If everyone agrees the religious right is “nuts,” can liberals finally catch a break? | PEEK

If everyone agrees the religious right is “nuts,” can liberals finally catch a break?

Posted by Joshua Holland at 7:02 AM on October 17, 2006.

I’m just looking for some equality here …

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If you're a liberal, no matter what you say about religion, no matter how hard you work to distinguish your healthy, natural and wholly-understandable contempt for a small minority of far-right Christian wackos from other people of faith, there’s always someone who will say, excitedly, ‘See! Liberals do have a knee-jerk hostility towards religion!’

You could be talking about a specific Evangelical who was running an underage prostitution ring from the back of his Guatemalan sweat-shop when found torturing cute little puppies and still you would be accused of harboring an irrational and instinctive theophobia.

The corollary is that, because you're alienating an alleged super-majority of hypocritical right-wing televangelists, you're personally responsible for Democrats’ electoral failures, stagnating wages, Reagan’s “Dirty Wars” and the existence of Paris Hilton.

So, I have a question...

Now that David Kuo, religious right True Believer and former associate of such righteous leaders as John Ashcroft and William Bennett, has come out with the not-terribly-shocking news that mainstream conservatives are in agreement with the bulk of liberal opinion that those who have taken it upon themselves to be America's full-time public moral scolds are "goofy," "insane," "ridiculous" and "out of control,' will liberals finally catch a break?

I'm just looking for equal treatment here. I'd be satisfied if the next conservative to write anything at all about Evangelical Christians were accused of alienating White Middle America™, waging a jihad against Christmas and generally making the Baby Jesus cry.

I won't hold my breath.

Anyway, to remind everyone why anything less than contempt for [hypocritical, manipulative, far-right, scheming] Evangelical Christian leaders [who advocate policies antithetical to Jesus' actual teachings in exchange for a few pieces of silver] is inappropriate; I give you the culmination of 40 years of cynical politicization of religion in American politics.

Behold: God opposing Colorado's minimum wage initiative (click through for video).

Revel in His glory.

Tagged as: wage, minimum, right, religious, satire, god

Joshua Holland is a staff writer at Alternet and a regular contributor to The Gadflyer.

