A Monopoly on God

It might surprise some to know that I regularly read the National Review online. It's always good to hear opposing viewpoints, and there are few places that provide them for me in such abundance. This article from Jonah Goldberg is interesting, and he almost makes his argument stick. However, it falls apart around this point in the article:

"I say you shouldn't pick and choose, but I understand that sometimes you have to — but in completely the opposite way John Kerry picks and chooses. Kerry invokes God's guidance on the little stuff, the easy stuff, the boilerplate. He turns his back to God on the big issue, abortion (and, with a wink, gay marriage).

It seems to me this is exactly backwards. God doesn't have a position on the minimum wage or Superfund, so politicians shouldn't feel the need to consult Him about that stuff. It's only on the grave fundamental questions in politics that God should speak to one's conscience. Thomas More didn't put his life on the line about how Henry VIII handled crop rotation."

Actually, Jonah, God said little about homosexuality; Jesus said nothing about it. Naturally, the Bible has nothing to say about abortion; various religious positions have been formulated, like it or not, by people, not God.

On the other hand, Jesus had plenty to say about how we treat the less fortunate. This could extend not just to the minimum wage but to any number of Republican positions that arguably favor the rich and further oppress the poor. It's fascinating to me how Republicans presume that they've cornered the market on God (much like national security), simply by declaring that they have. There are plenty of religious leaders who have spoken loudly against many of Bush's positions on so-called moral issues, ranging from the war in Iraq to the death penalty.

So I guess I somewhat buy Goldberg's argument. However, I think the accusation of "picking and choosing" better applies to Bush, not Kerry.