Idea - One Religious Left, many Religions

[ck4829]

I support the idea of the Religious Left. But, I think it should be more than the Christian Left. I would like it very much if the Religious Left meant you could be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Agnostic, etc., and even Atheists should be allowed a role in the Religiuous Left.

We have a responsibility to tell the Christian Right that fear, bigotry, and hate are not 'moral' values, and I believe that can be accomplished through the beauty of Tolerance and Pluralism.

[VioletLake]

1. The Spiritual Left n/t

[Maat]

2. I agree. The Religious Left should be an interfaith alliance..

including:

1. liberal Christians (such as UCC, part of UU, & Metropolitan Comm),
2. liberal segments of the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths,
3. agnostics,
4. atheists, and more specifically...
5. Church of Religious Science,
6. Church of Christian Science, and
7. Unitarian-Universalist.
8. And pagans, and anyone else who is not for the traditonalist, fudamentalist, bigoted patriarchal 'faiths' (or Political Action Comm. for Bush).

[Ladyhawk]

4. As an atheist, I don't feel "spiritual" or "religious."

I'm all for the religious left taking on the religious right, but I don't want to be a hypocrite. I think that a backlash from the religious left is just what this country needs at this point.

I don't believe in any religion, but it's not for me to say what others should believe, as long as:

1) Neither side tries to push its beliefs down the others' throats
2) Neither side tries to legislate its beliefs to control others' minds.

This is what I'm thinking now.

Unfortunately, the religious right has no qualms about doing either. That's why they're dangerous.

[Maat]

6. Yes, you are correct (Ladyhawk).

(I was going to say 'right' instead of 'correct,' but then thought the better of it).

I want to take advantage of this moment to get people to think, and if they are going to participate in a church at all, I pray it will be a progressive one.

And I certainly do not want to participate in anything that shoves religion or beliefs down someone's throat.

Actually, my faith (Church of Religious Science) forbids that. No one tells a religious scientist what to think - including the pastor or the church - and we certainly wouldn't want to tell anyone else what to think! That's the idea - we believe in all paths to the Great Spirit ...including an atheistic path.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Why a list? And why be exclusionary?

Its the religious (or better yet ... "spiritual") left. The operative words are both ... "spiritual" and "left". I dare say no need to specifically exclude anyone. Left leaning evangelicals will know they're welcome. Fundamental radical Christians would be uncomfortable anywhere near it.

[seabeyond]

3. bring it on,

i dont even do religion, but i can do religion to bring down the religious right. it is too easy

[sans qualia]

5. I agree. Insularism is a tool of the right

used to keep some groups in power and others in oppression. Any truly liberal religious group would have to embrace pluralism and tolerance.

[Az]

8. You just described a Unitarian Universalist church

Any given sunday you can find all those individuals attending a UU church.

[regnaD kciN]

9. Yes and no...

There certainly is a role for every religion in the left, and some cooperation between them (much like the Interfaith Alliance).

However, when you say:

We have a responsibility to tell the Christian Right that fear, bigotry, and hate are not 'moral' values,

you have to realize that they are not going to listen to such an argument if it comes from a Jew, Buddhist, or Muslim, since they will automatically dismiss the opinion of any "nonbeliever" on matters affecting their own faith.

They're unlikely to fully listen to mainstream, non-fundie Christians, either, but at lease we stand a better chance, and can better use language and concepts they understand.

So, I would argue that confronting the religious right on matters of faith, in a way that might get through to some of them, is a specific job for those Christians among us.

Now, if any Jews want to take on Dr. Laura, Michael Medved, and Rabbi Lapin...be my guests! ;-)

[booley]

10. it would have to be more then just christians

But I do not see this as an obstancle.

Liberal Theists and Atheists share a great many values. They just rarely sit down and think about it often enough.