Religious left rallies for Democrats

[technocoloredrose]

Source: Yahoo News


Sun Nov 2, 11:21 am ET

Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) (C) greets supporters after his visit … Ohio’s progressive religious leaders, who largely sat out the 2004 presidential election, have mobilized now to counter the political clout of their conservative and evangelical brethren.

“We had been silent too long,” said the Rev. Tim Ahrens, senior pastor at First Church in Columbus, who helped found We Believe Ohio, a multidenominational organization that promotes social justice and other progressive causes.

snip

“We are currently averaging 550,000 targeted voter contacts each day,” John McCain’s political director, Mike DuHaime, said last week. And McCain's regional communications director in Ohio, Paul Lindsay, said that faith voters still form “a strong coalition for us.”

snip


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081102/pl_politico/15166;_ylt=AuvOn1YwkYSEYvF.y0Qqb05h24cA

---

Thought I'd share this news. I think it's great that we have religious supporters to counter the right. I'm part of the religious left, and we're going to continue to take the religious right to task. I also wanted to introduce myself. I am a life long liberal who is very glad to find this site. I live in Texas so it's sometimes difficult to find others with the same political beliefs. I plan to visit this site daily to meet new people and to fight for our next Democratic leaders. I believe Obama will win and am looking forward to the next four years. My top concerns are the environment, convincing people that Jesus was a liberal, education, and funding scientific research. I am pro gay marriage and pro choice. I feel these both are privacy issues and the religious right needs to butt out. Anyway, I'm so glad to be here. After eight years of Bush, we need to never give up the fight. I don't ever want to live through another eight years of that again.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. The Religious Left...wow...3 wonderful words!! We do not hear them often enough.!

[MadMaddie]

2. Yes this is very important! These left Religious organizations

must step up and break the strangle hold that the conservative right has on America. And most importantly we must ensure that there is a true seperation of church and state.

I actually had someone at work argue with me that the founding fathers wanted religion in government and I said umm...that's why they left England because of religious persecution and religion and government were one in the same....duh...

[tclambert]

38. But does this mean Christians will actually have to support the values of Christ?

Jesus palled around with poor people and working class people, and with sinners and lepers. He opposed the death penalty. ("Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.") He supported paying your taxes. ("Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's . . .") And the only thing that really, really made him angry was moneychangers!

[MadMaddie]

106. I know it's quite the concept isn't it?

[crossroads]

3. Thank God! I wish they would have backed Kerry 4 years ago!

[ShortnFiery]

4. Many of us within the ranks of the "religious left" are seemingly under cover

in enemy territory. Some of my fellow Parishioners are SHOCKED, SHOCKED I TELL YOU, that I'm a democrat, much less an military veteran voting for Obama.

I think that many of the religious right will be aghast that there are more of us than they assume. Because they OWN the leadership and are so vocal, the religious right is not aware that there are many practicing Christians who are not supportive of their fear-mongering tactics. Jesus would not want people to do what's right because of FORCE, that's why we were blessed with "free will." People should want to freely do what's right ... you can't legislate morality. I wish the right wing would learn that truism. :(

It's just that liberal Christians are so vastly outnumbered that you speak only within your own small groups. The hierarchy, especially within The Catholic Church, often don't desire to find common ground much less dialog. It's seemingly "my way or the highway" with the religious right wing. :shrug:

[technocoloredrose]

8. I couldn't agree with you more...

Does DU have a religious left organization? I'd like to join it if they do.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. Yes, as a donor, you can join the Christian Liberals/Progressive People of Faith Group

and welcome to DU!

(See the lobby for the link.)

[technocoloredrose]

27. Thanks

I'll join up today because I donated today also. I don't want to miss this site on election night.

[AnneD]

109. Thanks.....

I live in Houston, and there are many liberal Christians about. We have started networking more-but folks are shocked to learn that I am a fire breathing liberal AND a vetran that didn't go to church for years because it was taken over by unchristian RW conservatives. It took a while but I am in one now-go every week to Sunday school and service-am on committees, tithe, etc-you name it. We have some conservative folks and we respect their beliefs....but we stand up for ours. They almost drove us out until we banded together. Sundays are so much more pleasant now.

