Read and/or join the live discussion.
To read and join in the live updates on the panel discussions go to the Progressive Faith Blog Con web site.
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To read and join in the live updates on the panel discussions go to the Progressive Faith Blog Con web site.
“The Democrats’ Unreligious Fringe,” by Gregory Rodriquez in today’s LA Times, is insightful, but incomplete and in one respect mistaken. He contends that the Democrats need not and should not continue to “appease” the “unreligious” minority (22%) of their party. As for the mistake, the problem is not the he “unreligious” left, many of whom are respectful of religion, but those who are virulently ANTI-religious. The latter share with the Christian right the view that authentic religion cannot without compromise be tolerant of difference and progressive on social and political issues. To be un-religious is not necessarily to assume that religion is inherently intolereant and reactionary. But Rodriquez would probably grant that point. What his argument lacks is an awareness that the left must do more than include a “respect for the faith of the American public.” That will not be enough. The progressive agenda must not simply be respectful of faith; it must include among its varied voices those who proclaim a progressive commitment through the language of their faith and, just as important, because of their faith. National grassroots groups like the “Progressive Christian Witness,” “Progressive Christians Uniting,” and “The Center for Progressive Christianity” provide examples of the kind of progressive faith expression that needs to be accepted as legitimate parts of the progressive repertoire. One reason is simply because they exist as a part of the pluralism of the left and deserve to be heard. But, in addition, until the vast religious “middle” (and especially the Christians) can hear specifically religious reasons for being progressive, the rhetorical “vicegrip” of the religious right will not be broken. The majority of Americans are religious, and their votes are influenced by the specifically religious framing of values that they find persuasive. There is a persuasive religious progressivism; it needs to be an upfront part of the progressive message.
I tend to agree Del. Thanks for the thoughtful comment. The full text of Rodriguez’s article can be found here.
As I’ve said in a few places now since the speech and this past weekend’s conference, I think the real challenge is to set out a political vision that embraces the contributions of religious progressives while also making it clear that progressive policies are incomplete when not embraced by secular and religious folks alike.
You’re right to point out that not nearly all of the secular Democratic party is anti-religious. On the other side of that coin, I’d venture a guess that the majority of religious Democrats value the contributions of secular friends and would recoil at the thought of shaming them into reduced activism. Some of the most passionate and persuasive warnings on this note have come from traditional faith-based defenders of religious freedom like our friends over at Mainstream Baptist and Talk2Action.
July 18, 2006
Dear Israeli Government, Lebanon Government, Palestine Government, United States Government, Editors of News papers;
This letter is in regards to the current situation in the Middle East.
I plead with you as a family member of Israeli Jews, as a friend of both Arab Christians and Arab Muslims, as a Christian person, as an American, AS A HUMAN, I urge you Israeli to stop your bombing of the fragile democratic government of Lebanon which had nothing to do with the kidnapping of your soldiers, the killing of innocent civilians of Lebanon who had nothing to do with the plans of evil men. I ask you to rethink what your action towards the Lebanon’s people and Palestine innocent civilians has on the world as a whole.
I ask you not to kill another innocent person. I ask you if not for the teachings of god to stop this harsh punishment, then for the children of these countries who are suffering the most – with lack of food and other essentials. Who in the end will only learn hate from this.
We are suppose to be better then evil men we are not suppose to stoop to their level.
I ask for the elected government of Hammas in Palestine to act like a democratic country and be better then those who harm them and stop the circle of hate! I ask again not for myself but for the children so that they one day can learn to live in harmony with one another as humans. I ask for the return of the kidnapped soldiers who where kidnapped by those who want to harm peace. Because their children like yours are suffering and will only learn more hate from all this.
I ask for Hezbolah to return the soldiers they kidnapped as well, and to stop the retaliation towards Israeli aggressions.
I urge all of you to follow international law and Geneva Convention. I want my country and the UN to step in and do something other then sit by and watch what is going on right now in the Middle East. We talk about diplomacy and human rights but when do we step in and say that we are not just going to talk we are going to act and set an example for the rest of the world?
I understand that one simple man in New York with a Simple letter won’t change the world over night but I would feel un-Christian, un-human and un-American if I did not try.
I close this letter with two teachings I heard when I was a child:
From the book To Kill A Mocking Bird This is what the character of Attucus (the father) says to his daughter Scout to explain why he is defending a man of color in a time when you did not do such things in America
Scout: if you shouldn’t be
defending him then why are you doin it?
Atticus : for a number of reasons, the main one is if I didn’t I could not hold up my head in town I couldn’t represent this county in legislature I could not even tell you or Jem not to do something again”
Scout: you mean if you did not defend him, Jem and me would not have to mind you any more?
Atticus: that’s right, because I could never ask you to mind me again. Scout simply by the nature of the work every lawyer gets at least one case in his lifetime that affects him personally this one is mine I guess you might hear some ugly talk about it at school but do one thing for me if you will just hold your head high and keep those fists down no matter what anybody says to you don’t let me get your goat try fighting with your head for a change it’s a good one even if it does resist learning
Scout: Atticus are you going to win it?
Atticus: no honey
Scout: then why?
Atticus: simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win
And last
“You have heard it said an eye for an eye and tooth for tooth. But I tell you don’t resist an evil person if some one strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other…” Mathew 6:2 New Testament
Sincerely,
Clay Laugier