Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Texas Governor Rick Perry was involved in a day of Christian prayer and fasting recently. The attendees prayed about the weak political and economic situation our country is in right now. While I'm a critic of such displays of civil religion, the response to this event by the mainstream press and media elites is hilarious.
New York Times columnist Frank Bruni wrote an unintentionally hilarious column where, after admitting he knows next to nothing about religious adherents, writes:
“Faith and prayer just won’t cut it. In fact, they’ll get in the way.”
Thank you, Father Bruni! We'll be sure to keep that advice in mind. What's hilarious to me about the media apoplexy about this event, though, is that reporters seem to think that the more Americans hear about this prayer event, the less they'll like Perry. Over at Commentary, Jonathan Tobin explains why that's likely an error:
Those who wonder whether Perry is overplaying his hand are missing the point. A fair look at his life and career shows that Perry is not so much seeking to exploit the rising tide of conservative Christianity in much of the country, as he is the product of it. Though liberal elites may mock the tens of thousands who turned out to join Perry in prayer, their public expression of faith probably seems perfectly normal to many Americans and not just those who are right wing GOP activists. The idea of a “naked public square” in which faith is conspicuously absent has little support among most Americans.
While the tone of the event may cause discomfort for those who believe in a high and impenetrable wall of separation between church and state, so long as Perry doesn’t stray into any theocratic proclamations, he isn’t likely to be damaged by this stance.
Perry’s performance on the campaign trail once he actually gets into the race will have more impact on his chances of winning than one sermon in Houston. And being the governor of a state with a booming economy may be a stronger argument for his election than his religion. But given the enormous influence religious conservatives have on GOP caucuses and primaries, the governor’s willingness to wear his faith on his sleeve in this manner could help far more than hurt him.
Like I said, I'm no fan of events such as these. I am a member of a church that offers prayers for the country and its leaders every week and I think that's ideally where corporate prayer is done best. But Perry's campaign team is probably fine with his decision to speak at this event.
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Comments :
Mar '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Involvement in a day of Christian prayer and fasting is a display of civil religion? How so?
Oct '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Mollie, I suspect you mean 'civic' rather than 'civil' religion, although having read the linked WSJ column I'm not sure what you mean by it.
Anyway, we all know that questions about a presidential candidate's religious proclivities or activities are irrelevant, otherwise the teachings of the Rev Jeremiah Wright would have been important.
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
I meant civil religion and the fact that this was an event led by the governor means it's a good example of it. I think it being limited to Christian participation actually makes it less problematic than if it were the full-on syncretism of an interfaith prayer rally.
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
To a cynical observer whose heart is debauched by watching too much politics, the left's horror at the commingling of religion and politics might seem somewhat selective - but I know there are some things they just won't accept. When this group met with the President to discuss what sort of Federal budget Jesus would want, I'm sure there were howls and snorts on the left. Not just protests about believers infesting the Oval Office, but sneers that they were those Jeeeesus people, too.
I'm certain there were lots of lefty blogs laughing about this and calling the President a snake-handlin' tongue-talkin' fundy fool. Anyone have some links?
Mar '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Does every religious event in which a public official participates become an exercise in civil religion by virtue of the public official's participation in it?
Oct '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
If your objection is that the event was more civil than religious I can only agree.
These statements supposedly characteristic of American 'civil religion' are interesting:
But did anyone at the Perry rally actually believe them?
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
genferei
But did anyone at the Perry rally actually believe them? · Aug 8 at 8:57am
I linked to Jennifer Rubin's analysis of the Bruni column and when she tore it apart, she noted that Perry and the speakers seemed to have a pretty good grasp of the distinction between the role of church and state. In fact, this is one of those rare events where the more I read about it, the fewer problems I have with it.
Dec '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Why do these people not read their own bible
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."
Up until now I liked Gov Perry; now I have to think about it.
Edited on Aug 8, 2011 at 9:19amMar '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
It's amazing that Christianity spread at all, limited as it was to private prayer.
Foxman: Why do these people not read their own bible
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."
Up until now I liked Gov Perry, now I have to think about it. · Aug 8 at 9:09am
Mar '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
I am not a Xian. And I am delighted by Perry. I find the way he thinks to be transparent and predictable, which are excellent qualities in a politician one would like to trust.
I think Perry's entry will basically sweep the field away, because everyone wants, above all, a candidate who will *win*.
Jun '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
genferei
These statements supposedly characteristic of American 'civil religion' are interesting:
But did anyone at the Perry rally actually believe them? ·
I tend to share Mollie's view, and I try to take my religion very seriously. On the other hand, if Governor Perry feels comfortable with participating in a religious event that is tied to politics (or vice versa), that's his right (and I would not oppose him on that ground)--but I would like to know his position on the issues.
