In (Further) Defense of 'Religious Right'

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You might be one for whom religious beliefs are not just irrelevant, but baseless. You might be right: myths and a religious fantasy have influenced human minds with larger strength than reality, and the “God” of main line traditions simply does not exist. Most people don’t dare to confront their religious beliefs, opt for the status quo, or become marginalized.
Bishop John Shelby Spong says that “Christianity Reformed From its Roots – A Life Centered in God” “rightly points out that those who seek to defend Christianity’s past are also killing Christianity’s future.” I accepted the challenge of finding the One who may be recognized even by Gnostics and atheists: the Existence! Eminent philosophers and thinkers might give you an idea if this book might be an insightful reading for you (links below). You may look also at excerpts at Amazon.com.
Jairo Mejia, M. Psych., Santa Clara University
Retired Episcopal Priest
Carmel Valley, California
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Grudzen.htm
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Churcher.htm

Jairo Mejia of CA 2:52PM July 24, 2009

You might be one for whom religious beliefs are not just irrelevant, but baseless. You might be right: myths and a religious fantasy have influenced human minds with larger strength than reality, and the “God” of main line traditions simply does not exist. Most people don’t dare to confront their religious beliefs, opt for the status quo, or become marginalized.
Bishop John Shelby Spong says that “Christianity Reformed From its Roots – A Life Centered in God” “rightly points out that those who seek to defend Christianity’s past are also killing Christianity’s future.” I accepted the challenge of finding the One who may be recognized even by Gnostics and atheists: the Existence! Eminent philosophers and thinkers might give you an idea if this book might be an insightful reading for you (links below). You may look also at excerpts at Amazon.com.
Jairo Mejia, M. Psych., Santa Clara University
Retired Episcopal Priest
Carmel Valley, California
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Grudzen.htm
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Churcher.htm

Jairo Mejia of CA 2:52PM July 24, 2009

Why can't all the religious people that voted for Republicans realize that Republicans have no intention of making abortion illegal.
Reagan, Bush 2, and McCain flip-flopped to run for President. Bush 1 said he was against abortion, but would not take any action to end abortion.

Jim of MO 12:26AM February 18, 2009

I laughed at the original article to hear that someone has coined them as the 'American Taliban'. Here I thought I was the only one to make such an observation. I have family that is ULTRA-conservative. One of which attends the UBER-conservative Pensacola Christian College. Now, there, within that gated bastion of flat earth myopia, the students are fed a daily diet of bigotry. One student quoted one of the pastors saying that anything other than Christianity or republican is evil. Upon the countenance of this ignorant remark, I had dubbed them the 'Christian Taliban.' After all, does not the word Taliban essentially mean 'school'? I chided them at the time saying,"If Beelzabub ran on a republican ticket, you people would vote for him just for the sake of voting republican."
As the stats show, a significant amount of fundamentalist Christians did indeed vote for Obama. Did they go rogue and become 'Liberal'? (Now there's a word that is waved around with negative connotation.) Perhaps people are not listening anymore to the rantings of the Hagees, Hortons, Perkins, Dobsons of the world who adroitly use the pulpit as a conduit for political agendas instead of teaching the eternal love of the risen Christ. With the fear, bigotry, and putrid bile that some fundamentalist ministers spew forth from their lips its a wonder why people in this world hate us.
One can clearly ascertain that this mindset is this antithesis of the fundamental tenets of Christianity. Is there anything Christian or Religious to these wolves in cleric's clothing, who willfully accept tithes from millions to court senators all in the name of Almighty God? This makes them equivalent to the Islamic fundamentalists who started all this mess. Theirs is tantamount to blasphemy. Isn't that punishable by stoning according to Leviticus? Forgive me, I digress...
Anyhow, addressing the concerns of nomenclature, I'd be more apt to label them 'Fundamentalist Christian Ultra-Republican Taliban'. Too wordy and much too on the mark.
If they ever got their way, they'd amend the Constitution and impose bad haircuts and cheap suits as de riguer.

Oneofthewatchers of CO 10:47PM February 17, 2009

There are a few problems with the "blame the liberal media" arguement for the term "Religious Right" becoming perjorative.
-First off, the term was coined by a champion of religious conservatism, Jerry Falwell, who thought it was a way to give a positive sheen to his insidious form of intolerance. Which was fully exposed following his post-9/11 rant that we were attacked "because God was angry at the US", and blaming feminism and our "secular ways" - among other "liberal" reasons - for a bunch of psychotic terrorists flying airplanes into buildings.
-Secondly, when those labeled as "Religious Right" take a political stand that seems to betray Jesus' teachings (anti-gay bigotry, tax cuts for the rich, etc), they have often embraced that "un-Christian" approach without reservation, and label any criticism of said policy as "anti-Christian".
So when it has been beneficial, "Religious Right" was a completely acceptable term. But now, when it's become more of an albatross, those engaging in the "RR's" inherent intolerance want to "rebrand" themselves as the blander-sounding "religious conservatives".
Doesn't change the hate, just the label.

Ray of PA 10:12PM February 17, 2009

The religious who cling to the right need to ask their "leaders" some hard questions.
Quick example,
On abortion, 5 of 7 presidents since Roe v Wade have been Republican. The Republican party has always been against the decision.
So with such a majority of control for the last 46 years, the right has presented no legislation to overturn the decision.
Why?
Because they aren't interested in losing such a divisive issue. The Republicans might have to then support some more traditional religious actions to keep their flock. Like feeding the poor instead of rich ranchers and farmers. Or pushing for equal rights.
The religious aren't so "right" in this country as they are misled.

Spudsy of IL 9:11PM February 17, 2009

i agree with the author, and would just like to point out that the only reason that the media has found it necessary to coin these terms is the extent to which the conservative christian movement as a whole has injected itself into every political realm, and has defined itself as a political group that basis its socially conservative ideas in religion. regardless of the disdain which many may have for this movement (please understand that you, too, would be frustrated if a theology to which you do not subscribe began imposing itself on you through the political process--imagine the outrage you would feel if a muslim group successfully mobilized itself and began passing laws mandating the wearing of burkas for all americans, regardless of faith), it is a movement that is, as the author so aptly points out, defined equally by its conservative politics and by its theological underpinning for said politics.

studentoflaw of IN 2:07PM February 17, 2009