Pro-McCain Pastor Casts Election as Religious Contest

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Stoking religious tensions in an increasingly heated presidential race, an evangelical pastor supporting John McCain delivered a prayer that appeared to dismiss faiths other than Christianity and cast the election as a referendum on God himself.

"I would also pray, Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their god -- whether it is Hindu, Buddha, Allah -- that [McCain's] opponent wins, for a variety of reasons," said the Rev. Arnold Conrad, former pastor of the Grace Evangelical Free Church.

"And Lord, I pray that you will guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their god is bigger than you if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name with all that happens between now and Election Day," he added.

Conrad's prayer came before McCain arrived at the convention center blocks from the Mississippi River.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/11/pr...igious-contest/

[Otto 83]

I see athletes pray before they begin/compete all the time... as if [higher power] is watching sports...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Stoking religious tensions in an increasingly heated presidential race, an evangelical pastor supporting John McCain delivered a prayer that appeared to dismiss faiths other than Christianity and cast the election as a referendum on God himself.

"I would also pray, Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world praying to their god -- whether it is Hindu, Buddha, Allah -- that [McCain's] opponent wins, for a variety of reasons," said the Rev. Arnold Conrad, former pastor of the Grace Evangelical Free Church.

"And Lord, I pray that you will guard your own reputation, because they're going to think that their god is bigger than you if that happens. So I pray that you will step forward and honor your own name with all that happens between now and Election Day," he added.

Conrad's prayer came before McCain arrived at the convention center blocks from the Mississippi River.

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/11/pr...igious-contest/

Ah yes. The religious freaks need a guy that is incapable of offering anything but smear and lies to the nation. How fitting.

[PlatyPius 5]

There are far too many chopf##ks like this in the world. Not just Xian, either.

[jundp 191]

My priest prays that the people of this country will make informed decisions regarding the election and that the leaders of our country will make wise choices.

[HAL 9000 96]

Can we just pray against religious hypocrisy?

[jundp 191]

Yes!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Defeat Allah, Vote McCain!

[IAMX 3,055]

Defeat Allah, Vote McCain!

Wow.

Next thing you know he's gonna tell "God" to make him filthy rich if he's really a loving God.

Pretty conceited and downright manipulative. Wonder if McCain loses if he turns into Pat Robertson incarnate.

[Peikko 1,575]

Surely the 'end times' get all ###### up if McCain wins? I would have thought the fundies would be fervently praying for an Obama win to hasten in the time of the second coming. If McCain wins, he'll stem the tide and win the day and end times will recede into a distant memory and that would never do, would it? That would be like altering the course of destiny...I'm confused.

[chri'stina 190]

Hmm. Well I am writing as a Christian myself too and whatever God's will is for the election, we can't assume one way or the other. I mean, if people really want their candidate to win, praying about it makes sense. We pray for a lot of things. But when it is brought to the level by the pastor quoted in the topic, it goes over the line for me. I don't like when people get overly political in church. I don't believe Obama is evil and if we are going to talk spirituality, Obama has not been afraid to say he is a Christian and honestly McCain and Obama would be the pretty same to me spirituality wise. McCain doesn't talk much about spirituality, which is one reason the very right wing wasn't thrilled about him as choice(he is NOT McSame or they would have been happy from the start).

McCain may be more in line with views on the right, but he is more center than anything IMO, no matter how many people want to pretend he is "McSame". He is a lot different than Bush in ways. Not talking much about faith or very right wing things like Palin does or Bush did is one of the differences for a start. That's why I liked McCain more out of the GOP choices, he was more center like me. I like Huckabee, but wasn't sure that meant I wanted him to be President. Though I like his personality a lot better. I have lately felt less and less enthusiastic about McCain unfortunately, because his campaign seemed to have changed from what it was. Now I actually feel torn inside. I feel like I don't want to vote for anybody on some days. I never thought I'd feel that.

Surely the 'end times' get all ###### up if McCain wins? I would have thought the fundies would be fervently praying for an Obama win to hasten in the time of the second coming. If McCain wins, he'll stem the tide and win the day and end times will recede into a distant memory and that would never do, would it? That would be like altering the course of destiny...I'm confused.

Obama has no significance on the end time coming sooner in my opinion unless that is what God wanted in the first place. I am speaking from within the evangelical world so I am sure some people will think I am just crazy too. But I am trying to show some things from the "inside" I guess. I do believe in the "end times", so if I am a fundie I am ok with that but I'd like to clarify the differences even within the evangelical world. It's not that everyone is the same.

I saw someone last week at the library, a lady, and I have known her family since I was a small kid but hardly see them except once in awhile. Because of the financial mess, she does think it could be the end of the world. She didn't mentioned the elections, just the financial mess. She didn't talk too long but I got the sense that a lot of people do think this is really starting to be the end times, since she belongs to a big church, and I am not going to judge that but I don't agree. I am sure people thought the same thing during the Great Depression. The lady described herself as an "end times junkie", I chuckled, but so did she. I think she could tell I wasn't so enthusiastic about it so she said "I won't go on". Who knows, she could be right, but she could be wrong, and it's not something I am going to worry about right now.

I know other people, and do call them my friends, who had a theory that the US will bomb Iran before Bush leaves office, which will cause some massive world war, and martial law would be called so Bush would never leave office. lol. They also really thought Y2K would start the end and mayhem. Yes, I am friends with people I don't agree with or think may be a little out there at times. I know others(relatives of good friends) who still do think Obama is a secret Muslim. I have defended Obama for the sake of facts, not because I want him as President. I am not trying to say if he was really Muslim that it'd be horrific...I am just saying that facts are facts and if I can tell people them so they stop believing that stupid email, I will.

But anyway...I do believe in the bible and the prophecies in the Bible, I am not going to deny those or my faith. But we always assume the end times are officially starting every time a bad or scary thing happens. Maybe something will start the "end times" eventually but I feel as Christians, if we are living every day the way we believe we are supposed to, it doesn't matter whether it's the end times or not. I believe the end times started when Jesus left, but the "end times" phrase people use is more about the very very end.

Edited October 14, 2008 by Parivar CSK

[almaty 19]

Defeat Allah, Vote McCain!

not voting for mccain..is a vote against God and supporting Bin Laden/Taliban and Oprah

[chri'stina 190]

Dean...the Oprah part is right, watch out, she will take over the world!!

[almaty 19]

Dean...the Oprah part is right, watch out, she will take over the world!!

lol....i agree with that little sister...

Dean...the Oprah part is right, watch out, she will take over the world!!

lol....i agree with that little sister...

[chri'stina 190]

I was re-reading the OP and also wanted to add, which I forgot to before, that the pastor is talking as if he has to tell God how to behave. Like "Well, You better step forward God to save your reputation," as if God did things the way we think He has to or that we have to remind Him about things. It reminds me of the "Man makes plans and God laughs" quote.