Gabe's post

I receive a lot from this section, beginning with the first subtitle on Chapter 19 "Joining the Peace Insurgency". How do we do so with the Old Testament still on the books? As pointed out its full of killings in the name of God, isn't all of the Bible the Divine Word of God. I know that Jesus changed the game from rules into relationship, yet modern society seems still play by the God on our side scenario. Your right Alan about chapter 20 which carries over to chapter 21, I felt ashamed because I was never aware of such things as stated on pg. 163 "the US military budget was then (2006) larger than the next twenty five nations combined." In this chapter we see previous Presidents making statements like Eisenhower and how we will become morally and economically bankrupt for the illusion of security and with Carter saying "we can't be both the world's leading champion of peace and the world's leading supplier of arms." These are quotes 20 and 40 years ago and in which direction has American headed in this area?? So we as a nation are addicted to war. I just wonder when we as a nation will stop finding people we don't like. It doesn't seem that America is rock bottom. Alan, in one of your questions you asked how we as "American Christians" should respond, I don't really think of myself as an "American Christian". I found myself thinking today after this section, the more I learn about America the I don't really like it.

Here are Gabe's thoughts to the last post. It is amazing just since reading this book how many Americans who proclaim Christ are also addicted to the narrative of violence. I understand and can see how you can argue from a liberal/conservative stance regarding something like the poverty gap. Perhaps government's main role isn't to narrow the rich/poor gap and perhaps if churches did a better job with social justice the government would have to...but I'm amazed at how many Conservative Christians are also on board with violence that comes along with supporting Bush and the American foreign policy agenda. An additional food for thought article compared Bush to Batman...lookup on Wall Street Journal article about "Batman and W" it was an interesting read from a neo-conservative who paints Bush as a Batman like hero. I had some reactions to the article that would be fun to discuss if anyone reads the article. Also, I will post section 6 next week. Peace, alan.