Posted on 05/25/2006 4:57:00 PM PDT by SJackson
The political left is getting religion right. It's like a late-inning rally for a baseball team that finally decides to get some hits and score some runs rather than endure another loss.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is promoting her new book, "The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs." She represents a sudden surge of God and Country books written by notable persons who lean left. Apparently there is permission now for Democrats to be religious and to talk about it, as long they don't shout.
This is a refreshing alternative to the revved-up Religious Right and the Armageddon mindset of our current administration. Consider, for example, "Our Endangered Values" by former President Jimmy Carter, or Kevin Phillips' "American Theocracy," or Bill Moyers discussing religion and American society in "Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times."
We have absorbed the blow from ultra-conservative religion, and now we are hearing from the other side. It's good to know the other side exists. Anti-modern, defensive spiritualities do not point the way to a more humane future. And shouldn't religion, above all, be humane? Albright thinks so.
She does not believe that Jesus was a fundamentalist (whew!). She rejects a literalistic interpretation of the Bible, preferring the radical notions of historical context and common sense when reading holy texts. She acknowledges that doubt exists in even the most secure faith.
She writes, "If God has a plan, it will be carried out." Look out now, that's sounds a bit flighty. But she immediately brings us down to earth by saying we need to be responsible and use our "gifts" to create a better future. From a purely theological point of view, this is about as orthodox as it gets.
I think, however, the timing for Albright's book is unfortunate. She is competing with the premiere of the unorthodox movie, "The Da Vinci Code."
I cannot recall any other time in my life when Jesus got so much publicity. He's everywhere, and now he has a girlfriend, Mary Magdalene. Why religious conservatives are getting so riled up over this movie is beyond me. Voltaire said that persecution makes proselytes. The more haranguing by offended hierarchs, the more converts for the opposing side.
I wonder what effects "The Da Vinci Code" will have on good old secular Europe. Allah, we all know, has pitched his tent in Europe's front yard. Now we have the Holy Grail at the Louvre. Europe overcast skies, intermittent showers, and a worn-out skepticism that hacks and coughs like someone with emphysema.
But Albright emphasizes a living personal faith and public responsibility. A healthy balance. Why sell out to atheism on one side or to fundamentalism on the other? A reasonable faith cuts a path between the two. Furthermore, a genuine faith has a social conscience. This is, perhaps, the most effective point that Albright makes in her book.
Religion in the West is no longer destiny. It depends on personal choice. In our free market religious economy, an increasing number of people paste together multiple spiritualities based on their personal needs. This can result in a "purpose-driven life" in search of self-fulfillment without addressing the world and its messy problems.
Albright presents a reasonable case for a socially conscious and active religious faith, within the bounds of democratic values and toleration. She is a reasonable person writing for reasonable people.
But there's the rub. How does reasonableness play out in world affairs? If her book gets fuzzy, it is on this issue. Can sheer diplomacy overcome militant religious fundamentalism? Albright, the professional diplomat, preaches a gospel of salvation by communication and cooperation.
However, I am reminded again of Voltaire: "Once fanaticism has cankered a brain, the disease is almost incurable." Religious fanatics are not interested in peace or diplomacy. They want theocracy now. We can only hope (and pray?) that they will be continually disappointed.
Meanwhile, we are at last getting religion right from the left.
Brad McIntyre is an adjunct faculty member of the departments of philosophy and theology at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc. E-mail: bmc1952@new.rr.com
In our free market religious economy, an increasing number of people paste together multiple spiritualities based on their personal needs. This can result in a "purpose-driven life" in search of self-fulfillment without addressing the world and its messy problems.
That explains some of the T Shirts I see. I'm so glad Madeline Albright has opened my eyes. Religion, within the bounds of democratic values, you know he wanted to capitalize the D
Brad McIntyre is also a sadly mistaken left-wing crank.
They know they lost their butts last time because so many American's are believers. So they are gearing up for the next election with "religion light" to FAKE out the voters.
I hope the adjunct professor is not holding his breath awaiting the 'fruits' of this great revival.
And there you have it.
Christ didn't mean what He said. The Bible means nothing, and it doesn't say what it says either.
Therefore, each and every person can define morality, sin, heaven, good, evil, hell, and redemption for themselves, in their own way.
_____________________________________________________________________
The Atheists Creed
We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin.
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone,
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.
We believe in sex before during
and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy's OK
We believe that taboos are taboo.
We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated.
You can prove anything with evidence.
We believe there's something in horoscopes,
UFO's and bent spoons;
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha Mohammed and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher although we think
his good morals were bad.
We believe that all religions are basically the same,
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of
creation sin heaven hell God and salvation.
We believe that after death comes The Nothing
because when you ask the dead what happens
they say Nothing.
If death is not the end, if the dead have lied,
then it's compulsory heaven for all
excepting perhaps Hitler, Stalin and Genghis Khan.
We believe in Masters and Johnson.
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.
We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between
warfare and bloodshed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors
and the Russians would be sure to follow.
We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behaviour that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.
We believe that each man must find the truth that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust. History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.
We believe in the rejection of creeds.
"Chance" a post-script
If chance be the Father of all flesh,
disaster is his rainbow in the sky,
and when you hear
State of Emergency!
Sniper Kills Ten!
Troops on Rampage!
Youths go Looting!
Bomb Blasts School!
It is but the sound of man worshiping his maker.
by British journalist Steve Turner
At least that's what they say.
a gospel of salvation by communication and cooperation
Uh, come again? So, uh, one 'discusses' one's admission to heaven now? Gee, maybe if I promise to 'cooperate' they'll let me in? What a crock.
The Left approaches religion by telling religious believers what to believe, which will essentially be the same left-wing social "justice" political program. they simply do not believe in freedom of religion, even for traidtional believers who believe something different. They are the intolerant ones.
Of course, as with political issues, the rabble are too stupid to make judgements on their own. Imagine Madeline Albright, Secretary of Religion.
Cooperation. I vote for you, you vote for me, we get in!
The Left approaches religion by telling religious believers what to believe, which will essentially be the same left-wing social "justice" political program
Leftists believe that they are 'enlightened' and have the 'responsiblity' to 'shoulder the burden' to tell others what the right way is. Any idea that there are some inflexible rules, i.e. the Ten Commandments, is not acceptable, because 'what is a rule for you may be a complete hindrance for me' so we each must strive to 'work together' to find a 'common' ground....blah, blah, blah
The lefts brand of religion will be a politically correct, multi-cultural, multi-religion, slumgullion. Look up the Laodicean church in Revelations to see what happens to this church.
ping
Cooperation. I vote for you, you vote for me, we get in!
You godda vote, I godda vote, all God's chillen godda vote...
Unless of course you believe that Jesus was THE fundamentalist! Then YOU are Taboo!
Did you get a new Ping Button? LOL!
"And shouldn't religion, above all, be humane?"
Well, it s hould be 1/3 HUMAN, if that's what this dork means. Father, Son & Holy Ghost and all that. ;)
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
"Dems Grasping At Straws" Ping!
The Capital Times is busy today.
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