God's politics
I have just started reading God's Politics by Jim Wallis, and just from the introduction I would recommend this book. I have already started a subscription to Sojourner magazine.
This is a book about the two things people are not supposed to discuss - religion and politics. It is not a partisan book, and is frustrated with the Democrats for losing any religious voice as it is annoyed with the Republicans for being coopted by the Religious Right. I am sure I will have more and more to say as I get into this book, but let me first bring out this message from the introduction, which was part of an advertising campaign during the 2004 election.
God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat.
(A couple of obnoxious quotes from Falwell and Robertson)
These leaders of the Religious Right mistakenly claim that God has taken a side in this election, and that Christians should only vote for George W. Bush.
We are not single issue voters.
We believe that poverty - caring for the poor and vulnerable - is a religious issue.
We believe that the environment - caring for God's earth - is a religious issue.
We believe that war - and our call to be peacemakers - is a religious issue.
We believe that truth-telling is a religious issue.
We believe that human rights - respecting the image of God in every person - is a religious issue.
We believe that our response to terrorism is a religious issue.
We believe that a consistent ethic of human life is a religious issue.
Under most of these statements are short paragraphs explaining them. I would encourage you to read this whole book. But in the list of religious issues, I am reminded of a story I have read about Dorothy Day, who worked tirelessly for Catholic charities. She didn't pay taxes, and she was challenged on this during a debate, for even Jesus said we should render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's. Day replied "If we truly rendered unto God all that was God's, there wouldn't be anything left for Caesar."
I truly believe that the Democratic party must reclaim its natural allies within progressive religion, especially the Catholics that have moved to the Republican party because of the abortion issue. This issue need not be as divisive as it is. But that is a topic for another - longer and more emotional - post.
But now Katie is back from playing with friends, so I am due for a checkers game.
posted by Curtis Ruder @ 6:07 PM
1 Comments:
It is an interesting dichotomy. In politics, it doesn't much matter what one's religion is. The proof is in the actions of the politician. I don't care if s/he is a Christian, Muslim, athiest, or whatever. What is important is how their view of the world influences who and how they will serve in their office.
But what I like is the broader view of the interaction of religion and politics. The religious right has hijacked debate to the point that when you mention values, all that come up is abortion and gay marriage. "Values" need to include all of the things talked about in this thread and throughout the book.
Again, I don't care what a politician's motivation is for fighting the good fight. What I have a hard time stomaching is the bad theology that has impelled this administration to do things so diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus and do them under a Christian banner.
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