The New Evangelical Politics »
Posted By gamahuche 1 year, 4 months ago in News
Anyone who still doubts that the evangelical Christian world is going through a political revolution was not watching Pastor Rick Warren 's presidential forum this weekend. The era of reducing Christianity to a narrow set of ideological commitments is over.
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gamahuche
"I would rather be a square peg than fit in a pigeon hole" -
an essay which won me the "Lamb Essay Prize" at the Religious ...
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gamahuche1 year, 4 months ago
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FTA
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"Just a few years ago, who would have imagined that Barack Obama and John McCain would hold a discussion of this sort in a church? Who would have thought that the session would be moderated by an evangelical pastor who was emphatic in counting both the Democrat and the Republican as his "friends"? Who would have predicted that in such a setting, the issues of abortion and gay marriage would not dominate the pastor's queries?
Oh, yes, and who would have anticipated that the passions of the pastor in question would be engaged not in the divisions created by the culture wars but in the imperative of civility in politics and the plight of the world's 148 million orphans? Here's betting that the next president will help some of those orphans find homes.
The notion that Christianity in general and evangelicalism in particular are by nature right-wing creeds has always been wrong. How can a faith built around a commitment to the poor and the vulnerable be seen as leading ineluctably to conservative political conclusions?"-
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gamahuche1 year, 4 months ago
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My take on organised Religion is hugely sceptical for reasons to which I may, or may not refer in due course.
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So to find myself "outside the envelope" and promoting a story about organised religion is a somewhat shocking experience.
I hope that many other readers will be equally shocked by the concept of a Christianity that resembles the teachings of JC. G_d know I am - and especially that it should happen in the USA and especially right now! -
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DropkickaLib1 year, 4 months ago
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Rick Warren is a creation of the media. The lack of appeal that leftist ideology has to evangelicals is evidenced by the massive decline in attendance at the old mainline Protestant denominations such as the United Methodist and Episcopal Churches. The fastest growing churches in the country are actually morally conservative, frequently Pentacostal. Warren's pro-choice stance and other leftist postions are anything but typical of evangelicals. Don't believe the spin.
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Mdiar1 year, 4 months ago
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Despite religion not being an issue for me, I watched this. Both candidates did a fine job- I think I preferred Obama a bit more, in general. I liked his answer to abortion because it very much reflects my own attitude. On same-sex marriage, civil unions are better then nothing, but I'd prefer absolutely no legal difference, even in the name.
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I thought Warren did well, also.
I've not really noticed this "new" evangelical politics, probably because religion isn't a big deal for me. I study it some to get a better grasp of human nature... and exactly what religion originally was. -
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Spadecaller1 year, 4 months ago
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Personally, I am not too impressed with the show. I suspect the forum was designed to benefit McCain and that it was flawed from the start.
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McCain had the questions before he took the stage. Why didn't Rev. Rick not confirm his presence in the "cone of silence," where he was allegedly supposed to have been? It turns out that he was never even in the sound proof room and that McCain added to the misconception, when he commented "I was trying to hear through the walls."
Why didn't Rev. Rick not hold McCain to the same standards that he did to Obama and prevent McCain from his numerous anecdotal digressions?
In terms of civility, pretense, and politeness, I give the evangelical reverend an "A" for "Attempt."
The true purpose of this forum was supposed to give people an opportunity to judge their comments fairly. Being that it wasn't fair from the get go, that was not accomplished.
For those enamored by the charisma of Rev. Rick, I must say that the event did provide him an opportunity to sell his wares to those easily fooled on both sides of the aisle.-
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gamahuche1 year, 4 months ago
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I wasn't in any location where it could be seen. I was more interested in the article for the idea that perhaps there IS some shift in this previously monolithically regressive and ugly-c conservative behemoth.
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Is he right or wrong?
Even for those who are not Christians it would be a more pleasant world if they did try to be on the side of the angels and take the inclusive aspects of Christianity to heart rather than following the money to the sham pretenders. -
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Mdiar1 year, 4 months ago
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Both candidates had three questions ahead of time, and maybe its me, but I thought that Obama did about as well as is to be expected in front of evangelicals. It also isn't difficult to guess the questions that will be asked.
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I think it may have been a time saving measure, to be blunt. Obama went first and the Rev. Rick wanted to make certain that McCain had equal time. Also, McCain actually answered more quickly then Obama did and I didn't notice any hurrying of Obama.
The cone of silence? Yup, also, how did a back stage coin toss determine who went first when McCain wasn't in the building? That's an odd thing I noticed.