[Peregrine Took]

33. Another Obama leftie parishioner. Oddly enough a priest in my parish said

he is for Obama and we should all vote as our conscious dictates.

[tclambert]

41. How did the Democratic party lose Catholics? JFK would be very unhappy about that.

Pretty sure Catholics backed Kennedy in 1960. And isn't Christianity supposed to be about forgiveness and redemption? How did Jesus turn into a fatcat plutocrat in a top hat and tuxedo who smokes a big stogie and carries a machine gun while attending public executions? And how did Bush and Cheney become moral role models? We fell into the topsy-turvy universe somehow, didn't we?

[Maeve]

97. Roe v Wade trumped social justice for too many bishops

and that's why I am now culturally Catholic but not practicing

[barbtries]

104. one-issue voters

if they looked at the big picture and were as passionate about the homicide of warfare they would vote left every time.

[azureblue]

59. You hit the nail on the head

"my way or the Highway" is exactly it. it is not "Christ's Way". it is "church's way", or the "Pastor's way"

Te bottom line is they are the anti Christ: They know what Christ taught and His value system, yet, they make a point of refusing it, and this is the definition of anti Christ.

A few years ago, I had a fundie relative start spewing their usual hateful dogma, and I caused short circuit by responding with a question: What did Jesus teach us about this? They danced all around it- "the Bible this the Bible that" but I kept them at that one point- "if you are Christian, you follow the teachings of Christ. Now if you want to be something else, then by all means, but do not refuse His teachings and claim to be a Christian."

Keep the responses to this point and you will have little to worry about, and peace in your heart.

[jeepnstein]

78. It's simple, really,...

If you find it in the Bible, well, that is God's word on the subject. Maybe you don't want to do it but if you are trying to be honest about things, you accept Biblical teaching as correct. When you do this it becomes obvious that the Bible is not a difficult book to follow. Jesus went out of his way to make it easy. Shoot, he went as far as to declare an end to the Old Law so you didn't have to obsess over all those details.

The fun part is when folks start handing you all kinds of doctrines and teachings that are nowhere to be found in the Gospels. I always ask for chapter and verse, and the context, for this kind of stuff and then go to town. Men are really good at ruining religion for their personal gain.

[Zhade]

86. So... scientists should use the number 3 for pi?

:rofl:

[jeepnstein]

96. What do you mean?

Do you think people should make up the rules to suit themselves?

Or are you just a fool who mocks those who don't comply with your world view?

[roguevalley]

69. I know what you mean.

[kestrel91316]

71. You won't find these sorts of problems in most Episcopal churches,

or United Church of Christ (formerly Congregational church), or Unitarian Universalist congregations, or a lot of Methodist and Lutheran and Presbyterian congregations. There is a lot of variation, of course. But the biggest troublemakers have ALWAYS been, IMHO, Southern Baptists, Pentacostalists, and their ilk.

[47of74]

75. My fellow parishoners have been very supportive

Especially when I'm taking Republicans - either nationally or our local contingent - to task for idiotic things they have done or said.

[jwirr]

5. Our minister preached about the search for peace justice and care

for the needy and then prayed for the election of good leaders who would seek them. That is as close as a Lutheran minister will ever come to naming a name but it was obvious what he meant. I was delighted.

[UpInArms]

6. welcome to DU, technocoloredrose!

we are exceedingly glad to have you here!

It has definitely been a long walk in the desert.

I, among all the others, are glad you found your way to DU.

:grouphug:

:hi:

[technocoloredrose]

9. Thanks...

I have a place now where I can make friends and fight for just causes. This site will be famous one day. Just wait...

[EvolveOrConvolve]

68. DU already is famous! :-)

This nonbeliever welcomes you! :hi:

I think for our country to regain its footing, we require a Religious Left to counter the extreme lunacy of the RR. As long as you're not trying to codify your religion into our statutory law, I'm all for a powerful Religious Left. :)

[liberalmuse]

7. This atheist likes, 'the religious left'

Even though I don't believe in the Biblegod, I do respect people who try to follow Jesus' teachings, because for the most part, they were good (ie; The Sermon on the Mount). Its refreshing to hear that there is indeed a 'religious left'.

