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Introducing the friendlier, cuddlier, Moral Majoriy
The Prometheus Institute ^ | 06/28/2007 | Barry Fagin

Posted on 06/28/2007 7:40:03 AM PDT by tang0r

Jerry Falwell’s passing two months ago marks the beginning of the end. As the senior leadership of evangelical America fades from the scene, they will pass the torch to a younger ministry whose views on politics and social issues are very different. The role they will play in the Republican party will determine America’s political future for years to come.

Evangelical leaders of Falwell’s generation oversaw the rise of political clout for fundamentalist Christianity. They founded the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition, the American Coalition for Traditional Values, and Focus on the Family. Pat Robertson even ran for president in 1988, losing to George Bush Sr (although he beat Bush in the Iowa caucuses).

(Excerpt) Read more at prometheusinstitute.net ...


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: christians; moralmajority
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1 posted on 06/28/2007 7:40:04 AM PDT by tang0r
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To: tang0r

One thing I am learning is to pay closer attention to the goofy conspiracy theories of different groups. They may be false, but they will be a treasure map to the groups’ thinking and future path. We are seeing that with the obsessive and slanderous accusations the left dreamed up against the so-called “relgious right.” What they see as changes now are just things they refused to notice in times past because they had an agenda and a conspiracy theory to sell (spread the fear). So count me as not alarmed by the religious people who are liberals. Most of them don’t believe the Bible either. We must defend our positions and they theirs. Theirs denies the nature of God, the meaning and reliability of Scripture, and the nature of man (sinful). So it is no big surprise their worldview leads them down liberal social/political paths.


2 posted on 06/28/2007 7:52:54 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
The link below is to a long but fascinating article on Christian demographics and politics. It makes the point that theologically conservative Third World Southern Hemisphere Christians are becoming numerically predominant in Christianity. And that although they are theologically conservative they subscribe to socialist-minded economics.

Global Schism: Is the Anglican Communion Rift the First Stage in a Wider Christian Split?
The Pew Forum ^ | 5/14/2007 | Philip Jenkins


3 posted on 06/28/2007 8:17:13 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters except PR.)
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To: tang0r
There is...some truth in this article. The problem is that it's mixed in with the usual Libertarian (capital L) lunacy that tends to come out of the PI.

Christians do have a tendency to favor big government. That's as sad as it is true, but there it is. Many social conservatives see abortion and gay marriage, and little else. While those issues are critically important, they are not the only critically important issues (2nd Amendment and certain liberty issues come to mind first. Not to mention that the church has developed this habit of emasculating men these days that needs to be dealt with). The writer makes good points about censorship as do most libertarians. However, you simply cannot justify abortion on any grounds. I don't care who you are or what you say: you cannot believe in legal abortion and truly care about a person's natural right to live.
4 posted on 06/28/2007 8:25:36 AM PDT by JamesP81 (Romans 10:9)
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To: JamesP81
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government, are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce; with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.--Federalist 45

Are there not laws for murder, rape, robbery, etc. at the state level? Somehow the separate and sovereign states are able to protect life and limb but when it comes to abortion 'conservative' Christians run to the federal government. This is not a federal issue, nor was it ever intended to be. The only thing I want the Supreme Court to do is to return the decision to the states. Let them handle it and quit bothering the federal government with moral issues

5 posted on 06/28/2007 8:34:49 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion
I will come back and read the link, but my first thought is that understanding the theology of the sin nature doesn't mean you instantly understand how to appy it. I am sure one's own history affects how he sees it. In a nation like ours with a history like ours, you can see a pretty direct application between the theology and the understanding of its application. In a country that has a history of socialist politics, they might not figure it out so easily.

Socialism doesn't work because it operates in denial of the corruptibility of the power holders and in direct opposition to the check on the sin nature of humans, that being the consequences of their own actions and choices. Does that make sense? A right understanding of the nature of man (and the history of man for that matter) should kill any hope that socialism can work. The brilliance of our government is in its use of the negatives of human nature to bring about the most positive possible result.

