Conservative Columnist: "Religion Is Killing The Republican Party"

Conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, who received piles of hate mail during the Presidential campaign for questioning Sarah Palin's credentials, has written a column for the Washington Post which also seems likely to court internecine criticism. The piece, entitled, "Giving Up on God," makes a sustained argument that the GOP's courting of the religious vote above all has led the party dangerously astray.

As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.

Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.

I'm bathing in holy water as I type.

To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh.

Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth -- as long as we're setting ourselves free -- is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that.

Keep reading.

Comments

[hnealehcn]

I thought church and state are separated. I consider the Evangelist church a third party in this country. They want everybody listen to them and do what they are asked like my way or the highway. They and the neocons selected George Bush and failed very badly. I hope they grow up.

[JShankel]

Poisons everything.

[UltraClassic]

In the words of my teenage daughter, "D U H ! "

[MMJones]

It's a matter of the kind of religion the evangelicals represent. Look, I am a spiritual person, search in my own way... practice gratitude and right action... and I have had, over the years, two former good friends tell me they fear I am going to hell. Why? Because I do not practice the same brand of Christianity that they do. And that's scary... divisive, anti-intellectual, judgmental, and more, ridiculous.

I also had one well-educated, degreed friend tell me that her presidential vote was based on but two factors: Abortion and gay marriage. Period. No intellectual discourse there.

Yep, the GOP has gone down a slippery slope and is doomed.

[UltraClassic]

And it's too bad because there are legitimate issues to be discussed and debated. But religion, abortion and gay rights are matters of choice and should be left out.

In reality, the GOP by destroying it's self has hurt the country and has given a blank check to the far left to run willy nilly. Only blue dogs and moderates will be able to hold the far left in check.

[Blivet]

Abortion, - the decision to have one is certainly a matter of choice. Religion is a matter of brainwashing before reaching the age of reason. But it can be undone through education and can become a matter of choice. Gayness, on the other hand is not a matter of choice. It is innate. But gay or not, religious or not, everyone deserves the same civil rights. That is not a choice to be determined by others votes.

[RitaLouise]

MM, You have expressed my own feelings. I am 80 years 'of age', and ever since I left home at 18, I walked away from anything 'religious'. I have explored many different avenues of spirituality, and have distilled from those studies what is my truth and path to follow. My family was raised to find their own way as well, and while none of them is outwardly 'religious', each one is faithful to his marriage and family, does good works for the community, is gainfully employed and has caused no intended harm to anyone. Without the props of 'religion'. I am a firm believer of the absolute separation of church and state, and feel that every person is accountable only to his/her life, his/her beliefs, and how he/she wants to raise his/her family. They have no business involving themselves in abortion, 'death with dignity' issues, or hatred toward homosexuals. If they would live their own lives minding their own business, tending charitably to the hungry, homeless, and abused population, I am sure their "God" would welcome them to the heaven they envision. But leave me alone! I am happy the way I am, and if I don't qualify for your 'heaven', that is my 'problem', not yours!

[bigjohnstud]

And who do they have to thank for this? The patron saint of todays conservati­ves-Ronald Reagan. Ironically a man who probably saw the inside of a church only a handfull of times. He used evangelicals such as Falwell to get elected. Yes, indeed, Barry Goldwater (a true conservative) is rolling over in his grave.

[ContraEgoiste]

x

Unfortunately for the GOP, the religious~right is now too ingrained into their fabric that they will not be able to root it out without destroying the party, if it can be done at all. They sealed their fate when they entered into that Faustian deal because when they brought them into their fold they handed in a silver platter to these religious quacks the political power that they now wield.

And as usual, the “end justifies the means” attitude of the Republican combined with their “quick bottom line” frame of mind prevented them from seeing what would be the result of their decision. The GOP just thought that they were only annexing this voting block that they could use when needed. Well, the greedy and power hungry evangelical leaders turned that around and by seducing the Grand Ole Party constituents to join their "faith" and posing a religious test and affiliation of their leaders, they turned the tables and it became them who annexed the GOP.

I don’t foresee a solution to their dilemma, other than the Dem party messing up so badly that people will swing the other way. And herein lays the danger, because they are going to be working very hard to bring this about.

Also, so much for the GOP intelligentsia or did they just choose not to speak out about it while it served their purpose.

[ContraEgoiste]

In addition to heavy indoctrination they have dumbed down their party to make their constituents easily herded. This means that the intelligentsia is only going to find themselves in the minority, ostracized and even perhaps with out a home, while they observe their party wonder in the wilderness, with only the option of maybe starting their own conservative party.

I’m not shedding a tear for them tho. Time to pay the piper.

[Capano]

In my heart, I feel the denominational leadership of the Southern Baptist Conference, and the Independent Evangelican Church leaders have forsaken the "Call of God" upon their lives as ministers of His word, and abandoned the ethics of their ordination for their egos, power, influence, money and a seat at the table of a national political party. All the time indoctrinating hate into the hearts of innocent sheep who view them as God's voice to them, and their Shepard... to protect them from the wolves.

I'm an old man, was a Rebublican over 50 years and changed political parties because I'm tired of the lies, deceit, dishonety, and hate mongering of the GOP, its leaders, and the Christina Right...th­ey have ALL lost their way!

