Obama and the art of bowing

[Unveiled Artist]

I'm not a political person; so, I can't argue too much about politics but my co-worker brought this up to me. She says that if Obama claimed to be a Christian, he wouldn't bow to anyone.

Obviously, I disagree. I would assume that the presidents would respect the customs of each person's culture depending on the business being conducted. Then another question dawned on me, if we are told we need to wear burka's when we go into other countries as a cultural norm (or be arrested), why don't we, if a christian country morally (not politically) tell foreign to take off their burkas because it's against Biblical practices (assuming).

Here is the video:

If the pope came here, would non-christians give him the respect of bowing? Not geneflex. Not kiss his hand. Just a short bow of respect?

Another question is that why is bowing linked to religion when the same reason a person bows in one country is the same reason we shake hands over in America (outside of religion)?

 

[lovesong]

Then another question dawned on me, if we are told we need to wear burka's when we go into other countries as a cultural norm (or be arrested), why don't we, if a christian country morally (not politically) tell foreign to take off their burkas because it's against Biblical practices (assuming).

We do, we have to. If we go to a country that requires burqas with the penalty being arrest, we wear them. It's a law, that's just how it is. Now if it's just customary to wear one, but not mandatory, then no there's no reason we should have to, as long as we don't mind the social consequences. At that point it's a respect thing and that's a choice we would all have to make. We often make people remove burqas in certain places here for security reasons. We have a culture where security relies heavily on being able to see the face. Just as it is a law there to wear one, there might be the law here against covering the face. Laws are laws. Respect a county's laws or don't visit.

If the pope came here, would non-christians give him the respect of bowing? Not geneflex. Not kiss his hand. Just a short bow of respect?

No, probably not. I'm sure many people who don't feel that the pope is a respectable figure or even more so, that the religion is not respectable, would never bow to him. Another aspect is who is approaching who. Bowing is a sign of respect. Going to someone's country, setting up a meeting with them, and then not following their custom of bowing is very rude, whereas someone approaching you in your own country and expecting respect would not be.

Another question is that why is bowing linked to religion when the same reason a person bows in one country is the same reason we shake hands over in America (outside of religion)?

I don't know. It's just silly Islamophobes thinking that showing respect to a Muslim leader means taking up Islam. Nobody would have a fuss if Obama bowed to the Dalai Lama, but because the guy was an important Muslim, oh, watch out!

 

[Augustus]

She says that if Obama claimed to be a Christian, he wouldn't bow to anyone.

What's the link between not bowing and Christianity?

I've heard about it in connection to Islam as 'you only bow before God', but never Christianity.

Is it a common perspective in America? What's the reasoning behind it?

 

[PeteC-UK]

Hi Folks..

And He said - when you find one who is NOT BORN OF A WOMAN - then (and only then ?) you will bow before them for that one is of your Father..

I paraphrase for Him here - but check out gospel of Thomas for His original truth......One NOT BORN OF WOMAN - when you encounter the DIVINE He said - then you WILL BOW DOWN....

Hmmm - whats that about - sounds like - an observation..?...Like that is what He EXPECTS to happen..?..Its NOT a command Hes giving here - Hes NOT saying bow down to people or anything like that - but making us QUESTION - for how do you even KNOW who is " one not born of a woman" ..?...And yet He says when we meet such One then we WILL know for we WILL bow down anyway...Hes making an observation - saying that just by being near them will MAKE us "bow down" - their very PRESENCE will affect us and we will notice the affect and act accordingly

Thereby you will KNOW who is Divine truly - when in THAT Presence there is no mistake - and so quite naturally your Soul is shown its truth and station and so you will be "bowed down"....literally so - energetically so - I tell you it is like "emotional gravity" - the Presence scrambles the mortal mind makes it hard to do ANYTHING for the self....

And so I my Self have now a simple rule just as He spoke this simple truth - if the person does NOT incite this emotional energetic response within me then no way am I bowing to them period full stop ever - for they are only my equal regardless of their mortal station - they are no more fully Divine than I my Self am and so meet them on EQUAL terms ALWAYS regardless of who they mortally are.....You will indeed KNOW DIRECTLY when and if you encounter the true Divine - and I assure you (all) the Soul will respond accordingly...As always for those with ears to hear....

 

[Altfish]

She says that if Obama claimed to be a Christian, he wouldn't bow to anyone.

I find it tragic that a leader's religion is in anyway important.

 

[Lyndon]

Muslims don't bow, AT ALL, as far as I know there is nothing to stop a Christian from bowing. Actually if Obama was really a Muslim, he wouldn't bow to anyone, even the king of Saudi Arabia.