[technocoloredrose]

10. My husband, daughter, and son

are all atheists. So, I like athiests also. All of them are loving people who do good for goods sake. They're not fake nor do they try to limit me like many on the right try to do. Just know that I would die defending your right and my family's right to their beliefs.

[kestrel91316]

73. Jesus was a great teacher and moral leader. But I seriously doubt the fable of his

virgin birth, lol. If Mary underwent parthenogenesis, Jesus would have had to be a girl!! But yeah, I have always thought an awful lot of the "red letter" parts of my parents' red letter KJV bible were GREAT words to follow.

[Zhade]

11. I welcome you, but I have a question.

Why do you need to inject jesus into politics at all?

This is a secular country, not a christian nation. We need LESS religion - even if it's liberal religion - in politics, not more.

[quaker bill]

13. Because

we would like to win. Let people believe what they believe, particularly if they are voting for our side.

[Doctor_J]

15. Why do you want to force people whose faith and public life are intertwined to the GOP?

:shrug:

[technocoloredrose]

21. Hi...

Great question. I value human rights, peace, helping the poor and disadvantaged, doing to the least of us what I would do to God, and respecting humans of all religions, beliefs and backgrounds as did Jesus. I believe the rich should give to society, and that the religious right are the new pharisees. Sounds very close to Democratic values to me.

[Steelworker In OH]

39. You are

my kind of religious follower. Too many christian fundamentalists have stained how much religion really means in this country. That being said, I'm not christian, lol, I'm Eclectic Pagan, but you are definitely the kind of mainstream religious person I tend to get along with. If Bush had his way a few years ago, I wouldn't be allowed to practice my religion, would have no last rights given by a true representative of my faith, and anyone in my faith would not be allowed tax exemption for their respective organizations. Essentially, he didn't want Paganism or any form thereof to be recognized as a real religion by the US Government (this also included a few other polytheistic religions). When the Government can interject itself into religion in that way, I pay attention, just another freedom they wanted to take away.

I am a firm supporter of Religion and Government being as far apart as possible, but there are too many little things that just don't allow for the separation I'd like to see. When someone comes along that can parallel their faith with politics and not come off as a bible thumping right wing Jesus freak, I'm pretty happy to talk with them, its truly a rarity (before your post I've never seen "Religious" and "Left" collide in a sentence in a positive way, lol).

Welcome to DU, and good luck down there in Texas.

[technocoloredrose]

42. Great post...

I can't stand how Bush tried to shove Christianity down people's throats. Actually the religious left, in my opinion, includes your faith as well. I say the more the merrier. Let's knock these religious right wing lunatics back under their rocks. And, thanks, it's tough being me in Texas.

[Zhade]

47. That's a pretty great answer, but I still want less religion in government.

Sounds like you're not trying to inject more, though, so cool.

[eagertolearn]

79. It seems like she is just trying to show that you can be religious

and on the left. I love that because I know so many religious right who are not good people who are racist and anti-gay and really don't care about helping other people. I actually know alot of "thinking liberals" who are religious and these people would never push religion into government or the schools or take away the right for choice. It bugs me too that the GOP have taken the RR and used them for their purposes (to vote for them) and haven't ever really done anything for them. Actually the GOP are not nice and not for the people so it always confused me why the RR would go their way. Anti gay and anti religion seems to be the main pull but anti gay is being intolerant of differences and that doesn't seem religious. My grandfather was raised going to two churches every Sunday (Methodist and Episcopal) back in Washington D.C. in the early 1900's and he ended up hating religion as an adult. He told me that religion was invented to control a wide body of people. Ever since he told me that 20 years ago I see it happening everywhere.

[spoony]

81. "religious left rallies for democrats, gets shit on anyway..."

You are fired from the DU welcome wagon.

[Zhade]

87. Hey, if you're on it, consider me glad to be fired.

NT!

[lelgt60]

98. That's like saying, "why inject your personal beliefs into politics?" n/t

[SammyWinstonJack]

99. !!!

:thumbsup:

[Unca Jim]

14. It's a great community here...

but because so many people blame religion for the acts of a few crazed followers and because some here are very hostile towards religion of any kind religious people have a tough time.

