Bachmann's Former Church Defends Anti-Catholic Views

LadyJazzer wrote: What does that have to do with Bachmann thinking the Pope is the Anti-Christ?

OK, looks like you don't like to read long posts, so I'll keep it simple just for you.

What evidence do you have that Bachmann thinks the Pope is the antichrist?

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod is a conservative branch of Lutheranism that has about 390,000 adherents across the country. It has been criticized in part because it holds that the Catholic pope is the Antichrist. Bachmann has said emphatically that she does not share that view, and church officials recently told the Atlantic that it is not a central tenet of the faith.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bachmann-left-church-at-pastors-request-official-says/2011/07/15/gIQAfGGuGI_story.html

OK, that is a short answer to your post and covers what you just said. You can stop here if it's too exhausting for you to read anything more. I've already pointed out that there are well over 2.5 million Lutherans in churches with similar views (not that it means the members share them).


This is extra credit reading for you, but here are reasons she left her church per the Washington Post (are they conservative?, don't think so).

The conservative church that Michele Bachmann officially left days before launching her presidential campaign said Friday that the Minnesota congresswoman’s decision came at their request.

“The impetus came from the church,” said Joel Hochmuth, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the denominational organization that includes the church. “For the pastor’s sake, he wanted to know where he stood with the family.”

Bachmann (R) had stopped attending Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church two years ago but did not formally end her membership until June 21, a date first reported by CNN. The timing raised questions because it came shortly before she formally kicked off her presidential campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, and because the church has taken controversial stands on Catholicism and homosexuality.

Michele Bachmann stopped attending services at the Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church after she moved to a different part of town, according to media reports. Around the time that her campaign for president geared up this spring, the Rev. Marcus Birkholz asked that she make clear her relationship with the church, Hochmuth said.

The Bachmanns then asked the church council that they be removed from the membership ranks — a request that is not required of a person that leaves the church, but assists with recordkeeping and helps the church ensure that “you’re in the spiritual care of someone else,” Hochmuth said. “In other words, we would want to know if you are being ‘fed the word,’ as we say.”

Bachmann did not specify to which church she was moving, Hochmuth said.

And using your twisted logic, John Kerry (and other Dems) is a Catholic and must support everything the Catholic Church says, including opposing abortion, and thinking homosexuality is a sin. It doesn't matter that he said he doesn't agree with it, just as Bachmann is reported to of said.

chickaree wrote: Speaking up for Methodists here-a primary belief in the UMC in America is the Order to "think and let think". Methodists are encourage to study with this in mind:

While the Articles of Religion and the Confession of Faith are considered foundational documents, they are not legalistic or dogmatic creeds that do not allow for differing interpretations. They are guidelines that themselves require continuing reflection, interpretation and expansion in light of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. 


I think you would be hard put to walk into a UM church and find anyone who would call the Pope the anti-christ.

I was referring to the Wikipedia link I provided. And I know they are not always perfect, and I just said some Methodists. But from my post before this, it sounds like the Lutheran branch Bachmann was in doesn't feel too strongly about it either...

Bachmann has said emphatically that she does not share that view, and church officials recently told the Atlantic that it is not a central tenet of the faith.

From the Wikipedia link...

John Wesley

John Wesley (1703–1791) (Methodist): Speaking of the Papacy, John Wesley wrote, "He is in an emphatical sense, the Man of Sin, as he increases all manner of sin above measure. And he is, too, properly styled the Son of Perdition, as he has caused the death of numberless multitudes, both of his opposers and followers... He it is...that exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped...claiming the highest power, and highest honour...claiming the prerogatives which belong to God alone."

Reformation confessions of faith

The Reformation allowed for more confessions of faith to be written. Previously, this was prevented by a prohibition on creed writing in the Council of Nicea. Lutherans, Reformed, Anabaptists, and Methodists all included references to the Papacy as the Antichrist in their confessions of faith:

OK, looks like more of a Methodist view from the past, and I guess it's been "reformed". I think I saw a more recent reference as well which included Seventh day-Adventists. But to save time, I'll just reply now and have to find it again later, if important.

Also, for full disclosure, I now see the Democrat Lutherans I posted a link for are in a more liberal branch of Lutherans, even though they have "evangelical" in the name. There was another "evangelical" group in the link which I first assumed was the same, but now appears to be different. But Bachmann is not the only congress person who is/was a member of the other major, more conservative branches of the Lutheran church. But she's the one getting the heat.

Well, then, Bravo for Obama VOLUNTARILY throwing Wright under the bus and leaving voluntarily instead of being thrown out. Sounds like he had more class.

Off topic, but....

Does anyone find it a little strange that there seem to be so many people out there belonging to churches with which they say they don't agree?

I'm not talking about disagreeing with a pastor on occasion, but "disagreeing" with basic "this is what we believe" kind of statements.

LadyJazzer wrote:

CriticalBill wrote:

LadyJazzer wrote: Nope... I'm an atheist... And I don't care....

I repeat: Why would you think I personally care what one group of delusional people think about another group of delusional people? Do you think I give a flip?

It's not "good" or "bad"...It's irrelevant....

Ok LJ, here's a question I'm dying to hear your direct answer to, yet I know I won't get one. Do you think Obama is dilusional?

No... and I don't think he's "delusional" either...


What does that have to do with Bachmann thinking the Pope is the Anti-Christ?

So all the "common people" are delusional because they are religious, but somehow Obama is not even thought he believes the same thing? That makes no sense. YOU are the one who said several times that people who are religious are delusional (oh and sorry about my spelling error teacher).. I knew you would give Obama a pass because you do it in every post.

You also said this:

So all the "common people" are delusional because they are religious, but somehow Obama is not even thought he believes the same thing? That makes no sense. YOU are the one who said several times that people who are religious are delusional (oh and sorry about my spelling error teacher).. I knew you would give Obama a pass because you do it in every post. You continually rail against people who don't believe in nothing as you do, but why not Obama? Is it just an act and he's calling himself Christian because he's a liar? This is relevant to Bachman just as you insert Bush into every other non-Bush thread.
Why is Obama NOT delusional, but Bachman and everyone else who believes in God is? Simple question, don't expect an answer.

LadyJazzer wrote: Given the fact that most of the people on here who hide behind "God" obviously have a deep-seated hatred for the rest of their fellow man, and trot religion out to make themselves feel better, they are hypocrites of the first order. If it's true that there IS a God, and if it's true that he sees into people's hearts and minds, some of you right-wing haters are in deep sh*t...

I don't "look forward" to something after I die because either there is something or there isn't. I happen to believe there isn't. If there is, I don't believe it's some invisible man sitting on a throne telling me whether I get to walk "streets of gold" or not... Jeez, people... I don't buy into the fairy tale, and I don't believe in the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy either...

But if you so-called believers actually LIVED your beliefs instead of trotting them out when it suits you, you would have a lot more credibility.

Obama too?

I've answered your question.