Irenaeus, Siteadmin, Check users, oversight, Administrators
351,801
edits
Changes
Essay: Bernie Sanders is a closet atheist (view source)
Revision as of 06:15, April 4, 2019
, 06:15, April 4, 2019no edit summary
As atheist blogger [[Hemant Mehta]] pointed out, that’s basically a really [[Political correctness|PC]] way of saying you’re an atheist. Sanders may have used the word “God” to describe his belief system, but it’s pretty clear that his version of God isn’t an old man in the sky. There’s no actual deity involved — no theism — just a generalized interconnectedness.<ref name="americablog.com">[http://americablog.com/2016/01/bernie-sanders-mainstreaming-atheism.html Bernie Sanders is mainstreaming atheism in American politics]</ref>}}
As atheist blogger [[Hemant Mehta]] pointed out, that’s basically a really [[Political correctness|PC]] way of saying you’re an atheist. Sanders may have used the word “God” to describe his belief system, but it’s pretty clear that his version of God isn’t an old man in the sky. There’s no actual deity involved — no theism — just a generalized interconnectedness.<ref name="americablog.com">[http://americablog.com/2016/01/bernie-sanders-mainstreaming-atheism.html Bernie Sanders is mainstreaming atheism in American politics]</ref>}}
''Deseret News'' declared:
{{Cquote|Speculation about Sanders' religious views ramped up last October after an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" during which he was directly asked whether he believes in God.
It was the nature of the candidate's response that piqued the interest of some viewers.
Kimmel [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/10/23/did-you-catch-how-bernie-sanders-responded-when-jimmy-kimmel-asked-do-you-believe-in-god/ cited Sanders' claims] that he is "culturally Jewish" and that he doesn't "feel religious" and then asked about a belief in God. He also questioned whether Sanders thinks it is important for Americans to embrace a higher power.
"I am who I am and what I believe in and what my spirituality is about is that we’re all in this together," Sanders responded. "That I think it is not a good thing to believe that as human beings we can turn our backs on the suffering of other people."
He continued, "This is not Judaism — this is what Pope Francis is talking about — that we cannot worship just billionaires and the making of more and more money. Life is more than that."
A few months later, speculation once again raged after Sanders did an interview with ''The Washington Post'' in which he said that he doesn't necessarily believe in God in a traditional sense.
"I am not actively involved with organized religion," he told the outlet. "I think everyone believes in God in their own ways. To me, it means that all of us are connected, all of life is connected, and that we are all tied together."
His brother Larry Sanders also [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-finally-answers-the-god-question/2016/01/26/83429390-bfb0-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html told the outlet] that the candidate was "quite substantially not religious."<ref>[Is Bernie Sanders an atheist?] by Billy Hallowell, ''Deseret News'', 2016</ref>}}
The ''Religion News Service'' states: "Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders dashed the hopes of some atheists when he declared he had 'very strong religious and spiritual feelings' at a Democratic town hall."<ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/02/04/bernie-sanders-disappoints-atheists-strong-religious-feelings/ Bernie Sanders disappoints some atheists with his ‘very strong religious’ feelings], Religion News Service</ref>
The ''Religion News Service'' states: "Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders dashed the hopes of some atheists when he declared he had 'very strong religious and spiritual feelings' at a Democratic town hall."<ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/02/04/bernie-sanders-disappoints-atheists-strong-religious-feelings/ Bernie Sanders disappoints some atheists with his ‘very strong religious’ feelings], Religion News Service</ref>