On the Brink of 'Theocracy'

[Freedom_from_Chains]

President George W. Bush brushed off a question about the role of faith in politics at his April 28th press conference with the innocuous response that "people in political office should not say to somebody you're not equally American if you don't agree with my view of religion."

Perhaps Jr. should impart that view to dad.

"No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." George H.W. Bush, August 27, 1988 Chicago Airport


On the Brink of 'Theocracy'
by Reverend Carlton W. Veazey

Progressives who think warnings about "theocracy" are an exaggeration should take a closer look at "Justice Sunday: Filibustering People of Faith," the Christian Right telethon headlined by Senate Majority Leader William Frist. Envision the carefully designed image that the far-right Family Research Council, the main organizer of the April 24 event, beamed into conservative churches across the country: a political rally from a large, comfortable mega-church in Louisville, with a middle-class audience listening with rapt attention to political operatives who self-identify as religious leaders-and at the bottom of the screen, streaming video with the photos, names and phone numbers of targeted U.S. senators. The visual message was clear: the church is dominant over the state and senators should toe the line on eliminating the filibuster and confirming Bush judges or pay the price.

There is a right way and a wrong way to engage religious voices in the public square. I believe "Justice Sunday" reflects the latter and highlights several disturbing trends. I agree with the Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, president of the Chicago Theological Seminary, who called "Justice Sunday" sacrilegious and said, "The radical religious right turned a sanctuary into a political platform." As a Baptist minister for more than 40 years with a profound respect for religious freedom and pluralism, I fear it will get worse. In fact, I think we are teetering on the brink of theocracy and the Christian Right could conceivably use the battle over the judiciary and weakening support for reproductive rights to push us over the edge. Unfortunately, although Frist has been vigorously, and appropriately, criticized for his poor judgment and political opportunism in taking part in the telethon, the greater problem of sectarian religious manipulation of public policy debates has been minimized. President George W. Bush brushed off a question about the role of faith in politics at his April 28th press conference with the innocuous response that "people in political office should not say to somebody you're not equally American if you don't agree with my view of religion." Rather than give a high school civics lesson, he should have had the courage to disavow the religious arrogance and extremism of "Justice Sunday."

(con't)http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0506-31.htm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. wonder when the rw will realize they are being duped?

Janice Brown is against zoning regs, which means theoretically she would rule in favor of a porno shop that wants to locate next to a church....

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. Oh, wouldn't that be too good

But I'm sure there is a exception to porno shops being next to churches in her philosophy.

[Wapsie B]

3. Well once they'd have their theocracy,

there'd still be the power-grab amongst the conservative fundamentalists. Would the SBC allow a Pentecostal to rule them or vice versa?

[Maat]

4. Thanks for the post.

Actually, Mohler, of the Southern Baptist Convention org, is just plain going off of the deep-end.

And he was recently given some high honor in the Theological Seminary he heads.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

7. Yeah, I've noticed also recently

That some of these guys are starting to say some really bizarre things, things they were previously afraid to talk about but now feel emboldened with the political situation they find themselves in.

And the scary part about it is these guys are being publicly praised by other fundie groups as being "men of god," "standing up in the face of persecution," and so forth and so on.

[Maat]

16. They are overreaching ...

I'm convinced this is all about power and money.

Mohler hangs in the South largely, with his fanclub (so-to-speak). I think that, after awhile, they become separated from reality, in the sense that they certainly aren't debating a progressive face-to-face. Oh, I guess he does do that on Faux News shows, but the deck is kind of stacked in his favor ...

[Maat]

17. I like to study the religious right ..

it kind of goes together with my study of constitutional law.

Yep, I would say that they are emboldened of late.

They are overreaching. It will lead to the ending of their credibility and careers.

In other words, if they are not careful, people will wake up, and the money will dry up.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

18. it kind of goes together with my study of constitutional law.

Yes it does, particularly in terms of the structure, as the founders attempted to embed sub-systems of a sort to prevent a single group gaining enough power to subvert it and hijack the government. What we are seeing is defiantly a test as to the ability of the document to withstand such assaults.

A study in psychology is also helpful in understanding the fundies as the exhibit many psychological defects.

"In other words, if they are not careful, people will wake up, and the money will dry up."

I agree with that, they are at a point where on the one hand they are starting to feel secure and therefore are more willing to talk about what their true beliefs are. Especially among some of the lower level players. However, some of the top players are keeping on top of it, so it will be interesting to see how it works out.

