DU Christians I beg of you to unite in a common front against

[Cleita]

those Christians who are politicizing their pulpit. We know real Christians don't believe in what they are proselytizing, but unless you unite in a coalition to fight these guys, they will take over. Can you do this and do it nationwide. I mean it's time for you guys to take back your churches.

There is a precedent for this, and yes it's in Nazi Germany. The churches were so taken over in doctrine that one official wanted to replace the Bible with Mein Kampf. It never happened but they thought of it.

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. I doubt

if you will ever get me to rejoin any church, but I do go around putting these little cards on cars with Bu$h stickers.

Every little bit helps, I suppose?



?abmn

[Cleita]

3. Every little bit does help, but

Christians themselves need to unite in a coalition similar to the one forged by Martin Luther King for civil rights in the fifties. Other wise their churches will become propaganda wings for the reich in situ right now.

A strong coalition will neutralize these heretics. That is what they are heretics because their Christianity is not what Christ taught.

[Patty Diana]

2. start by signing this faithbased community petition to save social securit

http://ga3.org/campaign/ss

[mcg]

8. done

[Ian David]

4. Here's a glimmer of hope for you...

New Group Christian Alliance emerges as alternative to Christian Coalition
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1873168

[Cleita]

5. That's more than a glimmer. It means you guys are starting to

organize. I was beginning to wonder why this hadn't happened yet.

[H2O Man]

6. About two weeks ago

I posted a thread about The Interfaith Alliance. I received a letter and information from Walter Cronkite (mass mailing, of course) with information on this group. It is a non-partison, grassroots-based organizarion with people from over 70 faith traditions, who are united in opposition to the aggressive works of the Pat Robertsons and Jerry Falwells. For more information, go to the religious/spiritual forum.

[Cleita]

7. Sounds like they need all the support they can get even

from agnostics like me.

[H2O Man]

12. They have a significant

number of agnostic and atheist members. Their goals are to maintain the separation of church and state. They now have people who lobby members of the House and Senate.

[Bridget Burke]

24. Here's a link to the Interfaith Alliance...

Mostly Christian, but representing other faiths as well.
www.interfaithalliance.org/site/pp.asp?c=8dJIIWMCE&b=447561

Then there are the Mainstream Baptists--opposed to the politicized Southern Baptist Convention:
www.mainstreambaptists.org/

Theocracy Watch is not specifically a religious group. But they explain the roots & beliefs of the Christian Right & show why they are different from Evangelical and even many Fundamentalist Christians. Here's their page of Links:
www.theocracywatch.org/relig_inst.htm

[lonestarnot]

9. Well where is the unity if it isn't here on DU?

[IndyOp]

10. Sojourners

The Sojourner's community - and especially Jim Wallis, author of "God's Politics" are working hard. <http://www.sojo.net/>

Jim Wallis' book is "God's Politics: Why the Left Doesn't Get It and the Right Gets it Wrong"
<http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=special.display&item=050111_godspolitics>

You can read/listen/watch Jim on DemocracyNow! here:
<http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/26/1355204>

And, yes! - they need support from everyone - talk about them, use their talking points to write LTTE/call congress, send money...

:kick:

[kliljedahl]

11. I'm an atheist & have all the respect in the world for Jim Wallis

Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Ian David]

17. Same here. If more were like him, I'd join a church but still be Atheist.

Currently, Humanists are the most "Christian" people that I know.

[FreedomAngel82]

14. They're a really great site

I also recommend http://www.jesusonthefamily.org On this Christian board I frequent I mentioned Sojourners and got a lot of positive feedback and a lot of good feedback on his book as well.

[FreedomAngel82]

13. I think all you have to do

is have a chat with those who are willing to listen. I've been commuting back and forth this past few days with someone on a Christian board I frequent. There are democrats on the board and people who don't like Bush. I've been talking to this one person about various issues and even though we're on different side of the isle political wise we agree a lot. I encouraged the person to vote smart and research the canidates before voting. Only they'll know now if they do it of course.
Sometimes it's hard to get through the loud mouths (like those at the hospice with the Schavio ordeal) but when you have one on one with someone it's easier. It's all about not being afraid to speak up. I'm getting better at myself.

[LightningFlash]

15. Christians vs the totally outrageous...

True christians vs fake christians as what you can see in the senate with Senator Frist.

[JerseygirlCT]

16. Another glimmer

although a loud (very) minority (very) in the Episcopal church has been making a big effort to undermine the church and take it away from it's tolerant and open-minded history, they're losing in a big way.

The forces of moderation are quietly showing that they will not be bullied. They want to focus on helping the less fortunate, not tearing down homosexuals.

A small glimmer, but one from my backyard!

[IndyOp]

18. Is the Episcopal Church the one with the new gay Bishop -

is it Gene _____? I heard an interview with him on AAR some time ago and was very impressed. Episcopalians should be *very* proud indeed.

:bounce:

[JerseygirlCT]

23. Gene Robinson, yes

Bishop of New Hampshire. Has caused a bit of a ruckus with the worldwide Anglican Communion (the African bishops especially). And a minor and loud ruckus at home from those who don't like it. But he was elected by a sizeable majority (more than 2/3), and most are quite happy about it. I think my bishop was in the majority with his reasons for supporting Bishop Robinson: totally aside from his sexual orientation, he was a terrific priest and a wonderful person they'd known and worked with for years. And the people of his diocese wanted him.

In CT we've got 6 parishes making a national stink about it, but they're going to get nowhere. Their churches, their land, everything is owned by the diocese. So they can go, but they go with nothing. They won't go, they'll just try to make life difficult.

[OrlandoGator]

19. Here's the summary:

[journalist3072]

20. Christianity and politics

Well, here's the thing. I don't have a problem with someone getting into the pulpit and talking politics. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's because of my Christian values, not in spite of them, that I am a progressive. I believe it's a Christian value to ensure all Americans have health care. I believe it's a Christian value to care for the least among us.

Here's the problem I have with these so-called Christian conservatives:

1. They seem to want people to believe they have a monopoly on religion, and that they are all-knowning.

2. The so-called culture of life folks bomb abortion clinics and want to deny us stem cell research, all in the name of the Lord.


And I do have a problem with any minister, pastor, etc who will get into the pulpit and tell you HOW to vote. I don't think any minister should be telling people how to vote, because that means they don't belive you can think on your own. I think they should just encourage people to vote, and tell them to seek the Lord about who to vote for.


Sorry if I'm rambling here...sometimes it's hard to express myself.

[brook]

21. I'm not so good...

at expressing myself either - but this subject came up today when I was having a rare and precious few hours with my daughter. She said:"Isn't it the very definition of hubris to think one has the only true answer/path to God?" I've paraphrased - but the meaning is there.

It came up as we discussed a dear friend of hers who is a spiritual seeker who was told by her brother at their father's funeral recently that she had no right to say "Let's pray to God to resolve our differences and find peace." Because the brother is a religious fanatic he considers anyone not conforming to his beliefs to be heretics or worse.

To me, he's no Christian - and is likely to find the gates to his heaven closed to him this go-round. (Yes, I believe in Karma and reincarnation). All acts have consequences.

[quaker bill]

22. Quakers are doing what they can.