Diana Butler Bass, of whom I am a big fan, writes for the God’s Politics Blog at Sojourners. Here is a piece from her today about Obama as Pastor-in-Chief.
What do you think?
February 10, 2009...10:19 pm
Pastor in Chief?
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4 Comments
February 11, 2009 at 4:05 am
If “pastor” is a some variant of “social worker,” with no necessary connection to any particular tradition or narrative, then sure, why not.
February 11, 2009 at 3:48 pm
She means “pastor” in the sense of “holding the nation’s metaphorical hand and offering comfort, reassurance, and help.” That is an aspect of pastoral work that fits within many traditions, is it not?
February 11, 2009 at 7:36 pm
That activity is found in many traditions, but that activity is also found in culture at large. I’m not a cultural historian, but I’d guess that the elements of this job that are found in the culture at large have become detached from the Christian tradition, tradition in a theological or MacIntyrean sense. In the Christian tradition, “offering comfort, reassurance and help” are set in the context of and dependent upon the person and work of Jesus. They are tied to a particular history. In their secularized form they are more likely to be tied to a generalized sense of benevolence.
February 17, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Yea, I’m going to go ahead and disagree with just about everything DBB says in that article. Those who view things through the modernist lie (that includes so many conservatives and liberals) really get my goat. She obviously is living in a make believe world, and so I will let her continue to reside there trying to not let her get my blood pressure up too much.