Posted on 05/04/2005 9:30:26 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
I am not a Christian, or even a religious believer, and my opinions on social issues are decidedly middle-of-the-road. So why do I find myself rooting for the "religious right"? I suppose it is because I am put off by self-righteousness, closed-mindedness, and contempt for democracy and pluralism--all of which characterize the opposition to the religious right.
One can disagree with religious conservatives on abortion, gay rights, school prayer, creationism and any number of other issues, and still recognize that they have good reason to feel disfranchised. This isn't the same as the oft-heard complaint of "anti-Christian bigotry," which is at best imprecise, since American Christians are all over the map politically. But those who hold traditionalist views have been shut out of the democratic process by a series of court decisions that, based on constitutional reasoning ranging from plausible to ludicrous, declared the preferred policies of the secular left the law of the land.
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
Print the whole thing next time I want read an interesting article!!!! (and I dont want sign up for nothing)
BTTT
GRAND SLAM. Awesome post. Taranto gets it...yet again.
Love your tag. ;-)
The relgious right represents the moral consensus that existed before the "sexual revolution." Why should they abandon their notions of right and wrong from those of the '60s generation which despite what liberal "boomers" think is barely majority opinion among themselves but not that among the older and younger generations. So we have aging liberals against both their parents and their children.
What we need in this country is a whole lot more of people minding their own business. This usually means stopping lefties from shoving their nonsense down our throats, but it does unfortunately apply sometimes to conservative Christians.
I suppose it is because I am put off by self-righteousness, closed-mindedness, and contempt for democracy and pluralism--all of which characterize the opposition to the religious right.
IOW, the "religious-right" represents our best hope for true "freedom" -- as has been the case since the days of the Founding Fathers.
Funny, but to certain myopic, ignorant Freepers, the "religious-right (Taliban)" are forever their antagonists.
Bump. Great piece. Taranto is dead on. The professional haters of the "religious right" are a bunch of narrow-minded, doctrinaire bigots.
What exactly are conservative christians shoving down anyone throat?
"The relgious right represents the moral consensus that existed before the "sexual revolution." Why should they abandon their notions of right and wrong"
I have to say, I'm all for the sexual revolution. It's been pretty good to me. Let's let the marketplace of ideas sort out moral questions and attitudes without using the power of the state to shove ideas down people's throats.
That post really hits it...If I could maybe modify a bit..Many run of the mill Christains will try to recruit folks, but they don't "force" their ideas down anothers throat. The "hard core's" I have a problem with..Just as you say on the left "ramming" their ideas down our throats. MYOB. It's a good policy.
bump.
Morality.
"What exactly are conservative christians [sic] shoving down anyone throat?"
Conservative Christians are usually the ones pushing for "decency" standards on broadcast media (and oddly the radical feminists are with them in that matter). Let the market decide.
I also don't have any real strong opinions on abortion. But have to admit, if I got a woman pregnant, I'd probably suddenly become pro-choice.
I also don't get the whole gay thing. Just treat them like everybody else. No special privileges, no legal disadvantages. I thought the Supreme Court in Lawrence got it exactly right - the government does not belong in the bedroom. I remember when I was growing up in Louisiana oral sex with members of the opposite sex was illegal. That was a law the Christians pushed. And it was complete crap. The state has no business telling me how to have sex. None.
If Repubs are weak on the "values" debate, lose the moral high ground on critical social issues, or give the appearance of having no clear moral differences with the hollywood crowd, this will be the obvious result :
Conservative Christians sit home and Repubs LOSE elections.
Go to http://www.bugmenot.com.
You put in the web page and it gives you a password for almost any website.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Actually, it was Tipper Gore who came up with warnings on music albums. The dems like to give lip service to "family values" on these shallow issues whenever they feel like they're loosing the public. Hillary came up with something recently, along that vein. (Sorry, I didn't bother to store it in my memory. Wasn't worth it.)
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