The Religious Left

[mdklatt]

http://www.slate.com/id/2139365/

Interesting.



According to research by professor John Green, white religious voters made up 21 percent of Kerry's tally, compared to 11 percent for Al Gore in 2000. If you add African-Americans and Latinos, who as a group are also very religious and liberal, the religious left amounted to about 40 percent of the Kerry vote.



IBTHE

[sooneron]

Where did they go?

[mdklatt]

Where did they go?

Where did who go--the religious left? I didn't know they were gone.

[sooneron]

The title says they left.

[SoonerProphet]

I wonder how much of those votes are New England Catholic votes.

[crawfish]

"The Left's hostility to religion is one of the main reasons people who otherwise might be involved with progressive politics get turned off."

That fact is not likely to change anytime soon, and is a BIG reason the dems will have trouble picking up much of the moderate religious vote and will lose the majority of the black/hispanic vote if the repubs find a way to get them to overlook the past.

[handcrafted]

The "religious left" is a rather large group, so it's not surprising that Kerry got a lot of votes from them. Most likely he got a bunch more than Algore because he pulled the Catholic vote. There are a whole bunch more liberal Catholics than conservative in this country.

The "religious left" grew out of the modernist-liberal "social gospel" movement which started in the late 1800s. It combined "de-mythologizing" (their term) of the Bible along with progressive social agendas and the idea that the Church should be in the business of relieving human suffering as a primary focus, rather than spreading the faith. So a lot of ecumenical social relief organizations were started (some of which are still around) which were nominally Christian but secular in practice.

Adherents to the "social gospel" idea can be found primarily in Roman Catholic, Episcopal, PCUSA, United Methodist, and ELCA, as well as the fringe groups like the UCC and the Unitarians.

[mdklatt]

The title says they left.

Ohhh...now I get it. Heh.

[BeetDigger]

Ohhh...now I get it. Heh.


The little hampster falls asleep in the wheel sometimes doesn't it? :mack:

[Rhino]

The "religious left" is a rather large group, so it's not surprising that Kerry got a lot of votes from them. Most likely he got a bunch more than Algore because he pulled the Catholic vote. There are a whole bunch more liberal Catholics than conservative in this country.

The "religious left" grew out of the modernist-liberal "social gospel" movement which started in the late 1800s. It combined "de-mythologizing" (their term) of the Bible along with progressive social agendas and the idea that the Church should be in the business of relieving human suffering as a primary focus, rather than spreading the faith. So a lot of ecumenical social relief organizations were started (some of which are still around) which were nominally Christian but secular in practice.

Adherents to the "social gospel" idea can be found primarily in Roman Catholic, Episcopal, PCUSA, United Methodist, and ELCA, as well as the fringe groups like the UCC and the Unitarians. Or, they're just religious people that voted for Kerry instead of Bush.

[sooneron]

I thought they'd never leave!

[NormanPride]

Or, they're just religious people that voted for Kerry instead of Bush.

We all know this is impossible. God would never let them do that.

[handcrafted]

Oh, and don't forget the Jews. The non-orthodox ones I mean. They're part of the group too.

[Skysooner]

UCC is not equivalent to the Unitarians as "fringe". UCC is much closer to Disciples of Christ.

[Hamhock]

UCC is not equivalent to the Unitarians as "fringe". UCC is much closer to Disciples of Christ.


http://www.stillspeaking.com/about/beliefs.htm

Seems pretty fringy to me.

[Dio]

The DOC never had any TV ads get baned.

[Skysooner]

http://www.stillspeaking.com/about/beliefs.htm

Seems pretty fringy to me.

Not even close to fringe. Just not literalist in their reading of scripture. I have been a Baptist, Catholic (well attended church with my wife), Disciples of Christ and now UCC.

Unitarian is not even a truly Christian religion. It is more of a mix.

[Hamhock]

Just strikes me odd that a "Christian" religion would espouse a sin so much that it makes it into their statement of faith as being acceptable. I also read "persons of all faith" language...don't think Jesus said that.

[TUSooner]

The "religious left" is a rather large group, so it's not surprising that Kerry got a lot of votes from them. Most likely he got a bunch more than Algore because he pulled the Catholic vote. There are a whole bunch more liberal Catholics than conservative in this country.

The "religious left" grew out of the modernist-liberal "social gospel" movement which started in the late 1800s. It combined "de-mythologizing" (their term) of the Bible along with progressive social agendas and the idea that the Church should be in the business of relieving human suffering as a primary focus, rather than spreading the faith. So a lot of ecumenical social relief organizations were started (some of which are still around) which were nominally Christian but secular in practice.

Adherents to the "social gospel" idea can be found primarily in Roman Catholic, Episcopal, PCUSA, United Methodist, and ELCA, as well as the fringe groups like the UCC and the Unitarians.
Not bad, but maybe a bit overgeneralized, like saying that the Religious Right is only concerned with dogma and "personal righteousness" while telling the rest of the World to go to Gehenna (but only because they deserve it, of course.) Wait, maybe that IS the RR! ;)

[Hamhock]

Not bad, but maybe a bit overgeneralized, like saying that the Religious Right is only concerned with dogma and "personal righteousness" while telling the rest of the World to go to Gehenna (but only because they deserve it, of course.) Wait, maybe that IS the RR! ;)


I see the ;) , but I'm just curious of an example of dogma with the RR.