I look forward to a day in this nation when people examine the tenets of their own purported belief systems and apply them to their daily and political lives.

[technocoloredrose]

46. Me too...

Thanks

[undeterred]

16. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[technocoloredrose]

25. Hi

Thanks. :hi:

[bertman]

17. This nonbeliever welcomes you to DU, Technocoloredrose. I love your progressive values.

[technocoloredrose]

26. Thanks

I'm so glad I found this site.

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Can anyone explain to me what a religious left is?

Is this another invented demographic?

[technocoloredrose]

28. Look at one of my above posts.

That's my definition at least.

[ColbertWatcher]

36. (EDITED) LOL! That's not a definition!

Is "religious left" a way to normalize the "religious right?"

Is it a way to label anyone who isn't on the "religious right?"

Is it another fair and balanced label to lump all liberals together?

LOL! Seriously, what is a "religious left?"


(ADDED) Welcome to DU!

[technocoloredrose]

40. Hi again and thanks for making me think;-)

Here's my feeble attempt to answer your questions.

Is "religious left" a way to normalize the "religious right?"


No. The religious right are for the most part forever lost. Maybe a few can come away from the dark side. I believe that I am supposed to fight greed and injustice just as Jesus did. Unfortunately, a lot of that greed and injustice is coming from the religious right who just happen to claim they believe in the same Jesus. Their actions show them to be hypocrites and full of malice and hate.

Is it a way to label anyone who isn't on the "religious right?"

It's a label for those who are fighting against the religious right who consider themselves to be religious moderates. It doesn't mean you have to be a Christian.

Is it another fair and balanced label to lump all liberals together?

How can one lump all liberals together? It's our diversity which speaks volumes to our tolerance of others.

[ColbertWatcher]

53. "our diversity which speaks volumes to our tolerance" So, what's with the label, then?

I know you didn't create the term, but I am suspicious of these invented demographics, like, "NASCAR dads" and "soccer moms."

They're usually used by the GOP-controlled media to legitimize their point of view while demonizing liberals.

Despite what will happen on Tuesday, there will be 2 areas that the GOP will still have control over: the courts and education. This sudden appearance of a "new" religious group is just more of the GOP's push to dilute science in the public discourse and force their church into the state.

"Religious right" is not an invented term--the GOP is defined by their confusion between church and state--they've been doing this for years. If there's an right, there's a left, why are we now suddenly hearing about a "religious left" when the religious right has been around since Reagan? And why is it first being used on the same day the GOP begins airing an anti-Obama ad featuring Reverend Wright?

When the GOP-controlled media says "religious left" what do they mean? Militant, Afro-centric, quasi-Christianity? Fundamentalist, fringe Islam?

Is this just more of the GOP's favorite hobby of muddying the waters for Obama? Dividing the populace? Enraging their violent, racist base? Hoping for sympathy by playing victims (again)?

If we're so diverse, how can this term have any meaning without disenfranchising the majority of liberals?

I've never heard of this "religious left" until today and I'm suspicious.

[technocoloredrose]

64. I totally understand

The right will always muddy the waters. It doesn't matter what you call us. The religious left has been around for a very long time. It's called enlightenment. I've been a part of this movement since 2004. So, this isn't a new concept. The religious left was a big part of the Vietnam anti-war movement and they fought for more protection for individuals in a post industrial-capitalistic society. The religious left is totally against the mixture of church and state. I am as pro-science as you can get. To me science is studying God's creations. God wants us to study science. Everyone in my family is into science and the Science channel is on regularly. You have to quit worrying about the right smears. People are growing tired of them. There is a definite rumbling out there.

[otherlander]

110. "I've never heard of this "religious left" until today".

Really? Ever heard of liberation theology? It's kinda the same philosophy.

On edit: I don't understand how you think this is supposed to be demonizing liberals. To me, it seems like the article is saying that a lot of liberals are "good Christians", which I personally feel is a bit insulting to atheists such as myself (What? Am I less of a good person because I don't believe in God?), but in a country where many people see Christianity as synonymous with virtue, an article talking about liberalism as a logical extension of Christian values could only tip public perception in favor of the left.

