Religion
Related: About this forumThe War On Religion Does Not Exist
Posted: 03/23/2012 6:40 pm
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy
President, Interfaith Alliance
Apparently, attempts are underway to open a new front in the supposed "war on religion" in my home state of Louisiana as it takes center stage in the presidential primary season. Truth be told, from what I have seen lately, those claiming there is a war on religion are the ones most guilty of waging that assault.
With sadness and disbelief, last weekend I watched as Greenwell Springs Baptist Church pastor Dennis Terry introduced presidential candidate Rick Santorum at his church. Terry believes -- incorrectly -- that America was founded as a Christian nation and that those who don't agree with him should "get out." I have been a Baptist my entire life, and I have been a minister for more than 50 years -- the last 20 in a church in Monroe, LA. I can tell you without question that Pastor Terry's perspective is not authentic to the historic Baptist tradition. Indeed, I fail to see how it is consistent with the teachings of Jesus who invited all people into his presence.
The reality is that Pastor Terry's perspective, though terribly troubling, is not unique to him. Unfortunately, such vicious and exclusionary rhetoric has become widespread across the more conservative branches of Christianity. Equally disturbing is the fact that a candidate seeking the Republican presidential nomination would embrace this point of view. No doubt Rick Santorum is a conservative Republican who relies much more on religious rhetoric than I would like any candidate for public office to do, but until now I had not seen him associate himself with a perspective that tells people who do not hold his view on religion to "get out" of the country. Whether or not Mr. Santorum knew what message Pastor Terry would convey in his introduction, he in the end provided a platform for a discriminatory and close-minded perspective inappropriate for anyone wanting to serve as president for all Americans.
The Republican Party has long claimed to be a big-tent party with room for all and an appreciation for different points of view. It is an idea that many have been suspicious of for a while, for good reason. But this week I was reminded of what none other than Senator Barry Goldwater had to say in 1981: "I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A,B,C, and D. Just who do they think they are?"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-c-welton-gaddy/the-war-on-religion-does-not-exist_b_1375935.html
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edgineered
(2,101 posts)
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)I was raised on a baptist church with God fearing parents who gave much more than they got but was rewarded many times over. I became disillusioned in attending baptist services when the minister used the pulpit for political preachings. I think often "What would Jesus do". There is so little time to teach about Jesus and his love than to waste it on dirty politics. I have left the baptist and now worship in a church who does not try to tell me how to vote but teaches me how God loves me and every one else. I will never lose my faith and will continue to love Jesus.
rug
(82,333 posts)
Kolesar
(31,182 posts)Religions take advantage of peoples' weaknesses and brainwash them into compliance. We should target young people--when they are most vulnerable to coercion. They have a need to belong to something and if atheists can offer a sweet alternative--deal!
We should use ridicule. That was how the Soviets attacked religion and it worked. Then again, there was a lot to attack in that Eastern Orthodox religion. I know. I was one. Think of what we could ridicule in bible Christianity. Their televangelists look like a bunch of hicks who don't know how to dress and they talk like Jeff Foxworthy. Bible fundamentalism is funny. Hey, I believe in everything in one book! I don't know who wrote it, and I don't ask. Rebellion could work off of that.
Good evening
rug
(82,333 posts)Have a good evening.
2ndAmForComputers
(3,527 posts)mr blur
(7,753 posts)
deacon_sephiroth
(731 posts)Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)of Pol Pot, Stalin, or Lenin, its always fun.
LARED
(11,735 posts)He reveled in the group's reputation as the marines of atheism, as the people who storm the faith barricades and bring "unpopular but necessary" lawsuits......
Silverman may have gone a bit further in his rhetoric than he intended. In a thundering call for "zero tolerance" for anyone who disagrees with or insults atheism, Silverman proclaimed, "Stand your ground!"
•Greta Christina, author of Why Are You Atheists So Angry?, attacked every major faith, even the teachings of the Dalai Lama. In a long litany of what makes her angry, she got all the way back to Galileo (overlooking the modern Catholic Church's restoration of his reputation).
Joseph8th
(228 posts)... slanted to make it look like there's no Anvil to go with the New Atheist Hammer. Don't be fooled... the appeaser "weak atheist/agnostic" Anvil is just as resolute that religion will be pulling it's diseased d!ck out of our gov't as the "strong atheist" Hammer.
The days of Christian dominance of U.S. politics are reaching this fever pitch only by the cornered animal syndrome. But much noise makes little heat. We've still got the theocrats cornered, and we're starting to win sensible Christians to our side, as well.