[mdklatt]

while telling the rest of the World to go to Gehenna (but only because they deserve it, of course.)

Ohio (http://www.city-data.com/city/Gahanna-Ohio.html)? Nobody deserves that....

[TUSooner]

Ohio? Nobody deserves that....
Ohhh......
hell !

:)

[TUSooner]

I see the ;) , but I'm just curious of an example of dogma with the RR.
Maybe by dogma I mean Biblical literalism and other tenets of Fundamentalism.

[Hamhock]

Maybe by dogma I mean Biblical literalism and other tenets of Fundamentalism.


I see. An example?

[TUSooner]

I see. An example?
Hokey Smokes, Bullwinkle, can't you think of any yourself !? :D

You must accept Jesus Christ as your "personal savior" or you will go to Hell (or Gehenna, or New Orleans or something)

You must believe that all of the Old Testament miracles are literally true. etc etc.

Drinking is a mortal sin for which you will be punished.
C'mon, go to church or something and learn some of your own. !!

[TUSooner]

Dogma:
1. That which is held as an opinion; a belief, principle, tenet; esp. a tenet or doctrine authoritatively laid down by a particular church, sect, or school of thought; sometimes, depreciatingly, an imperious or arrogant declaration of opinion.
2. The body of opinion formulated or authoritatively stated; systematized belief; tenets or principles collectively; doctrinal system.


.

[Hamhock]

Hokey Smokes, Bullwinkle, can't you think of any yourself !? :D

You must accept Jesus Christ as your "personal savior" or you will go to Hell (or Gehenna, or New Orleans or something)

You must believe that all of the Old Testament miracles are literally true. etc etc.

Drinking is a mortal sin for which you will be punished.
C'mon, go to church or something and learn some of your own. !!


That's some crazy stuff alright.

[Penguin]

Eye for an eye, baby!

[Hamhock]

I forgot the :confused:

[TUSooner]

That's some crazy stuff alright.
I never said those things were crazy. "Dogma" is not necessarily a bad thing, as you can see from the OED definition I conveniently buried in one of my posts.

[Hamhock]

I never said those things were crazy. "Dogma" is not necessarily a bad thing, as you can see from the OED definition I conveniently buried in one of my posts.

I didn't mean to attack you, or even debate you. I was just genuinely curious as to people's definition of dogma and the RR.

[Jerk]

Gehenna was a trash dump in Jerusalem, and is the word that KJV translated into "Hell" many times when Christ spoke. Gehenna was known as the "Valley of the sons of Hinnom" in the OT; where the pagans threw babies into fire as a sacrifice to their god (Molech) Today, Gehenna has been turned into a garden.

And that's all I've got to say about that.

[handcrafted]

I didn't mean to attack you, or even debate you. I was just genuinely curious as to people's definition of dogma and the RR.

Save your breath, Ham. When the liberals tell us that we must ignore sin and what the Bible says, and listen to their version of what they wish Jesus had said, it's called being caring, tolerant and having an open mind.

When we assert our Biblical faith, it's dogma.

:rolleyes:

[Octavian]

Save your breath, Ham. When the liberals tell us that we must ignore sin and what the Bible says, and listen to their version of what they wish Jesus had said, it's called being caring, tolerant and having an open mind.

When we assert our Biblical faith, it's dogma.

:rolleyes:

you're just mad cause Jesus was a socialist. ;)

[jdsooner]

I used to be Southern Baptist (religious right) and now I am United Methodist (religious middle to left). I would say that those on the left tend to emphasize the importance of carring for the poor, feeding the hungry, and doing good works (social gospel). Those on the right tend talk more about the end times, getting saved, and the inerrancy of scripture.

Those on the religious left also believe that women can be ordained as ministers and do not believe that the Republican Party is the party of God. There is more talk about peace and justice. The Southern Baptist Convention actually passed a resolution supporting the war in Iraq and is opposed to the ordination of women. Those on the religious right would also be more opposed to the use of alcohol, dancing, etc. They emphasize that the Bible is inerrant in every area and would have serious questions about evolution.

United Methodist, such as myself, see the Bible as the primary authority for faith and practice, but also see the need for human reason to interpret the Bible. Methodists have four areas of authority: Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience.

A bumper sticker I have seen explains the religious right: The Bible says it; I believe it; and that settles it.

[Skysooner]

Just strikes me odd that a "Christian" religion would espouse a sin so much that it makes it into their statement of faith as being acceptable. I also read "persons of all faith" language...don't think Jesus said that.
I suppose you are talking about our open acceptance of homosexuals. The "sin" you are talking about comes from Leviticus 20 that also states that people committing adultery should be put to death and kids talking back to their parents should be put to death. If you pick and choose your pieces from the Bible, you are going to get burned by the pieces that you choose not to accept. I'm not trying to be accusing here. I believe that everyone should be allowed to worship the way they want to worship. However, I do not waste my time worrying about what others believe. I spend my time at church working with the homeless and feeding the poor (our church is a big sponsor of Positive Tomorrows and our 363 group feeds the poor all year long).