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.
Accurate headline, followed by inaccurate analysis with commentary advocating lefty religious orgs directing government.
I think the left keeps misreading this last election. They interpreted it as a slam against conservatism - but from what I've read - it is a historic fact that the party in power usually loses seats in mid-term elections such as those we just had.
I was reading where Ann Coulter said somewhere that actually, the Republicans lost less seats than could be expected by past election performances. So, it really wasn't quite the mandate the left likes to claim.
Death of the religious right? Conservatism? I don't think so - I think we're as fired up as we've been in a long time.
Love it when the Left trots out non-Christians to define Christian doctrine, then condemn Christians for not following it.
And the era of Christ is well on it's way.
The era of Christ will make Jim Wallis scream for the era of the "Religous Right"
I think I heard this illustration on the radio a long time ago...Chuck Swindoll...it says it all
Mr. Wallis, of course, gets to decide which are the big moral issues of our time. His list includes: poverty and economic justice, global warming, HIV/AIDS, sex trafficking, genocide in Darfur and the ethics of the war in Iraq.
Those for whom moral issues include aggressive normalization of perversion, destruction of the institution of marriage, killing of unborn and partially born children, pornification of our popular culture, etc. are just wrong, not to mention evil.
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.
If somebody agrees with Mr. Wallis, they're standing on a bridge together. If someone disagrees, the jerk introduced a wedge into the discussion.
We can indeed all get along. Just agree with Mr. Wallis and all our problems will disappear.
Our problem is we don't have a perfect candidate to run.
Not. One.
That being said, people like Jim Wallis are trying their best to tear down religious conservatives and demoralize them. I see a lot of evangelical pastors lining up to listen to this crap.........and there are a fair amount of them that are quite gullible when it comes to the lefts' siren songs.
Kumbaya.
What should our ideas be based in? Loosely held opinion? Happenstance? The fad of the day? Luck of the draw?
I think our understanding of truth is a pretty good way to form our judgments.
He really hit it out of the ball park with that one.
OOPS... I guess he forgot to say that!
I agree!
The msm seems to be doing everything it can to push us left. I would think that means we should run as hard and fast as we can to the right.
Theyve never been our friends before, why should we trust them now?
Here's an interesting article which gives a good perspective on Wallis and others preaching this same message.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/KevinMcCullough/2007/01/14/why_the_christian_left_is_not
I'm still proud to call myself conservative. No one will shame me into voting 'centrist/moderate/wishy washy/liberal'.
I quit time more than 20 years ago when they ran their suicide cover dedicated to a ban on gun ownership.
Nah. I am a proud member of the so-called "religious right". What is key in this Wallis fellow's screed is "most of the people I talk to". Well, just imagine who shows up for this guy. This is akin to "How did Reagan win, nobody I know voted for him" coming out of the upper west side salons.
Yet, we here respond to it as if it was fact, not propaganda. Aside from the little slivers of blue surrounding the large metro areas which themselves surround most of the re-education camps that used to be our great universities, this is a Red Nation. Sooner than later we'll have had enough.
As to "evangelicals" on this site supporting Rudy: I suspect that many, like myself, do not support him at this point, but will definitely vote for him if he is the nominee against any democrat. This past weeks congressional treasons ought to tell us all we need to know about "teaching the rino's a lesson".
Because weak or non Christians do read it, and this kind of trash needs to be refuted.
Your first thoughts were correct, it is media-hype, it has 'Rudy' written all over it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.