[Posteritatis]

32. Religious people *are* allowed to be liberal, you know (nt)

[ColbertWatcher]

34. Tht doesn't really answer the question. n/t

[tclambert]

44. To me, a religious left is Joe Frazier's left hook

Now that was gift from God.

[Waiting For Everyman]

45. The religious left was a huge force in the VN anti-war movement.

There are liberal Christian beliefs (less literal), there are also Christians who hold conservative (or traditional, more literal) beliefs but are liberal politically.

So I guess the definition is in the eye of the beholder.

I agree with the statement in the OP that liberals of faith have sat on the sidelines way too long. The Religious Right is a fraud, both religiously and politically, and it's time that was challenged. It's a fraud religiously because it freely embraces lying and smears (bearing false witness) as a tactic, and is more about politics than Christianity. It's a fraud politically because it shills for the corporatists against its own voters' interests.

[tclambert]

48. The religious left has to include many religions:

Christians who actually follow Christ's teachings, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Druids, Atheists, Agnostics, and, of course, the followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (may his noodly appendages bless you).

[ColbertWatcher]

54. "Atheists, Agnostics" ?!? I'm sorry, but these are not religions. n/t

[technocoloredrose]

65. Hi, again...

No, they're not. But, once again we accept everyone just as Jesus did. The only folks Jesus had a qualm with were the filthy rich and religious bigots.

[tclambert]

113. Yet they are both common answers to the question, "What religion are you?"

Agnosticism might not technically be a religion, but atheism is. Atheists believe there is no god. They have no proof of god's non-existence. They take it on faith.

[Zhade]

88. Atheism and agnosticism aren't religions.

NT!

[tclambert]

114. I believe they are.

[classof56]

19. Welcome to DU! So glad to have you on board!

Especially heartening to know more about you. I am at my wits end with my Texas relatives, who are so entrenched in the RW-fundy-rapture ready and (in one case) hardline Catholic mode it's made connection and correspondence almost impossible. Tried hard to point out that Obama is not a Muslim, there's no verse in Revelations (sic) that proclaims him to be the antichrist, and that I am not stupid for believing otherwise. Pointless! Hate to have this family fractured in such a way--very few of us left--but I have invited them to drum me out of the corps if they feel so inclined. I've sat silent for far too long, and you have expressed my thoughts most eloquently--I do not ever want to live through another eight years of the Bush fiasco and the disastrous precipice to which he's brought us. At this stage of my life I am ready to call myself an agnostic, so it is encouraging to know about the religious left who are stepping up to the plate. Thank you for posting this.

Obama/Biden '08

[technocoloredrose]

29. I hear you...

Can you email me. Maybe we could meet. My family are religious right wack jobs too. I just don't listen to them anymore and seldom visit them. I'm tired of watching them worship money and pick on homosexuals and try to pry into people's private lives.

[SammyWinstonJack]

100. You're in San Antonio? So am I.

:hi:

[Gregorian]

20. Amen! I love this.

I've waited decades for something like this. So much silence, while the goons on the right spouted their hate and lies. I know what Jesus would say. Get thee behind me.

Too much silence regarding the invasion, as well.

Welcome to a great forum, by the way.

[technocoloredrose]

37. Hi

"Get thee behind me." That about sums it up. Maybe we can leave these right wing lunatics behind us. Somehow I think the battle is just beginning.

[progressivebydesign]

22. Hi! Welcome!! :) This is so refreshing to read about the Religious Left speaking up. n/t

[technocoloredrose]

30. Hi

Thanks for making me feel welcome;-)

[SidDithers]

23. And secularism loses again...nt

Sid

[Lydia Leftcoast]

49. If we don't speak up, we get criticized, and when we speak up, we're endangering secularism

Can't win.

:eyes:

[SidDithers]

58. How 'bout speaking up for a secular government ...

instead of one based on the "good" kind of religion.

Sid

[Lydia Leftcoast]

61. Oh, religious left types believe in secular government

I see this as an effort to convince evangelicals that they don't have to be Republican to be a "good Christian." In other words, it's the kind of speaking to other Christians that people in R&T advocate.

[spoony]

82. You are also fired from the welcome wagon.

And God I hope you aren't canvassing. Your sort of bullshit is the last thing the party needs.

