Posted on 02/17/2007 6:23:04 AM PST by NYer
As I have traveled around the country, one line in my speeches always draws cheers: "The monologue of the Religious Right is over, and a new dialogue has now begun." We have now entered the post-Religious Right era. Though religion has had a negative image in the last few decades, the years ahead may be shaped by a dynamic and more progressive faith that will make needed social change more possible.
In the churches, a combination of deeper compassion and better theology has moved many pastors and congregations away from the partisan politics of the Religious Right. In politics, we are beginning to see a leveling of the playing field between the two parties on religion and "moral values," and the media are finally beginning to cover the many and diverse voices of faith. These are all big changes in American life, and the rest of the world is taking notice.
Evangelicals — especially the new generation of pastors and young people — are deserting the Religious Right in droves. The evangelical social agenda is now much broader and deeper, engaging issues like poverty and economic justice, global warming, HIV/AIDS, sex trafficking, genocide in Darfur and the ethics of the war in Iraq. Catholics are returning to their social teaching; mainline Protestants are asserting their faith more aggressively; a new generation of young black and Latino pastors are putting the focus on social justice; a Jewish renewal movement and more moderate Islam are also growing; and a whole new denomination has emerged, which might be called the "spiritual but not religious."
Even more amazing, the Left is starting to get it. Progressive politics is remembering its own religious history and recovering the language of faith. Democrats are learning to connect issues with values and are now engaging with the faith community. They are running more candidates who have been emboldened to come out of the closet as believers themselves. Meanwhile, many Republicans have had it with the Religious Right. Both sides are asking how to connect faith and values with politics. People know now that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, and we are all learning that religion should not be in the pocket of any political party; it calls all of us to moral accountability.
Most people I talk to think that politics isn't working in America and believe that the misuse of religion has been part of the problem. Politics is failing to resolve the big moral issues of our time, or even to seriously address them. And religion has too often been used as a wedge to divide people, rather than as a bridge to bring us together on those most critical questions. I believe (and many people I talk with agree) that politics could and should begin to really deal with the many crises we face. Whenever that happens, social movements often begin to emerge, usually focused on key moral issues. The best social movements always have spiritual foundations, because real change comes with the energy, commitment and hope that powerful faith and spirituality can bring.
It's time to remember the spiritual revivals that helped lead to the abolition of slavery in Britain and the United States; the black church's leadership during the American civil rights movement; the deeply Catholic roots of the Solidarity movement in Poland that led the overthrow of communism; the way liberation theology in Latin America helped pave the way for new democracies; how Desmond Tutu and the South African churches served to inspire victory over apartheid; how "People Power" joined with the priests and bishops to bring down down Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos; how the Dalai Lama keeps hope alive for millions of Tibetans; and, today, how the growing Evangelical and Pentecostal churches of the global South are mobilizing to addresse the injustices of globalization.
I believe we are seeing the beginning of movements like that again, right here in America, and that we are poised on the edge of what might become a revival that will bring about big changes in the world. Historically, social reform often requires spiritual revival. And that's what church historians always say about real revival — that it changes things in the society, not just in people's inner lives. I believe that what we are seeing now may be the beginning of a new revival — a revival for justice.
The era of the Religious Right is now past, and it's up to all of us to create a new day.
I think Rosie O and the NY times have already started the public "hating".....let the games begin all ye Christinophobics. We don't buy a word you say about standing up for morals.
Would be interested in exactly how that conclusion can be made. The fact of the matter is that on the latest FR poll, Rudy garnered a whopping 16%. Newt, Mitt, Hunter (who are strong conservatives on "these issues:) combined, blew him away.
Rather than "many" I would say a few gullible ones are so Clinton phobic that they have become tunnel visioned. Sadly, if they have it their way, we are going to get what they fear. Rudy cannot win a national election w/o enthusiastic conservative support, including the Christian Right.
You're wasting your breath on me. You compromise the one place (Republican party) where we could go to have a principled man as the man on the ballot for president, and we no longer have any options. There is no gray, only black and white. You can't serve two masters, you can't be a Catholic and say it's a personal choice to murder. I'm sorry, I used to think the way you do, but I have had it
pdl ping!
The Bible points out that in the end times, there will be many false profits. "By their fruits, you shall know them."
They are primarily Socialists who are using the smoke screen of the church to advance their ideology. True believers know the difference.
The problem is, most young people coming out of the public school system have been indoctrinated into viewing this philosophy as correct.
If I am on your "list"
DO take me OFF.
You also forgot the "barf alert".
Humanistic socialism isn't my thing either.
