Liberals, Leftists and Progressives: Respecting those of Faith

[Meldread]

I think this should be said, and yes I realize it has been said many times before. We liberals, leftists and progressives need to be more respectful of those within our own ranks who hold to some type of faith. I've seen it posted other times by those of faith, but I am speaking from an agnostic/atheist point of view.

Not all people of faith are bad people. Yes, I realize it is easy to take out our frustrations on those who claim to hold the same faith as our enemies - and that's what they are our enemies - but we have to realize that they hold the same faith in name only. They agree with us on almost everything, and it is foolish to alienate them especially considering that the majority of people in the United States profess to be of some type of religious belief, mostly Christianity.

We are supposed to know better, us on the left, and yes I am as guilty as hell of it sometimes as well. It's easy to take a pot shot at them, or mock them for something they believe - something they take seriously - and I have no doubt that it hurts them deeply. We of all people should know better.

One of the biggest problems we have in America right now is that faith is being monopolized by the Religious Right, and yet we fail to see the treasure that is the Religious Left - people that want to do (and often are doing) good with their faith rather than evil. I notice now and then Religious Leaders on the left standing up against those on the right and it is my belief that those of us - regardless of whether we believe or not - should lift them up as pillars among their religious communities. We need to give them a voice and help them spread their message. We need to provide the much needed balance against the Right's monopolization of faith.

It doesn't help that every time a liberal of faith stands up that before the right even has a chance to shoot them down we do it for them. Instead we need to offer our support and encourage such people and their groups to continue. We need to help them flourish because ultimately we are all fighting the same battle even if we don't necessarily agree on everything.

I highly suggest that every time we take note of a religious person on the left doing something good, especially if it undermines the fundamentalists that we should all try to offer our support and help them get out their message so others can join them.

Oh, and I am not saying we do not hold the right to criticize those of faith. We most certainly do. I hate the Pope with a passion and believe we should do our best to point out (although respectfully if possible - more for the sake of innocent Catholics than for him) how the man is evil made flesh. (No offence to Catholics, of course, as I know he's your guy - and that he also doesn't really represent how you feel. Thankfully.)