Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers (a nice op-ed by John Danforth)

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/opinion/17danforth.html?oref=login

June 17, 2005
Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers
By JOHN C. DANFORTH
St. Louis

IT would be an oversimplification to say that America's culture wars are now between people of faith and nonbelievers. People of faith are not of one mind, whether on specific issues like stem cell research and government intervention in the case of Terri Schiavo, or the more general issue of how religion relates to politics. In recent years, conservative Christians have presented themselves as representing the one authentic Christian perspective on politics. With due respect for our conservative friends, equally devout Christians come to very different conclusions.

It is important for those of us who are sometimes called moderates to make the case that we, too, have strongly held Christian convictions, that we speak from the depths of our beliefs, and that our approach to politics is at least as faithful as that of those who are more conservative. Our difference concerns the extent to which government should, or even can, translate religious beliefs into the laws of the state.<snip>

<snip>By contrast, moderate Christians see ourselves, literally, as moderators. Far from claiming to possess God's truth, we claim only to be imperfect seekers of the truth. We reject the notion that religion should present a series of wedge issues useful at election time for energizing a political base. We believe it is God's work to practice humility, to wear tolerance on our sleeves, to reach out to those with whom we disagree, and to overcome the meanness we see in today's politics.

For us, religion should be inclusive, and it should seek to bridge the differences that separate people. We do not exclude from worship those whose opinions differ from ours. Following a Lord who sat at the table with tax collectors and sinners, we welcome to the Lord's table all who would come. Following a Lord who cited love of God and love of neighbor as encompassing all the commandments, we reject a political agenda that displaces that love. Christians who hold these convictions ought to add their clear voice of moderation to the debate on religion in politics.

John C. Danforth is an Episcopal minister and former Republican senator from Missouri.

[AX10]

1. Kick, Kick, Kick!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

Didn't Danforth endorse Kerry in 04'?

[dbackjon]

2. Excellent piece

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. So John, if you're so moderate

why were you one of Clarence Thomas's biggest supporters?

[Coastie for Truth]

8. He grew up, matured, got out of the whore house that is politics

and, maybe, (to paraphrase the Unitarian Universalists) - he went beyond "learning about religion" to actually "learn about God." In most non-fundie seminaries, "Thomas Jefferson's Bible"<1> is part of the curriculum.



<1> "In 1794, President Thomas Jefferson set out to uncover the essence of true religion from the Gospels by extracting Jesus' message of absolute love and service from the annunciation, virgin birth, and even the resurrection. Completed in 1819, this little book is the result of Jefferson's efforts."

The Jefferson Bible, as part of a progressive manifesto, is discussed in "God and Other Famous Liberals: Recapturing Bible, Flag, and Family from the Far Right" by the noted Unitarian Universalist theologian Forrest Church, and in Reverend Forrest Church's "The American Creed : A Biography of the Declaration of Independence". Rev Church is Senator Frank Church's son, and posits a very power arguement for an all-inclusive, non-creedal personal belief system in a democracy and its positive, progressive impact in a democracy.

[papau]

9. The Church book looks interesting - thanks for mentioning it :-)

:-)

[American in Asia]

4. Wow - really a good piece!

[Ysolde]

5. It is a good post...

but religion and politics do not and should not mingle. It destroys both because you end up with the Inquisition, the Crusades, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, etc. And, ultimately, the religion promoting the state is discredited along with that state.

[Coastie for Truth]

7. You might want to look at Buehrens & Church

A Chosen Faith, where they go in some discussion of the role of a humanistic, progressive, non-exclusionary, non-creedal life philosophy on our actions.

[AndyTiedye]

6. We Would Love to Hear More From These People, The Real Christians

:kick:

[Hector Solon]

10. The Insurrection Continues...

Danforth also wrote on April 1, 2005
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-chait1apr01,0,7729010.column?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

"I suspect that, behind closed doors, most Washington Republicans take religious conservatives for suckers. This has been evident from the Washington Post's recent revelations about GOP activist and lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Three years ago, a casino-owning Louisiana Indian tribe called the Coushatta hired Abramoff to help stop another tribe from opening a casino, which the Coushatta feared would dilute their business. Abramoff hired former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed, who enlisted Focus on the Family's James Dobson, who spurred his followers to send thousands of letters opposing the new casino. The poor souls riled up to stop legalized gambling had no idea that they were pawns of another casino. It's a perfect metaphor for the relationship between the Republican elite and the voters who put them into office."

See Danforth also on March 30 in NYT:
In the Name of Politics
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/30/opinion/30danforth.html?ex=1120190400&en=212ff52d96202810&ei=5070&oref=login

"But in recent times, we Republicans have allowed this shared agenda to become secondary to the agenda of Christian conservatives. As a senator, I worried every day about the size of the federal deficit. I did not spend a single minute worrying about the effect of gays on the institution of marriage. Today it seems to be the other way around.

The historic principles of the Republican Party offer America its best hope for a prosperous and secure future. Our current fixation on a religious agenda has turned us in the wrong direction. It is time for Republicans to rediscover our roots."

The Insurrection continues...
http://neoprose.blogspot.com/2005/05/christians-of-conscience-stage.html

*Christians of Conscience Stage Insurrection at Calvin College*
President Bush’s Message of Theocracy Politics and Radical-Right Extremism Muted by Protest Involving Nearly One Thousand Undergraduate and Seminary Students, Faculty, and Alumni of Calvin College

[coda]

11. The 1st column was by Jonathan Chait:

quoting Danforth.

Thanks for the links, H S... and welcome to DU. :hi: