Don't miss this national May Day prayer event in 2010 -- info from Gawker.com:
Even if there is an Omniscient Christian God, he probably thinks his followers are stupid for believing in something so ludicrous as an Omniscient Christian God: “Join with Christian leaders of all denominations who love God to humble ourselves, pray, seek the face of God, and turn from our wicked ways—individually and as a nation. This event is not to impress the media or those in Washington, but to reach the heart of God. Publically [sic] repenting and crying out to God for His mercy instead of the judgment our many sins deserve.”
5 comments:
You know Elizabeth, with as much as you critique the right, I am amazed that you're not one of us... You know, a morally corrupt & sinful Lesbian activist. *snicker*
Seriously though, it's truly sad that a great deal of the Ultra-right Christians seem to be so preoccupied with how others live their lives rather than following the precepts of their own religion, especially that little rule...what was it? A yes, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Inconvenient eh?
Truth is, that as I pointed out, in that article you so kindly posted here, the ultra-right in the United States is losing ground rapidly and as such is literally becoming more and more extreme; The "Christiban."
Of course I'm curious, you, me, we..those of us here spend considerable time discussing the U. S. Ultra-right,which begs the question, what is is like in the U. K. on say a topic like this?
Hi Brody, thanks for a great comment.
I like that word 'Christiban'. We don't have this stuff over here, as Tim Trent can tell you. My husband thinks it's because we have a state religion so there's nothing to get agitated about -- we have prayer in the schools, etc., then people end up not believing 'cause they've lived with it so much. I'll get Mel to comment more.
There is no significant right wing Christian movement here. To ask why not is probably the wrong question, as it shares this characteristic with all other European countries.
I can't think of any Christian country other than the US that does have a religious right (although now I've said that you'll probably name some others). So why is there a religious right in the US and nowhere else?
The first amendment? *snicker* Seriously, the Ultra-Right is a fairly recent phenomena in the U. S.
Its roots can be traced back to the old time 'tent' revivals that were being held by itinerant preachers in the American South in the 1920's. The so-called "Golden Age of American Decadence." As the years rolled on, so did their influence propelled in part due to the Great Depression first, and then the second war. At the same time, the American political landscape was being radically altered by a very conservative United States Senator from Ohio, Robert Taft.
The modern Genesis of the Republican Party conservative ideology and platform later codified by Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater in the 1960's traces its roots to Taft.
By the time Goldwater protege Ronald Reagan was elected to the office of President of the United States in 1980, there had commenced a marriage of ideology and similar goals between conservative evangelicals and the centre cadre of the Republican Party. Which also included the newly elected President and a majority of his cabinet.
The popularity of Reagan then coupled with the emerging computer technology and advent of cable television systems into most American homes in an affordable way gave rise to another peculiar American institution, the "Televangelist."
Even old time preachers such as Oral Roberts and Billy Graham latched on to this medium. Of course the most famous examples of the power of the cable televangelists were Jerry Falwell of Virginia, Pat Robertson also from Virginia, and the now disgraced Bakers of North Carolina & still preaching but hypocritical Jimmy Swaggart of Louisiana.
These men also contributed heavily to the finances of the Republican party and continue to do so to this day.
As a result, there's an almost incestuous relationship between the Christiban and the Republican party.
Now, the above explanation paraphrases obviously a massive amount of historical reference and is not all inclusive. But it can lay the foundation for understanding the import of the ideology and its effect on the GOP and the American political landscape.
I find that Americans are almost schizophrenic when it comes to religious matters.
There are no clear cut definitions nor explanations either. Elizabeth, having been raised in the heart of the American Bible Belt can testify to the influences that the modern Evangelicals sway over even small communities and towns. What should be by law, separation of Church and state, tends to be obfuscated by the messages from those pulpits.
You forgot to mention the Family Brody. That is the place where all this crap is coming from. All the rest is just riding on the coattails of Family agenda.
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