Rick Santorum’s view of American Exceptionalism includes the theological concept that because of American Exceptionalism, Satan is peculiarly and primarily interested in attacking the United States over all other entities (obstensibly including other nations and God’s church).
He has recently said: “The Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies, Satan, would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country — the United States of America. If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age? There is no one else to go after other than the United States, and that’s been the case for now almost 200 years”.
This statement is and should be perceived as obnoxious both conservative Christian believers and just about anyone else!.
Santorum is simply off base. Satan is primarily concerned with destroying God’s project on this earth–the Church. And that is emphatically NOT synonymous with the United States of America. And Satan is alive and well in assault against God’s Church in every nation!
Again, I ask American Republicans, do you really want this man to be the Republican alternative to Obama? Unfortunately, I think many conservative Christians are so enamored by the fact that Santorum is using theological language and taking flack for it that they are overlooking the fact that he is very seriously twisting things here.
Adam Parker has an interesting response and jabs back at Santorum a bit and says:
“I can think of someone I would attack if I were Satan. I would attack the Church of Jesus Christ…I would put on a snappy-looking sweater-vest and talk like Rick Santorum did in this now infamous speech. I would convince the Church that America is a bigger target than her…I would convince the Church in America that she is more important than the Church in China or India or Bangladesh because of the country she is in”.