Losing Their Religion
Most people understand that when a pendulum is pushed too far in one direction, it will eventually, inexorably swing back just as far to the opposite side. This is the natural order of things, and it tends to apply across the board -- even to that bulwark of chaos theory, politics.
Is it any surprise then that America's Evangelical Christians, who for the past eight years have been allowed an astonishing level of ascendency within the corridors of power and in the determination of policy, now find themselves all but sidelined in the 2008 presidential race -- literally, a voting bloc without a candidate? Although nothing is -- if you'll pardon the pun -- carved in stone, it would seem that yesterday's John McCain victory in Florida has made his fast-track to the Republican nomination all but inevitable, and that effectively leaves the Jesus-Said-It-That-Settles-It crowd without a seat at the executive table.
I wish I could say I was sorry to see them go, but the truth is I can hardly mask my delight -- and that's what's unfortunate.
I have no doubt that the far-right religious elements won't abandon politics altogether; the most cynical -- or devout, depending on the side of the aisle we're talking about -- would claim that God still has promises to keep, and as such needs his mortal attendants to continue fighting tooth-and-nail to bring his Earthly kingdom to fruition via White House provision. But from here on out, even the naive among the faithful are likely to understand that any lip-service paid to Evangelicals will be just that -- lip-service. There are no True Believers left in the race, only boilerplate politicians pimping themselves for the almighty vote. What's worse, neither McCain nor Obama or Clinton -- whichever Democrat claims the nomination -- has to worry about his or her rival laying absolute claim to the powerful fundamentalist voting bloc, which means that even the tokenism won't be ladled on as thickly.
The lamentable truth in all of this is that the needs of Evangelical Christians don't deserve to be disregarded or downplayed, nor did they ever. Like any segment of the American population -- anyone willing to take part in our supposed democracy -- they deserve equal consideration. The problem, of course, is that for the past eight years they've had those who disagree with their agenda at a monumental disadvantage; the deference they've been shown by the Bush administration, to say nothing of the iniquitous sycophants of the mercifully defunct 109th Congress, has at times seemed destined to turn America into an authoritarian theocracy.
And it's led to a backlash, naturally.
Although the Evangelicals themselves, as well as the far-right contingent in general, may be inclined to hang their heads for now and bide their time -- believing that they don't have a dog in this fight -- that would accomplish nothing. For nearly a decade this country has been held hostage by all-or-nothing, unilateral politics, the prevailing modus operandi of which was to crush the dissenting opinion. It's all but laid waste to the American system of government, causing some to wonder if Jeffersonian Democracy is an experiment that's failed outright.
It hasn't -- not yet anyway.
Thankfully, the Evangelical political juggernaut has been beaten back for the moment. But it will cast a long shadow in its absence and return to fiercely dominate the debate, unless we not only abandon the politics of division and exclusion but go so far as to impress upon the fringes the need for them to meet us in the middle.
If we don't, the pendulum will only swing back, leaving another group of Americans without a voice.
Follow Chez Pazienza on Twitter: www.twitter.com/chezpazienza
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These psuedo people of 'Faith' have been pulling this shit for about 27 yrs- REAGAN and the God damned "Moral Majority".
I don't give a shit about someones 'religious' affliation- It's not like they've been tested and earn a certificate- It Proves and Means Nothing to anyone else but yourself. Your Religion grants you NO CARTE BLANC, NO POWER OVER ME!
I'll know Who you are and What you are when I hear your words and witness your actions- Your Brand Labels are Irrelevant!
Dear Mr. Pazienza;
you say that "unless we not only abandon the politics of division and exclusion but go so far as to impress upon the fringes the need for them to meet us in the middle." we will see the same problems again. Where do you see the middle?
The Religious Right has demonstrated beyond a doubt that it has no use for democracy. I think now that they are down we should finish them off once and for all.
no, the southern baptist evangelicals just have to accept that mormons are christians also and aren't necessarily demon worshipping swine like they believe the catholics.
i challenge anyone to compare the delegates won in caucus states and those won in machine count states.
this will be a brokered convention:
romney, mccain, paul
what is to broker between obama and clinton?
"I wish I could say I was sorry to see them go, but the truth is I can hardly mask my delight -- and that's what's unfortunat
Unfortunate? No. It's about time that the "faith based" segment of the population step aside and give the rest of us a chance to undo the damage they've caused.
