A jaw-dropping e-mail from my pastor...

[LanternWaste]

A jaw-dropping e-mail from my pastor.

"LanternWaste,

Do you think you could find the time in your schedule to find out where the movie Sicko is playing, and buy a block of tickets for the Seniors Dept. (and anyone else who may want to go)?"




Bear in mind-- my congregation has avoided secular politics like the plague ever since I've been a member. In fact, one of the great mysteries of the universe has always been the question concerning my pastor's political orientation, as no one person seems to have knowledge of that one way or the other...

So this may prove to be an most interesting weekend... my pastor's political progressivism begins to peek out, while I help rustle 28 seniors through the heady atmosphere of the Big City.

[mmonk]

1. Very good.

A realistic approach to health care access can possibly be reached if people learn what the rest of the world offers and compares results or at they at least begin to have the intellectual curiosity to do so.

[valerief]

2. This is the first time I've read the term "secular politics." I thought all

politics was supposed to be secular. Anyway, the interest in Sicko sounds very promising. Good luck with the affect the movie may have on your congregation.

[deadmessengers]

8. In a perfect world, it would be

In the US in 2007, politics is anything but secular. The Robertson/Haggard/Falwell/Bakker/Swaggart crowd saw to that.

[TexasProgresive]

16. Any group of people create politics

so there is church politics, union politics, company politics and even familiy politics.

[LanternWaste]

23. Secular politics deals with...

Secular politics deals with the usual civic-oriented details of the operation of government and running a country.

There is a level above that (that we recognize in my church, though your mileage may vary) that deals with charity (social programs) and stewardship (environmentalism) that trickles down into the first form in one way or another.

It may sound like hair splitting, but I think it's a pretty well-thought out position...

:shrug:

[valerief]

29. Well, I still don't get how charity and environmentalism aren't secular, but

thanks for the explanation.
:dunce:

[LanternWaste]

30. In this case they are secular but above and beyond that...

In this case they are secular but above and beyond that, they are part of my religion.

In other words, regardless of whether D.C. (or any other government) chooses to see them as legitimate issues, my church would.

[Rosemary2205]

3. hey that's great!

The more the better I say. I'm assuming senior citizens not HS seniors......and rustling them folk ain't too bad as long as you have air conditioning. :) :) :)

[LanternWaste]

20. Yes. It's senior citizens

Yes. It's senior citizens (plus anyone else who wants to go). If it were HS seniors, I think I'd have to politely say, "No thanks...". Not that I don't like high-spirited youth, mind you; but accompanying kids is a LOT different from accompanying adults...

[Scout1071]

4. Awesome!

Thanks for passing that along.

[Warpy]

5. Kudos to your pastor

but the people who most need to see it are people in their 20s through 40s who are healthy enough to have insurance and healthy enough not to have needed it except for checkups, flu and pediatric visits.

[babylonsister]

6. Very cool! nt

[helderheid]

7. TERRIFIC! Please take action:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1178313

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Holy Crap! Good for you! n/t.

[Spangle]

10. It only proves that this is one of the issues that the Seniors are intrested in

Seniors, all sides of the political wheel, are interested when it comes to health care issues. Hopefully, after watching 'Sicko', they will be willing to watch Mores other films.

Take political 'sides' out of the mix, you would be suprised at how many will agree on alot of topics. So long as it's not a 'political' disucssion, people don't feel like they are betraying their 'team' and don't feel the need to defend a certain stance/belief, etc. They are more likely to state their real opinions/feelings and more likely to listen to others.

[ComerPerro]

11. be careful, this is the kinda stuff that can get tax exempt status revoked

for some reason, its ok to invite Republican candidates to speak and campaign, and to tell voters to vote for Republicans and conservatives. But the second you do so much as even speak out against war, look out...

[1776Forever]

12. If I lived near you I would attend your church!

From a lady that left her church in 1959 over a protest about them handing out anti-Catholic and JFK literature - I would go to your church if I lived near you. I have not joined a church since that time as I just could not stomach the bias that I felt Jesus said was heresy! "Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:15-21

Please thank your Pastor!

[bmbmd]

15. Well, Hector's pup, 1776-

Jeus his own self got kicked out of church. You are in good company.

[Joe Chi Minh]

26. His own congegation tried to throw him over a cliff.

[Bitwit1234]

13. But truthfully

don't most people say that Sicko is really not political but based against corporation greed. I know republicans enable corporations in their greed quest but republicans as well as democrats are hurt by this practice.

[Squatch]

14. He calls you LanternWaste?

[LanternWaste]

21. Well, no. But I didn't want to give out my real name...

Well, no. But I didn't want to give out my real name (Jerry) to everyone on DU. D'oh! :)

[pacalo]

17. So heartening to hear!

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

18. What church is this?

Just out of curiosity...

[LanternWaste]

22. Typical, run-of-the-mill small Presbyterian church.

Typical, run-of-the-mill small Presbyterian church. Congregation is approximately (making a guess here) 250? Maybe 275.

No media rooms, rock-bands or any of the other fancy-schmancy stuff. But it's still a nice place to go, relax, study, engage in fellowship or what have you.

[SeattleGirl]

19. Wow, that is so cool!

:thumbsup:

[gratuitous]

24. Not sure where politics enters into this

Unless, of course, anything Michael Moore says or does is automatically consigned to the realm of the political, bless his little gun-nut heart.*

Good pastors will use a variety of means to stimulate conversation and take on issues that matter to their congregations. I've seen sermons and study groups based on everything from C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles to finding themes of transformation, reconciliation and redemption in popular movies like Star Wars. The Bible is pretty explicit about the power in society making allowance for and caring about the non-powerful, and our system of health care delivery is pretty fucked up by almost any measure. Watching "Sicko" promises to stimulate a lot of discussion, and whether folks agree or disagree with the particular conclusions Moore may draw, it should get people thinking about a very important issue that affects every one among us except perhaps for the superhero-types who never get sick.

*I say this because Moore's a Life Member of the National Rifle Association.

[Javaman]

25. moron* is about to feel the full power of angry seniors...

may god not have mercy on his* soul.

[DesertRat]

27. Very cool

Hope you'll report back with their opinions after the movie.

[kineneb]

28. just following Matthew 25:34-46

the part about caring for those in need (visiting the sick) "...inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." If one person suffers because he/she lacks medical attention, then we all ultimately suffer.

I think all churches should follow the example yours set. Perhaps I will suggest it to the one I work for.