US Jews feel threatened by religious right

Reuters ^ | 12/15/05 | Michael Conlon

[freedom44]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. Jewish leaders say they are increasingly worried that Christian conservatives want to turn America politically and culturally into a country that tolerates only their brand of Christianity.

"There is a feeling on all sides that something is changing," said Abraham Foxman, director of the New York-based Anti-Defamation League.

"The polls indicate a very serious thing -- that over 60 percent of the American people feel that religion and Christianity are under attack," he said on Thursday in an interview.

"Some are saying we are attacking (Christianity). This whole movement is not anti-Semitic or motivated by anti-Semitism. But sometimes unintended consequences are much more serious than intended" he added.

Foxman recently arranged a meeting in New York involving six Jewish organizations to discuss the problem. He said that while participants did not agree on the exact level of the problem, they felt a strategy was needed.

"It's not a war room strategy," he added. "It's to understand what's out there."

He said Jews are a people of faith but are opposed to anyone who would say only they know the truth and want to impose it on everyone else.

While every December brings disputes over what to call the "holiday season" and its trappings, the level of lobbying by those who fear Christmas is becoming something generic has been particularly high this year.

But the issues raised by Foxman and others goes much deeper into American society, ranging from challenges to teaching evolution to bans on abortion and same-sex marriage or deciding

what kind of people who should serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Every room (from bedroom to classroom) in the American mansion is under assault to impose either de facto or de jure a Christian theocracy -- I call them Christocrats," said Rabbi James Rudin, former head of interreligious activities for the American Jewish Committee.

"They are people who believe there should be a legally mandated Christian nation, where the concept of separation of church and state is weakened or abandoned," he added.

Rudin said he has met pastors "who say that Jesus Christ is the ultimate leader of America and that God's law trumps the Constitution ... I'm very concerned."

While far from all evangelical Christians hold those views, he said, the influence of those who do is strong.

Rudin, whose book "The Baptizing of America: The Religious Right's Plans for the Rest of Us" will be published in January by Avalon, said those with a theocratic agenda are not anti-Semites, and in fact some of them are among the strongest supporters of the state of Israel.

But he said they are Christians who see secular humanists and globalists as their enemies and who feel they are being attacked.

Mathew (cq) Staver, general counsel of the Florida-based Liberty Counsel, a group which backs conservative Christian causes in court and which has been particularly active in Christmas-related issues, says "there is absolutely no effort that I'm aware of to theocratize America or put down other faiths to expand Christianity."

He credits the increased activity surrounding Christmas issues this year to three years of building an organization over the matter.

"People have said enough is enough," he said, citing such incidents as naming Boston's Christmas tree a "holiday tree" and the publication of a sales catalog by a major retailer which featured Kwanza and Hanukkah gifts but made no mention of Christmas.

President George W. Bush, who describes himself as a born-again Christian, also faced criticism recently for sending out cards wishing people a happy "holiday" season.

"This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture," William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights told the Washington Post.

[Aussie Dasher]

Are these the same Jews who support killing children? Strange crew.

[GladesGuru]

"But sometimes unintended consequences are much more serious than intended"

Like confusing social justice with socialism? Like supporting Communism to the extent of spying for the USSR? Like legions of Liberals teaching at all levels and adding their socialist "perspective"?

Ya think maybe that may have unintended consequences?

""It's not a war room strategy,"

My, my, - how nice of my Liberal co-religionists not to plan a war against Americans who don't share their "perspectives". /sarc

"They are people who believe there should be a legally mandated Christian nation, - " true, and many of them are taking psychoactive meds.

"Rudin said he has met pastors "who say that Jesus Christ is the ultimate leader of America and that God's law trumps the Constitution ... I'm very concerned."

Imagine Rudin's concern when he reads the authors of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. While they were absolutists on the issue of the individual being free to worship or not as he so saw fit, almost to a man they were either Deists of active members of some Christian church.

That America was overwhelmingly a Christian nation is a matter of historic fact. Also a matter of historic fact is that America has allowed others like Jews, Mormons, Buddhists, etc. to actualize the Founder's vision of individual choice in matters of faith.

Advice to Rudin: Check historic facts before engaging mouth, particularly if your dogma may cause your karma to get run over by history, politics, and reality in general.

[Louis Foxwell]

More BS coming from left-wing Jews like Foxman.

Foxman and his friends are non practicing Jews who believe that Jewish conservatism is as dangerous as Christian conservatism. He is a Jew by birth only, what is typically referred to as a cultural Jew, not a religious Jew. If Israel ever falls it will be facilitated by the likes of Foxman.

[Al Simmons]

God Bless John Haggee. One of the best things about living in ole San Antone for 8 years was the privilege of attending his 'Mega-Church' each Sunday.