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Both Liberals AND religious fundies are nuts. Both are zealots owned by the overclass [Report this comment] Posted by: mah_favorite_flavor_cherry_red on Oct 17, 2006 3:40 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Liberals are much like religious right fundies--they are both slaves to an ideology that they use to prop up their world, slaves to a dogma that lets them live and follow orders without having to actually think. Same thing goes for conservatives and libertarians. When it comes to cognitive areas such as politics, death, custom, once a human critter has reached a certain age, there are certain areas that they do not really think about. THey may well choose a certain political side based on self interest (with Identity politics, many rightwingers who have some money choose that side because the Right won't adopt progressive taxation; with fakeLefties, many women choose that side because the FakeLeft promises them special laws to give them added advantages in the workplace, etc), that shallow self interest is about as far as they go in the cognitive process. Read Somit's book on Democracy and social hierarchies. Humans are not really thinkers in certain areas. They are evolved to follow the lead of the overclass in these areas. Hence they are highly indoctrinable. Both liberals and fundies are primes examples of this indonctrinability. They are both examples of the ideologically domesticated homo sapiens. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » So I guess you're not human, then Posted by: HeroesAll » I'm definitely not human Posted by: mah_favorite_flavor_cherry_red » RE: I'm definitely not human Posted by: ChickenshtEagle » I am not a socialist* Posted by: mah_favorite_flavor_cherry_red » RE: I am not a socialist Posted by: Techubus » No ... you're a TROLL Posted by: AdamSelene40 » RE: I am not a socialist Posted by: mdruss42 » Oh, please. Posted by: mazel I know what I am [Report this comment] Posted by: outlander55 on Oct 17, 2006 9:59 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] 50 years ago, my parents dropped me off on this planet for "Summer Camp". I can't wait til they come and get me. Some of the people here are scary. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: I know what I am Posted by: oregoncharles » RE: I know what I am Posted by: mdruss42 Bob? [Report this comment] Posted by: Jaja56 on Oct 17, 2006 1:53 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Then you must be a Sub-Genious, criticizing all us pink boys and Bobbies out here. Join my ex-son-in-law; oh, except that he has been diagnosed as truly paranoid. He does say the same things you do, though; he is a mutant freak as well and better than everyone else. Remember to snatch as much Slack as you can so no one else can get it. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Josh, you ignorant slut [Report this comment] Posted by: HeroesAll on Oct 17, 2006 3:47 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] And I say that with enormous relish. Okay, having got the troll-smacking out of my system in an earlier comment, and having defended my inability to respond properly to your post on Evan's post, I'll now have to make good my lapse by saying something here. I think the problem is that somehow, the right has identified themselves as The Party Of Faith, and painted the left as Godless Commies. Ergo, anything the left has to say about the religious is construed as as an attack on religion, whereas anything the right has to say about the religious is painted as more like chastising the flock. This bizarre association would probably get a semi-hysterical laugh from the few liberation theologians remaining alive in South and Central America, but no matter. They're clearly foolish for choosing the wishy-washy New Testament over the righteously smiting Old Testament. They made that grave, and now they lie in it. And the "God hates a minimum wage increase" thing is completely surreal. As a godless atheist I find it hard to believe that any human with more brains than a mollusc could take this seriously, but maybe someone could enlighten me. Could anyone seriously believe that an increase in the (pathetic) minimum wage would make God all cranky-pants? Would Christians really take this seriously? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Josh, you ignorant slut Posted by: mdruss42 Hopefully this event opens the eyes of both sides [Report this comment] Posted by: Techubus on Oct 17, 2006 5:15 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I hope during the revelations that GOP leaders pretend to be Christians to secure votes that the revelation extends to the other side of the aisle. Most on our side saw through it all along, but unfortunately, our powers of perception don't seem quite as focused on the Democrats side. Sure we've done a good job spotting the obvious hacks like Lieberman, and giving him his just desserts, but what about the rest of them? After this election we'll likely see the house switch hands, maybe the senate. Things will improve somewhat, but overall I believe the status quo will be maintained. The leaders on our side are guilty of the same crimes as the GOP. Many of them pretend to have liberal credentials, or middle ground populist credentials, but they are just talking a good talk to round up votes. We need to start judging these people not by their empty hollow words, but by their actions. Their voting records, the issues they really take a stand for, and most of all keeping campaign promises. Even if they are unable to achieve everything they promise, there should at least be evidence that they tried their hardest to follow through. Otherwise, we're just as blind and dumb as the evangelicals who were duped. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] SUCKER BAIT FOR BUSH AND HIS CRONIES [Report this comment] Posted by: SALLY EVANS on Oct 17, 2006 9:27 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD ARE PAYING A DEAR PRICE BECAUSE THE "RELIGIOUS" RIGHT FELL FOR BUSH AND HIS CRONIES HOOK, LINE, AND "STINKER"! NEVER IN HUMAN HISTORY HAS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BEEN SO DEMORALIZED AND ABUSED. THE BUSH TRASH USED JESUS NAME TO DO THEIR DIRTY WORK AND RELISHED THE IDEA. BUT YOU CAN BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT ROBERTSON AND FALWELL ARE ROLLING IN THE COIN BECAUSE OF THE SUCKERS THAT FELL FOR THEIR PHONEY BALONEY! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Josh Vs. Evan [Report this comment] Posted by: oregoncharles on Oct 17, 2006 10:55 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I wrote this comment in response to Evan Derkacz's blog post complaining about the one above - and the comments on it. I'm reposting it here to make sure Josh sees it, and because I think it's relevant here. "To what degree has that developed since 1979 when religious conservatives became organized politically and started tryng to impose their beliefs on others? I'm too young to know the answer, " OK, I'm old enough to answer it. Liberal contempt for the fundies and snake-handlers far predates their political ascension. However, there was little passion in it: just a casual assumption that they were ignorant and a little crazy. And yes, they knew about that attitude. The passion and fear you see now results from their effort to impose their "values" on all of us, and is totally justified by that attempt. They are trying to take us back to the Inquisition and the Religious Wars, and some of them know it. Similarly, progressive distrust of religion is based directly on Western history - the Inquisition and the religious wars again, plus witch hunts, Albigensian Crusade, the real Crusades, and endless persecution and execution of "heretics". I'm with Josh on this argument. First, it was plainly a satirical rant - basically humorous. Second, it was true. It's time for a counterattack on those who try to impose their religion on all of us. The next big question is, How? Please address that one next - and I trust you, Josh, for that one. Evan seems to have a conflict of interest. