than the others.

One of the most compelling axioms of our time is the saying “when good men do nothing, evil prevails.” When we look around and see what is being done to babies, how our children are being mutilated, and our society is becoming cruel, desperate, and corrupt, I think we yearn from the deepest recesses of our soul for justice. We look for answers that tell us what we can do about the evils we see…

[rebel-girl-queen-of-my-world]

Attention Christians - THIS is what Jesus would do. Put his body on the line, speak truth to power, and demand justice for the starving and oppressed. 🙌

Thank you, @christiansforafreepalestine, for being an example of true decency and faith in action.

“Our scriptures say ‘woe to you, who eat while others go hungry!” they called out to senate staff.

Saying “Congress won’t eat until Gaza eats,” over 60 Christians from across the U.S. are nonviolently blockading the Senate Cafeteria to pressure the Senate and their staffers to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, restore aid to UNRWA, and end military funding to Israel. #CFPAction

[hussyknee]

Trying to explain what the fuck just happened in Lankan politics today.

The leftist party has won 159 seats out of 218 in the Parliamentary elections. The single biggest landslide win since we broke from the British and achieved universal franchise in 1948.

Any party achieving a super majority in the executive and legislative is, objectively speaking, bad. It disables checks and balances, which is a catastrophic thing for any democracy, and the only two other times it's happened for us has irrevocably eroded the fabric of civic rights and democratic freedom. Also, the reason the NPP won the North and East is that the colonized, genocided and subjugated people there have no faith in electoralism anymore. The way this government has engaged minority issues has been utterly abysmal and now they've been rewarded for it.

On the other hand:

The winners. Are all. Grassroots. Candidates.¹

We have voted out every single career criminal that's been barnacled into the Lankan political arena since before I've been alive. The fascist party has only three seats.² The other fascists didn't win a single seat. The neoliberal legacy party won none. There are only forty people in Parliament that represent any sort of dynastic political legacy. After 76 solid years of nothing but political dynasties.

This is barely five years after the Rajapaksas swept in and absolutely glutted the Parliament with their family members and cronies end to end.

This is the illegitimate interim government we had for most of the last 18 months. We literally, physically, chased the Rajapaksas out of the country and this fucking demon set up a puppet government just so he could finally sit in that goddamn chair and be the despot he'd always dreamed of in exchange for letting them all come back. He's now gone. His entire circle is gone.

THEY ARE ALL FUCKING GONE.

In US terms, just imagine that, five years from now, when Trump's GOP has control of everything, the entire GOP and the worst of the Dems are all purged from Congress and Senate, the Green Party in control of all three branches of government under a pro-union left-wing President and an unmarried female LGBT rights activist Vice President, and the Dems reduced to barely 20% of the House.

This is my anthropology professor. She joined politics from the small nascent leftist coalition to help keep the government accountable. She's now the Prime Minister and the most popular Parliamentary candidate in the nation's history. (Edit: She was knocked off first place by a dude in the final result. Boo.)

(On the other hand— the woman who helped make me a radical anarchist and literally helped write a book on political dissent and resistance...now is the state. Uh.)

But there are so many women in Parliament! We had the lowest female representation in a South Asian Parliament and some of them were from the list of seats reserved for parties rather than elected ones. Most were either anti-feminist conservative embarrassments, widows and daughters of elite politicians and neoliberal shills. It's still only an increase of a few percentage points (Edit: from the previous 5% to 10% in the final result!) but now we have elected academics, feminist advocates, activists! There Is a representative for Malaiyaha Tamils in the Central Province for the first time in history and it's a young woman! (Edit: now it's two female Malaiyaha MPS!!) This is the plantation community that still live in conditions closest to the slavery the British forced upon them two hundred years ago!

I'm like. Completely mindfucked. To be very very clear, the NPP coalition formed around the nucleus of the JVP that used to be communist but haven't been in 30 years, they're now just social democrats who are left of places like the US and UK, whose "left" is now center-right. They're only threatening to the Western mainstream media for some reason who can't stop bleating about how we have a "Marxist" government now. In reality, the actual chances for radical reform are still quite low, and the opportunity for further erosion is quite high with a super majority government regardless of affiliation.

On the other hand:

What the fuck.

Sometimes living through historical events is really damn amazing.

---

¹ Well, nearly. There are a few career politicians and a nepo baby but they aren't so bad either.

² Goddamn it, Baby Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka's answer to JD Vance have wormed their way in using the list of Constitutionally reserved party seats for non-elected members. FUCK the National List.