 

[The Emperor of Mankind]

Muslims don't bow, AT ALL, as far as I know there is nothing to stop a Christian from bowing. Actually if Obama was really a Muslim, he wouldn't bow to anyone, even the king of Saudi Arabia.

They bow to God.

EDIT: They also bow to the Ka'aba.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

What's the link between not bowing and Christianity?

I've heard about it in connection to Islam as 'you only bow before God', but never Christianity.

Is it a common perspective in America? What's the reasoning behind it?

I was reading that none of our presidents bow to anyone. To make an educated guess, when we broke off from Brittian years ago as our own country, we also dropped the religion there catholicism and the politics of bowing to queen and king.

So, Im assuming bowing to pope, queen, king, etc are not common place because of our independence. What interests me is in the military, junior soilders bow to their captains. Someone times youd see children drop their head in front their parents when they are told they are wrong.

In Christianity, Catholicism and its friends have a hugh regard for bowing. It shows deep respect to "submit" or posturely-cover your head in presence of christ.

With the president, I can only assume he is paying the cultural respect to people he conducts business with. Deplomats do he same just as ambassadors.

 

[Revoltingest]

Bowing, especially when it's submissive rather than reciprocal, is bad enuf.
But there are worse rituals.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I find it tragic that a leader's religion is in anyway important.

Everytime I hear "we should have a christian president because we are a christian country" I sometimes just want to laugh and cry.

I dont know where you live but if American adopted christian (even catholic) values and ways of evangalization, it wont be pretty. Especially with the history and all.

 

[McBell]

Muslims don't bow, AT ALL, as far as I know there is nothing to stop a Christian from bowing. Actually if Obama was really a Muslim, he wouldn't bow to anyone, even the king of Saudi Arabia.

Except I have seen Muslims in the real world bow to those they respect...

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Hmm.

We often make people remove burqas in certain places here for security reasons. We have a culture where security relies heavily on being able to see the face. Just as it is a law there to wear one, there might be the law here against covering the face. Laws are laws. Respect a county's laws or don't visit.

However, I mentioned about morals rather than politics. If we are a Christian country going by biblical morals (assuming), we'd tell people who come to our country they'd have to abide by our biblical principles (protestant) than their own. We see it with Catholic vs Protestant. Protestants are protestants for a reason and now Catholicism made its way here, US is having an uproar of their independence going down the drain (hypothesizing here).

Religiously, since women have to cover up in other countries, when women in burkas come here, would it make moral sense for us to tell them to take off their burkas and conform to protestant values if they want to stay in the states?

Going to someone's country, setting up a meeting with them, and then not following their custom of bowing is very rude, whereas someone approaching you in your own country and expecting respect would not be.

Actually, I have mixed feelings on that. I live in a senior residential community, and a lot of the residents here are Korean. Some don't expect me to bow in front of them when they approach, but since I know the culture a bit from my practices, if they approached me I would bow the same as if I approached them. With the same level of posture in bowing the first time and a nod the second or third time regardless of who comes up to whom.

I think that point of view is very political. "If I come on your land, I'll do what you say but if you come on my land, I don't have to respect you at all."

I don't know. It's just silly Islamophobes thinking that showing respect to a Muslim leader means taking up Islam. Nobody would have a fuss if Obama bowed to the Dalai Lama, but because the guy was an important Muslim, oh, watch out!

Pretty much.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

I'm not a political person; so, I can't argue too much about politics but my co-worker brought this up to me. She says that if Obama claimed to be a Christian, he wouldn't bow to anyone.

For REAL fun, remind Christians that the bible is quite clear that making promises meant feeling up your male friends' nads.
I mean, I guess that's why Jesus didn't want us making promises ... you had to stick your hand up some dude's thigh...

She says that if Obama claimed to be a Christian, he wouldn't bow to anyone.

There's a difference between "worship" bows and "we don't' use handshakes" bows. Jesus ...

 

[Unveiled Artist]

There's a difference between "worship" bows and "we don't' use handshakes" bows. Jesus ...

I know. I tried to explain to her there are different types of bowing (just as prayer, being broke, being tired, and so forth), but because it's connected to religion, she feels when she bows regardless what she things that posture is insulting christ.

 

[McBell]

I know. I tried to explain to her there are different types of bowing (just as prayer, being broke, being tired, and so forth), but because it's connected to religion, she feels when she bows regardless what she things that posture is insulting christ.

Does she honestly think it is Jesus that is so petty?

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

she feels when she bows regardless what she things that posture is insulting christ.

Fortunately, supposedly God and Jesus aren't stupid and unable to understand differences of motive.

 

[Sleeppy]

Fortunately, supposedly God and Jesus aren't stupid and unable to understand differences of motive.

Even that is questionable. Several instances, I'm sure you recall, where motives were completely worthless.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

True.