Leiter, who grew up attending a conservative church in Minnesota, says he was disgusted to see what has become of the church in recent years. He says that while most people think the religious right has taken over the GOP, he thinks it's the other way around. (I think it's a combination, but what do I know?)
Here are the first four of his 95 theses:
http://leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2005/06/95_theses_on_th.html1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said "love thy neighbor", willed that believers should show *compassion* toward others.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean mere lip service ("I love them, but I hate their sin"), but genuine concern for the welfare of others.
3. Yet the Religious Right has forsaken compassion for a doctrine of institutionalized hatred and violence.
4. Specifically, the Religious Right has taken the Word of God and wrapped it in the flag of Right Wing Politics, replacing God's message of redemption for the entire world with a narrow message endorsing right wing American politics.