Press - How the Republicans stole religion: why the religious right is wrong about faith and politics, and what we can do to make it right

It is in our lives and not our words that our religion must be read.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the Torah. All the rest is commentary.

RABBI HILLEL

CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER 2.

CHAPTER 3.

CHAPTER 4.

CHAPTER 5.

CHAPTER 6.

CHAPTER 7.

CONCLUSION

CODA

We have allowed the conservative religious right to take our Bible hostage, and I think its time we took it back.

BISHOP V. GENE ROBINSON
Anglican Diocese of New Hampshire

Im mad as hell. Ive been a Catholic all my life. I was an altar boy. I went to Catholic high school. I spent ten years in the seminary, studying for the priesthood. I have a degree in sacred theology. Yet some religious conservatives suggest that I cant even walk into church anymorewithout first taking a loyalty oath to the Republican party.

In fact, according to Denvers Archbishop Charles Chaput, I cant even go to communion again until I confess my grievous sin. Because, you see, in November 2004, I knowingly and willingly committed the grievous sin of voting for John Kerry. And, Lord help me, Id do it again tomorrow.

The election of 2004 made it official. With the help of religious conservatives, Republicans have stolen religion. Of course, its not just liberal Catholics they stole it from. Liberals, moderates, and progressives of all faithsCatholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhistsare all suddenly out in the cold. Because conservative Christians have taken over the Republican party and have declared a monopoly on religion.

As spiritual leader, these uncharitable souls look to President George W. Bush: a man, they believe, God Himself placed in the White House. Displaying a total lack of Christian humility, Bush says he shares their belief.

Faith in God, which used to be the common thread uniting almost all Americans, is now portrayed as the exclusive province of the GOP. Ignoring the fact that Kerry won millions of votes in red statesand Bush, in blue statesthe media pundits would have us believe that election 2004 proved that there are two kinds of Americans: red-staters, who worship God, love America, and voted for President Bush; and blue-staters, who worship the devil, hate America, and voted for Senator Kerry. Red-state voters have values, blue-state voters have none. Or, more precisely, those who live in red states thrive in the godly, moral values of Jesus. Those who live in blue states wallow in the filthy, permissive amorality of Hollywood.

Well, I dont buy any of itand thats why I wrote this book. God is not a Republican (or a Democrat, by the way). I dont believe Republicans have any monopoly on moral values. As Senator Barack Obama reminded the world in his keynote speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention: We worship an awesome God in the blue states!

I also dont believe what religious conservatives preach about the Bible. Most of the time, in fact, I think they get the Bible ass-backward, ignoring the most important teachings of Jesus, which place love and compassion above greed and intolerance. And I know for sure it was not God who put George W. Bush in the White House. It was five conservative black robes on the Supreme Court.

I also dont believe this holier-than-thou nonsense about people in red states. The truth, in fact, may be just the opposite. Looking at what might normally be considered moral issues, the January 2005 issue of The American Prospect reported some startling comparative statistics on human behavior in red states and blue.

• * In red states in 2001, there were 572,000 divorces; in blue states, only 340,000.

• * That same year, in the red states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and New Mexico, 46.3 percent of all births were to unwed mothers; in blue states, the average was 31.7 percent.

• * The per capita rate of violent crime today in red states is 421 per 100,000; in blue states, its 372 per 100,000.

• * As of 2000, the five states with the highest rates of alcohol abuse were red states. The five states with the highest rates of alcohol abuse among twelve- to seventeen-year-olds were also red states.

• * In 2002, the per capita rate of gonorrhea in red states was 140 per 100,000; in blue states, it was 99 per 100,000.

Not only that, the salacious behavior of suburban women in ABCs blockbuster hit Desperate Housewives attracted as many, if not more, viewers in red states as in blue states. New York Times columnist Frank Rich noted the irony surrounding televisions most popular show: It is even a bigger hit in Oklahoma City than in Los Angeles; bigger in Kansas City than it is in New York. Desperate Housewives ranked fourth in the Salt Lake City marketserving the entire state of Utah and parts of Nevada, Idaho, and Wyomingwhere President Bush won 72.6 percent of the popular vote. A delicious contradiction that The Nation gleefully reported under the headline Red Sluts, Blue Sluts.

Nevertheless, no sooner was President Bush reelected than redstate evangelicals claimed credit for his victory and made it clear that they expected more than mere God-talk from President Bush. They expected God-policy and God-walk as well. On November 4, conservative guru Richard Viguerie told The New York Times: Now comes the revolution. One day earlier, Bob Jones III, president of Bob Jones University, had already sent Bush what sounded more like an ultimatum than a congratulatory letter. In the spirit of pure Christian compassion, Jones told Bush:

Dont equivocate. Put your agenda on the front burner and let it boil. You owe the liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ. Honor the Lord, and He will honor you.

Undoubtedly, you will have opportunity to appoint many conservative judges and exercise forceful leadership with the Congress in passing legislation that is defined by biblical norm regarding the family, sexuality, sanctity of life, religious freedom, freedom of speech, and limited government. You have four yearsa brief time onlyto leave an imprint for righteousness upon this nation that brings with it the blessings of Almighty God.

If you have weaklings around you who do not share our biblical values, shed yourself of them. Conservative Americans would love to see one president who doesnt care whether he is liked, but cares infinitely that he does right.

I dont know about you, but that letter ticks me off. Im a liberal. Im a Christian. I didnt vote for George W. Bush. How dare that smalltime college presidentwho got his job only because he inherited ittell me I despise Jesus Christ? From what I read in his letter, he wouldnt know Jesus Christ if he fell over Him.

Just to be sure Bush got the message, Jones also released his letter to the press. It was a chilling warning shot across George W. Bushs bow, launched by one of the nations leading Christian conservatives: Well be watching you. We got you reelected. You say you have a personal relationship with Jesus, but now we want to see some real commitment.