I am sure someone can say this better than I can. But there you go.

6 posted on 06/28/2007 8:37:12 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: billbears
Somehow the separate and sovereign states are able to protect life and limb but when it comes to abortion 'conservative' Christians run to the federal government. This is not a federal issue, nor was it ever intended to be.

I beg to differ.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed

The money quote is in bold. Government was instituted for the purpose of 'securing these rights', the right to life is one of these. This is one of those things that the federal government is completely justified in legislating. It is the duty and very function of our government to protect the rights of the citizens. The right to not be dismembered in the womb is one of these.

This is a federal issue without qualification. It's not some cultural issue, some kind of thing that the socities of each state should decide separately. Abortion is wrong everywhere, period on both libertarian and moral grounds.

That said, there's no reason the states shouldn't be able to legislate on the matter either and if the federal government is going to refuse to do it's job, then the states should take up the slack. That is also their duty.

Either that or we can postulate that the federal government has no obligation to secure the right of a citizen to his own life.
7 posted on 06/28/2007 8:55:54 AM PDT by JamesP81 (Romans 10:9)
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To: billbears; livius; wagglebee; sittnick; ninenot; Tax-chick; Convert from ECUSA
Christians and other devotees of Western Civilization must run to the federal government on the matter of the mass murder of innocent babies because SCOTUS recognizes no limits, is federal, refuses to allow state legislation outlawing abortion (such as were the law of more than 40 states before SCOTUS ran amok on the issue.

What is it about paleoPaulie and his supporters that makes them always willing to fight wars so long as we don't actually fight those wars. Demonrats think its OK to fight in Afghanistan (for now) but not in Iraq. Paleos think that there must be some sort of arcane "constitutional" maze of pseudophilosophical justification to put a stop to what is evil.

As you well know, SCOTUS is not going to respond to the South Dakota and Mississippi right to life laws by reversing Roe vs. Wade (at least not yet with "Sandra Day" Kennedy serving as the "swing" vote) and saying collectively or 5-4 "Why didn't WE think of that?"

How many more innocent babies need to die to satisfy the antiseptic fastidiousness of the paleodimbulbs while the elitist left runs amok doing whatever (and killing whomever) it pleases and cramming its murderous social policies down our throats?

8 posted on 06/28/2007 8:58:29 AM PDT by BlackElk (Dean of Discipline of the Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
A right understanding of the nature of man (and the history of man for that matter) should kill any hope that socialism can work. The brilliance of our government is in its use of the negatives of human nature to bring about the most positive possible result.

The reason socialism doesn't work in the real world is because it's a system that is based on how people should be. Capitalism works because it is a system that is based on how they really are. Capitalism takes the negative traits of human nature and channels much of that energy into useful, productive ends and simultaneously mitigates the more objectionable aspects of that same human nature.
9 posted on 06/28/2007 9:00:33 AM PDT by JamesP81 (Romans 10:9)
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To: JamesP81
The money quote is in bold. Government was instituted for the purpose of 'securing these rights', the right to life is one of these.

Then tell me. Why do we not have a federal law specific to murder? Or to rape? Or to a myriad of other issues? Because if you read the Constitution, and not a secessionist document from 13 years earlier, it doesn't give the government those powers

You and every other 'conservative' can 'beg to differ' until the cows come home. But it doesn't change the point (as noted by Madison in Federalist #45). The federal government has, or had, very specific roles. Other than that, all other issues were to be handled by the states.

10 posted on 06/28/2007 9:02:51 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: billbears

In short, you’re saying that the federal government really doesn’t have any obligation to secure individual rights.


11 posted on 06/28/2007 9:04:28 AM PDT by JamesP81 (Romans 10:9)
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To: JamesP81

Yes. That’s what I believe. Well said.


12 posted on 06/28/2007 9:06:39 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past

Actually, maybe that would make good tagline material.