It is my belief that the "Progressive Christians" will be happily signing the death warrants of the Believers.
At this point the democrats are running against the middle and are being as leftists as they can be. I think it would be great to see them do that till shortly before the primaries and have a conservative like Hunter pop up and force the democrats to scramble at the last minute.
This describes them perfectly. The 2nd chapter of the second letter from Peter has proven to be rather prophetic:
2But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers* the way of truth will be maligned. 3And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell* and committed them to chains* of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgement; 5and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he saved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood on a world of the ungodly; 6and if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction* and made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly;* 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the lawless 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by their lawless deeds that he saw and heard), 9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement 10—especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority.
Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,* 11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgement from the Lord.* 12These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed,* they also will be destroyed, 13suffering* the penalty for doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, revelling in their dissipation* while they feast with you. 14They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor,* who loved the wages of doing wrong, 16but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the deepest darkness has been reserved. 18For they speak bombastic nonsense, and with licentious desires of the flesh they entice people who have just* escaped from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them. 20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them. 22It has happened to them according to the true proverb,‘The dog turns back to its own vomit’,and,‘The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud.’
Luke 21:8 "And He said, "Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ...."
Saying I am Christian. Signs of the end and His first warning to us. Yes, he's a wolf in sheep's clothing and there are many like him.
In fact, our Founding Fathers tried desperately to negotiate with England. They did not want to separate. It was George III who would not negotiate. As for the silly analogies to World War II, you do not negotiate with the enemy unless you are losing. Nor should we negotiate with Al Qaeda or Sadr.
But our Nation is not at war with the Democrats, who now control the Congress. Americans expect collaboration and negotiation to those major issues of importance including social security, tax reform, immigration reform and others. It is not a sin (except to the RR) to sit down and play the give and take game in order to achieve a goal.
The only cure for America's political problems is to return to the philosophy of our Founders - limited government, personal and financial liberty, and strong national defense. There is no substitute for victory.
No substitute for victory, and yet you decry the very war on terror we are fighting as "no-win". But to your main point. Our Nation and government are where we are, not where some would like us to be. Limited federal government simply means transferring more responsibility to state governments, which is fine. But if you believe that anyone in the office of the President can suddenly get rid of social security, the Department of Education, HUD, Agriculture, you are dreaming. In any case, Congress created them, and no Congress is going to spend its capital trying to eliminate them. The best that will happen is a slowing of the growth of government, and some transfer of power back to the states where it belongs. But only a Republican would even consider that.
Those here though who are against Jiuliani are not against him because of his fiscal conservatism, but his social conservative values.
And where were all of those limited government conservatives here on FR when Terri Schiavo, and the marriage amendment debates were taking place? Seems like they all wanted the federal government to step in and enlarge its control over the Country.
I do enjoy the freedoms that America provides. It is a far more free America today for all Americans than it was when I was born. And I guarantee it wasn't the "social conservatives" who led the fight for those freedoms.
I see the current public educational system as the problem.
These young minds have been indoctrinated with images of Socialism that show it as the correct ideology. They are convinced by adults that Socialism, when properly applied, is the ONLY true form of government because it addresses the overall will of the entire population in a fair and balanced application.
None of the repeated and historical documentation that Socialism cannot work, no matter who tries it, is ever presented to the students.
They will be forced to learn that fact the hard way, through repeated failure. In much the same way the rest of the World has learned that lesson through out it's history.
"Has the MsM and MsP brain washed America into following Rudy Giuliani vs. Hillary... YET?."
One wonders why they would do that...
Thank you for making my point. I don't take issue with Free Republic, it is a great forum. But it is made up of far more of the RR than it is classic conservatives. Look at the national polls, all of them with Jiuliani blowing out the rest of the field, and reflecting him as the only candidate who can defeat Hillary.
Rather than "many" I would say a few gullible ones are so Clinton phobic that they have become tunnel visioned. Sadly, if they have it their way, we are going to get what they fear. Rudy cannot win a national election w/o enthusiastic conservative support, including the Christian Right.
Perhaps, but the polls don't agree with you.
You have no clue who I am or where I come from.
Save your judgment for yourself, where it belongs.
background on Leftist-masquerading-as-Christian-leader Jim Wallis:
http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1833
Good, go ask them. While you are at it why don't you ask them about the concept of Salvation through Grace. Maybe they can help you out with that too. In the mean time, I will consult with my pastor about it. Once I have a grasp on the state of my eternal soul, I will THEN see which political party and candidates best reflect my understanding of truth.
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