Monday’s Godbytes

So it turns out that Texas Governor Rick Perry‘s prayer rally last weekend is getting a bit of attention on the blogosphere (who knew?). For those wanting a more first-hand look at the rally – called the “The Response” – the Washington Post’s On Faith blog has some video of the Governor speaking and praying […]

So it turns out that Texas Governor Rick Perry‘s prayer rally last weekend is getting a bit of attention on the blogosphere (who knew?). For those wanting a more first-hand look at the rally – called the “The Response” – the Washington Post’s On Faith blog has some video of the Governor speaking and praying at the assembly.

For those looking for more opinion, blogs across the Internet are offering their own responses to The Reponse. Slate, for example, looks at the political relevance and implications of the rally…

“It came together better than they could have hoped. The cars driving into the Reliant’s many parking lots clogged Kirby Drive for miles and backed up some of I-610. They had left their homes after hearing that Standard & Poor’s had downgraded the United States’ credit rating from AAA to AA+. More bad news, as if they needed it.”

…While America Magazine’s In All Things blog looks at the “response to The Response“…


“If Perry were simply a private citizen promoting such an event, it would not gather much attention. But he is a governor with supersize influence in his party, with implications in the GOP primary that may dramatically alter the 2012 election. As such the event makes many uncomfortable.”

…Religion Dispatches digs into the religion of it all

“Joyce Thompson, who came to Houston from San Antonio with a friend, echoed a persistent theme to me over breakfast at our hotel: that Christianity is somehow under siege from enemies. Thompson, who described herself as a 66-year-old Tea Partier, tearfully said, ‘I can’t understand people who want to destroy our country.’ When I asked her who those people might be, she replied, “It’s a Muslim thing. It’s Satan against God. It started years ago, and it’s gone on and on.'”

…and emergent church blogger and consummate snark-provider Tony Jones admits the whole thing makes him cynical

“And yet, Perry’s rally, regardless of its size and in spite of the fact that it seems like a clear breach of the separation of church and state for an elected official to use his bully pulpit to promote a particular religion – in spite of this, Perry’s rally will gets tons of attention today, and be on every newscast tonight.”

Finally, our Tweet of the Day once again comes from the “Tweet of God,” a twitter account that poses as the Almighty supposedly for the Internet’s comedic enjoyment:

@TheTweetOfGod – During his prayer, Gov. Perry said, “You are our only hope.” Apparently he confuseth Me with Obi-Wan Kenobi. Shame on thee, Princess Preia!

That’s all for now. Remember to follow us @religionnewsnow!

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