breaking radio silence from work

[tree_talking]

An Open Letter to All Republicans From a Former Religious Right Activist

THIS.

I often try to explain to people why I am not on the Religious Right (in any way, shape, or form) anymore. This man explains it so well--if a little snarkily. But you see, you deal with this sort of pain with snark.

This doesn't even begin to come close to my own personal story. That one is full of my stupid naivete, my betrayed trust and a semi-nasty case of brainwashing. What it does explain is what is wrong with the Republican party as I see it, and specifically, the Christian Right.

(I'd have NO problem with the Republicans if they would just be fiscal conservatives, and stop trying to make this a "Christian nation"--which it NEVER was. They certainly are not right now, no matter what they say.)

As for what I am right now, I am an Episcopalian. That was what I was raised in for the first 13 years of my life...and now it feels like I am back home. My priest saw my hubby's Obama button and gave him a high five. It feels so good to be able to be a liberal--even in church.

Comments

[soundwave106.livejournal.com]

You know, for a long time, it did seem like that Republicans winked at the populist, politically reactionary-religious side and were able to win votes without a whole lot of pandering to that side. In many ways, it was the Iraq-war-loving "neo-conservative" Zionists who pulled the party apart more.

This past 8 years, however, was the first time that I think the "religious right" became a big *distraction*, being behind such incidents as the insane amount of government time spent on Teri Schiavo. Add in the other populist items (eg the hard line on immigration) and the agenda was becoming increasingly incompatible with the business types and libertarians that form the party's other wings.

In some ways, I wonder if the "religious right" movement's alignment with the Republican party will damage the American Christian church more. By ignoring many of the compassionate elements of Christianity, we have a generation, of whom many see Christians as "intolerant", "hypocritical", "self-righteous", "anti-intellectual", or "judgmental"... attitudes that any Bible reader know are strongly discouraged in the first place.

[shellebelle93.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's it. It makes it hard for a person like me--a seeker within Christianity--to find their way. I spent 20 years in the neo-conservative Christian right and I'm done with that now.

Now I just have to figure out what my new beliefs are--and try to make sure that I remember to be compassionate and to respect differences.

I'm not perfect, I'm just trying.

I can't stand now when politics and religion go hand in hand. They're meant to be as far apart as things can get.