BERKELEY: Activists start working on liberal spirituality

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 7/21/5 | Joe Garofoli

[SmithL]

Conference seeks to morph energy into political clout

Liberals have complained for two decades that conservatives misuse religion for political gain, but it wasn't until well-organized evangelicals powered President Bush's election in November that some decided that they had to do more than gripe.

The latest post-election attempt at transforming the spiritual energy of the left into political clout began Wednesday at UC Berkeley, where 1,200 people attended the opening of a conference on "Spiritual Activism."

The goal of the four-day conference is to create a spirituality-based platform to counter the religious right, but organizers are also intending to connect with "religio-phobic" liberals through seminars such as, "I Don't Believe in God, But I Know America Needs a Spiritual Left."

"This is not an attempt to put spiritual words on the old liberal agenda, " said conference organizer Rabbi Michael Lerner, an antiwar activist in the 1960s who is now editor of the Tikkun magazine in Berkeley. "This is about transforming the society away from materialism and selfishness."

After a follow-up conference scheduled for February in Washington, organizers hope to see a spiritual politics caucus in both the Democratic and Green parties in the coming years. They're counting on participants to return to their communities and launch a spirituality movement that is rooted in values that transcend religion, such as eradicating poverty.

One conference speaker who thinks the culture will be receptive to this message is Jim Wallis, the liberal evangelical author of the best-selling "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It."

Fresh off a tour in which 80,000 people attended his book-signing events in 49 cities, Wallis said, "Something is happening out there.

"It will be easy for the religious right to dismiss...

[SmithL]

Except most of these folks don't believe in being Biblically relevant, but rather in being socially relevant.

[headsonpikes]

I remember Jim Jones - he had that Commie/Christer racket workin'!

[mlc9852]

It's San Francisco. Not like it's actually part of the US.

[travlnmn41]

"Liberal spirituality." How's that for an oxymoron?

[Bigh4u2]

"The goal of the four-day conference is to create a spirituality-based platform to counter the religious right, "

Which is totally contrary to the Bibles teaching of 'inclusion' of all people.

You can't be against the 'relgious right' and be 'spiritual'.

[EagleUSA]

It's San Francisco. Not like it's actually part of the US.
------
It is not part of the real world either -- it is our largest outdoor insane asylum, home for every mental case, communist, sexual pervert and the Circuit Court judges!!! California's largest embarassment.

[Alexander Rubin]

This thread already exists. here. Check it out.

[frogjerk]

"I Don't Believe in God, But I Know America Needs a Spiritual Left."

Psalm 53:2

Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." Their deeds are loathsome and corrupt; not one does what is right.

[BigFinn]

it will be most interesting what 'spirituality' they come up with. That would have to be one that embraces abortion, homosexuality and the absence of prayer.

[peacebaby]

The devil is very active in California.

[sure_fine]

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

[ppaul]

1,200 people attended the opening of a conference on "Spiritual Activism"...Jim Wallis, the liberal evangelical author of the best-selling "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It"...Fresh off a tour in which 80,000 people attended his book-signing events in 49 cities, Wallis said, "Something is happening out there..."

Yes.

"They're all under the influence of SATAN."

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Get your MOJO workin...

[mlc9852]

I think you described it perfectly!

[peacebaby]

What are these folks so afraid of? If they don't want to practice a certain religion, fine. But leave those of us who do practice alone. It's really very simple - to me, anyway.

[Disambiguator]

"Do not underestimate the power of the Dark Side."

:^)

[JeeperFreeper]

I think it'll be Wicca, Gaia worship, transcendental meditation, Scientology, etc. that'll be their "spirituality".

[HiTech RedNeck]

I thought this was from Scrappleface.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Good reply. You can't be morally bankrupt and claim to adhere to God's rules. Religion is about rules and self-sacrifice, both of which the Left absolutely rejects.

[T Lady]

When Democrats and other Leftists stop mocking Christianity and start embracing true Biblical values, perhaps they'll make a dent.

...Until then, most people (like myself a former & recovering Democrat) who understand that it's not just about peace and fighting poverty (which LBJ abysmally screwed up with his 'Great Society'), and encouraging irresponsible behaviors ( like pedophilia and other perversions) and coddling terrorist regimes (Iran, Saddam, & North Korea) will continue to flee from the so-called party of love, peace, and no personal responsibility or accountability.

That sums up the 'religion' of the Left in America.