For all those who complain about the "silent" Christian Left

[Perky]

There is a great article in the WAPO today.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/19/AR2006051901813.html?nav=rss_politics

We are out there; we are getting organized. The three books mentioned are all teriffic reads.


Our Challenge on the left is figuring out whether to build bridges to the Right or to sling mud back at 'em.

Slinging mud is not a particularly Christian virtue but neither is compromising our beliefs because it fits more closely with liberal ideologies.

I suspect there is as much divergent thought on that as there is about DLC and DNC.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Kick. Needs more attention and discussion

Make sure to check out "State of Belief" on AirAmerica.. right now 5:15 PM EDT.

[Perky]

4. I could not agree more.

But then again I think alot of DUers don't undertand how evangeleical Christianity and Liberal politicx can intersect. So insgtead of having a discussion...they blast away stereotypically.

[madrchsod]

2. a lot of liberal christians prefer to lead by example

not by shouting on the street corners.it is time for us liberal christians to take back jesus from the zealots who use his name to enrich themselves. the democrats should figure out a way to isolate the extreme right wing christians but if this board is a cross section i`d say a good 20-25% of the democrats don`t understand this. myself i`m pretty thick skinned but when people put all christians in the same box that does piss me off. but i get over it....

[1620rock]

3. Sling snakes at them...vipers.

[JackDragna]

5. Now's not the time to worry about stepping on toes

The Republicans built their party in modern times by being utterly, absolutely ruthless. You must do the same if you want the Christian left to be a force in politics. Take, don't give. Break heads. These are not people you can reason with or have any cause to reason with you. Show them to be the horrible, greedy, selfish people they are.

[Perky]

7. That would make me a Hypocrite

And I am compelled to be Christ-iike in my actions. It is the harder course...but I personally believe that it is the right one.

[GoneOffShore]

8. I am reminded of the story of Jesus and

the money changers in the Temple. Something about a whip?

Aren't the people who've taken over the label of your faith like those guys?

[Perky]

10. Oh they are absolutely Pharisees...but

a couple of things to keep in mind.

If you believe Jesus was Who He said He was, then you have to understand that Jesus overturned the tables and drove them out not simply because of righteous anger but also because the Father told Him to do so.

The burder we on the hristian Left bearm is that we can not act out of our indignation, we also must only do what the Father tells use to do. If we takeaction out of anger rather than "unction" we are being disobedient, some would day prideful or arrogant and it is doubtful that it would avail much.\

It is not that we surrender...just that we need to undertand the appropriat moment to call folks heretics and pharisees.

[pecwae]

20. That's heartening to hear. nt

[seabeyond]

6. We are out there; we are getting organized

i was talking about this with a friend today. yes i agree. the left is starting to speak out. lets see what happens. totally and absolutely in support........

[Sapphire Blue]

9. Another excellent article from The Nation: Taking Back the Faith

Taking Back the Faith: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060424/wakefield


(Thanks to NativeTexan, who posted it in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2636201)

[pamela]

11. Check this out, too.

http://www.calltorenewal.com/events/pentecost06/index.html

Pentecost 2006:
Building a Covenant for a New America


Hosted by Sojourners and Call to Renewal
June 26-28, 2006 - Washington, D.C.

Join Rev. Jim Wallis and hundreds of grassroots and faith-based anti-poverty leaders for three days of putting faith into action through workshops, Hill visits, inspiring speeches, and music, with the goal of building the political will to overcome poverty! Invited speakers at Pentecost 2006 include Sen. Barack Obama and Marian Wright Edelman, and confirmed speakers include Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rev. Sharon Watkins.

[renate]

12. that first line made my heart skip a beat

I don't know why... it was just so wonderful to see it in black and white, I guess.

"The religious left is back." :woohoo:

I've heard people like Jimmy Carter and Jim Wallis talk beautifully about how real Christianity is represented by the left, but to see their viewpoints acknowledged by a major newspaper felt so good.

If this topic interests you at all, please check out the Interfaith Alliance:
http://www.interfaithalliance.org

[rucky]

13. The Christian believes in separation of church and state...

so it's natural for them not to get involved in political matters. They're using other avenues to help solve this problem.

[Initech]

14. It would be awesome if the religious left could stand up to the fundies

[Perky]

15. Faith shaps my politics...not the other way around.

As a Christgian I am more concerned that they have swapped evangelism for the pursuot of raw political power at any price.

If the Christian Left leads the argument with liberal politic or the right's impact on the political landcaper, rather than ar argument about the shameful and pharisaic way in which they have pushed people away from Jesus, it will fall on deaf ears. Christians must confront the Right on Evangelical ground, not on political ground.

[skyblue]

16. Christian Left - Keep up the Good Works!

I wish you'd get more press! It's just that the Right wing Christians have become so incredibly powerful that sometimes they seem to be the only one's around.

[Gloria]

17. "State of Belief" on Sundays on AAR is awesome....and I'm not

religious at all. Rev. Gaddy runs a great show. Today he devoted the hour to explaining how Richard Mellon Scaife is funding an outfit that is targeting United Church of Christ congregations. He interviewed pastors from mainline churches that had been targeted. They take over and disaffiliate from the main church body. They basically steal the assets along with the congregation. It's very scary!!! It's all about political power in the end.

I encourage people to listen to this show! It's really a great hour.

[Perky]

18. kickety kick kick

[Neoma]

19. Great story.

[JudyM]

21. I attended that Spiritual Activism Conference in DC. Awesome.

It was inspiring, and I'm not a very religious type. What a feeling of solidarity among people of divergent religious backgrounds. And we had dozens of scheduled meetings with our reps in the House and Senate, armed with key talking points about the importance of progressive values. This group, the Network of Spiritual Progressives, is worth a look for anyone who's interested at all in changing the 'values' paradigm that's currently driven by the Religious Right.

spiritualprogressives.org

If anyone reading this is in the metro DC area, I'm forming an NSP chapter - let me know if you're interested in joining!

:hippie: