God's Verdict According To Harper Is More Important Than the Judgement Of Historians

[dumpthemonarchy]

Here's the original Globe and Mail article.

‘God's verdict' outranks history's, PM says - The Globe and Mail


A satirical take of Harper's comment about gGod's verdict.

Gerry Nicholls: God disapproves of a stacked Senate - Full Comment

Gerry Nicholls: God disapproves of a stacked Senate

Posted: August 31, 2009, 11:30 AM by National Post Editor Gerry Nicholls


According to a media report Prime Minister Stephen Harper is more concerned with "God's verdict" than he is with what historians will ultimately say about his government.

This got me to thinking as what it will be like when Harper does one day meet his maker at the Pearly Gates.

It might go something like this:

God: OK, what's your name and where are you from?

Stephen Harper: My name is Stephen Harper and I am from Canada.

God: Canada? Refresh my memory, where is that again?

SH: It's on Earth; in North America.

God: Yes, yes, yes. Canada. Hmmm the last thing I remember doing for Canada was helping Paul Henderson score that goal. Wow, that was some series. Tell me have the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup yet?

SH: No! But wait a second, are you telling me you don't know what happened in Canada since the early 1970s? You're God aren't you supposed to know everything?

God: Look, buddy, I have to keep track of the whole cosmos ... do you have any idea of how big that is? Do you really expect me to keep an eye on your little country, located on a second rate planet circling an insignificant star?

SH: Well I ...

God: Hey, I am sorry. I didn't mean to blow up like that. It's just I am in a bad mood. The inhabitants of Rigel V really ticked me off and I had to smite them ... smite them good.

SH: Why, what did they do? Did they build a false idol?

God: Worse. They put their planetary budget into deficit; they packed their upper house with partisan hacks and they actually appointed a socialist as ambassador to Vega 2. It made me so angry I nearly took my own name in vain. Anyway, that's enough about Rigel. Let's get back you. I need to bring down a verdict on your life. Tell me, what was your job in Canada.

SH: Well, er, um ... I was president of the National Citizens Coalition.




Gerry Nicholls is a blogger, independent political consultant and freelance writer. He was formerly vice president of the National Citizens Coaliton.

 

[Said1]

History is open to interpretation and distortion, I assume God doesn't make mistakes, even if his review is bad. LOL.

 

[In Between Man]

From the article:

Stephen Harper says he's more concerned about God's judgment than how history books rate his term in office, telling a Quebec magazine in a markedly personal interview that preserving relationships with family is far more important than worrying about a political legacy.

Makes perfect sense. If one subscribes to the notion that a real, personal God is his creator, protector, guider, comforter, and savior, then how can he NOT consider his judgment most important, esp. when weighed against the opinions of fallible men.

Driving his point home, the Prime Minister told Quebec City's Prestige magazine that it would be a “disaster” to win elections but lose one's family in the process.
In the article, Mr. Harper said it's too early to consider how history will treat him, adding that a more pressing and ever-present priority is ensuring family comes first.
“The important thing, for me, is to preserve family ties. I can win elections, but if I lose my family, it's a disaster.”

Perfectly reasonable. Because who wants to lose their family even for their cause?

He said he is not troubled by thoughts of what judgment history will render.
“To be honest with you, I am a lot more concerned by God's verdict regarding my life than the one of historians,” the Prime Minister said with a laugh, according to the article.

I wouldn't have it any other way myself either.

“Honestly, I'm not into politics to play to the microphones and the cameras,” he said. “I'm there to ensure that the government acts responsibly, protects the population and meets its needs. I can take the criticism – it comes with the job – but my main preoccupation is not my personal image, but rather the country's higher interests.”

I wasn't sure of him at first, but IMO he's doing a reasonable job. My only question is to the original poster: What danger does it pose to the nation or you or us if S.H. considers OUR God's verdict more important than his critics?

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

From the article:

Stephen Harper says he's more concerned about God's judgment than how history books rate his term in office, telling a Quebec magazine in a markedly personal interview that preserving relationships with family is far more important than worrying about a political legacy.

Makes perfect sense. If one subscribes to the notion that a real, personal God is his creator, protector, guider, comforter, and savior, then how can he NOT consider his judgment most important, esp. when weighed against the opinions of fallible men.

Driving his point home, the Prime Minister told Quebec City's Prestige magazine that it would be a “disaster” to win elections but lose one's family in the process. In the article, Mr. Harper said it's too early to consider how history will treat him, adding that a more pressing and ever-present priority is ensuring family comes first. “The important thing, for me, is to preserve family ties. I can win elections, but if I lose my family, it's a disaster.”

Perfectly reasonable. Because who wants to lose their family even for their cause?

