Who speaks for America's evangelicals? - Great News For Dems

[EV_Ares]

By Mark I. Pinsky of USA Today:


The answer is not as clear-cut as in years past. In fact, a younger generation of ministers is changing the face and voice of this very influential constituency. With the 2008 election approaching, that’s no small thing. On Sunday mornings, it's now commonplace to see presidential candidates in church pulpits or pews, proclaiming their faith and — not coincidentally — jockeying furiously (but piously) for crucial "values voters." So, with so much at stake, now might be a good time to ask, "Who speaks for America's evangelicals?"

Will it continue to be bombastic, GOP-leaning, Southern preachers, such as the late Jerry Falwell, and strident, hard-line broadcasters such as Pat Robertson and Focus on the Family's James Dobson? I don't think so. From my neighborhood in the suburban Sunbelt, it is clear that a subtle, incremental but nonetheless tectonic shift is underway. And this is more than what Freud called "the narcissism of small differences."

The emerging face and voice of American evangelicalism is that of a pragmatic, politically sophisticated, pastor of a middle class megachurch. A younger generation of ministers such as Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life; Bill Hybels, of the pioneering Willow Creek Community Church outside Chicago; T.D. Jakes, the African-American pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, as well as a music and movie producer; and Frank Page, the re-elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Or, this younger generation might be personified by someone like Joel Hunter, of Northland Church, just outside Orlando. The amiable Midwesterner, who opposes the death penalty, looks like Johnny Carson and sounds like Gene Hackman. He's a regular reader of such periodicals as The Economist, Foreign Affairs and Harvard Business Review.

'We work with people'

Hunter, 59, notes that, with constituencies that must be cultivated in their communities, he and other congregational pastors are quite different from the previous generation of leaders who headed broadcast ministries or political organizations. Groups such as the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition and Focus on the Family "almost demand a more strident tone to raise money or media ratings," Hunter says. "As pastors, we don't have the same pressures on us. We work with people. We know what it takes to be patient and motivational and encouraging." Hunter's star is clearly rising. In June, the non-denominational pastor was tapped to ask Sen. Hillary Clinton about abortion at CNN's faith forum for Democratic presidential hopefuls. He is planning a similar gathering for Republican candidates at his church. Last year, fellow evangelicals chose him to be their voice in a national television campaign for "Creation Care," the evangelical euphemism for environmentalism and the effort to slow global warming.

"Did you know that evangelical leaders are telling us that global warming must be stopped because it will bring more devastating floods, droughts and disease?" Hunter asked viewers in the 30-second spot. "As Christians, our faith in Jesus Christ compels us to love our neighbors and to be stewards of God's creation."

((((entire article @ link below))))

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/08/who-speaks-for-.html

[enid602]

1. evangelicals

They must really feel secure about the number they've done on this country if they're now considering being less bombastic and right wing. I'll not forget what they've done.

[lonestarnot]

2. What's the scripture about destroying the earth. Something about he will destroy those that destroy

the earth?

[Dob Bole]

5. I've done nothing...

Falwell and his ilk are FUNDAMENTALISTS, who adopted the term 'evangelical' when the media began referring to 'Islamic fundamentalists.'

Evangelicalism, a la Billy Graham, Charles Schultz, Jimmy Carter, was a movement that began in opposition to fundamentalism.

[TankLV]

6. If you say so...reality say otherwise...

Fucking Fundamentalists and Fucking Evangelicals are all one and the same - they ALL want to force YOU to follow THEIR idea of "jeebus".

FUCK THEM ALL! There is no such thing as a good evangelist or fundamentalist...

[Perky]

7. wow......this evangelical objects.

But have a great evening anyway.

[Dob Bole]

11. Reality say you should go have a drink, relax, and read an encyclopedia before it's too late.

Really. I don't want you to fuck us all.

[BoneDaddy]

8. totally untrue

They have been evangelicals as long as I have known them... Fundamentalism, although it may have a more modern familiarity with Islam, extends to all of the Abrahamic traditions, but regarding their name, they have been evangelicals.

[Dob Bole]

10. Well, personally I've never known Jerry Falwell...

but in a book I have ABOUT Jerry Falwell, it shows several examples of his magazines with the title "Fundamentalist" on them. They tried to mainstream themselves later, thus dragging down all of evangelicalism with them.

Charles M. Schulz was an evangelical, by the way. You never saw Charlie Brown saying "Gosh Snoopy, let's move to a shining city on a hill" or Lucy saying "damn Jews!" So is Al Gore, and Jane Fonda, and Jimmy Carter, and Jim Wallis, and the entire Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Evangelism is the spreading of the belief. John Wesley was a type of

evangelical, and Methodism was long considered an evangelical movement, within the Church of England, but as the early circuit riders traveled the colonies, preaching and converting, Methodism was born. However United Methodism is most definitely NOT fundementalist! Methodist theological schools and colleges teach modern Biblical interpretation and non literalism, and have been for 50 or 60 years.