[underpants]

24. The Social Gospel-the religous arm of the first progressive era

Reformers’ Conclusions About Society

Many Christians who lived in the cities and witnessed the squalor of squalor of the poor were outraged that men could treat one another as those who controlled industry controlled their workers. For those with a liberalist impulse, the desire to bring about God’s Kingdom in the context of temporal human relationships proved an important foundation for a religious social ethic. They began to believe that "industrial capitalism" was inherently unjust, and that its particular institutions and economic situations set individuals up for failure and consequently sinful lifestyles. A man’s own hard work could no longer prosper him in the world of the twentieth century, and the unrestrained capitalism that allowed the privileged to own the labor and production of others seemed to be responsible. Men who owned the means of production did not seem to be constrained by either morality or government regulation to be fair to their employees, so Social Gospellers and Progressivists alike were more inclined to favor bigger government, the rights of labor, and a number of socialist ideas.<1>

Uniqueness of the Social Gospel

The reforming impulse is nothing new to Christian denominations, and we find ecumenical benevolent societies with an appreciation of social problems since the early days of the nineteenth century. Ahlstrom points out that while all liberal movements were searching for some form of new relevancy in the midst of increasing change, the Social Gospel alone stood out as a religious movement that single-mindedly emphasized the "problems industrialism and unregulated urban growth."
http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/HTALLANT/COURSES/his338/students/kpotter/theology.htm

[technocoloredrose]

31. Great read...

Thanks for posting this.

[underpants]

35. Welcome to DU

The Social Gospel is conveniently ignored these days

The Dems really should bring this up more

[technocoloredrose]

43. Thanks

I agree. And, once again thanks for the enlightening read.

[FloridaJudy]

85. Let's not forget

That many of those who fought against slavery were religious Quakers, Unitarians and Universalists. Decent white people were needed to run the Underground Rail Road.

I'm not a Christian myself, but I hate to see all Christians slurred because some of them are right wing bigots. Those who genuinely follow the teachings of Christ have always been in the forefront of the fight for Human Rights.

Unless you think that Martin Luther King and Desmond Tutu were really atheists.

[harun]

50. I consider myself part of the Religious Left and this is good news

[shaniqua6392]

51. I am also a Christian Progressive!!

Welcome to DU!! Thanks for your post. Yes...Jesus was a liberal!!!

[lisa58]

52. Jesus was a Liberal - Social Justice? Yes.

[ColbertWatcher]

55. And so was Gandhi! Woo Hoo! n/t

[technocoloredrose]

67. Right!!!

And so was Budda and MLK and Kennedy and Obama!!!

[checks-n-balances]

84. And so was Martin Luther King, Jr, a follower of both of them!

He delivered the best sermon I've ever heard in my life, just a few months before his death. I heard a recording of it in the early eighties and it doesn't matter how many times I hear it, it always strikes an emotional chord with me. All those with open hearts & minds would be moved by hearing this profound & prophetic sermon, in which he speaks out against the War in Viet Nam. It was called "The Drum Major Instinct" and I'm sure it's online somewhere.

[otherlander]

112. No, actually...

Gandhi was an anarchist, not a liberal. He was against all forms of violence, and he saw government as being inherently coercive. He also believed that a peaceful, free, and just world could not be brought about by new forms of government ruling people, but rather by people changing their own consciousness and becoming their own rulers, guided by the principle of ahimsa.

But if he was alive and living in America today, I bet he'd vote for Obama.

GoBama! Anarchists for peace!

[Hulk]

56. Welcome......I am also of the religious left....

I practice my faith PRIVATELY...and I don't use my religion to foster hate and killing.

Jesus truly was a liberal...and along with every other great man or woman in our time and before, those who care for the least of us, care for Jesus and the Almighty.

Believe or not. Your choice. You have LOTS of choices in life. But using religion to preach hate and intolerance is no where to be found in the Bible...except by deceptive liars and cheaters in this life.