[prabbit]

Welcome, regardless of former or current party affiliation! There should be plenty of room here.

[Capano]

For over 20 years Southern Baptist and Evangelical's have preached (from their pulpits) " The Republican Party is the party of GOD"...."i­t's the only Christiain Political party, representing our Christian Values and God's will for our nation." It's still going happening today too!. In the minds of these denominational members, the very foundation of their lives has "FOUR PRINCIPALS": 1. God the Father; 2. God the Son; 3. God the Holy Spirit; and 4. The Repubican Party!

It's scary the comments you hear when you slip into their back pews on Sunday...i­t's like listening to Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity and Coulter...­you can fell their HATE for the democrats!

The COP and Christian Right feed off of each other!

[lobear00]

Let's remember, Jesus himself "Warned" there would be those who will do their dirty deeds! in the name of jesus christ. Jesus also warned us of "False Prophets, for you shall know them by their "Fruits". It is very true how this group has gone against every tenet of the bible, and the "Teachings of Christ.

[midwestblues]

Yes, by their fruits you would know false prophets. Outside they look beautiful and righteous; inside they are ravenous wolves. GOP/evangelicals fit that description.

[psbintl]

This woman is right on!

[UpstateNY]

How smart were the framers of our Constitution when they mandated the separation of Chuch and State and how stupid and reckless are those who don't respect this separation! How a person worships their God (or if they worship at all) should not be relevant to their fitness to serve and yet I don't think an atheist could ever get elected (not to mention a Muslim).

Just think of how much grief we could have avoided this past election if we could adhere to the framers' views - no Reverend Wright, no 'Is he a Muslim?' and no Sarah Palin (take away the Republican religious right and she has no support).

[ynp7]

Muslim stands a much better chance than an atheist.

[Blivet]

There is one in Congress. Keith Ellison. Elected in 2006

[Tom Payned]

As a life long agnostic, I can easily say that I would never take a first look never mind a second look at the Republican party because of their litmus test, no, not abortion, (I'm pro-life, including the condemned on death row, but also believe it's moral implication is way above my pay grade) it's religion. Because I dislike intensely people who claim to channel God's will, believe they alone can interrpret the Bible, (ignoring the new testament and calling on the old Testament when wanting to met out retribution) to basically be "cafeteria Christians" picking and choosing what they like for any given situation. Their embrace of Piper Palin is a perfect example. In the old testament, she would have been stoned to death by her father for sex out of wedlock (No, I don't think that is appropriate) however, they damn Gays because of their take on Leviticus.

Basically, I can't stand hypocrisy.

Religion should be as personal as your love life.

[dwillisno1]

The irony of this is that aside from the damage done by this to the Republican party, more and deeper damage has actually been done to the Church. The Church has lost focus and its purpose and mission. The Church works best when it works to save the world by example, persuasion, and moral leadership rather than certitude. Its about "preaching the gospel" not electing people and changing the Supreme Court.

[BigBagel]

You need a history lesson.

[redstateblue]

Exactly. Thank you.

[sonoffestus]

As an X catholic , I believe the damage to the catholic church was self inflicted. They didn't need any rightwing christian whack jobs to do it. They helped of course, but the catholic church having aided and abetted criminal behavior lost any moral authority it may have once had. The catholic church is a criminal organization plain and simple. This is not a case of "a few bad apples". This is an example of rot from the top down. If the catholic church was any other organization they would be bankrupt, closed and it's leaders in jail. Instead, they go on pontificating about the sins of man and the world. Blah, blah, blah......­..........­......

[hmmmmmer]

Republicans who use religion, like someone would use a spatula to turn meat, are about as religious as dirt. If it suits their purpose, which it has in the past, they will court it and laugh about it as Bush and Cheney did.

What really bugs me is the fact that the religious nut cases are ok with that.

It is what will keep the Republicans in the minority for decades to come.

[auret]

actually it's the other way around... the Republican party is corrupting Christiani­ty...

They are manipulating Evangelical voters into doing their bidding by using abortion as leverage..­.

[dc2nm]

Power corrupts. You see that in most sects of Christianity throughout history. With or without politics, the powerful preachers become corrupted by human greed. Throwing political power into the mix is like throwing gasoline on a fire. But religion and politics have gone hand-in-hand from the beginning of time.

[ContraEgoiste]

No, the brand of christianity the evengelicals represent is a corruption unto itself and an affliction which dumbs downs those they indoctrinate.

And on top of their inherent greed, they were given the opportunity of political power by the GOP, something which they were avidly seeking.

[jdl51]

As the saying goes, you can't rape the willing. Christian leadership is all about tax cuts for themselves so they have convinced their poor (literally) followers that tax cuts for the rich are God's will, that the poor are poor because they're lazy, that if you don't have basic health care it's your fault and that wars are good. All of these things are against the teachings of Christ yet for some reason none of these bible thumpers seems to remember those passages. They're obsessed with the sex habits of others and people seeing them pray in public even though the Christ specifically mentions both of those issues, and not in their favor.

[faust2001]

Religion is killing the Republican Party?
I think I just converted.