The Religious Right's Era Is Over

Time ^ | February 16, 2007 | Jim Wallis

[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.

[Cedric]

Genocide in Darfur? How 'bout the genocide in America's wombs?

[Coldwater Creek]

BINGO!

[madprof98]

The 06 elections were nothing more than the American people showing their dissatisfaction with the progress of the war in Iraq, Period.

Seems that way to me too. But evidently there was an undercurrent of distaste for everything the reigning GOP stood for, including social conservatism. I can't otherwise explain the contempt so many people ON THE RIGHT are now expressing for those of us who oppose abortion and the gay agenda.

[Alia]

the Republicans lost less seats than could be expected by past election performances.

This is true. It is also true about the CA 2006 elections. But psst! Don't tell anyone. 'kay?

[kaotic133]

I always thought math, history, and the wisdom of successful people were pretty important. I guess a 2000 year old book with a completely warped meaning is just as good, huh?

I'm sorry, I'm just looking for the part of the Bible where Jesus starts a war on drugs and loathes, criminilizes, and condemns "sinners" to social alienation. All I find is that all his friends were prostitutes and tax collectors - the ancient day equivalent of the immigrants and homosexuals that modern Christians like to pick on. If the people claiming Christianity acted like Jesus did, religion would be a fine way to rule.

And if socialism worked like the dictators always claim it will, that would be a fine way to rule as well.

Things just aren't that idealistic.

[ishabibble]

"...and a more moderate Islam is growing;..."

Some people should just be slapped because they are so stupid. Mr. Wallis also mentions the glowing success of South Africa. *as anyone can plainly see*

[dmw]

Thanks for posting the link. Excellent article!

[Tolkien]

Obviously he hasn't read the end of The Book Ping

Obviously he hasn't read the Book at all.

[Reo]

Jim Wallis is part of the "Religious Left", an oxymoron if ever there was one.

[OMalley]

I dont think its distaste for the social conservatism at all. Infact I think quite the opposite.

Here Folks simply stayed home and I think it happened all over. I think itll happen again in 08 if we continue to run as dem lite.

I dont even begin to understand why so many on FR these days have a distaste for the social conservatives?

[George W. Bush]

The liberal Emergent Church nonsense is taking a toll on formerly sound churches.

liberal Emergent Church=political liberals.

[freedomfiter2]

Of course, in a perfect world we could all be compassionate and accepting like Jesus,


Jesus was only cpmpassionate and accepting toward those who would go and sin no more.

[Wallace T.]

Sojourners is little more than a Marxist organization with a pseudo-Christian veneer. Evangelicals should never fool themselves. Marxists have had as a goal the penetration of religious organizations, and even before the rise of Communism in Russia, theological liberalism was on the ascent, first in France and Germany, and then in the United States through the Harvard and Yale divinity schools and the Union Theological Seminary. If these people can penetrate the mainline Protestant denominations and Roman Catholicism to the point that the National Council of Churches and the American Conference of Catholic Bishops make political pronouncements that sound the collected wisdom of liberal politicians like Dennis Kucinich or Barack Obama in backward turned collars, rest assured they will do the same among evangelicals.

It's not just the fringe of evangelicalism like the Sojourners or Tony Campolo (a Northern Baptist "spiritual adviser" to Slick Willie). Leaders like Rick Warren, who reputedly has become a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the establishment's "good ol' boys" club, have endorsed environmentalism and weakened doctrine in favor of "seeker sensitivity" or some such nonsense. Billy Graham, who should know better, excused Clinton's sexual misdeeds with something like "boys will be boys."

Make no mistake. Evangelical and fundamentalist Christians are the population group those people who would turn our nation into, at best, a socialist, Western European nation or, at worst, a corrupt Third World narco-oligarchy, need to neutralize and suppress. Even here on FR, the mere mention of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, James Dobson, and others bring out the RINO and evolutionist haters who seem to despise these Christians more than liberals. Beware of the enemy within.

[drpix]

If TIME was honest, the graphic they chose to accompany their article propaganda should have been...

[knarf]

My favorite;

Put a clean kid in a room with a dirty kid and let them play ...

The dirt always gets on the clean kid ... the clean never gets on the dirty kid.

[MACVSOG68]

But, actually, I think he's onto something. Just check out the effusive praise on this forum for Rudy Giuliani. Much of it is motivated by a real disgust for social conservatism--i.e., the much-hated Religious Right.

The "praise" as you call it has nothing to do with disgust for social conservatism, nor does it reflect hate for the RR. The support Mr. Giuliani receives here on FR (from a minority I might add) reflects an understanding that those social values the RR here decries most, abortion and gay rights, have little or nothing to do with the presidency. Those issues will ultimately be resolved in the court system.

The issues he would have the greatest influence on as president include national security, budget and deficit control, tax policy and a strong attorney general who will fight real crime in this Nation. Those are all conservative issues, and in those, he has a proven track record.

What is upsetting to most here on FR is that he would be willing to sit down with the other side to work out compromises on those major issues of importance to Americans, such as social security, immigration reform, education and energy independence, all issues that the recent Republican dominated congress failed to follow through on.

So while abortion, stem cell research, creationism, prayer in school, and stopping states from adopting gay rights are the most important issues to the religious right, they have little to do with what America wants in its next president. And that is why, at least now, Mr. Jiuliani is the only Republican who can defeat Hillary.

[kaotic133]

And he used legal manipulation to prevent sin?

I call BS

Religious leadership is the world's oldest path to political power. Period. Socialism is just a modern-day secular mimicry of religion with new sins and villains.

One is not better than the other.

"Do not pray in the market like the hypocrits do."

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

Gramsci strikes again! BUT it's just a Flesh wound--False Prophecy and projection.

"As evil did increase, so much more does GRACE increase."

God is yet sovereign, righteousness is yet right and evil will be in God's time be forever overpowered. Psalm 1, 2 and 3. www.Biblegateway.com

If these people weren't DESPERATELY fearful of God's power, why would they be obsessive-compulsive to the point of establishing ACLU/PFAW organizations to purge and censor the Bible and prayer? Pathetic. Pathological. Those who stand on truth have already won the spiritual victory--after that, the physical territory victory is a matter of time. It is a battle for the MIND and SOUL.

[Spiff]

Ha! The joke is on all of the anti-religious people. They're going to go from disliking the followers of Christ, to hating them and shunning them, to outright persecuting them and worse. But I've read the end of the book and I know who wins. Hint: it's not the anti-Christ.

[sergeantdave]

Better headline -

"Communists Infiltrate Churches"

subhead -

"Search on for useful idiots"