He said he is not troubled by thoughts of what judgment history will render.
“To be honest with you, I am a lot more concerned by God's verdict regarding my life than the one of historians,” the Prime Minister said with a laugh, according to the article.

I wouldn't have it any other way myself either.

“Honestly, I'm not into politics to play to the microphones and the cameras,” he said. “I'm there to ensure that the government acts responsibly, protects the population and meets its needs. I can take the criticism – it comes with the job – but my main preoccupation is not my personal image, but rather the country's higher interests.”

I wasn't sure of him at first, but IMO he's doing a reasonable job. My only question is to the original poster: What danger does it pose to the nation or you or us if S.H. considers OUR God's verdict more important than his critics?

These heavy duty religious types aren't stupid but they make calculations that are entirely opaque. Women are called emotional and illogical but at least they make their decisions on what they feel around them. But that is for one's personal life.

To be in a public position and to bring God into your calculations is unaccountable. We don't get much discussion from the PM, just announcements, but perhaps is that is what religious people like, the bid daddy making decisions and the children nodding. Which is what we are getting in Canada as immigrants pour in from traditional, religious, superstitious lands like Asia and Africa.

Running a govt is a huge job and not a scientific exercise, it can be a mystery how it all runs, as public opinion sways and events can take control of one's future. Religious people like wars, Harper wanted to go into Iraq, and extended the useless Afghanistan mission.

 

[In Between Man]

To be in a public position and to bring God into your calculations is unaccountable.

What about the guy who brings his non-belief in God into the equation? Should this be allowed?

Religious people like wars,

Harper is a Christian, thats not religious. Religious people are muslim, catholic, buddist etc..

Harper wanted to go into Iraq, and extended the useless Afghanistan mission.

Right, and stick up for a little thing called FREEDOM. Useless? I think not. Ask the people of Afghanistan which is better, a soccer field, or a Taliban run public execution field.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

What about the guy who brings his non-belief in God into the equation? Should this be allowed?

Harper is a Christian, thats not religious. Religious people are muslim, catholic, buddist etc..

Right, and stick up for a little thing called FREEDOM. Useless? I think not. Ask the people of Afghanistan which is better, a soccer field, or a Taliban run public execution field.

We can't give freedom to anyone, as good as freedom is. A real soccer field is much better. War makes new war and people bitter and angry. Had we spent money on kiva.org, schools and hospitals in Afghan the country would be better off now. Pakistan was considered relatively booming a few months ago because there is no war there. War=bad.

I can live with any elected PM, Mackenzie King was fine and he talked to his dead mother and dog. In a busy day I'm sure Harper does not think of what God wants him to do in the many decisions he has to make. But he is a secretive fellow. Religious types of the elect variety feel they do not need to share their insight with the unwashed and unbelievers. Not a good policy.

 

[taxslave]

Harper is a Christian, thats not religious. Religious people are muslim, catholic, buddist etc..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sorry ally but we don't differentiate. A wingnut is a wingnut no matter what mythical creature he believes in.

 

[VanIsle]

Harper is a Christian, thats not religious. Religious people are muslim, catholic, buddist etc..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sorry ally but we don't differentiate. A wingnut is a wingnut no matter what mythical creature he believes in.

There are lots and lots of us who believe in God and know He is not a "mythical creature". I don't know that we should say things like Catholics, Muslims etc. are religious and the others are chrisitans. A christian is a person who believes in God and Jesus Christ and follows the ten commandments. People who do bad things in the name of religion are just bad people. They are not religious fanatics as people call them. They are just fanatics. People are good or they are bad and it doesn't matter if they use a gun to be a bad person or if they use religion. The end is still the same.

 

[Cliffy]

In spite of what Alley sayz, christianity is a religion. I know the evangelical types deny it, as do JWs. They think they are a spiritual movement, but spirituality is a personal journey to discover our truth, religion is a gathering of people of like mind and beliefs all praising "the Lord" together. So I think saying christianity is not a religion is completely delusional.

I can understand why taxslave thinks Alley is a wingnut. I do too, but he is harmless and quite a nice fellow if he is not being self righteous.;-)

 

[taxslave]

There are lots and lots of us who believe in God and know He is not a "mythical creature". I don't know that we should say things like Catholics, Muslims etc. are religious and the others are chrisitans. A christian is a person who believes in God and Jesus Christ and follows the ten commandments. People who do bad things in the name of religion are just bad people. They are not religious fanatics as people call them. They are just fanatics. People are good or they are bad and it doesn't matter if they use a gun to be a bad person or if they use religion. The end is still the same.

Sorry VI but until god comes down and has a cup of coffee with us he is a mythical creature. There are many who believe in Ogopogo and Bigfoot too but they can't produce any proof either. My wife says the same thing about good and bad people but far too many use their god as an excuse to deny others their rights. Most of them are also rather selective about which of the commandments they follow as well.

