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.
Jim Wallis, huh?
This election has to be the DEATH of the Clinton's hold over the democrats. If we don't break this hold .. America will be in serious trouble.
Hillary will appease every foe .. while the "First Man" will be doing his duty in the Lincoln bedroom .. and any other bedroom available.
Secondly, while all that farse is going on .. our enemies will be plotting to destroy America .. one large city at a time .. or maybe several cities at once.
But .. never fear .. Hillary will come to the rescue and declare martial law .. and REMAIN PRESIDENT FOREVER .. because she will by EXECUTIVE ORDER cancel all the elections.
That may sound far fetched and way beyond reason .. but what was it that the esteemed 911 Commission said: "... the real failure was THE LACK OF VISION ...".
Well .. we better get our vision going if we plan on protecting America and what she stands for .. by not denying to ourselves .. the evil capabilities of the Clintons and their minions.
Nice red herring there.
Note that what I have listed are economic and not social issues. The policies of the Administration and Congress gave economic conservatives little incentive to support the GOP. At least the social conservatives got two socially conservative Supreme Court justices and a ban on partial birth abortion. Economic conservatives got little more than a temporary tax cut. The Republican Party cannot afford another President who has a proven record of weakness in this area, as is the case with Rudy McRomney. Economic conservatives need to reject the frontrunners, even more so than the social conservatives.
The last few months have been eye opening. There is a large number of people on FR who would be happen if the GOP became a shadow of the Democrats on every issue but one, the war. They are pushing harder and harder to git rid of the religious and social conservatives.
I honestly fear what is coming.
I never liked the PDL Warren movement. To much pop psychology and the theology of glory, not enough Christianity. When you focus on numbers and money at the expense of truth, don't be surprised when stuff like that happens.
Hey Rudy shill! Did you write this tripe?
Good riddance to bad rubbish! They [religious conservatives] should have NEVER been partnered with the GOP and its small government philosophy. Brought some short term electoral success but look where we are now. Hopefully now that the "spend taxpayers money for Jesus" crew is deserting perhaps the Republican party can get back to its successful roots.The only question is where we can go after both parties have rejected us.
If that is how you see it, why waste your time? To this point I have seen no converts to Rudyism on the board. But, I have seen one poster express some reservations for previous support.
Once again, this is the process. True to the board's founding principles, we hold to actual values. We do not discard them in the face of popular opinion, which can turn on a dime. Sorry if that befuddles some.
Of which are now Republican talking points.
I do too, except for one thing: It's going to force the real Christians to pray, unite and act.
“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.” - George Washington
Time for a new tagline...
**The Religious Right's Era Is Over **
I don't think so. I think it is just beginning. They haven't seen "nothing" yet!
Indeed. A few years ago, I asked my then pastor if he thought the reunion of Christendom would happen. He smiled and said it would happen, and probably soon. He then said "in the catacombs, we won't be worrying about which hymns to sing".
Is it really hatred, or just a feeling that "these people" have been too influential too long? Politics does tend to translate differences of opinion into hostility and hatred, but it looks more to me that many other Americans are tired of the evangelicals' influence in conservative politics.
It's not so much that social conservatism is finished, rather it's that people are tired of those who've become most identified with social conservatism. Today, for many people in the Northeast and West Coast, "social conservatism" means "those strange people who live in another part of the country who don't like you and who you don't quite understand."
It wasn't like that in the Reagan era, when "social conservatism" meant a lot more than the evangelical bloc and the South. When it came to be "somebody else's property" it lost appeal in other parts of the country. It will take another big sorting-out of American politics before things change.
You can see a parallel with what happened in the 1920s. Urban Americans got tired of Prohibition, the Scopes Trial, Amy McPherson, Billy Sunday, and all the rest of the evangelical culture. In those days, though, evangelical Protestantism wasn't so closely identified with social conservatism, which found a home in other religions and traditions.
Living in mortal fear of those who cherish freedom and believe in the Constitution?
Back to God. We have put our trust to much in Princes, and not in Christ.
And, I fear, we will soon be going into the catacombs.
Hum, spoken like the neighbors kid next door who just came out of the closet, switched religions and suddenly is far brighter and smarter than any so narrow minded Christian could ever be.
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