Liberal evangelical groups, such as United Methodism, United Churces of Christ and some Lutheran groups focus on more than just a couple of narrow social issues. Methodists may not have "revival meetings" any more but we still have tons of missionaries out there, ministering to the needs of the communities they serve.

It is despicable how Falwell, Robertson, etc have desecrated the word evangelical to the point that many people equate it with the narrow minded bigotry and arrogance of places like Liberty University and Bob Jones Prison Camp, er University. I resent this to the core of my soul as a faithful United Methodist

[enid602]

14. historical figures

And Billy begat Franklyn.

[Divine Discontent]

3. great to hear! n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

4. "Crucial Values Voters", My Ass. Oh, I think it's nice that Evangelicals are re-evaluating.

But this idea that both parties have to fall all over themselves to see who can be more anti-choice, anti-gay rights, anti-separation of church and state and anti-the rights of people to control their own bodies is a

flat out fucking media-spun LIE.

The American People are overwhelmingly pro-choice. The American People think they, and not the government, should be in charge of their bodies, bedrooms, and bloodstreams. (Remember how Terri Schiavo bit the GOP on the ass?) Now, that's wonderful that the Evangelical slice of the American electorate is apparently considering other issues beyond the one or two social ones they have tended to focus on in years past. Huzzah, good for them, and if nothing else, by putting out this kind of unquantifiable noise they're well placed to once again take credit for next year's electoral outcome, when we kick some serious ass. Sure, all credit goes to the "values voters", again. :eyes:

Now that we're done with that, the real important question to MY mind is, who in which party is going to speak for the vast majority of Americans who are socially libertarian? Who is going to speak to the mind-your-own-fucking business crowd? Who is going to come out unapologetically for a woman's right to not only choose, but to get her birth control prescription filled? Who is going to come out and say that $40 Billion a year to keep cancer grannies and Willie Nelson from smoking pot is fucking ludicrous? Who is going to say that it's a travesty that we have pain patients who can't get adequate pain management because their doctors live in fear of overzealous DEA agents? Who is going to say that Separation of Church and State isn't something to be apologized for, it's something to be celebrated? Who is going to say that it's beyond fucking ridiculous to be wasting taxpayer dollars on wars without end, a half trillion a year military-industrial complex, as well as DOJ "wars" on things like consenting adult porn, when our infrastructure (cough. bridges. cough.) is falling apart? Who is going to stand up for the 45 Million Americans with no Health Insurance by coming out for a SPHC system?

People want to talk about where the votes are; with all due respect to newly environmental-minded evangelicals, I think if our party could manage to take bold stands on at least a few of the issues mentioned above, we would have a lot MORE votes coming in.

[Alexia Wheaton]

9. Get ignorance, I mean religion out of the government.

Religion (especially the fundies) is destroying this world. I would not be suprised to see the Democrats bend over for the Evangelical Fundamentalists because the Democrats are to busy triangulating rather than stand for principles.

[Dob Bole]

12. HAHAHA!!! I squirted milk out of my nose!!

I get it! What a jokester!

Seriously though, you should read stuff about world religions, even though it's easier to say that they're all the same.

[Douglas Carpenter]

15. I am certainly NOT an Evangelical myself, but I've known some VERY PROGRESSIVE Evangelicals

Remember most black Evangelicals have been Democrats and progressive in their politics all along.

Now an increasing number of white Evangelicals are getting involved too.

And please remember; IT IS ABSOLUTELY MATHEMATICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BUILD A PROGRESSIVE MAJORITY WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE -- INCLUDING EVANGELICALS--IT ABSOLUTELY CANNOT BE DONE.
BTW -- I am not by any means a religious person whatsover.

Here is one Evangelical organization that has been around for more than 30 years and have grown dramatically in the last couple of years; Sojourners.

Sojourners are actually fairly left-wing; not just progressive or liberal but left-wing

Sojourners





Link for Sojourners

http://www.sojo.net /

link for Sojourners Magazine:


http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.home

Interview with Rev. Jim Wallis (founder and leader of Sojourners) on Democracy Now - link:

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/26/1355204


"The Rev. Tim Ahrens shared Wallis' dismay: "The faith of Jesus Christ has become such a violent and violating faith in the religious right," he contended. Ahrens is the founder of We Believe Ohio, a group of 300 clergy members dedicated to promoting social justice."

"Many Sojourner supporters didn't hesitate to call right-wingers "bible thumpers" and "fanatics," and they criticized the Bush administration for not helping the poor. They gave Obama thunderous applause when he proclaimed his support for separation of church and state and giving teenagers access to contraception. " link:
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/nation/14923089.htm