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.
Is there an example you can state?
Wallis and Campolo, two Clinton apologists. When he says that evangelical conserv churches are being left in droves by attenders, he obviously is unaware of the blood-letting and huge exodus of leftist liberal socialist Mainline churches for the last 50 years. They are useless , toothless Kiwanis clubs with no Jesus, no Bible, no Spirit, no concept of good and evil but save the whales and global warming or feed the cons and sanctify Bishop Robinson.
If as I'm sure you believe, human rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are given only by the Creator, not by man, then those rights exist period. They are not bound by the limitations of time or place. That the federal courts refused to consider the basic rights of the citizens of the United States until after the 14th Amendment...and then taking another hundred years before the courts recognized their duty did not make it right.
Did the United States have the duty to protect the rights of its citizens with one of the states in the Union? Of course it did. That is the primary duty of any government. That it didn't is ignored by those who want to forget. All was corrected by the 14th Amendment, huh? Oh, BTW, that would include the religious tests.
So the denial of rights to any citizen of the United States is unconstitutional and always has been. It just wasn't enforced. Remember, rights trump powers. And rights are not dependent on man for ratification. They exist independent of time and place, and government is duty bound to enforce them.
Something the left doesn't begin to grasp...Christianity thrives under persecution.
That's true but Jesus said we should flee it if possible.
Could be a good thing. Paul said there would be "a great falling away from the faith," just prior to Christ return. Oh yes, we're waiting Lord Jesus! Everything will be RIGHT then!
Nothing but wishful thinking from the left wing drivel!!!
Funny you mention Jim Jeffords as his inclusion in the GOP was due precisely because of those in the Republican establishment who saw holding power as more important than maintaining any semblence of conservative principles. The big govt social democrats are no different and have been more trouble than they've been worth. Cheers for their exit.
We don't have even a marginally acceptable candidate among those who appear to have a chance.
Hey, the same folks saw the gulag as a necessary evil. I guess they don't have a problem with cracking eggs to make an omlette, no matter how far along the eggs are in their human development.
For people that call themselves members of the religious right, you all have some interesting ways to express yourselves. Just paint everyone that doesn't walk in lockstep with a broad brush. Amazing!
The Republican Party is going the way of the Episcopal Church . . . but faster. You guys seem to want the pricey real estate. If you leave us FReeRepublic, you can have the rest of it.
BS. Jeffords is an old-line Rockefeller country-club Republican, just like your boy Rudy. (Well, except he has more principles, since he left the Party that wouldn't support his radical pro-abort agenda.)
From your many posts, I surmise you do not believe in the existence of Original Sin. For Christians, who do, there is no surprise in the reality the people are not perfect and never will be, nor will any governmental organizations they devise. The fact that it took many years for the ideals (propositions as correctly denoted by Abraham Lincoln) written in our Constitution to be made reality should not surprise anyone. People are simply not perfect and will never be until Christ returns.
I have read your posts with interest and do not disagree with some of your points, but the smugness with which you present them is difficult to get past. The impression you give is that same as that given by so many on the left. I would ask you, in all seriousness, to consider, at least, that you, like the rest of us fallen human beings, are not in possession of all the answers. It is those who believe they do have all the answers who are dangerous; any list of murderous dictators proves that. We Christians know we are sinners, and that perfection is God's alone. No Constitution we could ever write would be perfect, nor would any application of such Constitution. Can we make things better? Sure, but perfect, never.
One more small thing: perhaps slavery, which has been practiced all around the world for thousands of years, and is still being practiced in certain areas (with very little outcry on the part of the self-annointed world elites/media) is something that doesn't need to be flogged endlessly in relation to the U.S.
What would happen if you were as concerned with slavery as it is practiced today in Africa? Why not turn your attention to that problem that exists today, rather than cranking about any country's less-than-perfect past?
Sounds like Oprah rather than Church.
Typical nonsense from Jim Wallis - reducing church to a social club. We are indeed commanded to care for the poor - and guess what? There is not, nor has there ever been, a movement to try and stop us from doing that. There are, however, movements out there to destroy the institution of marriage, kill innocent children before they are born, etc.
Moreover, where is Wallis' concern for sharing the Gospel? I don't see it. It's just supposed to be a social club?
That means working with the other side to get our main priorities while giving the other side some of theirs. Because Republicans who controlled Congress refused any kind of negotiation, nothing was accomplished. And they paid the price.
The REPUBLICANS refused negotiation? That's ridiculous.
"Why should we come up with a plan? Our plan is...to stop him! To stop him! He must be stopped!" - Nancy Pelosi when asked if the Democrats would put up their own alternative to Social Security reform.
I thought I knew Wallis, having followed his "career" for several decades.
This was illuminating, even to me.
Any credibility Wallis had, even as a Christian with whom I disagreed, was lost when he refused to take up the issue of the Sudanese Christians (who were also under threat of genocide) during the 1980s and 90s.
Apparently only Muslims in Africa are suitable subjects for his concern.
Let me tell you something else, learned experientially first hand after living in Africa: the problem is not poverty of the flesh, it is poverty of the soul.
Only when the spirit of Christ, and his call for Holiness are imbedded within the African culture will they begin to overcome the devastating poverty of the flesh.
First of all, why are you accusing me of being a Rudy supporter? If anything, I've been quite critical of him. Quit being lazy and look up my previous posts for veracity's sake.
Second, how are the big government Rockerfeller country club GOPers any different than your big government christian socialists?? They both hold views and wish spend spend spend tax payer dollars that run counter to our Constitution. The GOP would be better off without either. Or is your view that "Jesus motivated" spending's a good thing while country club GOP spending isn't?
Thanks for the ping!
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