[Joe the Liberal]

57. Hiya there.

And welcome to DU :hi:

I may be an atheist but I fully respect anyone who is a dem/lib, so its good to have you. :)

[mt13]

60. JESUS WAS A LIBERAL!!!!

i love that statement and could not agree with it more. the religious right has gotten so far away from the teachings of Christ that it is insulting to even hear them mention his name. love thy neighbor.

[goforit]

74. Hell ya!!!

[1Hippiechick]

62. Welcome, sister! Your belief system will be challenged here by atheists and agnostics, but such is

life. Have you heard of the Matthew 25 organization? They have posted vides on YouTube. Many ppl don't realize that Obama was referencing Matthew 25:35- at the Saddleback "setup" where he demonstrated indepth New Testament knowledge, imo, and quite a bit more than McCain who probably couldn't pronounce half the books of the Bible. I particularly like the Matthew 25:35 reference because it tells us that if we have clothed the naked, fed the hungry among us, etc., it is as if doing those very things to the Lord to whose teachings we ascribe. I am a progressive Baptist iiving in a very red state, so my church attendance has been sporadic at best the last few months.

My definition of Christian left: Followers of Jesus and his teachings. IMO, Jesus would have been comparable to the 60s Hippies :), he was a radical, he was a liberal,and he shook up the status quo!!! I LOVE it! Unfortunately, the Pharisees have a stranglehold on "christianity" today, so that I don't call myself a Christian but rather a Christ follower. There IS a difference, imo. While the Bible teaches one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus, my belief is that many take different roads to reach the Higher Power whom I choose to call God, and it is certainly not my place to sit in judgment on another human being. We search for our own path to find our purpose for being here, and all of us are at different places on their paths. It doesn't mean that my path is right and someone else's path is wrong. I also believe that I have a responsibility to live a life that represents Jesus' philosophies and I believe that Jesus would not have been in politics because of the teaching to "...be in the world but not of the world."

I, too, think the religious left have stayed silent far too long! We have allowed the Repbulicans to lay "claim" to all Christians to the point that if one doesn't vote Republican, one is not Christian! BS!

http://www.unification.net/ws/ is a link you may or may not find interesting re world religions.

[technocoloredrose]

66. Hi

Thanks for the great post. I think it's time we start speaking out and coming together to point out what Jesus was all about. I'll definitely take a look at www.unification.net/ws. And, you're right we have allowed Republicans to lay "claim" to Christians. It's time to join together and put them in their place.

[kestrel91316]

76. I've never understood why so many atheists here are opposed to ANYONE

having ANY religious beliefs (and yes, that's how they come across). If you don't want to believe in a supreme being, that's fine with me. And if you do, that's fine, too. Just don't try to impose your beliefs or lack thereof on me or anyone else.........

I'm personally agnostic. I don't think there is a way to know if there's a God or not. And whether or not there is a God is not relevant to my belief that we should treat others the way we'd like to be treated. Ethics without religion - what a novel concept!!!

[Lorien]

63. Maybe I could get Rev. Tim Ahrens to talk to my mother

in Columbus. She's balking at voting for Obama because of the abortion issue. I pointed out that four more years of the GOP will be a disaster for LIVING people-and all life on earth-and that the GOP may never outlaw abortion because it's such a valuable "carrot" with which to lead Christian evangelicals. She had to agree that BushCo is a disaster, and she likes the fact that Obama only has had one wife...but she really doesn't seem to care about issues like war, torture, poverty, social justice. It's bizarre.

[ACTION BASTARD]

70. A religous left?

I'm up for anything to counter the rights raping of religon. Oh praize the blonde hair, blue eyes white JEZUZ!

[jeepnstein]

72. Here's some interesting reading...

http://dailymail.com/Opinion/LetterstotheEditor/200810020149

This is a letter to the editor a good friend of mine wrote a while back.

"Letters to the Editor: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
Republicans don't give evangelicals much

For more than 50 years of my adult life I have been an evangelical Christian. My relationship with the Lord has guided my life.

Despite my heartfelt and often-stated objections to abortion and homosexuality, my Christian beliefs were challenged because I was a Democrat.

I have never questioned anyone's personal Christian relationship because of where they worship or their political leanings. Now for Democrats like myself who are also evangelicals, it is time to set the record straight.

