Religious Right Watch

Understanding apocalypticism

In light of questions (or the lack of) about Sarah Palin's faith, comes this very impressive article on apocalypticism by Chip Berlet. Some highlights:

Many evangelical Christians believe in a rapidly approaching End Time confrontation between good and evil. Many liberals and progressives glibly dismiss these beliefs as whacko, but the believers number in the millions, are just as smart and sane as the rest of us, and act out these beliefs in the public square--shaping policies in the domestic and foreign policy arenas.

Pastor John Hagee believes in the upcoming apocalyptic battle, and Hagee and McCain endorsed each other before press reports (based on alternative blogsites!) revealed Hagee's alarming End Times beliefs. So, let's ask Palin. Does she really believe Jesus is returning in her lifetime as some have reported?
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Apocalypticism can be a drive toward speaking truth to power. Apocalypticism can be confronting injustice. Apocalypticism, however, can be built around demonization and scapegoating.
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I know it's hard to say "apocalypticism," but this is very important stuff. And I think the media has done a gross disservice to America by not probing the depths of these religious beliefs and where they lead different people. I think that if democracy is informed consent, then the media has not informed us. And our consent is no longer informed -- it is misinformed.

This is a must-read article.

"What's the difference between Palin and Muslim fundamentalists? Lipstick."

Juan Coles' piece on Salon.com drives home the point that a "theocrat is a theocrat, whether Muslim or Christian." He notes that Sarah Palin, the "GOP vice-presidential pick holds that abortion should be illegal," which is a view "stricter than that of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Palin's view represents "a literalist religious impulse that resists any compromise with the realities of biology and of women's lives."

Additionally, "Palin inquired of the local librarian how to go about banning books," and then when the local librarian objected, Palin tried to have her fired. Juan Cole:

This is like the Hamas minister of education in the Palestinian government who banned a book of Palestinian folk tales for its sexually explicit language. In contrast, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Our liberty cannot be guarded but by the freedom of the press, nor that be limited without danger of losing it."

Juan Cole then outlines additional examples of Palin's religious fundamentalism imposing itself on governance, just as fundamentalism does in Saudi Arabia and Iran. Cole summarizes:

In light of his more recent disgraceful kowtowing to the Christian right, McCain's animus against fundamentalist Muslims no longer looks consistent. It looks bigoted and invidious. You can't say you are waging a war on religious extremism if you are trying to put a religious extremist a heartbeat away from the presidency.

McCain-Palin Colorado efforts and the conservative evangelical vote

Jeralyn Merritt's article on Salon.com, "McCain and Palin go to Dobsonville," is summarized:
"Fresh from the GOP convention, John McCain brings his Christian fundamentalist running mate to Christian fundamentalist headquarters -- but doesn't mention abortion or gay marriage."

From the article:

How important is the evangelical vote to McCain-Palin? Consider 2004. According to the Pew Research Center, white evangelicals were George W. Bush's largest demographic group, accounting for 35 percent of his total vote. Newsweek reports there are now 60 million white evangelicals in America. Gov. Palin shares their values, and according to media interviews and reports, they are flocking in droves to the McCain/Palin ticket.

Matthew 25 Network responds to Palin's speech

hMatthew 25 Network responds to Palin's speech. (Follow the link. Sign the petition.)

As Christians, we are called to be respectful and loving toward our neighbors, honoring their intentions even if we disagree.  We are also called to be truthful in all things, to "put away falsehood" (Eph 4:25) and refrain from slandering, belittling, or speaking out of contempt for anyone.

Talk To Action on Palin

When Sen. John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate, Talk To Action quickly became an authoritative source for an examination of the religious right's reaction and of Palin's faith.

"David Barton: 'Palin is an easy sell, particularly because of the recent birth.'"

"Dobson and the Religious Right Rally for McCain/Palin."

"Theocrats to Pray for McCain's Death."

"Religious Right is Ecstatic about Palin."

Talk To Action also provides helpful analysis and context surrounding the Palin pick. Chip Berlet looks at Palin's Dominionism,

a tendency among Protestant Christian evangelicals and fundamentalists that encourages them to not only be active political participants in civic society, but also seek to dominate the political process as part of a mandate from God.

Welcome to Religious Right Watch. Before reading today's blog post below, consider donating to the "No On Proposition 8" campaign. Prop 8 would reverse and ban marriages for gay couples in the state. Please help One Iowa counter the Iowa Family Policy Center's (IFPC) $90,000+ effort to smear pro-equality candidates and demonize lesbian and gay families over the airwaves and on TV in Iowa.