13 posted on 06/28/2007 9:08:38 AM PDT by JamesP81 (Socialism: a system based on how people should be. Capitalism: a system based on how they really are)
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To: BlackElk
How many more innocent babies need to die to satisfy the antiseptic fastidiousness of the paleodimbulbs while the elitist left runs amok doing whatever (and killing whomever) it pleases and cramming its murderous social policies down our throats?

D#mn straight!! Who cares what road to where is paved with 'good intentions'. We need a law!!

I mourn as deeply as others about the deaths of the unborn and believe those who commit such crimes will face a much higher judge someday. That being said, I will not advocate addressing the issue outside of the intended bounds of the Constitution of these United States. What we need is for SCOTUS to rule this issue is a state issue. That's all it would take.

And an Amendment that reaffirms the rights of the separate and sovereign states to address issues as it pertains to their citizenry. Oh we already have that one don't we? It's called the 10th. Good 'job' Republicans did to that one already eh?

14 posted on 06/28/2007 9:09:32 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: JamesP81

I’m sorry Did the quote from Madison confuse you? The federal government has its role, the governments of the separate and sovereign states have theirs. What did you not understand?


15 posted on 06/28/2007 9:11:51 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: billbears
We do have a federal law against murder. It is called the Constitution. Can a state regulate speech? No. Why? We have a federal law against it called the First Amendment to the Constitution. The Constitution is law.

Why fight this? Those of us who believe the Federal constitution gives unborn children the right to life have already said we would settle for allowing the states to decide. But do you want states to decide if you have a right to life or not? Should states decide if two-year-olds have a right to life or not?

16 posted on 06/28/2007 9:11:53 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
We do have a federal law against murder. It is called the Constitution

Wow really? You'll find that for me will you? The Constitution is a list of powers of the federal government and a limitation on the federal government. Nothing else

Can a state regulate speech? No. Why? We have a federal law against it called the First Amendment to the Constitution. The Constitution is law.

Um not to put to fine a point on it but you may want to check that. The First Amendment did not originally apply to the separate and sovereign states until the 20th century (Gitlow 1925). Barron, 1833, affirmed the Bill of Rights was intended to apply solely to the federal government. This was reaffirmed even after the passage of the 14th Amendment.

17 posted on 06/28/2007 9:15:19 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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To: billbears

I think punishments and prosecutions are at the state level. But if a state fails to protect the right to life of a citizen, it moves to federal jurisdiction because of the federal Constitution. States are required to have certain structures and laws. They MUST have a republican form of government. They MUST protect speech and press rights. Etc. To return Roe to the states is the right thing to do. But the states should be required to protect babies’ right to life. To say otherwise is to agree that the child is not fully human. That said, I will settle for allowing states to decide if the child has a right to life. It beats the federal courts deciding they do not.


18 posted on 06/28/2007 9:22:24 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: billbears

So if your state decides you can no longer make posts on the Internet, you’re okay with that? Or if they decide you have the wrong opinions and do not deserve to live, you are okay with that? No federal case? I suppose you can argue your case before your state, but hey, you don’t have a right to speech so, good luck with making that argument.


19 posted on 06/28/2007 9:33:01 AM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: The Ghost of FReepers Past
So if your state decides you can no longer make posts on the Internet, you’re okay with that?

You raise an interesting point but I think it has to be tempered with the fact that the Framers assumed the separate and sovereign states would protect certain rights. What Madison was saying is that these issues would be decided by the states and the federal government was there for only a few issues (disagreements between states, national defense, etc).

What the federal government has become however, much of it through 'good intentions', is something completely different than envisioned by the Framers. So the question then put to you is do you want the federal government deciding everything? Because the more you hand to them, the more they decide. It may look good at one point but it will take you further than you want to go and you'll end up somewhere you don't want to be.

But please feel free to hand over more decision making powers not intended by the Framers to the national government.

20 posted on 06/28/2007 9:42:56 AM PDT by billbears (Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. --Santayana)
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