A.U. Interviews Esther Kaplan, talking about what we can do ..

[Maat]

to battle the extremist influence of the Religious Hardright.

Ms. Kaplan wrote the very informative book on the Religious Hardright entitled, "With God on Their Side."

http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7755&abbr=cs_

**My Favorite Quote**
Q. What can ordinary Americans do to turn the tide?

A. Certainly we all have to educate ourselves, and organizations such as Americans United, Political Research Associates and People For the American Way who are doing research and producing vital publications deserve our support. The Christian right grassroots is much more effective at supporting its own institutions and publications than progressives are, and that’s a lesson we can learn from them.

We also need to relinquish the idea that the Christian right is just a religious movement, deserving of tolerance, and acknowledge that it is a political movement bent on rewriting American government. And when any movement’s agenda stands opposed to civil rights, women’s rights, equality, pluralism and public health, that movement deserves to be opposed. Issue by issue, whether it’s efforts to reduce women’s control over their repro­duc­tive lives, or limit the full participation of gay men and lesbians in society or use federal dollars to pay for Christian proselytizing, we need to make our voices heard. Right now, the Chris­tian right has claimed ownership over the question of moral values in this country, and the rest of us need to take that space back.
**Endquote**

If you want some separation-of-church-and-state issues to keep an eye on:
http://www.au.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=7759&abbr=cs_ .

And I suggest that DUers support the organizations listed, as well as the new website, Talk2Action, which features postings by Ms. Kaplan and other prominent Religious Right researchers:
http://www.talk2action.org/ .

I know that DUers already are very busy, but I think that these issues are very important, and they are part of my new year's resolutions (to address them, that is).

Thoughts?

[Maat]

1. My favorite part is when Ms. Kaplan talks about ..

the Religious Reich being a political movement, not a religious one.

[beam me up scottie]

2. Me too.

It can't be stressed enough.

Religion has been off limits for criticism in this country for too long, it's time to start fighting back.

We need to confront reichwing memes, not shy away from them for fear of offending someone.

I give liberal believers more credit than that.

Defending the Constitutional separation of church and state is not anti-god, it's anti-theocratic.

[Maat]

4. EXACTLY (n/t)!

[beam me up scottie]

3. More from the interview:

Q. What do you believe is the Religious Right’s long-term goal for America? What would our society look like under its control?

A. The movement’s vision, in the broadest sense, is to bring God’s law into civic and political life, that is the Christian right’s conservative evangelical version of God’s law. While they don’t want to completely exclude non-believers and religious minorities from participating in American public life, this is nevertheless a theocratic vision.

In their America, churches, rather than government, will provide social services, and so tax dollars will flow to churches, where believers can preach, proselytize, and practice religious discrimination as they care for the poor. Conservative Christian faith will be considered an important qualification for public office. Policy on everything from media to medicine will be guided by conservative evangelical moralism, not such values as public health or pluralism. They do view America as, at heart, a Christian nation, and see their role as restoring the country to its early Christian roots. This is a misreading of the foundations of American democracy, but a very popular one.

If that doesn't send a chill up your spine, I don't know what will.

Excellent find, Maat.

As usual. :)

[Maat]

5. Thank you, BMUS!

I appreciate your posts.

I'm frightened about my daughter being taught the wrong things; I explain to her that, if we aren't going to have everyone's symbols up (which would be impossible), we can't have any! And I talk about the founding fathers' fears about certain organized religions. We need a religion-neutral, blank-slate government.

I refuse to be a part of any organization that is anti-feminist or anti-gay. I refuse to be a part of any organization that believes women should submit to men, or that discourages planned parenthood.

And I tell her that these folks are the worst! They must NEVER gain any more power! And we need to take them out of power period.

I have debunked that 'Christian roots' thing with my relatives many times; besides, when they say "Christian," what they mean is "Extremist Racist Homophobic Misogynist Patriarchal Only-using-the-name-Christ-in-passing religion. They should call themselves the "Old Testament Twisted Our Way" religion; they don't even mention the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth (I know; I read their stuff).

Oh, well! Like you say, education is the key! Onward!

Peace and thanks!

[beam me up scottie]

6. Parents like you are few and far between.

It's too bad, because I'll bet your daughter is already more tolerant and less hypocritical than most religious leaders ever will be.

And because tolerance is not given priority over emphasis on differences like sex, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, country of origin, etc. etc. etc., we have to legislate it.


Would people in the south have given blacks the right to vote because it was the right thing to do?

Would employers hire minorities and pay them equitable salaries if they weren't afraid of getting hauled into court for discrimination?

Would women have equal rights if it had been left up to religious hardliners?

Would immigrants be able to rent houses, apply for jobs and send their kids to school if the neo cons weren't held in check?


This democracy was founded on laws, and we were given protection by the Constitution so that no majority could deny a minority their rights.

If tolerance was given priority and taught before and in addition to everything else, it wouldn't be needed.

[Maat]

7. Exactly!

Well-put.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights are there to protect all, but especially the minorities and the disadvantaged.

Thanks for the encouraging words.

See, people who have various belief systems who are progressives can work together!

I agree with you that liberal Christians, agnostic atheists, people of other progressive religious/church-affiliated belief systems (like myself), and all other progressives MUST learn to work together to combat this dominance of the Religious Reich.

And people like Richard Land, Albert Mohler, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson ARE politcal machines, aiming for a bullying, repressive, anti-gay, patriarchal society, and we have to recognize them as such.

Oh, well, I'll keep trying to call attention to the problem, if you will.

[beam me up scottie]

8. I'm trying, Maat.

I have quite a project, a whole work place full of koolaid drinking fundies.

I'm not bothering with the freepers, they're too far gone, but I think I have gotten through to a couple of the fundies.

A few have actually admitted that the religious right makes them nervous.

Some have even agreed with me when I said that the reichwing doesn't care about god, they care about controlling the lives of others.

Now I just have to get them to see the connection to this administration, who was installed by the Amerikkkan Taliban, and the destruction that will ensue if they are allowed to continue their war on reason.

They have been brainwashed into thinking that liberals, atheists and secular government are their enemies, when in reality, it's the people they have been voting for all along they need to worry about.

[Maat]

9. That's so true.

I think that if a Christian explores some of the more progressively-minded churches, that Christian will invariably be pleased. One is not being judged harshly or restricted. I just wish people would try different churches, IF they feel like going to a church, and quit funding the Bigots.