(Graphic by Howard Cruse)
Posted on 09/04/2008 7:58:19 AM PDT by mathprof
I teach at a Catholic university. I study and write about evangelical Protestants. I have no religious convictions of my own. This bothers people who insist that if you are not yourself religious you cannot possibly "get" religion. I leave it to others to decide whether my lack of faith helps or hinders my capacity to understand the subject. But I do know one thing. Because of where I teach and who I study, I have come across some remarkable people I otherwise would never have met.
Familiar with the Catholic tradition, I cannot say I am surprised to meet learned Catholics with a deeply honed sense of social justice. But I have been taken aback by how many evangelicals to whom I have spoken who think deeply about the obligations we human beings have toward each other, take seriously a command to lead lives of good purpose, and resist having their faith corrupted by the temptations of money and power. Megachurches and Christian colleges and seminaries have more than their share of people who love God and want to make the world a better place.
Sarah Palin's speech last night was rapturously received by the delegates to the Republican convention, most of whom are conservative Christians. But just because most Republicans are conservative Christians does not mean that all conservative Christians are Republican. I have the feeling that Palin's speech will not wear well among many of the primarily younger evangelicals I have come to know.
To be sure, Palin's personal story will resonate with them, especially the story of Trig. (At one evangelical event in Atlanta I attended, I was bowled over by the parents of a quadriplegic child to whom they had clearly devoted their lives; I do not think I have the same level of devotion within me). But three aspects of Palin's speech are likely to bother them.
Evangelicals are becoming increasingly persuaded that Christians are under an injunction to preserve and protect the natural environment bequeathed to us by God. They will not be attracted to destroying the beauty of Alaska to fill our all-too- human urge to drive cars. Christians are from time to time called on to sacrifice for their beliefs, and if we have to cut back our energy consumption to protect God's gift, that is as worthy a sacrifice as there is. Palin rhetorically called for clean energy but her words lacked conviction, especially when compared to her calls to drill and drill some more. This will be noticed.
Palin's speech, secondly, was too partisan to be easily swallowed by younger, post-partisan, evangelicals. These are people who disagree with Barack Obama's position on abortion but respect him as a Christian. Palin's over-the-top sarcasm toward Obama will not play well with them, especially her implicit questioning of his patriotism. To the extent that these younger evangelicals are political, they look for a politics of elevation. The whole tone of last night's convention will prove to be a bit too sour. You do not call for change and adhere to the Rove-Schmitt style of attack.
Finally, and most importantly, Palin did not speak to the powerful sense emerging among evangelicals that all Christians, and not just Catholics, should do their best to insure social justice in this world. On the contrary, Palin mocked Obama's service as a community organizer, an odd thing to do given that so many community organizers are inspired by their religious convictions. Promising to cut taxes appeals to country-club Republicans. It is not nearly as resonant a theme to those who understand that the programs financed by taxes help the neediest and most dependent. If Palin said one word about how to make this world a fairer place or indicated at any point how to realize the common good, I did not hear it.
This is the moment for Sarah Palin to have her day. But great speeches are meant to be digested over long periods. This is not one that future generations of evangelicals will turn to for inspiration.
Alan Wolfe is a TNR contributing editor and director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College.
Good graphic. The guy loses a wingnut by the third sentence of the article.
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Here’s how I’ve been bumping Palin/Obama threads.
Sung to the tune of “Oh! Susanna, don’t you cry for me.”
“Oh, no Bama, please don’t lie to me... for I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee.”
I come from Minnesota with my laptop on my knee;
I’m goin’ to Free Republic my true love for to see.
It rained all night the day I left,
the weather it was dry;
The sun so hot I froze to death,
Obama don’t you lie.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I come from Minnesota,
with my laptop on my knee.
I had a dream the other night,
When everything was still;
I thought I saw Obama dear,
A-coming for The Hill.
The smearing lie was in Duluth,
The tear was in his eye,
Said I, I’m coming for the truth
Obama don’t you lie.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I’m off to Free Republic,
with my laptop on my knee.
