How Christian Fundamentalism Feeds the Toxic Partisanship of US Politics

[cleanhippie]

When evangelicals attack 'the gay agenda' of an anti-bullying event in schools, something is sick in America's religious culture


October 29, 2012 | Mix It Up at Lunch Day is one of those programs that just seems like a nice thing to do.

The idea is that on one day of the school year, kids are invited to have lunch with the kind of kids they don't usually hang out with: the jocks mix with the nerds, lunch tables are racially integrated, et cetera. Sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center as part of their Teaching Tolerance division, it arose out of a broad effort to tackle the problems of bullying in the schools and bigotry in society – and it appears to have been effective in breaking down stereotypes and reducing prejudice. Over 2,000 schools nationwide now participate in the program, which is set to take place this year on 30 October.

You can argue about how permanent its effects are, or whether other approaches might be better, but the idea of making new friends in the lunchroom seems utterly benign. Right?

Wrong, as it turns out – at least, according to the American Family Association, a radical rightwing evangelical policy group. Mix It Up at Lunch Day is, in fact, part of "a nationwide push to promote the homosexual lifestyle in public schools," according to the AFA literature . The program "is an entry-level 'diversity' program designed specifically by SPCL (sic) to establish the acceptance of homosexuality into public schools, including elementary and junior high schools," warns the AFA website. "See if your child's school is on the list."

--snip--

The far right 's fixation on same-sex relationships is so ludicrous that it defines a sub-category of camp. But let's take a step back for a moment. The big question, the one that keeps coming back in every one of these skirmishes in the culture wars, is: why is the loudest religion in American politics today so much about hate?

http://www.alternet.org/how-christian-fundamentalism-feeds-toxic-partisanship-us-politics?page=0%2C1

It is, IMO, the failure of more liberal believers to stand up, speak out, and marginalize the right-wing zealots that is enabling them to have so much power. Sure, there are a few progressive churches and groups that do, but it is the general apathy displayed by not-right-wing-zealot-believers that exacerbates this issue.

If Karl Marx was correct, and religion is opiate for the masses, then one can understand how hard the habit is to kick. But kick it we must.

[byeya]

1. There are more non-believers than Southern Baptists; The majority of adults do not go to a house of

worship once a week.
We are allowing ourselves to be bullied by a minority that clearly is intolerant and just plain can't mind its own business. Our tolerance allows these mental incompetants to have the field almost to themselves.
Maybe the thinking adult population will be able to do everyone a favor by standing up the the fundys and calling them out for their anti-science and ahistorical closemindedness.

[cleanhippie]

3. Well, unfortunately, a majority of the "thinking population" still believes in the supernatural.

The belief that the laws of nature can be, and are, suspended by some all-powerful deity is deeply held by most people in this country.

That belief itself is anti-science and closemindedness. How is this to be overcome?

[hifiguy]

2. Fundy religion/superstition and racism/tribalism are

two of the great curses of humanity. Greed is the third. We either transcend them or perish.

[cleanhippie]

4. How do you differentiate between "fundy religion/superstition" and non-fundy religion/superstition?

The belief that a god can and does suspend the laws of nature is held by fundies AND liberals.

[hifiguy]

5. I just didn't want to precipitate a flame war.

Liberal christian believers tend to be a lot more circumspect about "miracles" or the supposed suspension of the laws of physics and focus on things like the Sermon on the Mount. I've been hip-deep in a couple of Meta flame wars this week and don't need more aggro.

[dawg]

7. The difference is in the willingness to impose one's belief on others.

If I believe there were 7 velociraptors on the ark, that is of no consequence to you. Unless, that is, I lobby to have that taught to your children in science class.

[cleanhippie]

8. Or pehaps the unwillingness to oppose the imposition of one's belief on others?

If more liberal believers took the lead in admonishing it when fundies try to get their agenda into the public square, half the battle would be won, IMO.

[LanternWaste]

6. 'm told, quite often in fact...

"It is, IMO, the failure of more liberal believers to stand up, speak out, and marginalize the right-wing zealots that is enabling them to have so much power..."

I'm told, quite often in fact, that when I do just that to anyone with different opinions, I'm "forcing my religion down their throat." Or is that fine if it's inter-denominational, but not fine with those of no religion? I'm not sure how it works anymore...

[liberal_at_heart]

9. my father keeps bringing this "gay agenda" talking point up

I keep telling him that anti-bullying efforts are to teach tolerance so that the intolerance doesn't spread to discrimination against a gay person's legal rights or to verbal and physical assault of gay people. He believes whatever his church tells him. He's never seen the emotional and physical devastation brought on by such prejudice, so he doesn't understand.

[lindysalsagal]

10. God really effed up.

Creating all those bay and black and muslim people.

Who's turn is it to tell God he screwed up?