Thirty years ago, people who would rant publicly about the "end of days" or literal interpretations of the bible were dismissed as either ignorant or mentally ill. The TV or radio preachers were acknowledged as charlatans preying on the weak minded and elderly.
This is from my experiences here in the South... in the belly of the "Bible Belt."
Five years ago, I was a project manager for glass company and would have to go into many different churches to estimate or oversee construction projects as so many of the churches down here are trying to build glass and steel monuments to who knows what. Many were filled with posters denoting "Christian Soldiers" as they marched into war that were very reminiscent of WWII Nazi youth posters. Young, blond and determined, the illustrated ideal young Christian was rushing into some unknown battle carrying a bible thrust out as if it would smite down his enemies and protect him from harm. Other churches (the ones with more money) had huge glass AV rooms and some of the most conspicuous consumption I have ever seen (the materials and costs would make the richest bank blanch).
Don't get me wrong, I made a ton of money off these people. We weren't cheap. Our quality was known, so these people didn't shop around. They wanted the best. They were unbelievably proud... And all this time I thought pride was a sin.
I digress.
Today, we have certain factions of "Christians" brokering for political power in herculean effort never before seen in this country. We have seen bombs kill and maim Americans by Americans with the blessings of many so-called congregations.
Today, the gap and hostility between the growing uber conservative "Christians" as they pressure Bush for laws and appointments and cry that they are discriminated against.
Today, right here at DU, the number of posts about the building tensions between the sectarian and non-sectarian have been increasing exponentially. Feathers have been ruffled on both sides. If it is happening here among Friends, you can only imagine what it is like out there in the real world.
Today, the snake handlers, the holy rollers and other fringe sects have finally become organized by a group of unscrupulous people like Pat Robertson and Oral Roberts. They have stopped being something to guffaw about and have become a viable voting block controlled by a few men with seriously ill intentions.
These "people" mean to create a "Christian" nation and feel that now is the time to strike. They have never before been so powerful and the threat has never before been so real. That's why so many people like myself have engaged in posts like this. It's no longer a question of religion, it's a question of our country's survival.
If the separation between church and state is ever breeched, it means only one thing: The end of America.
Peace.