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jordan111 year, 4 months ago
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When did that change?>>>>>
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During the Reagan era, more & more evanglicals began entering politics on a local level, then state, then federal. It has been a well choreographed rise to power, & Reagan's initial media deregulation (followed by bush and Clinton) played no small role in their minority voices sewing up the national conversation.
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hamy1 year, 4 months ago
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ppiittuu1 year, 4 months ago
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YO! read my response to "Charlson."
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"just as bad?"
just how stupidly ignorant and blind can you be?!
is your disdain towards christians that bad that you see a moral equivalent !?
you talk about racial and ethnic bigotry? christian bigotry is rampant around this pit !!
AND it is considered a POSITIVE! are you freaking KIDDIN ME?!
wow is all i can say. i fear for this country that schools turn out losers like you... -
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memestryker1 year, 4 months ago
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Thank you, hamy. In addition to being repugnant to an atheist like myself in its own right, patriarchal evangelism sidelines women--just a regression to Paulism. And it's spreading--and people are gullible, and brainwash their own children.
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vor1 year, 4 months ago
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I still do not know a single white fundamentalist or literalist Christian who will even consider Obama. None! Listening to a sermon by John Hagee yesterday it is not hard to see why! He is railing against a fellow Christian from the pulpit. Accusing Obama of deviating from numerous Biblical principles. War mongering and fear mongering to his base. If this is the future of America as he calls it, we are in big trouble. Should we not look forward from a nearly 2000-year old document? Are these people even more reggressive than the Islamists who call for a return to the 13th Century?
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I would suggest to most Christians that we start worrying about the validity of their faith on the day Christ returns...as if that is ever going to come! (LOL!) Don't care to now either one of these guys views on religion. That will certainly not determine my vote. Obama's "faith" has done little but cause him problems.-
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ppiittuu1 year, 4 months ago
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won't consider? how do you know?
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how MANY do you know?
i don't know this john person. but could he be right about obama? have you considered that possibility?
"these people are more reggressive..."
another wow., that's all i can say.
oh my god what a bunch of losers that have responded in this thread. intellectually dishonest and bigoted. if you were more bigoted against christians, wait you couldn't get more bigoted than you already are!!!
racial bigotry=bad. ethnic bigotry=bad. christian bigotry=good.
oh by the way, i would suggest having a nice big cup of shut-the-f***-up. -
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memestryker1 year, 4 months ago
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The more they talk about their faith, the more I want to run in the opposite direction. But most people are indoctrinated and receptive to others who are indoctrinated. It seems to go with the evolutionary state in which we find ourselves. People want to believe, and so they love to hear powerful people say they do.
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Alifix1 year, 4 months ago
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If we believe these self serving Pastors, preaches or whatever we are indeed brainwashed and gullible....Just waiting to sacrifice our money to contribute to the lavish life styles of some of these Evangelicals....Remember the Jim Baker and Tammy Faye era? Add to that the Warren Jeffs disgusting behaviour in the name of religion.......Are we dumb enough to risk our country and our future for someone who clearly is PANDERING TO THE EVANGELICALS? AND ELECT SOMEONE WHO HAS VOWED TO WIN A WAR THAT WAS BASED ON A LIE DOOMED FOR FAILURE.
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lloydm651 year, 4 months ago
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I myself ,a born again believer,and Idon't try to cram it down anyone's throat, but this crap about a change in my faith,I wouldn't take of any of these talking heads seriously they are educated idiots,who don't have a lick of wisdom to go with it.If you don't fear god ,or revere him get ready for real climate change.The democrats drag out the same old tired pundits every four years to cover their ass.The rest of the time its right wing christian this,or radical jesus freaks that.You would think even bashing christians that some of it might rub off on them,don't think so
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Goppy1 year, 4 months ago
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I'm not "Born Again".
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I never HAD to be Born Again.
I've been a Believer all my life.
And the only thing I see Democrats fighting against is the Apparent Perversion of Christianity by Political Operatives.
One could almost deduce from your post that you believe Democrats do not believe in God.
If you believe this ... I consider this thinking proof of a FUNDAMENTAL Truth that you DO NOT believe in the teachings of Jesus and should not be advertising yourself as a proponent of Christianity.
From my Christian Perspective ... the only bashing that has been going on is from Politicized, Bigoted, Hardliners who are on a crusade to Pervert the Teachings of Jesus into a Plank of the Republican/Neo-Conservative Party.
And this happens DAILY ... not every 4 years.
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airwick1944Comment removed: Retracted by user2 Replies
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