The Revolution Starts Here

[OKDem08]

I would like to recommend a book to DU'ers, Why the Christian Right is Wrong, written by my minister, Robin Meyers, of the Mayflower Congregational Church in OKC. This book articulates the pious hypocrisy of the so-called Christian Right and its effect on the political status quo. In it, Dr. Meyers states that the Iraq War is not, nor has it ever been about "us versus them." It is not about freedom versus tyranny or democracy versus tribal fanaticism. It has been, from the beginning, about us and our economic needs. It is about oil and always has been. The real purpose of this war, hatched in the minds of those who believed we would be greeted as liberators and given flowers, came long before 9/11 and the coveted Pearl Harbor moment.

The rhetoric of the Christian Right, which often distorts the views of some evangelicals, condemns both the faith and the patriotism of those who disagree with them. The message is as pervasive as our love affair with yellow ribbons - "real" Americans and "real" Christians support the troops and keep on shopping. SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS really carries an unstated but implicit coda: BY SUPPORTING THE WAR. But what if you support the troops but oppose the war? What if, in fact, you think the best way to support the troops is to oppose the war? That will undermine their mission, critics say. It will send the wrong message and embolden the enemy. If this is the case, then logically speaking, war has become a form of mind control, censoring the possibility of independent thought more powerfully, as George Orwell understood, than any other tool of propaganda. Once a war begins, no matter how misbegotten, can it never be questioned?

This book is one minister's attempt to speak truth to power. It is the beginning of what must become a proactive, systematic, courageous movement in America - a call to nonviolent resistance, to cultural noncompliance, and to social transformation. For three simple reasons, the revolution starts here. The emperor is naked. The flag is flying upside down. And Jesus has been silenced by his own church. I'm only half way through this book and already I want to run out and change the world.

As he ends his sermons every Sunday: pray for peace, go in peace, and love one another.

[dobegrrrl]

1. Careful

He may loose the tax exempt status by talking about peace and love!
:loveya:
The hypocrisy of the right never fails to amaze. Sound like a wonderful book and a wonderful religious teacher. We need more of them!
:applause:

[Erika]

2. I joined the Interfaith Alliance to stop the right wing fanaticism

These people are scary.

[camby]

3. Humans must have a deep-seated need

to be oppressed by ideology. That is the only explanation I can find for the success of the
Christian right. Anyone who actually reads the New Testament knows that Jesus preached a message of LOVE, not JUDGMENT. There should be a special section of hell reserved for those who preach evil in the name of Jesus.

[Arugula Latte]

4. Did you see this thread? Seems like there's an actual movement afloat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2296160