The Right Rev. Brit Hume points the way to Tiger’s redemption
Kinda makes you wonder why God allowed that darned Buddhist to win so many golf tournaments over good Christian men. Then again, He also allowed a Muslim to be elected president of HIS country, the United States of Christian America.
But seriously, I do not understand and can’t begin to comprehend the arrogance it takes to publicly anoint yourself someone’s spiritual adviser, and to then lecture them about their faith and its alleged inadequacies. This was a prepared, considered remark by Hume, not some off-the-cuff aside.
A person’s faith is a private matter between that person and God, and is not a matter to be judged by some pompous TV anchor.
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422 comments Add your comment
John Foster
January 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
The whole point was obviously wasted on you and most of your readers.
WideAwake
January 7th, 2010
12:13 am
Brit Humorme: wants Tiger Woods to join the devil. Is that what he said?
Brit Hume playing the persecuted victim card | Jay Bookman
January 7th, 2010
5:47 pm
[...] to an earlier post on this subject, I’m now among those being accused of being anti-Christian and intolerant. [...]
Cal
January 9th, 2010
10:04 am
Let’s see now. How does this work? Jay says, “A person’s faith is a private matter between that person and God, and is not a matter to be judged by some pompous TV anchor.” That of course is Jay’s faith. Accordingly, it should be a private matter between Jay and his god, not a matter to be judged by some pompous newspaper columnist–or, rather, TV anchor. So why is Jay using his public platform as a newspaper columnist to propagate his faith that “faith is a private matter” and to judge Brit Hume’s faith that faith is a public (as well as a private) matter? Either “faith is a private matter” is part of Jay’s faith, in which case by his own standard he should keep it private, or it’s not part of his faith, in which case he doesn’t believe it and he’s lying–or, to put it more gently, he’s being a hypocrite. Here’s the real standard for Jay and other keep-religion-in-the-closet secularists: faith is a private matter between you and God unless it’s our faith that faith is a private matter between you and God, in which case it’s very much a public matter, enforceable by us guardians of public secularism. I think I understand now. Jay’s statement, made privately, would be internally consistent but of no communicative value. Made publicly, it’s self-refuting. And self-refuting statements always lead to absurdity.
Neil
January 9th, 2010
11:27 am
Jay you as a journalist should know better then to be caught up with using fallacies in your writings. You used a red herring approach to Mr Hume. he was talking about Tiger wood’s lifestyle being off track because of his not being a Christian and you turned the tables by attacking Brit’s faith. So much for honesty on your part. It also shows you would rather see someone with Wood’s lecherous ways go un challenged and attack the moral clarity of someone like Brit Hume. Jesus had names for people like you…you viper. Maybe you need to see into your own life and make changes and stop attacking those that speak the truth. Hypocrite.
Thomas Paine
January 9th, 2010
1:54 pm
Jay,
I’m an atheist, but you’re still an *ssh*le …
Thomas
Ban Islam now….
Jim King
January 9th, 2010
2:38 pm
Who cares what Jay Bookman thinks. A second rate writer with a total lack of class
Sam
January 9th, 2010
3:34 pm
The pompous Right Rev. Jay Bookman judges the “correctness” of the way Brit Hume expresses his faith.
ROY DOUGLAS
January 9th, 2010
4:49 pm
So what i am hearing is;it’s okay to say something along ‘religious’ lines,as long as it does not ‘malign’ anyone and it serves the interest of the liberal views!THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE TRUTH AND ONE LIE!! Not many truths, as ’secular progressives’ would have you believe! I believe in One God,One Faith,One Baptism,etc! There cannot be many as that is insidiously stupid and confusing! Brit Hume was asked,and participating in a discussion,and answered honestly! It’s his job! I applaud him,not someone ignorant as the likes of you and that’s why your newspaper is flailing!Keep up the ‘good work’! Liberal minded people will destroy this once great nation! One Nation Under God! Remember that!!
Chuck
January 9th, 2010
4:51 pm
Mr. Bookman,
I find it hard to believe that as someone who writes for a major newspaper in the heart of the Bible Belt, you think religion is a private issue.
My in-laws used to live in Hall County. When they met someone, the first two questions asked were where do you live, followed by what church do you belong to.
Religion is not a private issue in the South.
Perhaps you need to read up on your major religions. Christianity and Islam commands their followers to go out and convert others. That’s why Christian missionaries worked so hard at converting natives in lands conquered by the European powers. It’s why Islam is now the fastest growing religion on the planet.
