Friday, May 18, 2007

The Religious Right and now


How interesting. I just came across a brief opinion article by Jim Wallis entitled "The Religious Right's Era Is Over". All I can say is, I sure hope he's right. Take a look:

As I have traveled around the country, one line in my speeches always draws cheers: "The monologue of the Religious Right is over, and a new dialogue has now begun." We have now entered the post-Religious Right era. Though religion has had a negative image in the last few decades, the years ahead may be shaped by a dynamic and more progressive faith that will make needed social change more possible.
...
Evangelicals — especially the new generation of pastors and young people — are deserting the Religious Right in droves. The evangelical social agenda is now much broader and deeper, engaging issues like poverty and economic justice, global warming, HIV/AIDS, sex trafficking, genocide in Darfur and the ethics of the war in Iraq. Catholics are returning to their social teaching; mainline Protestants are asserting their faith more aggressively; a new generation of young black and Latino pastors are putting the focus on social justice; a Jewish renewal movement and more moderate Islam are also growing; and a whole new denomination has emerged, which might be called the "spiritual but not religious."

Living in the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" as I do, it's hard to see what Wallis sees. But if he's right, I'm very encouraged.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous10:12 PM

    If anyone has a list of where he was making his speeches, please post it. I think he must have been staying as far away from the Bible belt as he could get.

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