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February 16, 2007
Virgil Goode is A Disgrace
by Public Theologian
Virginia Congressman Virgil Goods has not yet learned anything about Islam. Yet his ridiculous statements keep coming.
Last year it was his assault on incoming Rep. Keith llison, the first Muslim ever elected to the Congress, whom Goode criticized for using the Quran. The Christian Alliance for Progress, along with the National Council of Churches and other organizations led a petition drive to get Goode to go to a mosque in his district and thus clear up some of the misconceptions he has about the religion, petitions which were delivered to him last month.
But Goode is still as ignorant as ever.
Yesterday, in a speech on the House floor, no less, Goode said he feared that Muslims would one day take over the US and change the slogan on the money from "In God We Trust" to "In Muhammad We Trust."
Now I am totally down with Goode on the issue of not wanting extremists of any sort taking over the country, although I could care less what's on the money. What is really telling, however, is the basic ignorance that the man has of the religion he mocks. There isn't a Muslim alive, extremist or otherwise, who, if they were changing the money, would replace "God" with "Muhammad" because Muslims don't worship Muhammed. If they did replace "God" it would be with the Arabic word "Allah" as anybody with even the faintest acquaintance with the religion would know.
Which makes the comment all the more egregious. It is already offensive that Goode A) is obsessive to the point of pathology with Islam and B) that he continually tries to connect this issue with illegal immigration, as if all the aliens were Muslims swimming over from Arabia rather than Christians swimming the Rio Grande. But his comments yesterday are even more pathetic in that he is not even able to get an insulting caricature of the religion right.
If he doesn't know enough about the religion that he screws up this basic fact, on what basis should anyone listen to him as if he were some authority on the subject? And what is such a person doing in the House of Representatives? Goode is an embarrassment to the nation, the Congress and the good people of Virginia, who deserve to be represented by someone who, even if a bigot like Goode, is at least an informed one.
Posted by Public Theologian at February 16, 2007 07:40 PM
Comments
As a resident of the 5th congressional district of the Commonwealth of Virginia (VG's home turf), I can only respond with two syllables.
A-men.
Posted by: Daniel at February 16, 2007 10:23 PM
I have a few questions. Is Christianity just a religion? Is Christianity on an equal plane with Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Paganism?
What is the meaning of the words of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels? Moreover, should Christians put any significance in John 14:6?
Posted by: Marty at February 26, 2007 12:14 AM
Marty--
Yes Christianity is a religion. I don't know what you mean by "just."
Yes, Christianity and other religions are on the same plane when it comes to the US Constitution. If Goode wants to be an anti-Muslim bigot and make ridiculous statements about them, he can go to his house of worship and make them. He should not be spewing hatred and falsehoods on the floor of the House.
As for the words of Jesus in the four gospels, that is an overly broad question that could not be address in the context of a blog comment.
As for John 14:6, for purposes of this discussion, no, Christians should not place any significance on that passage, because we are not talking about whether or not people have been or will be saved, but whether people of a given faith should suffer public ridicule at the hands of an elected official in a society that has freedom of religious expression. Even if Jesus is the only way Muslims can be saved, that does not justify Goods satnding up and saying false things about them.
Posted by: Public Theologian at February 26, 2007 03:47 PM