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Josh Vs. Evan Posted by: mdruss42 see clearly speak plainly [Report this comment] Posted by: wawa on Oct 18, 2006 6:36 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Labels carry baggage that do NOT define individuality I am a PROGRESSIVE Christian I am a social libertarian I am a fiscal conservative I am also a social justice radical who seeks peace by pursuing Justice, by traveling on my dime to Occupied Territory to Report The Truth And I give it ALL away freely on the WAWA blog. so, what does that make me, some kind of commie? "When I feed the poor I am called a saint. When I ask WHY there are poor, I am called a commie"-[can't remember who said that, but I know the feeling] [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: see clearly speak plainly Posted by: mdruss42 » Late bishop from Brazil Posted by: HeroesAll Evangelicals and fumdamentalists are not "nuts." [Report this comment] Posted by: Willy on Oct 18, 2006 7:30 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] First, let me say that I’m a non-believer. If anything, I consider myself a humanist. Second, not all evangelicals and fundamentalists are hypocrites. The immense majority firmly and sincerely believe that God exists and that the Bible contains inerrant truth. By stating that they are hypocritical, devoid of common sense, ignorant, narrow minded, etc., and treating them with derision we confirm their opinion that we, progressives, are against religion, which may be true, but is not a sensible position. And, as the French say, “this animal is dangerous; when we attack it, it defends itself.” One of the principles of the Church to which I belong is that one should recognize “the worth and dignity of every person,” even our enemies. In an article that appeared in the current issue of TIME Magazine, Barak Obama comments on a doctor who, although agreeing with most of what Obama said, was considering not voting for him because, as he said, “Whatever your convictions, if you truly believe that those who oppose abortion are all ideologues driven by perverse desires to inflict suffering on women, then you, in my judgment, are not fair-minded. ...” Evangelicals are becoming disillusioned with the GOP (see the writings of Richard Cizik, David Kuo and Jim Wallis). By treating them with respect and dignity they could become Democrats or, at least, vote for Democratic candidates. Enough said. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] THEY ARE NOT RIGHT! Stop aiding the enemy unintentionally [Report this comment] Posted by: Monde on Oct 18, 2006 7:54 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The brain is a strange thing. It interprets words beneath their contextual meanings subconsciously. You can bet people like Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and all the other disgusting foulness that clusters around the Bush nightmare know that "Right" is a synonym for...what? -Correct. "Right. That's where my keys were..." - Morally upstanding - "She always tries to do the right thing.": - At a 90 degree angle, which, although this is incorrect (as an isometric buckygrid is actually MORE stable) is thought by most builders to be the only way to build a building that will not fall down on people. "Get that brickwork measured to a right angle." Now let's look at Left, which in old French, meant the same thing as the word sinister - sneaky or evil. "Left" always seems to imply abandonment. "Left at the altar". "His lover left him for another guy." Those fellows who wrote the Left Behind books knew what was up with subconscious reference. "Left back" - you failed the class and must retake it. "Leftovers" - last night's stale dinner you're eating because you don't want the food to go to waste. And on top of it all, today, Left and Right as political terms do not even really have the same relevance they had in, say the mid twentieth century. Communism and Fascism turned out to be exactly the same. "Man exploits man" in one, and in the other, it's in reverse. Tyranny on either end. Which reminds me, the other word not to use. Don't call them the Religious Radical Right, or the Radical Republicans, unless you want half the youth and middle age population to think of it as "Cool". There is a LOT less literacy now than in my day - and a lot of kids do not even think of the meaning of "radical" as "extreme". They think of it the Beavis and Butthead way. Call them the Corporatzi. Call them dirty names, they earned them. Call them the NeoCon. But not right. Call them the Wrong. THIS STUFF REALLY DOES MATTER. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » The power of semantics..... Posted by: morticia But religious righties are in Darfur, the Gaza, the Masjiids, the Mount... [Report this comment] Posted by: velvel of atlanta on Oct 18, 2006 9:54 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Read Robert Spencer. Read Martin Luther. Read Kant and the literate philosphers. Read Heschel. Read others. And then your conclusion might be a bit different. I do not blame only the American religious right. At least they have not lynched anyone lately. Nor buried alive. Nor stoned. Nor beheaded. I think about the squeaky clean missionaries who awaken me on the weekends and how if they were in Iran, Syria, Egypt or Pakistan or China they would be arrested and then (borrowing from Saddam's boys favorite toys) raped (if they were attractive women, perhaps) or fed into an industrial paper shredder. If you wish to believe that Islam is a religion of peace, then everyone has been hijacked by extremists. Call them righties, call them lefties, call them fundamentalists, but call them hijackers who have been allowed to perpetrate their religious crimes. But no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, do they? But we ought to expect danger in the name of intolerant religion. We need the right to not answer the door when the missionaries call and not be called names. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» So I guess you're not human, then Posted by: HeroesAll

» I'm definitely not human Posted by: mah_favorite_flavor_cherry_red

» RE: I'm definitely not human Posted by: Chickensh*tEagle

» I am not a socialist Posted by: mah_favorite_flavor_cherry_red

» RE: I am not a socialist Posted by: Techubus

» No ... you're a TROLL Posted by: AdamSelene40

» RE: I am not a socialist Posted by: mdruss42

» Oh, please. Posted by: mazel

» RE: I know what I am Posted by: oregoncharles

» RE: I know what I am Posted by: mdruss42

» RE: Josh, you ignorant slut Posted by: mdruss42

» RE: Josh Vs. Evan Posted by: mdruss42

» RE: see clearly speak plainly Posted by: mdruss42

» Late bishop from Brazil Posted by: HeroesAll

» The power of semantics..... Posted by: morticia

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