Mixing Church & State can Damage Both

[reprehensor]

Mixing Church and State can Damage Both

by James Wellman

A week into the U.S. war in Iraq, I walked by a Baptist church covered in pro-war placards, one of which proclaimed: "Jesus, The Supreme Commander." That sign unintentionally summed up the actual situation: Never before in our nation's modern history has the White House so thoroughly mixed politics and religion.

President Bush does this by proposing that social problems can be ameliorated most efficiently through organizations that are faith-based. And that America's task in the world is to spread freedom because liberty "is God's gift to humanity."

In both cases, the rationale for action is God and faith. Why is this a problem? It poses serious risks not only for democracy and sound policy, but for the very religious groups that tend to be the most enthusiastic audience.

One of the remarkable cultural facts of the 20th century is that American evangelicals won the religious competition. We now know that one-third of adult Americans — more than 50 million — claim a born-again status. Nearly a majority of American Christians can be broadly called evangelical.

more@link

------------------------------

For further reference:

Maureen Farrell: Article III, Section 2 and the Wobbly Wall Between Church and State

Farrell: On a Mission From God

Katherine Yurica: The Despoiling of America

Steve Erickson: George Bush & the Treacherous Country

James Heflin: Their Will Be Done

Jack Beatty: The Faith-Based Presidency

Geneive Abdo: Bible Belt churches putting Bush in more than prayers

PBS: The Jesus Factor

Joe Bageant: The Covert Kingdom

Rick Perlstein: The Jesus Landing Pad

'Rapture' enablers.

David Gates: The Pop Prophets (LaHaye & Jenkins)

George Monbiot : Their beliefs are bonkers, but they are at the heart of power

Theocracy Watch

William Hare: Bush's Dangerous Rush to Theocracy

Rev. Rich Lang: George Bush & the Rise of Christian Fascism

Some antidotes:

R.P. Nettelhorst: Notes on the Founding Fathers and the Separation of Church and State

The Interfaith Alliance

[wurzel]

1. Where there is justice there is no need for charity.

People who talk so warmly of "charity" have never been on the receiving end. In a country this rich the fact that there is a need for "charity" is a national disgrace.