You all should read this speech

[StoryTeller]

Here's the link: http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4212

It's the text for a speech that John Kerry gave at Pepperdine today. And here is my long-ish response on another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x103149#103218

It's a speech that basically lays out his personal spiritual journey and how it affects his decisions and actions. He also gives some excellent suggestions of what one's Christian beliefs ought to lead them to do.

I was wondering what you all think. I hope it's okay to mention specific political figures in this forum. I'm not trying to start a discussion about Kerry himself or as a politician. Just a discussion about his speech, especially as an example of a public expression of faith in the political realm.

[54anickel]

1. Beautiful. The closing paragraph is very strong and a great summary

of where he's at in his spiritual journey. If I had to pick one line that I can really relate to at this point in my own journey it would be "God is not through with humanity."

We are forever learning and growing spiritually. God didn't simply create us then send Jesus to "set it and forget it". The early days of Christianity was so....looking for the word....vibrant, fluid, flowing. There was an excitement in the air, this whole "Jesus movement". An ever growing collection of oral and written traditions. People were exploring, inquisitive, bouncing ideas around. Somewhere along the line the movement got "stuck" and became a dogma. God and Jesus were boxed up in a Book and the Holy Spirit was chained to that Book. It's the work of the Holy Spirit if it fits in with the Book, it's heresy or the Devil himself if it deviates somewhat.

I think it's a sincere and honest expression of his faith, certainly a politically proper discourse. Obviously not meant for a stump speech, but very powerful stuff in a proper setting.

[RevCheesehead]

2. I am soooo stealing this line!

"God didn't simply create us then send Jesus to "set it and forget it". " :rofl:

[54anickel]

3. Nooooo! Not the good Rev "stealing"!!!! Ah, what the heck, I copped

part of it from the Ron-co man. ;-) I suffer from insomnia, infomercials are my friends.

I'd be honored RevCheesehead.