Hijacking Religion

[hyphenate]

The religious right and wingnuts have tried to hijack religion in this country, and use their influence to put through a lot of religious based issues and manifestos.

In some states, creationism is taught, and evolution is not. This will harm students later down the line, if it doesn't affect them right away.

In some states, people are actually using religion to cultivate intolerance of gays and lesbians.

The president is using his "Xtian" beliefs to give more money to religious based charities and ignore those which are secular based.

Asscroft uses his religious views to stifle our freedoms and civil rights. And don't forget draping the statue with its "breast" exposed.

Most "right-to-lifers" will use religion as their tool to justify rioting and condemning "freedom of choice" and killing doctors who work to ensure that right.

Religious nuts are practicing the majority of home schooling, with their doctrine colored by their desire to not teach their children basic science, sex education and evolution.

People like Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggert, Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham and Reverend Moon have far more political pull in Washington under this administration than the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, ASPCA, Humane Society, other environmental and conservation groups.

Churches are ignoring the separation of church and state and providing lists of congregations to the RNC for mailing shit like the bible being banned if Kerry is elected.

Religious groups are burning books or trying to ban them--books like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and other children's fare, which help children enter a world they can not access through video games or television.

Religious groups are constantly trying to influence what we see on television--Janet Jackson revealing a breast is worse than seeing a hostage being beheaded in Iraq. And we must not forget that a blowjob in the white house is worse than all the lies this administration has told, and as a result, over 1030 soldiers have been killed for.


What can we do? I am not personally religious, but I know a lot of other liberals are. What can be done to bring the message of religion back to moderation, and remove it--as it should be--from the clutches of this evil regime?

We MUST do something before November 2, if at all possible. If we do not, and can not, those of us who are moderates in their religion, or any other belief system other than rabid right Xtian fundamentalism or evangelism, will be stifled and there will be no turning back.

[porphyrian]

1. I'm a rabid agnostic.

I think anyone who believes that they know anything about the existance or non-existance of a god or gods is stupid, insane, or full of shit. There isn't significant evidence to prove either stance available to any of us at the moment, and faith has proven to do as much damage as good. Until the self-serving power-mongers of organized religion move beyond manipulating the masses with aristotelean susperstition, guilt and fear, the sociopathic corporate aristocracy will continue to hold sway over the masses despite any reason or factual evidence.

That said, of course I'm doing my part to vote these traitorous pieces of shit out in November. I fucking hate them.

[Dzimbowicz]

4. As a fellow Agnostic

I agree with your statement totally!

[grannyfran]

2. For One Thing...

You support groups like the Interfaith Alliance.

www.interfaithalliance.org

They're people of faith who do not support the fundie positions. They're very progressive and active, not only on the national level, but also on the local level. They attend school board meetings, hold community forums, track legislation and provide local media with a different perspective from people of faith. They lobby Congress on issues such as safeguarding religious liberty, strengthening affirmative action, reforming the electoral and campaign finance process, preserving public eduction and fighting discrimination against gays.

They also reach out to other religious organizations (even the fundies) to encourage informed decisions and to discourage candidates and special interest groups from using religion for partisan purposes.
They're outspoken in their disdain for religious right groups and the policies that manipulate religion for partisan gain.

Those of us who are religious need to stand up for our view of what religion means in society -- whatever our religion is -- and call the religious right on their hypocrisy at every turn. Maybe we should all start wearing bracelets saying, "WWJK?" -- Who Would Jesus Kill?

[wryter2000]

3. Welcome, Granny

:hi:

[Hekate]

6. Sojourner online is great

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.home

One of their articles this month is "Hearts & Minds: Take Back the Faith" ...The best contribution of religion is precisely not to be
a loyal partisan... by Jim Wallis
and "Macrowave: The Machine Ate My Vote"
A previous issue covered the neocon push for empire with Bush on the cover dressed in Roman military regalia.

The founders of this journal (both print and online) are Evangelical Christians working for social justice, and to say that they are troubled by how their religion has been hijacked by extremists would be an understatement. They see Bush and his supporters very clearly indeed.

Just knowing they exist has given me hope that our country can work its way out of this mess. The people of Sojourner and The Interfaith Alliance (I get e-mail from both) are working hard against the toxic polarization that has beset our country, and I've been pleased to periodically forward articles and action alerts from them -- especially to friends who are despairing or wrathful over the influence of the extreme right wing Christians on our government.

Welcome to DU Grannyfran!

Hekate

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Practice your faith

Personally, I help lead the Dances of Universal Peace, a simple form of body prayer that honors all the world's spiritual traditions. All are welcome, no questions asked. So far, we haven't had anyone coming along weirding us out with narrowmindedness. I think it interesting that everyone in our various Dance circles (we lead Dance in different places each weekend) are not voting for Bush.

When I hear people say that they must vote for Bush because he is Christian, I remind them of the saying, "Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing". From what I have studied, Jesus says you can tell if you are His follower by your good works. I encourage people to look at what Bush has done to help the poor, the peacemakers, the meek, and make their own decision on whether his actions are those of a Christian.

Of course this argument doesn't work with those people whose form of "Christianity" is not based on the teachings of Christ. Alas, there appear to be a lot of them.