Influence Of Religious Right Fading, Recession Taking Toll

Center For American Progress:

The recession is taking its toll on the conservative movement, and religious right leaders' intellectual rigidity is helping to put a nail in the coffin of a once-influential constellation of ideas regarding the free market.

Read the whole story: Center For American Progress

Comments

[powercosmic]

In the future, you will all understand (because it will be made plain to you) that Christianity is just a Roman hoax that was designed to rid first century Judea of Messianic Judaism.

Once you look for Jesus, the TRUTH shall indeed "...set you free"

I really like the Passover Lamb part of the hoax, just hilarious! However dark!

[DesertRatzoRizzo]

Memo to evangelical and Pentecostal so-called Christians:

1. Evolution is fact.
2. Creationism is fiction.
3. Intelligent design is delusion.
4. Our planet is about 4.5 billion years old, not 6,000.
5. AIDS is not a curse from God.
6. The United States is not God's most favored nation.
7. Homosexuality is not a choice.
8. I love Jesus, it's his fan club I can't stand.
9. Religion poisons everything.
10. After the rapture, can I have your car?

[felidaeus]

Memo from a non-denominational

1. Sure, why not, evidence shows it is.
2. Don't see why it can't also be fact.
3. A lot of species look very intelligently made, no reason they couldn't be.
4. About right.
5. No, human fault.
6. Technically Israel is.
7. Correlation is not Causation, there is no conclusive proof. I also know a Christian gay man who made a choice to not be in a relationship because he prefers men. He does talks on it.
8. We do try :(
9. Humanity poisons everything.
10. It'll probably destroyed in the crash when I disappear.

[Aesthete]

All that you state is true, but, contrary to popular opinion, I do not think that any of it is in conflict with Biblical teaching. The language of the Bible is spiritual, written to embody and teach concepts, not "scientific" facts. It was never intended as a "science" manual or to be interpreted literally. I recognize that there are believers and nonbelievers alike who both interpret the scriptures in a childishly literal sense and I feel that both are wrong. The only difference between them is that one believes it and the other does not and that neither understands what the Bible is actually saying. There is also a distinct difference between the spiritual and the "religious­."

[Montgriz]

Funny thing is, that "spirituality" argument is usually thrown to the wayside when the Bible is used to "prove" or validate a belief....­Let's face it...the Bible was written assembled from a variety of sources, written by a few people who knew how to recite a myth, or write, and who needed answers for the world they lived in. Sitting around a fire, looking at billions of stars, afraid of each other not to mention the unknown, people in the Bronze age needed such myths....B­ut....it is all superstition with a bit of history...­.the Hindus, Zoroastrians, Iroquois, Kwakiutl, etc all have equally valid beliefs...­.it is all hogwash but it it make you feel good....

[GOPoundSand]

Thank you, God.

[Adartist777]

It's so bizarre. A lot of people call themselves Christians that aren't Christian at all. They are "religious leaders" instead. Many of these "leaders" are snake oil salesmen and businessmen that look for followers (or sheep) seeking answers to their problems.

Real Christians believe in living their lives as Christ would have done. A lot of these yahoos are "money changers" and "power grubbers" that run these churches under the guise of non-profit status. They pay themselves and their families ridiculous sums of money making "pie in the sky" promises, to their mega congregations, that will never happen.

The political right has taken advantage of these followers by promising them an end to abortion (which will probably never happen) and a theocratic democracy.

Religion and politics don't mix. This has been proven around the world and has been the cause of a lot of bloodshed overseas and here at home.

[frantaylor]

I guess Religion isn't the business it used to be.

[Diogenis]

The title of this article should read...."M­anipulatio­n of the Religious Right.....­..! " And even then, I am sick of them calling themselves­....."reli­gious"! They have distorted Christianity.

[Montgriz]

Christians distort Christianity

[ManuOB1]

Iran shows what happens when religion rules. One person's minister is another's mullah.

[PrehensileOne]

I have learned to appreciate the Amish. They don't attempt to use government when the pulpit fails to convince. They read the same medieval mistranslations of bronze age myths that other Christian faiths do, but they don't find the need to impose them upon their non-believing neighbors. They don't infest the airwaves with empty rhetoric and sanctimonious intolerance. They don't run for national office. I'm sure they are just as damaged as Evangelical Christians, but they don't mess with my government. For that I thank them.

[Adartist777]

As one that lived among the Amish and Mennonites in PA, I agree with you. The Amish and Mennonites practice true Christianity and leave politics out of their worship services. Not only that, but you have to prove your faith to them in order to join their church.

