ABC’s Nightline recently ran a report about the the focus on religion in the upcoming 2008 elections for President. They said, “…in no modern-day election has the Lord played so prominent and consistent a role popping up on the trail..”

[ABC News]

God is popping up everywhere when it comes to the ‘08 race, but I think that the candidates approaching it all wrong. It’s all about pandering (so they think) to the voters. Though, I think that they’re about 4-8 years behind. What worked in the last election, isn’t playing in this one.

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqtwLlrSssY]

McLaren, who’s no stranger to controversy, is here at a press conference for Media Matters and basically asserting that the “Religious Right” (politically) as we knew it was dead. He goes to say the topics that matter to Christians have changed, but the ideology of the Religious Right haven’t changed with them.

And I think you can already see it with Pat Robertson giving his endorsement of Rudy Giuliani. Robertson hasn’t been relevant since the 80’s (and some may argue he was never relevant). There’s this old political ideology that says if you get the endorsement of a certain religious leader it will make a difference in the race. But come on. Pat Robertson? How more out of touch can we be?

I’ll go out on a limb and say this: Jesus didn’t come to save America. Jesus is not an American. Jesus doesn’t give a rip about American politics (sorry, Dobson). This not his Kingdom and he could care less. What does Jesus care about? You. He cares about you. He cares about your heart. He cares about the meek, poor and suffering.

Can politics matter to you if you’re a Christian? Sure. It’s just not the topics they’re throwing out to Christians.

So what issues matter to you as a Christian?

Alright religious right… start your opinions!

It appears that if you’re Republican and a Christian you’re being represented by one of the three Stooges.

The Republicans’ first primary contest is next week, and it’s not in New Hampshire. It is in Orlando, at the annual meeting of the National Religious Broadcasters. GOP presidential candidates will be there to try to generate buzz that will translate into evangelical airtime — and support in the “base” in 2008.

Because there is no obvious and overpowering standard-bearer for the cause of the religious right, age-old fault lines and feuds are re-emerging among the titans who control the Sacred Satellite Dishes. Each of them thinks that he can anoint the One. 

The Three Kingmakers have familiar names and big, traditional audiences on radio, television and now, the Internet: the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Dr. Pat Robertson and Dr. James Dobson.   [MSNBC]

So how any opinions about having Falwell, Robertson or Dobson being a mouth piece for you to the political world?

For me, that idea is scary. Falwell (blowhard windbag), Robertson (wait, the Lord is giving me a word…. kook!) and Dobson (stick to the psychology buddy) don’t speak for me. When you mix politics and religion it’s a bad cocktail. Both sides are trying to take a piece of each other. Is it a godly pursuit? No. In the end to be a follower of Christ and mixed in with politics,  you end up very Machiavellian (”the end justifies the mean’). And the last time I checked we’re supposed to be in Christ’s image not one of a scheming Italian.

So I abdicate being religious or being right (either conservative or correct). So do I go left? No, any Hilary prospect scares me. Nader? Ha ha NO.

So where am I to go?

Any advice?