RELIGION A fightin' word in American politics(How would Jesus set policy?)

The Charleston Gazette ^ | Jan. 18, 2004 | James A. Haught

[Dubya]

Various studies show a striking pattern: Americans who attend church ardently -- especially fundamentalists -- vote Republican nearly 2-to-1, while "unchurched" people vote Democratic by the same ratio.

GOP strategist Karl Rove and Christian activists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, among others, work constantly to mobilize this "religious right" for Republican victories. They've had significant success.

But a glaring contradiction exists: Everything that Jesus stood for seems opposed by Republicans now in control of Washington.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers" -- yet the Bush administration was hell-bent for war in Iraq, using fictitious alarms to rouse public support.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor" and lived among the lowly -- yet the Bush administration has showered trillion-dollar tax giveaways on the wealthy, causing record deficits. The White House ignores 45 million "working poor" Americans who lack health insurance.

Jesus opposed the death penalty, saying, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" -- yet President Bush set an all-time execution record when he was governor of Texas, and boasted of it.

Why on earth do so many churchgoers vote for the opposite of Jesus? This puzzle was hinted at recently in a commentary by Jim Wallis, editor of the religious magazine Sojourners.

"How a candidate deals with poverty is a religious issue, and the Bush administration's failure to support poor working families should be named as a religious failure," he wrote. "Neglect of the environment is a religious issue. Fighting pre-emptive wars based on false claims is a religious issue (a fact not changed by the capture of Saddam Hussein)."

Wallis noted that conservative worshipers support Bush because of issues such as "guns, God and gays … the Ten Commandments in public courthouses, marriage amendments, prayer in schools and, of course, abortion." But he added: "Allowing the right to decide what is a religious issue would be both a moral and political tragedy. … True faith results in a compassionate concern for those on the margins."

Charlie Peters, creator of The Washington Monthly, sometimes lamented that the "religious right" is powerful while the "religious left" is toothless. His concern is being addressed today by a coalition of liberal ministers called the Clergy Leadership Network for National Leadership Change, which formed to foster policies helping little people.

"God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, and one's faith in God is not based on what party they belong to," the group declares.

Its administrator, the Rev. Albert Pennybacker, former senior pastor at University Christian Church in Fort Worth, added: "The main religious heritage of America is moderate and progressive -- and that voice has not been heard in recent years."

Although they're evidently outnumbered 2-to-1 within churches, I hope that members of this clergy movement can offset the sad pattern of churchgoers voting for the opposite of Christ's values.

James A. Haught is editor of The Charleston Gazette in West Virginia. haught@wvgazette.com

[usnret99]

Major BARFFF Alert.

[Dubya]

West Virginia

I hope he stays there and don't come to live in Texas. LOL.

[ChewedGum]

Major BARFFF Alert.

I think you missed an F. This reads like a quadruple to me.

Gum

[shiva]

Jesus opposed the death penalty, saying, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her

God said,"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed...

[WVNan]

If Freepers will give me some excellent counters to his points I will write this liberal a nice letter.

[madprof98]

Everything that Jesus stood for seems opposed by Republicans now in control of Washington.

Jesus, for example, was very fond of late-term abortion.

[Restorer]

Everything that Jesus stood for seems opposed by Republicans now in control of Washington.

Jesus was also very multi-cultural, viewing all religions as having equal validity.

That's why he said, "No one comes to the Father except through me."

[section9]

-groan-

There really isn't much to say when confronted by this endorsement of Jesus as Social Activist...

Pardon me if I am underwhelmed by this article.

This is yet another in a long line of "Jesus would be a liberal Democrat today because he would be antiwar and in favor of a Woman's Right to Choose" articles.

I just want to heave steaming chunks all over my keyboard, but the notion of Jesus as Upper West Side liberal gives me pause to do even that.

So, instead, I am left with the only weapon in my quiver....

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Dubya]

LOL.

[Dubya]

Wish I knew how to help, but I don't. What about Jeff Head?

[wimpycat]

There really isn't much to say when confronted by this endorsement of Jesus as Social Activist...

You're right about that...except that those people are sure missing the boat on the whole purpose of Jesus Christ. Jesus as Social Activist is nothing next to Jesus the Lamb of God Who Takes Away the Sins of the World, or Jesus the Savior, or Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, etc.

[Ciexyz]

Puke alert.

[Jeff Head]

IMHO, anyone who implies that our Savior would support abortion does not understand the scriptures and is wresting them beyond all recognition.

Such a notion is a lie, plain and simple. It is very unlikely that any appeal to logic, to true faith, to hope or to charity (which is the greates of all), would soften the heart of someone so hardened and warped in their perception.

The Savior taught plainly that anyone who offends one of Hs little ones would be better off having a millstone hung around their neck and being tossed into the sea. That makes very clear where He stands on such issues.

[Zack Nguyen]

Charlie Peters, creator of The Washington Monthly, sometimes lamented that the "religious right" is powerful while the "religious left" is toothless.

Give me a break! The religious left controls several major Protestant denominations. Its not our fault that, without exception, they have driven off members, corrpupted the seminaries, and in general driven their denominations intot he ground.

If a liberal Democrat takes over as President, we'll be hearing about "the rise of the religious left." But the power of Christianity is about a lot more than politics.