NYT/Reuters: U.S. Churches Sharply Divided on Iraq War

[DeepModem Mom]

U.S. Churches Sharply Divided on Iraq War
By REUTERS
Published: November 4, 2006

DALLAS (Reuters) - America's churches are still sharply divided on the war in Iraq as their flocks prepare to go to the polls, although backing for the conflict has dimmed even among the once solidly supportive evangelical community.

Public opposition to the war -- polls show a solid majority of more than 60 percent of Americans opposed -- is seen as a major reason President George W. Bush's Republican Party is battling to retain control of the U.S. Congress in Tuesday's elections.

And with far higher church attendance rates in the United States than in other parts of the rich industrialized world church stances on the war, as on other issues, loom large in politics.

Among mainstream Protestant denominations, leaders of the United Methodist Church have been vocal in their criticism of Iraq....

Many African-American churches have also come out in opposition to the war, and the message is heard loudly in countless services every Sunday....

On the other side of the divide are the largely white evangelical Protestants, who have been a bedrock of support for the Republican Party....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-elections-churches.html

[Demeter]

1. How Can a Church, Especially Christian, Be For a War of Conquest?

It's just not theologically, morally, or logically right. It's the exact opposite of the guidance one is supposedly getting from Christ's teachings.

[Tyo]

2. I'm not a Christian....

but from what I know of the teachings of Christ I can't see how any church that identifies as Christian can support this occupation or this administration