I actually know people who believe that if they don’t try to “save” every “unsaved” person they meet (and “unsaved” not only includes non-Christians, but also Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, and other denominations that don’t take the Bible literally), then they will have to answer for that sin at the gates of Heavan.
Even a church as liberal as the United Methodist Church that I attend in the western suburbs of Chicago has a Sunday in which they encourage members to bring a friend, neighbor, or co-worker to Sunday worship, whether it’s someone new to the area, someone who simply has no church home, or someone who soured on organized worship years ago.
If a church like the United Methodist wants its members looking to sherard new followers to the flock, then clearly, one’s Christian faith isn’t a private matter.
Jan Rice
January 9th, 2010
9:51 pm
Here is something many commentators are missing: You can testify to your faith, but it’s when you put down someone else’s faith in comparison that there is a problem. This is not political correctness. Someone who says his faith tradition is better than yours in error… That’s because the person’s experience of his own faith is not and will never be that of the outsider. …In effect Brit Hume’s comment was an expression of Christian theology. He was speaking within that theology, which is not going to apply to individuals of other traditions.
Bravo to Brit Hume: Why Faith Is Not a Private Matter
January 11th, 2010
5:55 am
[...] of Silence. And the reaction came promptly. Describing it at Politics Daily, Carl M. Cannon wrote:Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution asserted that "faith is a private matter between that [...]
Jim K.
January 11th, 2010
10:28 am
I have to wonder if Mr. Bookman (and his liberal friends) would have had anything critical to say if Brit Hume had reommended that Tiger Woods join a Muslim faith instead of Christianity? Most liberals back down immediately when they think their criticism will result in a knife in their ribs. Liberal courageous attacks seem to apply only to those who are non-violent and forgiving.
Becky Loughridge
January 11th, 2010
12:11 pm
A person’s faith is NOT a private matter. What we are affects everyone around us and has generational impact. Our country was built on Christian faith and the separation of church and state was to protect the church – NOT government. Serving a living God offers hope and eternal rewards, unlike any other faith. Just because a Buddhist wins golf tournaments and a Muslim is president certainly does not mean God is not in control. You will all find out soon enough.
The Reality Check » Blog Archive » Bravo to Brit Hume: Why Faith is Not a Private Matter
January 11th, 2010
12:43 pm
[...] Silence. And the reaction came promptly. Describing it at Politics Daily, Carl M. Cannon wrote: Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution asserted that “faith is a private matter between that [...]
Tommy
January 11th, 2010
1:01 pm
Funny how when a conservative talks about God he gets hammered for it, but let’s go back to the Clinton administration. When Clinton had that little incident with his secretary he supposedly professed his faith to who? God! Oh yes, Clinton was the perfect Christian! He was praised by democrats for it but when a republican starts talking about it they are smeared. Tell me, what’s the difference?
Tommy
January 11th, 2010
1:06 pm
Ok let’s go back to the Clinton Administration. When Clinton got into that little incident with his secretary who did he supposedly turn to? God! Oh yes, Clinton was the perfect Christian and he was praised for his redemption but when a republican metions something they get hammered! Can you say double standard?
Secular Left Cries Foul on Religion in Sports From Brit Hume and Tiger Woods to Tim Tebow and scripture, liberals don’t get sports and Christianity. But they sure are offended by it.
January 13th, 2010
1:01 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Jay Bookman attributed Hume’s remarks to “arrogance,” and posited that religious belief “is a private matter between that person and God, and is [...]
A Passionate View on All Things Bali » From Tiger to Tebow: Secular Left Doesn’t Get Religion in Sports
January 13th, 2010
3:04 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Jay Bookman attributed Hume’s remarks to "arrogance," and posited that religious belief "is a private matter between that person and God, and [...]
A Passionate View on All Things Bali » From Tiger to Tebow: Secular Left Doesn’t Get Religion in Sports
January 13th, 2010
3:06 pm
[...] The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Jay Bookman attributed Hume’s remarks to "arrogance," and posited that religious belief "is a private matter between that person and God, and [...]
A Stuart
January 20th, 2010
4:43 pm
religious fanatics are taking over the country. statements like Hume’s & Pat Robertson’s are stupid.
Brit Hume: ‘Tiger Needs Jesus’ « My Blog
June 9th, 2010
11:07 am
[...] critics have pounced on Hume. And Tommy Christopher, at Mediaite.com, wonders what Christians would think if someone [...]