On one side of the stage is the American flag, and on the other - an Israeli flag.

[muawiyah]

A rabbi and a lobbyist for a nonprofit organization lecture us about Christian motives.

Last thing we need are two more Popes, eh?!

[Mr. Mojo]

How anyone could say the Religious Right is full of anti-Semites focuses on a few nitwits, and ignores the main force.

I got a leftist friend of mine to admit recently that the main thrust of anti-semitism comes from the left these days. ....and the truth pained him.

[samtheman]

Well, wasn't it the leader of a conservative Christian country who recently called for the annihilation of Israel?

[Salem]

"The "religious right" includes Orthodox Jews"

We're in cahoots!  

---

If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me ~
    
MikeFromFR ~
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~

"Palestine is the wrong name for their State. It should be called Anarchy."—FReeper sgtbono2002
"Then let's wait and see what the Arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like Arab reality to break up a Jewish fantasy."—FReeper Noachian
A student told his professor he was going to "Palestine" to "fight for freedom, peace and justice,"—Orwellian leftist code words that mean "murder Jews."
The Nature Of Bruce ~

[Mr. Mojo]

ever notice that all these type stories quote the same two to five Jews who head similar Liberal organizations?

Yep, Foxman is quoted at length every damn time. ....as if he's the official Jewish spokesman.

[Ostlandr]

Unbelievable.

If these particular Jews feel "threatened" by fundamentalist Christians, they should try being Pagans sometime.
I've never heard of a Christian threatening to burn a Jew at the stake, or saying "Thou shalt not suffer a Jew to live."

One lady of my acquaintance (German Lutheran, actually) got harangued by a Fundie because - get this- her earrings were a crescent moon and star design. According to this loser, her earrings were "the Devil's symbols, and (she) should burn in hell!"

[demkicker]

Thanks, Mike, we all need to hear from Jews like you. I really get exasperated with the majority of Jews and minorities who continue to vote for democrats.

It is so utterly clear to me and others that dems USE minorities and have nothing new to offer, just their same-o, same-o redistribution of weatlth and class warfare scenarios. They prey on misery and the downtrodden, and I truly believe they've become Satan's party.

I am forever grateful that you know the difference and are a beakon of light to spread the truth about Christians. Thanks, Mike.

[California Patriot]

Shove it up your rash, Foxman.

[denydenydeny]

"Every room (from bedroom to classroom) in the American mansion is under assault to impose either de facto or de jure a Christian theocracy"

As always, they manage to ignore completely the religious group whose professed goal is the establishment of a theocracy and who openly advocate the extermination of the Jews.

The more fanatical Muslims become in their open hatred of the Jews, the more ferocious Jewish liberals become in their attacks on Christianity.

[Alouette]

her earrings were a crescent moon and star design. According to this loser, her earrings were "the Devil's symbols, and (she) should burn in hell!"

Well, a crescent moon and star is the symbol of Islam.

[Tuxedo]

No one is denying we have a few kooks in the Christian circles. A few seem to think it is their mission to judge the world when clearly the Bible teaches otherwise. Most of these "Fundies" as you call them are baby-Christians who are not well-rooted in the Spirit. They are indeed a sorry lot and will answer for their "judgments" in due time.

[Sam the Sham]

Jews are ferociously pro abortion.

Frankly, with their gay marriage, pro-abortion agenda liberal Jews are finishing Heydrich's work. The demographic damage of the Holocaust was never repaired and Jews should have spent the last half century making babies like crazy.

[avile]

The only thing good about Jewish Liberals is that their children and/or grandchildren will be an embarrasment for the gentile community.

[Salem]

"I'm Jewish and I love all you Christians. You are what keeps this country together and keeps us safe. America is the best place to live if you are a Jew and it is because of Christians. People like Abe Foxman can go jump off a bridge for all this Jew cares. He doesn't represent me."

Well ... bless your heart!  

---

If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me ~
    
MikeFromFR ~
There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had
spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:45)
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~
'Final Solution,' Phase 2 ~
Warnings ~

"Palestine is the wrong name for their State. It should be called Anarchy."—FReeper sgtbono2002
"Then let's wait and see what the Arabs do after they take Gaza. There's nothing like Arab reality to break up a Jewish fantasy."—FReeper Noachian
A student told his professor he was going to "Palestine" to "fight for freedom, peace and justice,"—Orwellian leftist code words that mean "murder Jews."
The Nature Of Bruce ~

[Texas Eagle]

U.S. Jewish leaders say they are increasingly worried that Christian conservatives want to turn America politically and culturally into a country that tolerates only their brand of Christianity.

Funny how you never hear about Christians strapping explosives to themselves and detonating them in Jewish pizza parlors and weddings.