FELLOWSHIP TAKES HUMOROUS LOOK AT RELIGION AND POLITICS.Byline: David Briggs David Briggs is the name of:
Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Call it religion and politics light. For those times when it is hard to differentiate between the players in the worlds of faith and politics - or when rancor seems to overwhelm charity in public policy debates - The Fellowship of Merry Christians offers an alternative perspective. In its June newsletter and a new book, the Portage Portage (1, 2 pôr`təj; 3 pôr`tĭj). 1 Town (1990 pop. 29,060), Porter co., NW Ind., a suburb of Gary, on Lake Michigan; inc. 1959. , Mich.-based fellowship takes on the high and mighty arrogant; overbearing. See also: High - in the pulpit and in the legislature - who invoke religion in the name of partisan politics. In the words of comedian Jay Leno Jay Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer who is best known as the current host of NBC television's long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. Biography Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York. : ``If God had wanted us to vote, he would have given us candidates.'' Or take the joke about the three presidential candidates who died and went to heaven. Bill Clinton was told to sit to the left of the Lord, while George Bush was told to take a seat on the right. Then, turning to the third man, the Lord asked: ``Who are you?'' ``I'm Ross Perot H. Ross Perot (born June 27, 1930) is an American businessman from Texas, who is best known for seeking the office of President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems (EDS) in 1962 and later sold the company to General Motors and founded Perot and I believe you're sitting in my seat.'' The man who may be the once and still king of the humor of religion and politics, however, is Will Rogers. In The Joyful Noiseletter and the book ``Holy Humor: Inspirational Wit and Cartoons,'' there are several examples of the humorist's perspective on religion and politics that stand the test of time. It seems that even back in the 1920s and 1930s preachers spent a fair amount of time on politics. ``A preacher just can't save anybody nowadays. He is too busy saving the nation. He can't monkey with individual salvation,'' said Rogers, who was raised a Methodist and politically was an independent. ``In the old days, those fellows read their Bibles. Now they read the Congressional Record A daily publication of the federal government that details the legislative proceedings of Congress. The Congressional Record began in 1873 and, in 1947, a feature called The Daily Digest was added to briefly highlight the daily legislative activities of each House, .'' Here are some of his other observations on religion and politics. ``When Congress gets the Constitution all fixed up, they are going to start on the Ten Commandments, just as soon as they can find someone in Washington who has read them.'' ``Political conventions remind us that the White House is a little like heaven - not everybody who talks about it is going there.'' ``Congressmen and fellows like me are alike in some ways, I guess. But when I make a joke, it's a joke. When they make a joke, it's a law.'' The Rev. Cy Eberhart, a retired hospital chaplain from Salem, Ore., who portrays Rogers in one-man shows, said he does not think Rogers believed politics had much place in the pulpit. However, he said, ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how much he was making fun, and how much he really believed that.'' In the holy humor book, politicians also show a willingness to make fun of themselves, and even occasionally to get their own shots in. In an opening prayer for the Michigan Legislature, one lawmaker said, ``Dear Lord, as we go about your business in taking care of the people of the state of Michigan, please put your right hand on our shoulder and your left hand over our mouth. Amen.'' And it was a politician who got in the last word on a heckler heck·le tr.v. heck·led, heck·ling, heck·les 1. To try to embarrass and annoy (someone speaking or performing in public) by questions, gibes, or objections; badger. 2. To comb (flax or hemp) with a hatchel. who told him, ``I wouldn't vote for you if you were St. Peter.'' ``If I were St. Peter,'' the candidate shot back, ``You wouldn't be in my district.'' |
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