Wow! Someone Makes Sense at Talk2Action!
I enjoy reading some of the postings at Talk2Action. It helps me to understand where a lot of the miscommunication lies. It also provides me with a fair look at how some of our fellow citizens perceive the great monolith of the Religious Right.
However, much of it is sensationalism and misses the mark. I don't fault the contributors for that. They appear to be smart, well-read, and caring people. But, understanding something as vast and complex as modern protestantism is no easy task. I think they need more time to comprehend the multitude of perspectives within the modern church. They tend to lump them all into one.
But, I did read one post from a contributor who bears the name "GeneG." His brief discussion involved "Public Displays of Religious Symbology." I think he nails a greater issue in the following paragraph:
Although I don't endorse the public education system or social security, GeneG is correct in saying that we face the danger of a totalitarian state in a way we never have. What grieves my heart is what GeneG emphasizes about religious leaders, "Those who seek power in the name of God condone and even support these policies. They have sold their souls for power, creating idols and forgetting God."
This is syncretism. The church is siding with the despotism of the state for a few pieces of moral legislation and a Supreme Court pick. There is a lust for power, and it is shameful. I hear ya, GeneG!
Fascism is on the rise in America, not a theocracy. This is where progressives are mistaken. The Religious Right (RR) are being used as an electoral bloc. They are granted influence with the Bush administration for the purpose of absorption. But, let the leaders of the RR turn against the war, or systematically criticize the White House, and you'll see how quickly things change.
GeneG has the right target in his sites: unrestrained government. He's also correct in describing the role of religious leaders in aiding and abetting the military-corporate takeover of America.
However, much of it is sensationalism and misses the mark. I don't fault the contributors for that. They appear to be smart, well-read, and caring people. But, understanding something as vast and complex as modern protestantism is no easy task. I think they need more time to comprehend the multitude of perspectives within the modern church. They tend to lump them all into one.
But, I did read one post from a contributor who bears the name "GeneG." His brief discussion involved "Public Displays of Religious Symbology." I think he nails a greater issue in the following paragraph:
Our nation is being stolen from us by degrees through a usurious banking system, war profiteering is an official policy of our government as is the systematic destruction of the middle class, the public school system, our economy, and our social safety net. Our government ignores the poor and the widowed while engaging in the largest redistribution of income in its history. Those who seek power in the name of God condone and even support these policies. They have sold their souls for power, creating idols and forgetting God. We are like Jerusalem, surrounded by our enemies, worshipping false gods, arrogant in our power, and rotten to the core.
Although I don't endorse the public education system or social security, GeneG is correct in saying that we face the danger of a totalitarian state in a way we never have. What grieves my heart is what GeneG emphasizes about religious leaders, "Those who seek power in the name of God condone and even support these policies. They have sold their souls for power, creating idols and forgetting God."
This is syncretism. The church is siding with the despotism of the state for a few pieces of moral legislation and a Supreme Court pick. There is a lust for power, and it is shameful. I hear ya, GeneG!
Fascism is on the rise in America, not a theocracy. This is where progressives are mistaken. The Religious Right (RR) are being used as an electoral bloc. They are granted influence with the Bush administration for the purpose of absorption. But, let the leaders of the RR turn against the war, or systematically criticize the White House, and you'll see how quickly things change.
GeneG has the right target in his sites: unrestrained government. He's also correct in describing the role of religious leaders in aiding and abetting the military-corporate takeover of America.
