People pack churches to hear Shane Claiborne talk about "Jesus for President," the book he co-authored.The dreadlocked Christian activist from Philadelphia and his team parked a black school bus around the back. The hand-painted gold letters on the side read "Jesus for President."
The bus runs on vegetable oil and, yes, it's a political statement.
"It'll be a long time before we fight a war over used veggie oil," says Claiborne with a sly smile.
Claiborne is touring the country, packing churches and community centers, in support of the book he and Chris Haw co-authored, "Jesus for President."
"This whole project is about the political imagination of what it means to follow after Jesus," Claiborne said. "The language of Jesus as Lord and savior is just as radical as it would be to say 'Jesus as our commander in chief' today."
- Story Highlights
- Shane Claiborne co-authored "Jesus for President"
- People flock to hear author, who travels in bus that runs on vegetable oil
- Young evangelicals not a lock for Republicans as their parents were
- Author asks people to endorse what is at the heart of Jesus
But these voters say views on abortion and homosexuality won't define them in November. The environment and social justice are moving to the forefront of their discussions.
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About 26 percent of the United States identifies itself as evangelical Christians in the Protestant tradition, according to the latest U.S. Religious Landscape study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. In 2004, more than 75 percent of evangelicals cast their vote for George W. Bush.
"They delivered for him in some key states, like Ohio, without which he could not have won," said CNN's Bill Schneider, senior political analyst. "It was the rallying of the evangelical base that Karl Rove developed as a strategy, maximizing turnout among your base voters, not worrying about independents or swing voters."
But polls have shown that evangelicals as a whole, following national trends, are disaffected with
Republican leadership and increasingly up for grabs.
Thursday was the fifth night of the tour and it has already seen hundreds show up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
It was a hot, muggy June day in Pittsburgh. About 250 people came through the doors to find there was no air conditioning in the old church-turned-community center. They ran out of chairs so people took to the floors and leaned against the walls.
There were voters from across the board: Republicans, Democrats and independents. Most were young, Christian by background, evangelical in theology, and they say they're hungry for something more than partisan politics.
Steph Walker and Amanda Widing had to settle for seats in the back.
Evangelical movement touts 'Jesus for president' By Eric Marrapodi and Kate Bolduan CNNPITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- They're spiritual misfits. Rabble-rousers. They packed the shell of the old Baptist church on Negley Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to hear author, Christian activist and fellow misfit Shane Claiborne stump on the campaign for a third party candidate, Jesus.
People pack churches to hear Shane Claiborne talk about "Jesus for President," the book he co-authored.
2 comments:
"It'll be a long time before we fight a war over used veggie oil,"
Yeah maybe, but, how long until some flaky bastard knifes some knucklehead out by the dumpster, in back of a Denny's over the Fryolator grease?
Can I get a witness?
Evangelicals, like every other voting bloc, are in the midst of being scattered and shattered as they are not as powerful as they led themselves to believe after listening to former beltway interns with frat boy envy like Bill Schneider.
It stuns me that a person can kiss enough ass in one lifetime (possible positive proof of reincarnation?) to end up making a living, on TV, interpreting polling data.
"What do you think that 47 means Bill?"
"Well, at first glance, that 47 might look a little weak but remember, only 6 short weeks ago candidate X was at 43, before hitting 49 a couple of days ago. I think that 47 is indicative of a stronger number."
Screw off Bill Pumpaloaf, 47 is 47.
And now, we are subjected to Evangelical muckraking. "Jebus says, put Crisco in your bus and, Jebus says oooh, don't vote for that guy."
There are very few people that I would ask: "Who are you voting for and why?" And, none of those people are driving around in a Crisco bus.
But, hey Shane go for the gusto my man. Even you know you aren't going to actually influence a presidential election but, every show biz career has to start somewhere and this generation is going to need it's own Jim Bakker/Jimmy Swaggart/Oral Roberts to send their disposable dollars to and it might as well be you. And, you could be a pioneer in the next growth market-Carbon Offsets for Christ.
Keep it real.
Keep it greasy.
And now, we are subjected to Evangelical muckraking.
George Foreman hair straightening iron.... maybe I'm too hard on my peers.
But in context of the 41% to 49% manure spreaders in "anti- architecture" metal buildings recruiting other 49% -ers there is erosion of the soul. As you have pointed out.
Have you ever been in an Arby's? There is a sort of a slippery residue on the floor and all the surfaces of the place. At least in the old days I kind of slid along the floor whenI should not have been.
Out by the fryolator
there I took her life
fightin'over some grease and lard lather
stabbed her with my knife
[well now boys]
Hang down you head Tom Dooley...
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