Some Young Religious Voters Steering Away From Anti-Gay Measures

[WillParkinson]

(Chicago, Illinois) Beau Underwood is putting his faith in politics. He's a 22-year-old at the University of Chicago Divinity School, an active member of the Disciples of Christ and - in his spare time - he's showing candidates that the path to political righteousness doesn't always veer right.

Underwood and a growing number of other young, left-leaning believers are entering the political arena as campaign aides, lobbyists, grass-root activists and engaged voters. They are trying to expand the focus of faith-based politics beyond the religious right's hot-button issues of abortion and gay marriage. And they are placing social justice issues, like poverty and war, at the intersection of their moral and political decision making.

"The religious voice in politics is not one unified voice," said Underwood, a self-described moderate who has worked as an aide on several Democratic local and congressional campaigns in his home state of Illinois.

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon08/04/042508vote.htm

[lisa58]

1. That' my kind of Disciple of Christ

[Hydra]

2. FINALLY!

I can't make a difference with religious people, since I am an adherent of the IPU

It's past time that the religious community call their more rabid members out for bigotry and ignoring social justice issues.

[TooBigaTent]

3. My experience with the younger generation tells me that fewer of them buy into

the prejudices of their elders (us) than in previous years. Race, gender, and sexual orientation do not matter as much.

Some, the dregs at the bottom of the barrel, still learn from their parents to hate those who are inherently different. There is nothing to be done with them except minimize the damage they can do.

But there is a little hope that IF we can survive the destruction done by our generation, the next one may be able to move things along in a positive direction.

Just as my parents were less racist as a generation than my grandparents, hopefully, my children will continue the progressive march forward.

[mitchtv]

4. too little, too late

the Christianity brand has been thoroughly sullied

[canis_lupus]

5. Reading this reminds me of a Quentin Crisp quote

Not sure if this is verbatim, but it goes something like this:

"Time is on the side of the outcast. He may have started out banished from the city, but one day discovered that without changing his address, he is now a citizen."

I'm glad the younger generation seems to be moving away from the divisive issues of their parents' generation. The progress has been slow, but - like the incremental movement of a glacier - it slowly manages to reshape everything in its path.

[Toasterlad]

6. I LOVE That Quote!

Never heard it before. Here's how it's listed on Answers.com (and yes, it was Quentin Crisp):

"In an expanding universe, time is on the side of the outcast. Those who once inhabited the suburbs of human contempt find that without changing their address they eventually live in the metropolis."

[canis_lupus]

7. Yep, that's the one

I knew I should have Googled it to get it exact.

Quentin is a pretty savvy old queen who definitely has a way with words.

[MNBrewer]

9. Ooooo....

You used a "Q" word... been scolded yet?

[MNBrewer]

8. Young people of all types

Young people of all types are steering away from anti-gayness. Hope for the future. (ooo...I used the word "hope")