A 1973 Supreme Court decision, Rowe v. Wade, legalized abortion by a 7-2 vote. Six of the seven justices in the majority were Republican appointees. The only Democratic appointee, Byron White, voted against Rowe v. Wade.

In fact, in every year since 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court has been controlled by a majority of Republican-appointed judges. There has not been a Democrat-appointed chief justice since 1953.

Currently, there are seven Republican appointees and two nominated by Democrats.

Obviously, if the Republican majority had wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade at any time since 1973, they had the votes to do so. Why haven't they?

In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas overturned a Texas law against sodomy. Once again, in the 6-3 decision, four Republicans voted to overturn the law.

Recently, the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Six of the seven California judges were elected Republicans.

From 2003-2006, Republicans controlled both houses of Congress and the presidency. In 2006, the FDA approved an "over the counter" abortion drug known as "Plan B."

The head of the FDA serves at the pleasure of President Bush.

My point is clear: For religious leaders to continue to blame Democrats for Republican actions is wrong.

Thomas King

Kodak, Tenn.

King is formerly of Mingo County."

[Lorien]

80. Thanks for that

I've forwarded it to her!

[Duppers]

94. interesting letter.

Could you work on your friend's irrational bias toward abortion and gays though?

[norepubsin08]

77. I'm a part of that Religious Left

I am the chair of a peace and justice project in Tacoma, Washington and most of our folks are out knocking on doors and making phone calls.

[spoony]

83. Welcome!

Please ignore the haters, you'll learn they are the usual suspects who primarily exist to be divisive. We ALL need to be fighting the right wingers like you say!

[Zhade]

89. Yeah, wanting to uphold the Constitution by maintaining secularism in politics is "hating".

:rofl:

[spoony]

95. No, it's hating when a new member posts

about supporting Obama and obsessive zealots like yourself can't restrain yourselves from displays of suspicion and aggression because of your personal prejudices against his religion or religion in general. That's hating. And moreover, it's hypocritical if you really support Obama, who is a man influenced and informed by his faith.

[eridani]

90. I sometimes suspect that if you stole a wingnut's Bible--

--and tore out all of the New Testament except for Revelations and those epistles that say something bad about same-sex relationships, s/he'd never even notice.

[Name removed]

91. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Poseidan]

92. awfully courageous

During decades of abuse, nothing. Now that power has shifted, so have Christians. Not that I reject your pledge. I'm an 'atheist' if God = a humanoid super-creature, but i'm not an atheist in the same sense our founders were not atheists, understanding Nature's law is God's law (read the Declaration of Independence for reference).

Why do people need God? Why even discuss the existence or non-existence of a God? Certainly, if you acknowledge God as being equal to the Universe, or Nature, no belief is necessary.

[technocoloredrose]

93. Thanks everyone

for welcoming me to DU. Even though I believe in Jesus as my saviour, I still know how to have fun. So, if I'm right, Tuesday night and Wednesday are going to be one long party.

[Mad_Dem_X]

101. The Right seems to think it has a monopoly on religion.

I'm glad religious people on the Left are letting their voices be heard!

[4_TN_TITANS]

102. Welcome fellow soldier

to DU...

[Joanne98]

103. THANK GOD!

[sofa king]

105. I thought the religious left was atheists and agnostics....

But then I realized that we're never gonna earn our wings.

[Matilda]

107. I'm a Christian (specifically, Catholic) and a Socialist.

It's very frustrating that many people think that being a Christian means you're also right-wing
conservative.

I don't think the Christ of the gospels would have had much in common with the right-wing fundie
mentality, but that's just my opinion.

[atommom]

108. Welcome to DU! I'm a atheist member of a UU church, and I like the religious left

much better than the religious right. It's time to use churches for the betterment of society, not to sow hatred and division.

[florida08]

111. a great thread

with great responses. As a christian who has felt her faith has been hijacked by the RR I too am for separation of church and state. It's about time their foolishness was exposed. They don't speak for many of us and I am very tired of their hypocrisy. It does my heart good to see atheists and christians coming together for the common good. That's a good thing. God bless all and thank you technocoloredrose for posting this much needed information.

[GetTheRightVote]

115. I believe many of the Dems values are christian in their basic fundamentals.

:kick: