Andrew Sullivan: There's so much bad religion right now

[cal04]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57410810/andrew-sullivan-theres-so-much-bad-religion-right-now/

Appearing on "CBS This Morning: Saturday," Sullivan said the crisis facing Christianity was especially bad today for one reason: "When I go and see young people, their image of Christianity these days is one of judgment, intolerance and to some extent bigotry and politics," Sullivan said. "They associate it with one political party in this country, because of the fusion of evangelical and ultra-orthodox Catholics with the Republican Party. They don't see it as the message of Jesus, they don't see it any more as a message of love and forgiveness. They see it as a bunch of people trying to control their lives through political mechanisms.

"Or, if they're in an evangelical church they're also susceptible to things like the 'prosperity gospel,' which is saying that Jesus told you to get rich.

"There's so much bad religion right now in this country that I felt it was important as a Christian to say, 'This is not what I believe. This is not what many of my fellow Catholics believe. We want to return to the message of Jesus and the gospels, not these obsessive battles over contraception or gay marriage or these other, I think, political issues, where Jesus really, really avoided politics at all costs," Sullivan said.

(snip)
Sullivan added, "The current obsession with contraception by the bishops in this country does not resonate with people trying to find Jesus in their lives. It feels like the church is trying to make a power play instead of being [a force for the powerless.]" He also blamed the abuse scandals as creating a rift between the hierarchy of the Catholic church and its followers.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57410810/andrew-sullivan-theres-so-much-bad-religion-right-now/

video at link

[lunasun]

1. But the "" bad religion"" has a lot of followers now

they seem to believe in promoting judgment, intolerance bigotry and right wing politics
It is not just the leaders of these religions
they have a lot of free will followers
if it does not resonate with people trying to find Jesus in their lives, why continue going to church and leaving cash for them???

[longship]

2. Well said. We need more speaking out loudly

Furthermore, this has to penetrate to the public, so we need help from the media. Political blogs aren't going to do it.

Most importantly we need prominent religious leaders to speak out and loudly. Only then will we be able to effectively communicate the madness that has overtaken a major political party.

What a fucking dilemma!

[tabbycat31]

3. This is why I left organized religion

I was raised in a Presbyterian church, and during the 1988 elections (I was 8), the pastor told us that we were going to hell if we did not vote for George Bush (of course I was way too young to vote), but even then I knew mixing religion and politics was wrong. I have not believed since, and refuse to go to a church unless there is a wedding or a funeral (in which case it is not about me, but about the couple/deceased).

[amuse bouche]

4. Bigots have always used religion to

rationalize their hatred

Anti gay? Anti women? Anti equality? There is a place for you in the fold

And let's not forget, child molesters become religious leaders in order to perpetrate

their crimes.