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I saw this short but interesting little clip by LZ Granderson discussing the problem that at least three different Republican candidates for the Presidency seem to believe that God "called" them to run.

I suppose someone will come along and say that just because God wanted them to run doesn't mean God wanted them specifically to be President. It kinda sounds like the candidates think God intends them to be President though.

Sounds like a good opportunity for a public discussion of Christian epistemology and just what method these folks are counting on to identify and interpret Divine communication.

Sethbag wrote:I saw this short but interesting little clip by LZ Granderson discussing the problem that at least three different Republican candidates for the Presidency seem to believe that God "called" them to run.

I suppose someone will come along and say that just because God wanted them to run doesn't mean God wanted them specifically to be President. It kinda sounds like the candidates think God intends them to be President though.

Sounds like a good opportunity for a public discussion of Christian epistemology and just what method these folks are counting on to identify and interpret Divine communication.

I'm not sure what you want to discuss. I suspect you will have a criticism of someone claims he/she has prayed about this and received an answer from The Holy Spirit. I would probably join you in your criticism.

However, there is another option: one may claim they were called because their life experiences, education, personality make-up, makes them particularly qualified to be president. That is a kind of "calling" that we speak of often in my church.

It's interesting to me that, should I have read you correctly, that your default position is the each of the candidates had some sort of mystical experience that they are relying on.

Yes. I'm saying that, at least from the little video clip, it seems that each of the candidates in question believes that God has communicated his intent that they run for President - as if they are "called by God" to be the next US President (no doubt to set things straight in this country, the way God wants them to be). Hermann Cain apparently even claims to have had an argument with God about it, a sort of faux humility, "why did you choose me, God?" moment.

I very much doubt it will happen, but I think this really should make people question the basis on which they believe to have communications with God. I think Republicans know that God doesn't really want Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, and Hermann Cain to be President all at the same time. If these guys all claim to believe God has chosen them, then either they're lying, or they're mistaken.

If they believe they've had communication with God, but are mistaken, I think that's something everyone should take seriously, who has similar beliefs about communications with God. The lesson here is something like this: those feelings probably don't really mean what I think they do.

I think you and he raise fair questions - you're add-ons and parenthetical statement notwithstanding. However, there isn't much there comment on. why isn't it available to the canidates to say that God wants them to run, not necessarily win? But, ok, I'll pass on that one.

The answer is they are mistaken. How is that so condemning for them as candidates? And, no, that's not quite the lesson, in my opinion. The lesson is that one cannot rely on feelings as communication from God.

Maybe God called all of those crazy Republicans to run for President so Obama would succeed in his quest for re-election because the GOP has a long dragged-out fight for the nomination. Heh.

Equality wrote:Maybe God called all of those crazy Republicans to run for President so Obama would succeed in his quest for re-election because the GOP has a long dragged-out fight for the nomination. Heh.

Could very well be.

Sethbag wrote:I saw this short but interesting little clip by LZ Granderson discussing the problem that at least three different Republican candidates for the Presidency seem to believe that God "called" them to run.

Clearly, at least two of them are lying. Now, if I could only tell which two... ;)

How is some idiot running for president claiming to be on a mission from god any different from some idiot looking to get into some married woman's skirt claiming to be on a mission from god?

It's classic "let's fake some credibility," relying on the ignorance and gullibility of the electorate.