[universoulreiki]

There is an increasing polarity in the political world and how many feel we should address the problems facing us. The temptation to separate people and parties into "Good guys" and "Bad guys" is strong. Archangel Sandalphon delivers an in-depth look at how to best shape our choices and alignments, policy by policy and candidate by candidate. We're encouraged to turn away from fear-based political actions and towards heart-centered ones.

Channeled by Daniel Zafer-Joyce on 12-6-22 at Castle Rock State Park, Los Gatos, CA

If you would like to schedule your own private channeling for guidance you can do so at this link:

https://bit.ly/41ufEGA

If you would like to contact Daniel directly with questions you can use the contact link at universoulreiki.com

Follow on Instagram at @Universoul_Reiki for early glimpses of upcoming messages.

Music: Ambient Nature Music | Nature by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

[theonion]

In a historic reversal of its nearly 2,000-year-old pro-meek stance, the Catholic Church announced Tuesday that it is permanently rescinding the traditional “blessed” status of the world’s meek. “Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ once said, ’Blessed are the meek,’” said Pope John Paul II in a papal bull read before the College of Cardinals. “However, there has always been a tacit understanding between the Church and the meek that this ’blessed’ status was conditional upon their inheritance of the earth, an event which seems unlikely to happen anytime in the foreseeable future. Our relationship, therefore, must be terminated.” “Screw the meek,” the pope added. Full Story

[whereserpentswalk]

Thing I made.

[markwilliams54]

Evangelicalism’s Dangerous Pursuit of Power

The evangelical movement in America has become inextricably linked with political activism, but at what cost? In DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism, Dr. Mark Williams explores how this shift from spiritual focus to political power has eroded the moral foundation of the Church.

Dr. William’s book paints a stark picture of how many evangelicals, driven by the desire to advance causes like pro-life advocacy and religious freedom, have abandoned the core teachings of Jesus. These causes, while seemingly noble, have been co-opted by political agendas that prioritize legislative victories over the genuine spiritual welfare of individuals. This manipulation of faith for political gain is at the heart of DECEIVED!

The author demonstrates how evangelical leaders have become deeply entrenched in the political sphere, often supporting candidates whose personal lives and policies contradict Christian values. Dr. Williams asks a critical question: how can believers, in good conscience, align themselves with politicians whose behavior is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus? Is the promise of political power worth sacrificing our spiritual integrity?

DECEIVED! exposes the reality that many well-meaning Christians have been misled into believing that their political activism is a form of service to God. However, Dr. Williams explains that these actions often lead us further from the message of Christ. Instead of focusing on compassion, forgiveness, and love—the very heart of the Gospel—Christians are distracted by the pursuit of power.

The book is not just an indictment of modern evangelicalism but also a call to return to the essence of Christian faith. Dr. Williams encourages readers to reassess their priorities and reflect on whether their political engagement is truly reflective of Jesus’ teachings. Is it possible to fight for moral causes without compromising one’s faith?

In answering these questions, Dr. Williams provides a compelling argument for a return to spiritual integrity. DECEIVED! encourages Christians to resist the temptation of power and refocus on what really matters: following Jesus’ example of love, service, and humility. This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the direction of evangelicalism and its impact on both faith and politics.

DECEIVED! is now available for purchase on Amazon and at https://deceived.drmarkwill.com. To preview chapters from this transformative book and enjoy Dr. Mark Williams' inspiring music, download his app using the QR code below. Buy the book through the app to get a $5 discount on the retail price of DECEIVED! The Poisoned Fruit of Evangelicalism. https://stagingclientswebsites.com/wp3/

[a-boat-on-the-sea]

Jesus was a brown-skinned, Middle Eastern man, who spent his early childhood as a refugee. He spent his life telling people to give all their belongings to the poor. If he knocked on the door of many Republicans, they would get one of their guns and shoot him in the face.

[locustheologicus]

What reason can there be to vote for Trump?

I have made it clear that I am obviously voting for Harris. Yet I must confess that It boggles my mind why anyone at this point is supporting candidate Trump. I am sincerely asking this question in the hope of sparking a conversation on what is it we stand for. I have recognized candidate Trump as a failed businessman with a successful flare for self-marketing who has bamboozled many of us into thinking that he is an image of success. The article above shows that actual economist see candidate Harris as have a better economic platform for our nation.

While each of us has different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we believe that, overall, Harris’ economic agenda will improve our nation’s health, investment, sustainability, resilience, employment opportunities, and fairness and be vastly superior to the counterproductive economic agenda of Donald Trump.

As far as I can tell he is simply a narcissist who lives on personal adulation and power. What has he actually done that merits any national consideration? How is it that this is a close race?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I will be voting for Harris but not because of issues. I will vote for her because I consider Trump a threat to America, our political system and core values. Because of all this I have also committed, with this election, to vote straight democrat. My reason for this is because overall the Republicans have allowed Trump’s candidacy to undermine our political system and they must be held responsible for this.

