Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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Comments (32)
Why not? Some spiritual guidance is good for anyone, more so for someone with the stress and responsibilities of the President. It could be said to be a conflict with separation of church and state, but in the real world, should the President, on advice of his pastor, sign some unconstitutional legislation, we have a supreme court to over rule.
@redshad@xanga - I agree. Plus, it could be seen as a way to ensure that separation. The only problem I could forsee is every major group/organization feeling that they deserve a representative in the cabinet...
@UTAlan@xanga - I'm in Japan and don't get the most updated news...is Obama thinking of appointing his pastor to office? or is this just a hypothetical?
I say no. Every president has had a personal spiritual advisor/pastor, but to put one on his Cabinet in an official sense violates "separation of church and state," in my opinion.
besides, which department would the pastor be appointed to? depending on the pastor's résumé (if his experience is solely in ministry/non-profit), he probably wouldn't be qualified to lead any of the departments.
I don't see why not. I think it would be a good thing. Of course, then we'd have to define what a Pastor is....I'm sure Obama has a different idea than a lot of us...
As long as that pastor can check his religious superiority complex at the door, a spiritual reference might not be so bad.
So long as it doesn't become some kind of theostocratic relationship.
It depends on the pastor's function in the cabinet. As long as the pastor's job doesn't violate the First Amendment (and consequently the separation of Church and state), it should be acceptable.
If it's a person who is a pastor filling one of the already existing positions within the cabinet who is most qualified for the position and its duties, why not? If the question is asking should a new role be created for the position of past within the cabinet? Absolutely not. How is a paying position in the U.S. government for the duty of spiritual adviser not a violation of church and state?
What use is a pastor of anyways for the cabinet (who's area of expertise is being a pastor and has little to no knowledge on public policy, politics, etc)? This is like asking if we should have a psychologist as part of the cabinet.
in obama's case, he might put someone like rev. wright in. but no, there's nothing that says the president can't consult with pastors in private. i don't think a specific position in the cabinet is necessary.
I certainly do...besides Obama is going to need all the help he can get, lol, :)
Cheryl
@QuantumStorm@xanga - Violate the first amendment? already been done
As long as it's not Jeremiah Wright or louis farrakan I'm ok with it.
I don't think it's such a good idea. Not only that it conflicts with separation of church and state, it may create tension between different religious denominations.
A president should and can consult whomever he so desires in private, but to name a specific person may lead to bias and the force of beliefs onto another, which may not be the best of ideas.
@jlKauffman@xanga - If so, there's no need to make it worse, y'know?
@whataboutbahb@xanga - that's about my answer. Only if the capable candidate for the position just happens to be a Pastor along with more qualifying expertise for the position.
As long as he's qualified for the position (not one created especially for him), and it's not Jeremiah Wright or Louis farrakan, why not? Why would having 'pastor' on your resume disqualify you?
Wasn't Mike Huckabee a former pastor? Wasn't he running for president?
if he will be serving in a religious capacity, no... unless Obama plans on appointing someone from every faith.
@didache@xanga - @lifeliveit@xanga - Why are they the only one's who are disqualified? Is John Hagee OK? How about Ted Haggard? Is it only African-American pastors who are disqualified?
The role of a pastor is to shepherd a church...
If there's a pastor in Obama's cabinet, then the whole White House would become like a church...
@Stephanie_J_B@xanga - In my opinion, you hit on one of the biggest problems with having something like this, and with churches trying to increase their government control in general. There's always the question of whose opinion, whose view on faith is correct. We overlook that not only would other religions be discriminated against, but even members of Christianity would find themselves being outsiders.
@haemina@xanga -
What if the guy is also a Senator? which some formerly are. I think it's fine to have a religious background and to have a good sense of black and white on issues. It gives the candidate/elected official a hire sense of duty to the post. I think some officials take their posts too lightly and get into these scandals.
@pch_driver@xanga - the way the question was asked, i assumed they meant a pastor currently in full-time ministry. if it's someone like Mike Huckabee who is a former minister, then i don't think it's a violation of separation of church & state. but still, i would like the person to be a leader in whichever department he/she is appointed to. it really depends on their resume. i'm a Christian but i still am very reluctant to say yes just b/c we're talking about a pastor/spiritual leader. a good spiritual leader doesn't always = a good political leader.
@haemina@xanga -
totally agreed with the spiritual leader not always a good political leader ie some muslim extremist in power of countries. Huckabee was a former pastor turn politician, but we in a sense are pastors as well, our ministry doesn't stop at the door of the church, it is every day every where all the time 24/7 so we shouldn't be in politics then?
I too am a Christian
aka Souled_out@revelife
absolutely not. it all boils down to the simple rule of separation of church and state. we're not doing a good job of it at the moment. there's no need to make the muddled lines any worse than they already are. instead, people should be working on how to un-muddle those lines.
@didache@xanga - and didn't mike huckabee's campaign end miserably in epic fail?