As to the quotes above, let's face it, Republicans produce their share of empty rhetoric.I do believe that God sees America as a force for good (after all, he is Truth). July 4 is, for me, a civic holiday. The president gets his power from the people. "Social justice" is an empty phrase in any context. I don't even understand the last one.
Edited on Aug 8, 2011 at 9:55amSep '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
A cynic would say that everything that Rick Perry does is political. I'm not a cynic, and I find it refreshing that he and many other people took some time out this weekend to focus on the eternal, rather than the news cycle and the election season.
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Rick Perry is an evangelical Christian. He is open and public about the fact, and his conduct on this occasion is in keeping with the over-all pattern of evangelical Christian conduct. Those who despise evangelical Christians will sneer, attempt to demonize those who sport their religion on their sleeves, and vote against him. Some will find what he does as an evangelical Christian heartwarming. The rest of us will shrug out shoulders and judge the man on his political record, on what we can surmise about his character as a human being and a citizen, and on what he proposes to do.
At this stage, it looks as if that two candidates with the best chance for the nomination are Perry and Romney. They come from religious communities often at odds. I hope that my fellow Republicans have the good sense to ignore such differences -- except insofar as they throw light on character (which, I believe, they do not).
Edited on Aug 8, 2011 at 11:35amAug '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Two things:
First, days of prayer and fasting are common across Christian denominations. It's no great surprise that Perry would participate in one both for discernment purposes and stirring the base. The church is a public institution, and those who are surprised at its presentation in public betray their own parochialism more than those of the Christians who pray and fast.
Second, the civil religion is an idea who had its start with Rousseau and made its way to common language by way of Robert Bellah. Rosseau meant for it to replace Christianity with a religion of the state that would foster unity among the people in a way antithetical to Christianity and its wars across Europe. Bellah mangled this definition into a vague sociological concept meant to refer to national holidays and the like. Studying the civil religion became a cottage industry from the late 60s until the early 80s, and the result was a term entirely bankrupt of meaning and reams of wasted journal pages.
I think what Ms. Hemingway meant was public religiosity, not the civil religion. Her correction was about interfaith prayer was quite right.
Dec '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
I am a little put off by the slight twitch some people develop when a public official makes a religious display. It seems to be grounded in a sentiment that having religion is ok so long as one doesn't actually believe it or become affected by it.
May '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
I am sure there are many who were not offended by Perry's choice to host this day of prayer and fasting but felt that it looked like he was pandering for political gain. This was organized back when he was being as adamant as Chris Christie that he did not ever want to go to Washington. Still, voters are going to be skeptical because we all know he was already scheming to be president when he left home in the underwear his dear mother made for him.
Aug '11
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Foxman: Why do these people not read their own bible
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."
Up until now I liked Gov Perry; now I have to think about it. · Aug 8 at 9:09am
Edited on Aug 08 at 09:19 am
I'd call that a shallow interpretation of the passage. Christ was referring to the pompous and narcissistic actions of religious authorities of the time. Their practice was to literally stand on the street and pray aloud, often to nobody in particular, simply as an act of religious grandstanding. He said "they love to pray…to be seen by men" it was an issue of their motive. Jesus was indignant at the spirit of their prayer not at the idea of public prayer. A peaceably assembled people praying for God's blessing/intervention upon the affairs of their times is not in the least counter to scripture.
Oct '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Mollie, I was wondering at first what your view is on the prayer breakfasts but then I started to ask myself what your view is on civil religion in its entirety. Are you objecting to it all or just certain aspects of it, such as this event?
Thanks for the link to the article. I emailed it to my pastor to talk about the next time I see him.
Dec '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Mollie, I must point out that you have breaches the Code of Conduct -- not of Ricochet, but of the MSM.
Your reference to the "briarpatch" is taken from the Uncle Remus tale of Br'er Rabbit, who at the time of that utterance was in the power of Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear because he had arrogantly smacked the Tar Baby for its silent insolence and become trapped in its sticky material.
You therefore have implied that Rick Perry has attacked a Tar Baby. This imagery is forbidden: see how Rep. Doug Lamborn has been forced to apologize for using it.
We are awaiting your obligatory public self-flagellation.
Dec '10
Re: Don't Throw Rick Perry Into That Briarpatch!
Well, Barack Obama is a Christian. Why, perhaps a super-Christian. We are all told so and any suggestion that that he might not be sufficiently Christian is derided as, quite literally, untrue.
So I think neither he nor his supporters would mind in the least.