I bet there are a host of predominently black churches with angry congregations and leaders

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

How could there not be? Who could possibly blame either the congregation or the leader based on the state of things in our country?

How can anyone with a social conscience and a sense of justice not be outraged?

How about Katrina? If that wasn't evidence of institutionalized depraved indifference, I don't know what was. Do you think if Kennebunkport was swamped by a hurricane that the population would be left to moulder for days on their roofs and overpasses while Bush played guitars and ate cake? Do you think people fleeing to high ground would be met by deputies with guns turning them back? Do you think there would have been spurious reports of "snipers" that would keep out the freaking Red Cross for God's sake?

Take this moment to reflect on the state of race relations in this country and think how it could become better. There is one very obvious answer staring you right in the face.

[theboss]

1. I posted three or four years ago on a religion thread, that Dems need to tread carefully....

...because blacks are the single-most religious group in America.

We are confirming that. And we are learning that "black" Christianity is a rather different thing than mainline white congregations.

Oh, the horror. Did people in Bucks County really think that black churches sat around and discussed immersion versus sprinkling?

[LSparkle]

2. except that the U.C.C. IS a mainline Protestant church ...

There are plenty of white progressive Christian churches that actually
practice the gospel of loving all and working for social justice. The
shiny, happy, we-have-a-man-of-faith-in-the-White-House kind of "Christians"
are the only ones the media has focused on for the past 8 years in particular
and I think the public would be surprised at how many "radical" white
churches there are out there.

[noel711]

4. How does Bucks County fit into this conversation?

[theboss]

7. I was trying to think of a place where a lot of white people live

It just popped in there. And it's relevant based on the election.

[noel711]

8. I live in Bucks County...

in a little tiny rural town.

Many white people,
but also black people,
and Indian people.

Most of us are the very well educated,
middle class 'latte' crowd that might
be considered Obama turf.

No, most Bucks County people don't sit around
debating sprinkling versus dunking.

Most folks here think church is an afterthought.

BUT there are some small african american congregations
who might be troubled by this racist firestorm over
Obama's pastor. And racist it is...

[theboss]

9. It's 90 percent white and typically votes for Republicans

I assume people go to church there, because people go to church everywhere.

[noel711]

10. I don't know about the racial demo...

But vote republican..?

Not anymore..
It's kinda purplish...

My little town goes dem....
and our congressman is democrat Patrick Murphy...

[napi21]

3. I don't think it's only black churches. The rare few times I was

channel surfing and landed on "The 700 Club, or some other station that prodcasts some of the wild eyed white preachers ( like Falwell, Hagee, Robertson, etc.)their speech was every bit as inflamatory. IMO, that's the BIGGEST REASON some intelligent people in our history said "Separation of religion and State" is the only way our nation will survive!

[noel711]

5. There's a big difference between...

inflammatory preaching,
and prophetic preaching.

Prophetic preaching provokes people to think
and to act for justice.

Inflammatory preaching simply pisses people off
for judgementalism and blame.

There is a difference.

[Whisp]

6. Damn rights theres lots to be angry about - prison factories for one.

the new slave system where corporations get next to free labor and guess who gets picked off the streets to fill those positions.

Rev. Wright has every right to be pissed about all the injustices. He has a right to speak freely. He has a god damn right to be mad as hell.

We all do. we all need to get a little louder and Expect more of the leaders. Hillary has proven she is not a leader, she's had her chance and now she's making shit up out of thin air, relying on the vast stupidity and short memories to carry her through. to her selfish prize.

we need an Obama more now than ever before. The even keeled one, the logical cool tempered one. The one that recognizes the need to build up instead of tear down. The mature one, the reasonable one, the adult one.

Not a finger wagging nutcase that changes personalities every second day and licks her lips in pleasure when there's false shit about to fly out of her campaign asshattery toward a good man.