I fight in my pajamas,
It’s plain for all to see.
I aim to be the next Buckhead;
The media all hate me.
I fell in love with Sarah
When my sister bit a moose.
The Guvnor’s family ate it up
And then they set it loose.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I’m off to Free Republic,
with my laptop on my knee.
She loves her sons, she likes her guns,
and Trigonometry.
The media will jump the shark
When Juan makes history.
Well, JimRob knows she’ll pave the trolls
So controversially,
And Berg will knock Obama down
With friends of Hillary.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you lie to me;
I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee.
I soon will be in Hawaii,
And then I’ll look all ‘round,
And when I find his birth record,
I’ll fall upon the ground.
But if I do not find it,
This Freeper’ll surely die,
And when I’m dead and buried,
Obama don’t you lie.
Oh! No Bama, don’t you cry for me;
I’m off to Free Republic with a laptop on my knee
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2073903/posts?page=6#6
Religion is created by man, or it is his best attempt to understand God. That is why this individual will never be able to understand Spirit-filled Christians, or for that matter, the Bible. It is hidden from him. He may be brilliant, but without God's wisdom and the Spirit's guidance, he's just another fool.
The reason Sarah Palin's speach resonates with true Christians is they see God as their source, not government. So, naturally they tend to vote conservatively. Unfortunately, we have had a long series of moderate republicans trotted out over the years. Sarah Palin is the most Conservative national candidate we have had in a while.
**Evangelicals are becoming increasingly persuaded that Christians are under an injunction to preserve and protect the natural environment bequeathed to us by God. They will not be attracted to destroying the beauty of Alaska to fill our all-too- human urge to drive cars.**
I’m for the evangelicals on this one. They have been misrepresented by this writer/supposed writer.
I want to nominate Sarah Palin and her whole family to be honorary Catholics. I know that’s not the way things work, and she might even disapprove, but my nominations stand.
LOL, I suppose we here could claim Obama hasn’t won over ALL the blacks either, but so what?
Here is a man with no beliefs of his own and being a non believer naturally wants to believe many others share his position(misery loves company). Of course they do not, not even close but in order to find a bit of solace from the freight train named the Palin Express barreling down the track, which he knows is about to obliterate his Party, he has to convince himself that after all Palin was not PERFECT.
Just think how a few short months ago they were measuring the Oval office for Obama’s drapes. I know it’s a long way from over but the stark difference between where the Party was then and where we are now couldn’t be greater. Sara Palin is the real deal and will be a super force in our Party for decades to come.
Perhaps a young Ronald Reagan or dare I say more?
Hinders? Yep, sure does.
Hinders? Yep, sure does.
What's your source on that statistic? I'm a member of the church where BOTH Cal Thomas and his good friend Bob Beckel attend. The church is firmly evangelical. Our pastor never mentions politics from the pulpit (though he will mention abortion as an evil). Other than Beckel, I know of a few political liberals there, but the vast majority, I'm certain, are conservative--primarily because, I think, they know they cannot in good conscience be a part of "The Abortion Party."
I simply don't believe that 50% of those who identify as "evangelical" and regularly attend church are liberal.
No. There is a legitimate articulation of "Social Justice" within Catholicism that is neither socialist nor Marxist; this is best articulated in the encyclicals Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII and Quinquagesimo Anno of Pope Pius XII.
That said, most of the "Social Justice" discussion coming out of Catholic circles these days has been hijacked by the liberals/modernists. Catholics have some major housecleaning to do.
Also, know-nothings like this author don't help matters any. The young evangelical crowd does not like what Palin said because many among them are liberals. Our hope remains in the fact that many still are not.
Here's a bit of political advice. Be careful who you label as conservative, because conservatism has other factors then simply social issues, and if you look closely, you will even see the splits in that sector.
Take blacks and Hispanic's for example. Much effort has been made in the study of their voting habits, and both groups define themselves as largely pro life and for school choice, but on fiscal and governmental issues like crime, health care, global warming and others, they are decidedly liberal and vote Democrat in most all elections with only a few exceptions like Cubans.
