Too Many `Nones'?: Religious Right Bothered By `Do-It-Yourself' Spirituality

[Why Syzygy]

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2009/9/29/112721/085

A new survey about religion in America has the Religious Right all worked up.

Researchers at Trinity College in Hartford noted a sharp rise in the number of Americans who, when asked to state their religious preference, replied "none." According to some polls, this bloc of Americans now accounts for about 15 percent, and Trinity researchers say it may rise to 20 percent by 2030.
(...)

I have to wonder if church-based politicking hasn't played a role in the rise of the "nones" as well. Several polls have shown that Americans are uncomfortable with politics emanating from the pulpit. People go to a house of worship to get close to God or share fellowship with other believers - not to be told which candidate to support or hear a lecture on public policy.

Yet the Religious Right keeps egging pastors to politicize their pulpits and to sermonize constantly about abortion, same-sex marriage and now even health-care reform. No wonder people are voting with their feet.
(...)

Here's a recent example of Religious Right intolerance: Last Friday, about 3,000 Muslims gathered on Capitol Hill to pray for our nation. It's the sort of event evangelical Christians have held many times. Yet several Religious Right groups went ballistic, issuing dire warnings that a peaceful prayer rally was intended to "Islamicize" the United States. (That would be a neat trick for a religion that accounts for less than 1 percent of the population.)

The day of the rally, fundamentalist protestors, led by rabid anti-abortion leader Flip Benham, showed up and harassed attendees. One rally speaker had to ask them to stop shouting during the prayers.

"We would never come to a prayer meeting that you have to make a disturbance," Hamad Chebli, an imam at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, told the protestors. "Please show us some respect. This is a sacred moment. Just as your Sunday is sacred, our Friday is sacred."

Of course Benham and his gang had a constitutional right to hold a counter-protest, but that doesn't mean it was a smart thing to do. The illiberal protest - and the Religious Right's whining about the Muslim gathering generally - only served to showcase the intolerance of a movement more and more people want nothing to do with.

In a way I suppose I should urge the Religious Right on. The more its leaders and foot soldiers yammer, the less people seem interested in being drafted into their misguided far-right political movement.

I can't help but think that's a good thing.

[get the red out]

1. In my state, religion and politics are practically the same

I am a "do it yourself person". The last thing I want is for the RR to come tell me that's not just allowed, which I KNOW they would if they could. In fact, I don't want them telling me anything. They should be taxed for their politics to pay for the wars they supported so enthusiastically.

[juno jones]

2. K&R! n/t

[Ready4Change]

3. Boo hoo. I'm not fuel for their church.

I think I can live with that.

[imdjh]

4. I just saw a commercial for a church, and seconds later this thread.

I don't think I have seen a TV ad for a church before.

Pasadena Community Church
pastor is on the golf course.

"Some say you can get just as close to God on a golf course, but it's really not the same thing. If you get close to God on the golf course, that's great, but if you want to serve God, come to Pasadena Community Church a blah blah blah de blah de blah de dah...................."

[Control-Z]

5. I've seen some pretty disturbing

commercials over the past few months. I don't remember the names of the churches (probably intentionally tuned them out) but I do remember thinking one was a Sci Fi movie or "Heroes" type program ad - scary, supernatural, hellish - right up until the end when it announced their gawd saving crap. Another sounded like a medical/mental research breakthrough for curing some nasty, deadly shit.

Disgusting, if you ask me.

[imdjh]

6. As churches go, PCC seems pretty sane and mainstream. They do a lot of theater productions.

The only reason my mom doesn't belong there, IMO , is that she doesn't like the auditorium style church. She like a traditional , preferably rural style.

[Control-Z]

7. PCC? n/t

[imdjh]

8. Pasadena Community Church

[54anickel]

9. Methodist, isn't it? n/t

[harry_pothead]

10. For the religious right, it's never been about god or faith

It's about the power of priests in society, and always has been. Plain and simple. That's why they think of do-it-yourself theism as no different from atheism.