The Christian Right has always sought political power in God's name. This has nothing to do with spreading the Gospel, but to control the congregation, politically. It's all about power and has nothing to do with Christ's teachings.

Evangelicals have been used and abused by the Republican party. Everyone eventually votes with their pocketbook or wallet.

[Aesthete]

Hear, hear. I heartily concur. I live near Amish and Mennonite communities. As an African-American, the Mennonites I have known are among the most non-racist, non-prejudiced people I know.

[MRb1000]

Politics dose not belong in church. All christian who read the bible knows this! Republicans exploited christian just like George W. Bush did. He tried to get his father to do the same thing during his reelection and his father decline to use christian as a political tool. His father has higher morals.

[Aesthete]

I have always preferred the father to the son.

[Clayton139]

Church and State is suppose to be Seperate !

[kvet]

Time To TAX all these False Prophet's.­......

No More Free Ride's for these Bat Crazy Power Hungry Fanatic's.

[kvet]

TAX all of them !.....

No More Free So-Called Non-profit Exemption Ride's.

[MRb1000]

YOU ARE SILLY MOST OF THESE CHURCH DOES MORE WORK THAN OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE US AND AROUND THE WORLD! THEIR WOULD BE SO MANY HUNGRY KIDS WALKING AROUND WITH NO CLOTHS ON THIER BACKS. STOP THE SILLY TALK.

[nowarpleez]

Praise Jesus...Ha­llelujah. Maybe there is a God.

[BlackYowe]

Amen the trial is over!

[Montgriz]

maybe...no­t likely.

[MED1025]

excellent news

[Easttexas82]

Just a theory: Maybe the "Religious Right", and by that I mean the Falwell, Dobbs, Reed et al led group that to me was more about power than any real Christian values, was never really that powerful. Republicans won the mid-term in 96. So what? Weren't we all tired of the Clintons by then? And the Republicans hadn't controlled Congress in what? 40 years? It was bound to happen sometime.
Bush won in 2000. He ran as a Moderate! He was the most moderate Republican Governor this state had seen in ages. And didn't do a bad job. If Bush from 2000 was running in the 2008 race, he would have branded a traitor! And lets face it, Gore, love ya, not that great a candidate.
2004......­....Yes, by then Bush was playing straight out of the Conservative Christian Handbook. But was that really the reason he won? If he won? Gore was not the greatest candidate, but Kerry was lousy. And whether we hated or not, there was a war going on and a lot of people did not want to change leadership while it was still hot.
Believe me, the CC movement was out foaming at the mouth this last election. Down here where I live, people where not shy even at the polling places expressing disbelief that any sane Christian could vote for Obama. They still think it was rigged.

[EspritDeVoltaire]

I don't know where to begin, but I can say that I can't see any point you make which is not seriously flawed in its logic. That's why most of us would prefer Texas to secede.

[BlackYowe]

Just a bunch of creepy people who can't handle cultural change they are! They wouldn't know Jesus if he took them bowling!

[NCIndependant]

They wouldn't like him even if by some chance they did manage to recognise him("Who's that? Dunno, looks like some Arab guy..."). His values and theirs don't really match up. Parke Godwin riffed on this very well in Waiting For the Galactic Bus.

[powercosmic]

Well YOU would know Jesus if General Titus, the son of Roman Emperor Flavius Vespasian too you bowling, because they are one in the same.

Just read Josephus "War of the Jews" alongside the New Testament and you will understand.

[peacegurl48]

If religions are going to practice politics then they should be TAXED.

[Tulka2]

Property taxes at least. Yes. Then leave them alone to preach whatever fool thing they like.

[EspritDeVoltaire]

Amen

[BlackYowe]

Amen and amen

[Retrofuturistic]

Religion (especially Christianity) poisons everything.

[Hollywooddeed]

There are actually some Christians who attempt to follow the example of Christ. I think you're talking about the political, divisive, racs.ist, misogyn.is­tic, stunted faux Christians.

[BlackYowe]

Exactly. I know some very fine people who follow Jesus. Martin Luther King Jr. was a follower who done good in this world and gave his life as Jesus did!

[Billy Hell]

I suppose following the example of a myth is fine if you can't differentiate between what is right and what is wrong yourself.

[Retrofuturistic]

Yes, and there were probably some "nice" people who worked at Auschwitz too....

[Montgriz]

Laura Bush was said to be a nice person, a Christian lady, yet she did a hit and run and killed her boyfriend.­....amen.