The sad truth about your evangelical group is that they often vote democrat or they don't vote at all if not urged to do so by some social issue that concerns them directly and this has been problematic in the Republican coalition in the past, in the present and in the future.
If you care to look, you will find that 50% or more of the self described evangelicals consistently vote democrat, and thems the facts, whether surprising to you or not.
The exit polls, so often cited by pundits, are never asking democrats if they are evangelicals. They only pose that question to repubs.
The best way and most fair way to get some idea of what the democrat/republican voter spit actually is, would be to estimate it like the general population.
That's what I am doing essentially. The only poller who really delves into this stuff is Zogby, and you will find a lot on his site, going back to 2000.
The trend however into 2008 is showing a much larger democrat influence in the Evangelical community, and some think it will reach 60% or more!
Granted, that is a lot of moral relativism, but then people rarely look that deep when they think the planet is about to boil their children as the warming alarmists have decried.
Check it out, make your own assumptions, but Obama got a lot of them in the primary and will have them in the general. Whether they break over 50% is a guess at this point, but in 2004 they got about 42% and before that, only 15%. The trend says they will break 50.
"Evagelicals" are too smart; they know this is a false argument. First Katrina and Rita three years ago and now Gustav slammed, with hurricane force into the bulk of U.S. Gulf of Mexico (and neighboring) oil and gas drilling, pipeline and refinery operations. Where was, or is now, the great environmental catastrophe?? There were none, and neither is there any great environmental catastrophe in our Alaskan oil and gas operations. It IS possible to drill for oil and gas and take care of the environment. They are NOT mutually exclusive goals.
Palin's speech, secondly, was too partisan to be easily swallowed by younger, post-partisan, evangelicals. These are people who disagree with Barack Obama's position on abortion but respect him as a Christian.
Says who??? His church and his minister practice a form of Marxist modified Christianity recognized as "Black Liberation Theology" which grew out of a more generalized form known as Marxist Liberation Theology, which was nothing other than reading Marx and Marxist political science as a secular "savior" and interpreter of Christianity. Evangelicals understand this false teaching, and its mountainous errors very well - it's not "Christianity", no matter what it calls itself.
Palin's over-the-top sarcasm toward Obama will not play well with them, especially her implicit questioning of his patriotism.
Again, a liberal - with their guilty and defensive reflexes - can't take the heat on national security issues. Palin questioned his judgment on those issues, not his "patriotism".
To the extent that these younger evangelicals are political, they look for a politics of elevation. The whole tone of last night's convention will prove to be a bit too sour. You do not call for change and adhere to the Rove-Schmitt style of attack.
I see. And they would have found the litany of attacks on Bush, Republicans, "conservatives" and John McCain, by every Democratic convention speaker, including their principals as nothing but sweetness and light?? Whose he kidding. It's a non issue, it's expected.
Finally, and most importantly, Palin did not speak to the powerful sense emerging among evangelicals that all Christians, and not just Catholics, should do their best to insure social justice in this world.
Yes, but also more and more, "Evangelicals" and other Christians do not see an over-arching big brother government as the savior for helping those of our fellow citizens that need our help; and they do not have a liberal, politically correct view of whatever "social justice" means. Most "Christians" who want to contribute to benevolent endeavors want more of their income and wealth LEFT IN THEIR PERSONAL ACCOUNTS, so THEY have the means to go out into the world and express their Christian charity by their own acts, their own choices, not Marxist government mandated wealth transfers. The basis of Christian charity is giving. The basis of Marxism is taking. The two are incompatible, in principle.
“...does not mean that all conservative Christians are Republican”
Reminded of something my mom said to someone in our congregation. Dad had been in his first church only a few months, and they were in their 20s. When a parishoner told Mom she was voting for the democrat, Mom was shocked and said, “But... but... but you CAN’T be a Christian and be a DEMOCRAT!” She honestly believed that. (She actually still does, at age 83.)
You can smell the fear on the left side.
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