Trading Integrity For "Family Values"? [View All]

[demwing]

Found this nifty little article on Sojourners, a site that discusses politics and religion. Written by Berkeleyite Bob Burnett, it offers an take on the Democratic party's seeming desire to lurch to the right, and why it could actually bury us.

The article makes me wonder if the battle for separation of church and state can be waged between the secular and non-secular. As much as the author warns against false religiosity, I am lead to believe that the battle for a secular state MUST be lead by a religious organization. A progressive, liberal, non-secular organization.

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=news.display_archives&mode=point_of_view&article=POV_041208_burnett


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The ranks of conservative Christians were swelled by the defection of Roman Catholics, who have traditionally voted Democratic. Despite the fact that Kerry is one of them, the majority of Catholics voted for Bush. Conservative Protestants and Catholics shared a commitment to strengthen "moral values," prohibit abortion and gay marriage, and appoint socially conservative judges.

Democrats are struggling to respond to this onslaught. Some centrist party leaders argue that the most effective reaction would be for Democratic candidates to assert their own religious convictions - to become more overtly Christian. This, in effect, was the position of successful Colorado Democratic senatorial candidate Ken Salazar, who "out-Christian-ed" his Republican opponent, Pete Coors.

A logical extension of this line of reasoning would be for Democrats, en masse, to accept Jesus and wade into the Potomac River and undergo group baptism where they repudiate their sinful liberal past and are born again.

As a left-wing Christian, a Quaker, I do appreciate the sincerity of many Christians who publicly proclaim that they have taken Jesus into their hearts. My concern is not with the truly faithful, however much I may disagree with their theology, but with politicians who assume the mantle of piety to further their careers. I believe that many Republican officeholders are hypocrites who pose as devout Christians while they are actually dedicated to serving their own ambitions. I don't want to see Democrats lose what little integrity they retain by pursuing the same self-serving tactic.
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