What’s new in the neighborhood?
Faithful Progressive asks: Is the US ready for the Christian Left? And then answers, Doesn’t Matter, They’re Here.
He comments on an In These Times article, which notes:
left leaning Christians have been regularly attracting bigger and more passionate crowds than the Christian right recently. In St.Paul, MN, Jim Wallis had much a much bigger crowd in back to back nights than James Dobson. ‘One of the Dobson organizers came over and told me, ‘If they make us keep focusing on just two issues [abortion and gay marriage], they’re going to lose all of us,’ he says. But some people I know actually take the ministry of Jesus seriously. This can lead to some very radical and even lefty behavior.”
Retired seminary president Del Brown is blogging a book defining progressive, as opposed to liberal, beliefs. He writes, “Christianity did not begin with the Bible. It began with Jesus of Nazareth as he was understood and proclaimed by his followers.”
Catholic Media Report notes: Iraq Diaspora is ‘Humanitarian Crisis’.
Speaking of. . .Eamon quotes the Pope on the Iraq war: “War cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions.”
Quaker blogger, Gathering in Light, just bought a bunch of books for a Fuller Theological Seminary class on emerging church as social movement.
Johnny’s Cache is heading down to the OC for the One Voice to End Slavery event. Watch the One Voice video.
Over at the Christian Century blog, Theolog Debra reads former New Republic editor, Peter Beinart’s book. She writes: “Beinart’s confession to being “intoxicated with the revolutionary potential of the United States†reminds us to be skeptical about notions that the U.S. is somehow an exceptional nation with a exceptional mission in the world.”
Faithful Democrats’ Jesse Lava notes who really supports the troops.
“And so it’s natural that, to conservatives, the phrase “I support the troops” signifies a profession of faith — faith in the mission that the troops are undertaking. It means avoiding saying things that might, in the short-term, be construed as demoralizing. And it means pretending — eternally, one suspects — that this war is still winnable. To progressives, supporting the troops means something far more profound. It means treating them with the love and respect they deserve. It means doing what we must as citizens to protect them. It means honoring the sacrifices of generations past by enjoying our liberties at home and refusing to spill more blood abroad unless it’s truly necessary.”
JSpot praises John Edwards. As does the Rev. Church Currie. And so does Xpatriated Texan, who’s going all the way.
Do you have thoughts about The Evangelical Vote? Well, Street Prophets’ Pastor Dan does and writes, “I wish I could believe that the conservative megachurches are ripe with progressive converts, but the numbers simply don’t bear that assertion out.”
OT or Hebrew Bible? Weigh in here with Cross and Flame, a Street Prophets diarist.
WoodMore Village says fire the AG AG.
Navroz Mubarak 2007. Islamicate notes that “the holiday is now hybrid. Little bit of Zoroastrianism, little bit of Iranian nationalism, little bit of Islam, little bit of 21st century style globalization.”
And finally set your TiVo. The NCC Interfaith blog notes that the Iran delegation will be featured on PBS’ Now this weekend.