Religion
In reply to the discussion: Does there need to be an Atheist/Theist dialogue? [View all]cbayer
(146,218 posts)I heard a good analysis of this problem yesterday on a radio show.
During the AA civil rights era, churches and christians were at the forefront of the movement. Politically active christians were respected and their leaders became the primary spokespeople. To identify oneself as a christian was a good thing.
Then the christian right began to gain power and the whole scenario changed. Now if one calls themselves a christian, there are often assumptions made that put you squarely in the category of being one of them. I grew up around christians who never uttered the words "one way" or even "sin". I knew these other people existed, but nothing about them felt familiar.
That's a pretty radical change over a relatively short period of time.