 

[TenPenny]

I'm not a religious person, but I have to wonder: how can anyone be surprised, or indeed upset, that a religious person would be concerned with 'God's' verdict on his performance, as opposed to how a historian would write about him?

I don't see anything surprising, or even wrong, with that idea. Would you prefer someone who governed hoping that historians would write nice things about him?

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Well, Harper make sense from a certain perspective, but he seems to have missed the point that his performance as PM must also be part of what he expects god will be judging him on.

 

[Polygong]

What about the guy who brings his non-belief in God into the equation? Should this be allowed?

Absolutely not.

Atheism in government is contrary to secularism, not with it.

 

[Cliffy]

Absolutely not.

Atheism in government is contrary to secularism, not with it.

You talk about it as if it was a belief system. How is atheism any different than secularism? Or are you just being facetious?

 

[Polygong]

I am not.

Atheism is the assertion that there are no deities or higher beings of any kind.

Secularism does not make that assertion, it simply insists that theological views do not bear on the practices of government.

 

[karrie]

I'm pretty secular. I don't think religion should dictate social policy.

But I see nothing to mock about his discussion of his family life, his priorities, and the things he views as trivial and not applying to him. (still won't vote for him though)

“The important thing, for me, is to preserve family ties. I can win elections, but if I lose my family, it's a disaster.”
He said he is not troubled by thoughts of what judgment history will render.
“To be honest with you, I am a lot more concerned by God's verdict regarding my life than the one of historians,” the Prime Minister said with a laugh, according to the article.
“Honestly, I'm not into politics to play to the microphones and the cameras,” he said. “I'm there to ensure that the government acts responsibly, protects the population and meets its needs. I can take the criticism – it comes with the job – but my main preoccupation is not my personal image, but rather the country's higher interests.”

 

[In Between Man]

Secularism does not make that assertion, it simply insists that theological views do not bear on the practices of government.

Why? Why does it make that assertion?

 

[In Between Man]

There are lots and lots of us who believe in God and know He is not a "mythical creature". I don't know that we should say things like Catholics, Muslims etc. are religious and the others are chrisitans.

Why not? Hasn't God been misrepresented long enough? To clarify, Catholic people are Christian, Catholicism(stereotyping God) is not Christian. Thats religion.

A christian is a person who believes in God and Jesus Christ and follows the ten commandments.

Not quite I'm afraid. A christian is a person believes in God and Jesus Christ. PERIOD. What good is a death bed confession if you didn't follow the ten commandments.? Not to mention, the ten commandments is how your SUPPOSE act anyway, regardless if your a believer or not. Make no mistake about it, the Pagans know your suppose to follow the ten commandments, even if they break them repeatedly. Their moral code still tells them its wrong.

People who do bad things in the name of religion are just bad people. People are good or they are bad

Granted that's how it looks. But realistically, no one is truly "good". ALL people, whether your a fanatic or an occasional white liar, fall short of holy and thats why its so important to walk thru that door.

 

[In Between Man]

In spite of what Alley sayz, christianity is a religion. I know the evangelical types deny it, as do JWs.

Yeah well, I use to say that Atheism is a religion and it wasn't til I realized different that I was able to stop spewing misinformed statements like thou. Christianity broken down to its basics is not a religion. I would call it a faith. I would call the basic message of Islam a faith. Its what the leaders of churches do or utilize in their practices that doesn't come from God that instantly creates religion. They misinterpret, they invent some ritual, they over observe something, they paint a false image of what God is, they twist doctrine to suit themselves. That's religion. The man made crap. The basic message is the faith. Even an atheist has faith. Even if you wish to contend its a very small degree. Because faith has to cover up the uncertainty in your gap of knowledge.

I can understand why taxslave thinks Alley is a wingnut. I do too, but he is harmless and quite a nice fellow if he is not being self righteous.;-)

Ouch. Wingnut? self-righteous? :sad10: I haven't been this hurt since VanniFucci called me a "foaming-at-the-mouth-fundy".

I thought we wuz cool? Can't you just accept a silly Jesus freak into your relative reality??? :lol:

 

[Cliffy]

Ouch. Wingnut? self-righteous? :sad10: I haven't been this hurt since VanniFucci called me a "foaming-at-the-mouth-fundy".

I thought we wuz cool? Can't you just accept a silly Jesus freak into your relative reality??? :lol:

Yup! Wez cool. Most of my friends are wingnuts and belong to Terra Pondera, the Nakusp Mental Health and Addictions Clubhouse. It is people who think that they are "normal" who worry me.

If you are going to break down christianity to its core, you would have to disregard everything except what Jesus had to say. All the rest of the stuff, especially the crap spewed by Paul, is what creates religion.