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Why I'm Rooting for the Religious Right
Opinion Journal ^ | May 5, 2005 | James Taranto

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cary; religiousright; waronreligion
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To: New Orleans Slim

Is abortion legal? Just what is your problem with decency standards? Your proffered idea that "feminists" have decency standards that are in-line with conservative christians is provable... HOW? By the by, why is the "[sic]" included in your quote of me?


41 posted on 05/04/2005 10:33:03 PM PDT by Treader (Hillary's dark smile is reminiscent of Stalin's inhuman grin...)
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To: New Orleans Slim
I have to say, I'm all for the sexual revolution. It's been pretty good to me....

In what way could it "be good to one"?

42 posted on 05/04/2005 10:34:40 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: Diesonne
I was saying very much the opposite. People that aren't Christians still live their lives with the same moral convictions that Christians do, because its the right way to live anyway, and this drives the left nuts.

BTW, separation of state from church is a bunch of malarkey that fits the left's agenda to a tee. If the truth be spoken, the fact is that secularist have been living under the Umbrella of the Grace of God due to their proximity to Christians. It is an insurance policy the left wants to cancel. Woe be the day it comes to pass.
43 posted on 05/04/2005 10:35:06 PM PDT by whereasandsoforth (Stamp out liberals with the big boot of truth)
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To: Unam Sanctam
I hating using this label, but the "religious right" can be the strength AND weakness of the GOP.

It is the strength on the life issue. Pro-lifers, along with tax haters and gun owners are backbone of the party, and are the "big three" in the coalition.
It is the weakness when it pushes for heavy regulation of the airwave by unelected bureaucrats(FCC) under the excuse of so-called "decency"(which is what government decides "decency" is).

44 posted on 05/04/2005 10:35:25 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan ("Get in the ring!")
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: New Orleans Slim
"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."

And what if the pregnant woman was pro-life? Would you raise your own child or hit the road?

46 posted on 05/04/2005 10:39:29 PM PDT by Miss Behave ("It was wrong.")
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To: bray

Christian bashing? Damn. I would wager that it took lesser for a complete idiot to show up and call anything they dont like bashing..


47 posted on 05/04/2005 10:40:01 PM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: ThirstyMan
These are just spoiled brats who childishly think the world should revolve around them and they throw disruptive tantrums when it doesn't.

Sadly enough, many are influenced to think that way.

48 posted on 05/04/2005 10:40:59 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: Unam Sanctam

How refreshing!


49 posted on 05/04/2005 10:42:03 PM PDT by Quix (--AVOID MERE FORM OF GODLINESS; SEEK HIS FACE. WALK IN HIS SPIRIT.)
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To: New Orleans Slim
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.

Slim, in politics, your "marketplace of ideas" is decided by elections. And, right now, the team that lost -- the minority -- is trying to shove their ideas down everybody's throat.

Now, just who is it that is abusing the system?

50 posted on 05/04/2005 10:42:38 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: Miss Behave
Your # 46

Does not matter..Every male in this country simply by having a ding a ling is subject to a Gov't DB search upon employment or job change (eve within the same employer). All they need is a "piece" of his DNA and it's all over. Now, what if "she chose to run and abort it. What if "he' wanted it?

51 posted on 05/04/2005 10:45:14 PM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: parmaright
i couldn't agree with you more. we are the party of less government not more. that means the government should stay out of my personal business, especially in my own house!

Yea, if you so desire to build a nuclear warhead in your basement it's nobody's business but yours.

52 posted on 05/04/2005 10:45:55 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: okie01; New Orleans Slim
Slim, in politics, your "marketplace of ideas" is decided by elections. And, right now, the team that lost -- the minority -- is trying to shove their ideas down everybody's throat.

I take Slims statement as a promotion of a "living, breathing", government institution.

In other words, chaos.

53 posted on 05/04/2005 10:51:00 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: Miss Behave

Oh..and in some states, it doesn't even take dna..it just takes "failure to appear" to a "woman" simply "saying" so-and-so is hte father. Meanwhile, so-and-so has no idea he's supposed to be in court. Bing! Hello father! CA residents who have been stung by this know what I am talking about...It's an indsutry...


54 posted on 05/04/2005 10:51:05 PM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: EGPWS

"i couldn't agree with you more. we are the party of less government not more. that means the government should stay out of my personal business, especially in my own house!"

"Yea, if you so desire to build a nuclear warhead in your basement it's nobody's business but yours."

ok, i'll add this: as long as i'm not harming anyone else. obviously if i decide to set my own house on fire and i live next door to another house, that wouldn't be allowed either. maybe you want the government in your bedroom but i don't. gotta love the big government conservatives.


55 posted on 05/04/2005 10:51:40 PM PDT by parmaright
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To: New Orleans Slim
The state has no business telling me how to have sex.

What part of the national Republican platform dictates how you're suppose to have sex?

56 posted on 05/04/2005 10:52:17 PM PDT by Kenny Bunkport
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To: Unam Sanctam

I couldn't read the article, but this is what I think: the left wants moral to dissapear so that they can hold power.

1.- They want people dependent on subsidies, so they vote them.
2.- They promote hedonism: "it's all about me; if a baby is an inconvenience, I eliminate him"; "have a lot of sex"; "try same gender partners, it's normal and gives a lot of pleasure"; etc. Bottom line "do whatever you the f@ck you want to do and leave me alone; I just want to be happy". The more hedonists there are, the more votes they have.
3.- They support ONU, Greenpeace et al; they all do the same; they are platforms of power that are not even elected by the people.

This is why they don't want people believe that there is a power above, a power saying what's right and wrong. They want to implement their own definition of good and evil. A purely human definition, and the one that is convenient for them.

Any person, Christian or not, if he / she has morals, or as long as he / she sees what the liberals are after, they will be closer to Christians or religious people.


57 posted on 05/04/2005 10:53:00 PM PDT by angelanddevil2
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To: Diesonne

Please show the "separation of church and state" clause, pause or insinuation - in any United States Documents of Federation. I double dare ya...Diesonne


58 posted on 05/04/2005 10:55:59 PM PDT by Treader (Hillary's dark smile is reminiscent of Stalin's inhuman grin...)
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To: parmaright
ok, i'll add this: as long as i'm not harming anyone else. obviously if i decide to set my own house on fire and i live next door to another house, that wouldn't be allowed either. maybe you want the government in your bedroom but i don't. gotta love the big government conservatives.

If I were in bed enjoying a relaxing nights sleep and found for some reason that my spouse became dysfunctional, for whatever reason, and decided to cover my face with a pillow awaiting the moment that I no longer breathed, I would welcome the government into my bedroom via law enforcement.

Call me crazy....

59 posted on 05/04/2005 10:57:38 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: Kenny Bunkport
What part of the national Republican platform dictates how you're suppose to have sex"

No one does....BUT, the after effects...A way to over regulate..to the point that all of us pay for it without due process..Read up on family law..you will be stunned.

60 posted on 05/04/2005 10:58:17 PM PDT by Michael Barnes
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