This is one of the things I like about Fred Phelps and why people should listen to him. He is either too honest, or to ignorant to understand the game, but he does express what these peoples true agenda is. If you are unfamiliar with Fred you can visit his site at:

God Hates Fags

[SmokingJacket]

5. Dang... I just don't know what to think.

The theocratic agenda is SO bizarre, so unpopular (as far as I can tell) and so overreaching, that I can't believe it will come to anything. It seems doomed to crash and burn, to me.

Yet. It keeps not going away. They're getting more and more television air time. Exactly HOW much of a danger is this??

Are we going to be a Fundamentalist Theocracy in ten years? Is that at all possible?

Here's what I think: if they get the nuclear option, we're in serious trouble. If they don't... we've held them off for a while.

[mongo]

11. I think you've hit the nail on the head

The most important thing we have to do is protect the judiciary. Or we could be in for 30-40 years of theocratic rule.

The theocrats only make up 20% of this country, but they are the ones that are campaigning for the local school board, on up.

Their colleges are turning out more poly sci and law majors than anything else. We are going to have to contend with them for quite some time.

[Poppyseedman]

6. It is virtually impossible for this country to turn into a theocracy

If I need to explain why, I would not want to waste my time trying to explain the obvious to the true believer who is convinced.

It is self evident why the USA will never be a theocracy.

People who propagate such nonsense either are looking for money or attention or maybe both.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

8. Oh, well please do share.

[Poppyseedman]

9. Why waste my time.

Please explain the mechanism on how the country can be turned into a theocracy first then I will waste my time. Consider

Enforce the theocracy by the military? Never happen.

Enforce a theocracy by passing laws. Pass religious laws in both the house and senate? Right!!! Got that bridge in Brooklyn all set up for you

The citizenship just accepting a government run by a single religious group??? Not everybody is THAT asleep

Go ahead and try and explain how this theocracy will happen

[atreides1]

12. Doesn't Mean They Won't Try

Let's face facts, when has the proof that something can't work ever stopped people who were determined to force the issue.

They may not have the ability to enforce a theocracy, but you've said nothing that indicates that they won't try to create one.

These people are arrogant, and arrogance has a way of convincing people that they can do anything. And in the end if they make the attempt and lose, people across this country will still have suffered.


Therefore, it's better for us to keep the threat in the light, so that everyone can see it!!!!

[mongo]

14. Um laws

The police now uphold many laws that they do not believe in - it's their job.

How many cops think that MJ should be legal, and may even smoke themselves, but will still go fishing for drugs during any traffic stop.

If the local prosecutor told the police to raid my store, you can be sure they would do it, even though I'm sure most of them have no problem with pornography.

The cops will enforce any law that is passed.

[atreides1]

10. Nothing Is Impossible

When the US invaded Iraq, it was thought to be impossible for the Iraqis to put up a fight, but I guess the 1593 dead proved that wrong.

And the Taliban is stil active as well, so you see nothing is impossible, nothing!!!!!

[megatherium]

13. The religious right has lately noticed that the people on the left believe

they want a theocracy. In particular, they've noticed that people on the left believe that the evangelical movement has been taken over by a group known as Dominionists, who are said to believe that the constitution should be changed to make this a Christian nation (so that various Biblical prohibitions become the law of the land). They take this as evidence that the left is paranoid and/or out of touch with reality. Most of the leaders of the evangelical movement, and most of the mega-church-goers would be aghast if the Dominionists really were poised to take control. The truth of the matter is that the Dominionists are a fringe group.

A colleague of mine passed the latest issue of Harper's to me. It contains an article that, yes, asserts that the evangelical movement has been taken over by the Dominionists. (The article is "Feeling the Hate with the National Religious Broadcasters", by Chris Hedges.) He, and other colleagues of mine, see no reason to doubt this. We need to vigorously oppose the evangelical groups on issues such as gay marriage -- but we also need to avoid demonizing them as well. We are all Americans, and when things get really bad (as they will when the war and oil thing comes to a head), we will need to come together. (When the evangelicals realize they've been played like a fiddle, they will come around. There are already more than a few evangelical environmentalists out there.)

[Imperialism Inc.]

15. They aren't going to "come around"

I (unfortunately) know some of the people who are eating this new religion-mania stuff right up. They are not the kind of people who are able to think rationally. Their minds are completely eaten up with this garbage.