I could not be happier to see that we won't be at risk for a President Huckabee or a President Giuliani. I could not be happier to see Bush's "faith based" social programs collapse in failure. I could not be happier to see fewer and fewer theocrats in positions of power where they threaten the rights and freedom of everyone.
"The lamentable truth in all of this is that the needs of Evangelical Christians don't deserve to be disregarded or downplayed, nor did they ever. Like any segment of the American population -- anyone willing to take part in our supposed democracy -- they deserve equal considerat
Haven't the Evangelicals and their agents in Washington disregarded and downplayed the needs of other Americans? Particularly so in regards to their Enemy #1: the gay and lesbian community. Religious fundamentalists have pulled out all the stops in their efforts to amend state constitutions to deny gays and lesbians equal protection under the law. They are pushing hard for an amendment to the US Constitution to do the same. It's time that the Evangelicals stood on the sideline for a change.
What you ignore about the Evangelical crowd is that by the very nature of their religion, they can only be the 'my way or the highway' contingent. Their faith is their unshakeable unchangeable bedrock, and once they start compromising on ANYTHING, their faith has become pointless. Never give the faithful an inch, because their superstition is powerful, and they will fight every last inch for it.
Imagine my surprise to learn that, as a Christian, I belong to a monolithic group that votes and advocates in the same way. I think this author is overlooking something. There is a crumbling in Christian circles of the idea that to be Christian is to be right-wing. The National Assoc. of Evangelicals is now working against global warming. We are seeing other groups stand against the death penalty. Jim Wallis and Sojourners are working and marching against the War. Other evangelicals are working to alleviate world hunger. So, Huckabee isn't necessary the choice of us who believe that "Jesus said it, we try to do it." I know this frustrates Focus on the Family and other hard-line groups, but there it is. It isn't that the evangelicals are loosing political power so much as evangelicals are changing their ideas. So I have worked for Obama since marching against the War with other Christians last March.
The so-called "middle" that's being discussed as a meeting ground is, unfortunately, has been moved so far to the right that anything even remotely fair would be perceived as far, far too liberal.
The kind of realignment that's necessary isn't going to happen unless reasonable, centrist politicians refuse utterly to compromise with right wing zealots and neo-fascists.
And let's recall that the Jesus addicts aren't all that likely to compromise in any real sense of the word. After all, they're utterly certain that they're right.
Okay, the Religious Right has a right to be heard.
And, after eight years of other voices being drowned out by the Theo-Con cacophony, we can now look forward to hearing other voices, as well. I will not miss the pandering, posturing and blatant ass-kissing by politicians looking to add these people to their vote total.
[sits back, waits for bible-thumpers to get all up in arms over Chez's post]
As my fiance says..."no
Though the ascendancy of the devout in the halls of power is cyclical I suspect that it is somewhat dependent on a peculiar confluence of circumstances. The reverse swing of the pendulum, as the leading blog here so aptly describes it, occurs when the bloc of the devout is fragmented by a variety of possible causes, most often being the underlying class struggle which will usurp of supplant it each and every time.
I suspect that is the primary cause though shock, alarm and fear over fundamentalist over-reaching plays a major part.
I write about this in my blog. Perhaps a few here might find it interesting:
http://ppa
Best...
Delighted to read that someone on this website has an inkling about the ying/yang of Hegelian politics in America. The fundamentalists appear to be clueless, not to mention stony hearts when it comes to the critical issues of social justice. Thankfully, it appears that some of the people seeking the highest office in our land have had time in the trenches to search their souls. Where they stand today can only be judged by the fruit they bear.
So why did Huff post post an article saying Huckabee is both Romney and McCain's #1 choice fo rVP? Of course they will pick a very Christian type as VP.
Don't know about you, punkin, but I would NOT consider them disadvantaged for not having a candidate.
If I told someone, "I believe that pink daisies hold up our flat Earth, and that one day Nymphs are going to rain from the sky to appease Idun the Apple-bringer - NOW PASS THIS BILL AND THIS BILL," a logical person would say, "You're stinking, barking MAD! Piss off."
What is the difference with Xtianity or Judaism or Wicca or any of that folderol???
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