[C.M. Burns]

Stephen Harper and the Theo-cons
The rising clout of Canada’s religious right

by Marci McDonald

$1:

But McVety and others on the religious right are equally convinced that Harper is one of their own. “We’ve got a born-again prime minister,” trumpets David Mainse, the founder of Canada’spremier Christian talk show, 100 Huntley Street. They see him as an image-savvy evangelical who has been careful to keep his signals to them under the media radar, but they have no doubt his convictions run deep—so deep that only after he wins a majority will he dare translate the true colours of his faith into policies that could remake the fabric of the nation. If they’re right, it remains unclear whether those convictions would turn government into a kinder, gentler guarantor of social justice for all or transform the country into a stern, narrow-minded theocracy. And what would his evangelical worldview mean for international relations?

During this summer’s Middle East war, Harper reversed decades of Canadian foreign policy with his adamant support for Israel, even after its jets smashed a clearly marked United Nations observation post, killing a veteran Canadian peacekeeper. His admirers argue that steadfastness could turn the burgeoning bond between evangelical Christians and Jews into a powerful and unprecedented alliance that could leave him unbeatable at the ballot box. But a growing chorus of critics warns that Harper has already paid a high price for that strategic calculation, irrevocably alienating Canada’s mushrooming Islamic population and leaving in shreds the country’s reputation as an even-handed peace broker. Harper’s stand has also raised more unsettling questions. What does it mean if and when a believer in the infallibility of Biblical prophecy comes to power and backs a damn-the-torpedoes course in the Middle East? Does it end up fuelling overenthusiastic end-timers who feel they have nothing to lose in some future conflagration, helping speed the world on Hagee’s fast track to Armageddon?

Read the full article at The Walrus http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2006.10-politics-religion-stephen-harper-and-the-theocons/

[saturn_656]

[commanderkai]

Saturn, you conveyed my reaction perfectly. I was surprised the name Bush never came up yet though, but its still early

[mtbr]

It seems the heathen left is really bothered with the thought that somebody might get something out of a religion. The same heathen have no problem with terrorists killing for their religion, makes no sense.

[C.M. Burns]

mtbr mtbr:

It seems the heathen left is really bothered with the thought that somebody might get something out of a religion. The same heathen have no problem with terrorists killing for their religion, makes no sense.

If only you had read the article... but then your ideas are fixed, aren't they.
This isn't about "religion", it's about the crypto-Christian evangelical agenda polluting the Canadian government at the highest level. Canada is a secular society and must remain so. To that end, Harper and his ilk must go - soon.

[C.M. Burns]

commanderkai commanderkai:

Saturn, you conveyed my reaction perfectly. I was surprised the name Bush never came up yet though, but its still early

By "shit" do you mean an intelligent and well-written article?
If your hands aren't too sticky with Doritos powder maybe you can take the time to actually write a thoughful reply that challenges the content.

[Zipperfish]

commanderkai commanderkai:

Saturn, you conveyed my reaction perfectly. I was surprised the name Bush never came up yet though, but its still early

Oh I'm sure Bush is involved. And Area 51. By the way, Condoleeza is a fembot and Rumsfeld uses his mind powers to fuck people up.

Rumsfeld Rumsfeld:

We know where they are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat.

(on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction)

Rumsfeld Rumsfeld:

[Osama Bin Laden is] either alive and well or alive and not too well or not alive.

Rumsfeld Rumsfeld:

Needless to say, the President is correct. Whatever it was he said.

and my personal fave...

Rumsfeld Rumsfeld:

Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know.

The guy was a genius but crazier than a fruit bat. A little malevolent but funny as hell.

[Thanos]

Needs more batshit.

[commanderkai]

Lol Zipperfish, didn't you forget Karl Rove? He's the man with the mind control powers.

[Schleihauf]

C.M. Burns C.M. Burns:

mtbr mtbr:

It seems the heathen left is really bothered with the thought that somebody might get something out of a religion. The same heathen have no problem with terrorists killing for their religion, makes no sense.

If only you had read the article... but then your ideas are fixed, aren't they.
This isn't about "religion", it's about the crypto-Christian evangelical agenda polluting the Canadian government at the highest level. Canada is a secular society and must remain so. To that end, Harper and his ilk must go - soon.

Why? Because a handful of people think Harper is trying to bring about the end times?

[bootlegga]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

[Bodah]

C.M. Burns C.M. Burns:

If only you had read the article... but then your ideas are fixed, aren't they.This isn't about "religion", it's about the crypto-Christian evangelical agenda polluting the Canadian government at the highest level. Canada is a secular society and must remain so. To that end, Harper and his ilk must go - soon.

Ok we get it, in your opinion all prime ministers should be atheists. But can you show one exmple or two on how Harpers beliefs in god has "polluted" our government ?

[commanderkai]

C.M. Burns C.M. Burns:

commanderkai commanderkai:

Saturn, you conveyed my reaction perfectly. I was surprised the name Bush never came up yet though, but its still early

By "shit" do you mean an intelligent and well-written article?
If your hands aren't too sticky with Doritos powder maybe you can take the time to actually write a thoughful reply that challenges the content.

Thoughtful? lol I don't waste my time on leftist paranoia about some Theocratic invasion of government.

[C.M. Burns]

Bodah Bodah:

Ok we get it, in your opinion all prime ministers should be atheists. But can you show one exmple or two on how Harpers beliefs in god has "polluted" our government ?

That's my opinion? I said no such thing and that is not my opinion. If you want examples RTFA.

[C.M. Burns]

commanderkai commanderkai:

Thoughtful? lol I don't waste my time on leftist paranoia about some Theocratic invasion of government.

You're not really capable of it, are you?