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Jewish World Review July 22, 2005 / 15 Tammuz, 5765 Dems definition of separation of church and state is all state and no church By Tony Snow
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Rev. Jim Wallis, editor of the left-wing magazine
Sojourners, wants to help Democrats get their groove on with Christians.
Michael Lerner, who edits the left-wing Jewish magazine Tikkun, hopes to do
the same with Democrats and Jews. Both know their party has big problems
with devoutly religious Americans, which is why they're hosting a
"progressive interfaith conference" this weekend at the University of
California-Berkeley.
Just one problem: Wallis, Lerner, et al., well aware of the
historic tensions between church and state, have decided to resolve the
problem by tossing faith overboard — as if that somehow will convert
disaffected Southern Bible thumpers and disillusioned Rust Belt Catholics.
The interfaith confab begins not with a prayer, but an "opening
visualization." The gathering's 24-page prospectus lists G-d but four
times — three in political contexts; once in the question: "I don't believe
in G-d and I don't have a spiritual practice, but I know the country needs a
Spiritual Left. Can I play a useful role in the movement?"
Jesus fares even worse, appearing but once in the literature —
as "the ultimate Christian progressive." During the four-day gathering,
Islam gets but one seminar; Buddhism, three; and environmentalism (from a
spiritual perspective), four. In other words, Gaia beats out Buddha, Jesus,
Moses, Muhammad and Sri Krishna.
Meanwhile, such bedrock notions as changeless truth and humble
submission before the Almighty don't arise at all. The "progressive
activists" treat religion as an ascetic hobby — like bowling without the
beer — and lump all beliefs together under the gooey heading, "faith
communities." Forget about theology. These folks favor "spirituality." They
want their politics, not their faith, to make them feel holy, and set out to
compensate for the perceived inadequacy of scripture by devoting an
afternoon to "theory development."
This is the kind of conference Hugh Hefner would love. The most
popular topics, with at least six sessions apiece, are pacifism and sex. One
discussion panel will tackle, among other questions: "How can we help
religious institutions become sexually healthy? . . . How can faith
communities address ALL families including GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgendered) families? . . . Are there forms of sexuality between
consenting adults that are not acceptable from the standpoint of a
progressive religious or spiritual community? Must sex, for instance, be
covenantal and not merely recreational — and what exactly should be the
dimensions of such a covenant?"
Attendees also will get plenty of chances to jeer at the enemy,
who isn't Satan, but Jerry Falwell. One lecturer vows to show how "Christian
fundamentalists" think we live in the end times, and that "this belief is a
prime mover in the Bush administration approach to the Middle East and other
policies." Others ridicule as warmongers and bigots those who examine the
actual texts of the Bible and the U.S. Constitution.
From start to finish, "progressive" theory devours divinity. A
rabbi will advocate dignitarianism and excoriate "rank-rankism." Another
group wants to debate the proposition that "to institutionalize through law
the goals of social change movements of the past has had a passivizing
effect." And who would dare miss Carol Flinders' lecture on "Spiritual
Hungers meet Feminist Thirsts and a Movement is Reborn: Feminism catches
fire when it reconnects with its spiritual roots"?! Or the debate about a
Social Responsibility Amendment to the U.S. Constitution?
Only a ruthless and cruel comic would concoct something as
hollow as this. It is as if swingers had gathered to redefine themselves as
saints and reclassify their impulses not as mortal corruption, but the stuff
of immortal "progressivism."
The Lerner-Wallis brigades, evidently believing the term "Red
State" refers to Leninist strongholds, want Christians, Jews and Muslims to
capitulate — ignore their holy books, surrender their devotion to an
almighty G-d, dispense with charities and ministries of small deeds, and
join "progressive" forces obsessed with military surrender and condom
distribution.
Personal responsibility? Forget about it. Sin and Salvation? You
must be kidding. This is a conference for a world devoid of conscience but
drenched in condescension — the kind of thing doomed to failure because its
votaries will never understand that apostasy is not "progressive" and that
Uncle Sam and G-d are not one and the same.
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Mitch Albom | |||||||||||
