National left of center websites and our locally Illusory one seem to think that its funny and perhaps even politically significant that Lousiana Governor Bobby Jindal participated in an impromptu exorcism as a college student. (NB: This is something the Roman Catholic Church says that you should not do.)
I have never been anywhere near an exorcism and doubt that I ever will be. But I have encountered - and those close to me have encountered - events and perceptions that are not readily explained. So I don't discount or laugh at the others' experience of evil or the notion that it can be overcome by faith or prayer.
But let's just concede that this dormitory exorcism was an excess of youth. We have a young man who turned to prayer in an attempt to help a friend. This is supposed to be disqualifying while a young law student immersing himself in radical chic and a young college graduate losing himself in cocaine are entitled to dismiss these youthful indiscretions.
Kathryn Jean Lopez reports the conclusion that Jindal drew from his experience, expressed in a descriptive piece in the New Oxford Review:
“I learned a lasting lesson in humility and the limits of human understanding. Was the purpose of that night served when so many individuals were inducted into the Church? Did I witness spiritual warfare? I do not have the answers, but I do believe in the reality of spirits, angels, and other related phenomena that I can neither touch nor see.”
Well that certainly should disqualify him for higher office.
23 comments:
I don't think it's disqualifying. Rather, I expect Jindal's immersion in demonology would endear him to the GOP "base."
A well meaning, compassionate prayer is a far cry from Jindal's hysterical antics.
But what's more likely disqualifying from the Republican veepstakes is his lack of experience, which is precisely the source of conservative criticism of Obama.
And if a Democrat blamed something on leprechauns or forest sprites, I bet you'd find that amusing too.
Don't dismiss the wee people IT. They may be listening and love to make mischief.
Tee hee!
Actually, I agree that Jindal is not yet ready. My choice is Sarah Palin.
As far as the irrationality of leprechauns and forest sprites, I haven't heard Democrats go there but I have heard them claim that minimum wage laws do not increase unemployment, wind fall profit taxes will cure our gas problems and trade barriers will make us better off. There's your version of creationism (which, incidentally, is distinct from ID, whatever the merits of the latter).
ID may be distinct from, for example, an insistence on Genesis as an historical narrative, but the premise/conclusion is the same: special creation. For the former, each and every biological "kind," for the latter, two or three types of cell organelle.
Incidentally, I'm available as a guest speaker at your Law & Theology seminar. I have a nice presentation on Stephen Meyer's 2000 article in the Utah Law Review, "Teach the Controversy."
Sarah Palin won't do it. She has a newborn and four other kids, as I recall.
It will be some awful McCain clone.
Picking Palin or Jindal would be a good way to put an end to the Obama as inexperienced meme. Compared to either of those two Obama is a battle hardened political veteran.
Would the GOP really be fine with putting someone so inexperienced behind a 72 year old cancer survivor? I don't see how McCain can win in November, with an inexperienced running mate I don't see how he avoids a landslide.
Well, I guess we can be thankful for economics as a method for helping to determine the effects of political tinkering on the market. Do you have a similar corner on the theology that'll help us determine which exorcists are the professionals and which are amateurs? If Jindal gets a pass from you because of youth, how does that explain the older exorcists like Milwaukee's Rev. Hemphill? Inauthentic religion?
One of the conditions of Ray Hemphill's sentence was, "No exorcism rituals until able to demonstrate to the court that extensive training in exorcism has been obtained."
I wonder if that was ever fulfilled.
Man...this discussion is making my head spin.
Hmm. . .spin, as in "The Exorcist"?
I think the Reddess should have her own blog. She's funnier than the old man.
I expect Jindal's immersion in demonology
"Immersion in demonlogy" would make him a helluva good Democrat candidate for anything...
No, Dad, "demonology" means studying the demons so you can call them up as boogeymen to scare the populace. You know, terrrists, gay marrieds, atheists, Muslims, etc.
Yeah, Bobby Jindal's a terrorist. Okay. More brilliant commentary from Foust.
If Jindal is a terrorist, what does that make someone like Barry who actually associates with them?
Back in the day, you used to have to be able to comprehend English sentences before they admitted you to Marquette. Did they lower the bar just for you, Brian?
He'd qualified if he hung out with Marxist professors and terrorists though.
Or if he drove his car off of a bridge and swam away.
I think the Reddess should have her own blog. She's funnier than the old man.
I keep telling her that.
More of that classy ad hominem I've come to expect from you, IT.
You must be such a happy person.
Yes I am, and if laughter is a reliable indicator of happiness, then I occasionally have you to thank.
Anon
Yes as in "The Exorcist". That movie damaged me for life.
IT
Not only am I funnier than the old man, I am oh so much cuter too. And when I have my picture taken, there isn't a halo around my head.
Bobby Jindal is extremely awful. Just the fact that he changed his name to Bobby and converted to christianity solely for the purpose of fitting is is upsetting, also upsetting is his evasiveness to being an indian. Pretty sad fellow.
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