Having said this I will say that I am looking to see what Candidate Harris does stand for and see what issues I do agree with. One of the criticisms on Candidate Harris is that people don’t know what she stands for. Perhaps because of the toxic political environment we find ourselves in we have witnessed more defensive character bashing than actual issue discussion. With Trump it isn’t easy to find concrete issues outside of mass deportations, a tariffs based economy and support for IVF’s.

As for Harris, this unpacks some of the issues that she stands for.

Faithful Citizenship raises the following two principles that are an overarching lens for my evaluation on socio-economic issues.

The dignity of the human person is the foundation for a moral vision of society, [therefore] we seek to prevent and remedy any aspects of an “economy of exclusion,” which “does not hesitate to exploit, discard, and even kill human beings,” and to work instead toward an “economy of communion” rooted in ethical concern.

We must “place at the center of all political, social and economic activity the human person, who enjoys the highest dignity, and respect for the common good… While the common good embraces all, those who are weak, vulnerable, and most in need deserve special concern, which the Church describes as the preferential option for the poor. Laws and policies must prioritize those who struggle to make ends meet and must preserve the social safety net and promote decent jobs, affordable housing, and childcare.

With these Catholic social values in mind I raise the following policies from Candidate Harris that I support because of them.

Economics:

First-ever federal ban on price gouging on food and groceries.

Secure new authority for the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to investigate and penalize companies that unfairly exploit consumers.

Increase a tax deduction for new small businesses to $50,000, up from $5,000.

Help minority entrepreneurs and others by providing 1 million fully forgivable loans.

Strengthen the manufacturing sector by creating a new “America Forward” tax credit. It would be targeted at investment and job creation in key strategic industries

Taxes:

Expansión of the child tax credit to as much as $3,600, up from $2,000, and call for it to be made permanent.

Add a new child tax credit of up to $6,000 for middle-class and lower-income families

Restore the American Rescue Plan’s enhancement of the earned income tax credit, known as the EITC.

End federal income tax on tips

Raise the corporate tax rate to 28%, up from the current 21% rate set by Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Raise the long-term capital gains rate to 28%, up from the current 20% rate, for those earning more than $1 million.

Supporting the Billionaire Minimum Income Tax proposal, which seeks to ensure that those worth more than $100 million pay a federal income tax rate of at least 25% on their income.

Housing:

Provide up to $25,000 in down-payment support for first-time homebuyers. The down-payment support would apply to working families who have paid rent on time for two years, with more generous support for first-time homebuyers. The plan would also provide a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers.

Building of 3 million new housing units. To spur construction, she would provide a first-ever tax incentive for builders who build starter homes sold to first-time buyers.

Lower rent costs in the US by blocking landlords from using algorithm-driven price-setting tools to set rents and discouraging wealthy investors from buying up properties and marking up rents in bulk by removing tax benefits for investors who buy large numbers of single-family rental homes.

Health Care:

Builds on the Biden administration’s efforts to reduce prescription drug costs. Including the expansion of the current $35 monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin and the upcoming $2,000 annual limit on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs generally to all Americans.

Accelerate the speed of Medicare’s drug price negotiations so that the costs of more medications come down faster.

establish a Medicare at Home program, which would provide home health aides to enrollees who cannot independently handle activities of daily living.

Reduce the number of “ambulance deserts” by increasing funding and technical support for emergency medical technicians and first responders

Immigration:

Crackdown on asylum claims meant to continue reducing crossings at the US-Mexico border. Harris has said that she would maintain Biden’s crackdown on asylum claims – and potentially go further.

Continue overseeing diplomatic efforts in Central America.

Pull together the Partnership for Central America, which has acted as a liaison between companies and the US government. Her team and the partnership are closely coordinating on initiatives that have led to job creation in the region.

Climate Change:

Work to Reduce climate pollution by 2035 – a requirement of the Paris climate agreement.

Continue supporting the policies of the Green New Deal in considering sustainable infrastructure and opportunities.

This is not an exhaustive list but these are a list of her domestic policies that very much concern me as I consider the future of our nation.

In the spirit of voting your conscience I hope that all Catholic Americans reflect on the values of their faith and consider how they will vote their conscience.

[biblepreacher]

War & Politics: Can Christians Serve in Political or Military Vocations?

Having argued that Jesus is Lord, which gives him alone the right to order his Kingdom, and that there is one authority over all to which we must answer, which means there aren’t different standards for “secular” and “religious” spheres, and having argued that God has both reserved vengeance for himself, now it’s time to ask the question that has divided how Christians engage with questions of…