posted on September 22, 2004 03:40:54 PM
Kerry and Religion
Steve Waldman's Slate piece, "John Kerry's dubious approach to religion," is creating a stir.
As you may already know, one of America's two political parties is extremely religious. Sixty-one percent of this party's voters say they pray daily or more often. An astounding 92 percent of them believe in life after death. And there's a hard-core subgroup in this party of super-religious Christian zealots. Very conservative on gay marriage, half of the members of this subgroup believe Bush uses too little religious rhetoric, and 51 percent of them believe God gave Israel to the Jews and that its existence fulfills the prophecy about the second coming of Jesus.
Liberals could read these statistics and sneer about "those silly Republicans" were it not for the fact that it's the Democrats who hold these beliefs. And the abovementioned ultrareligious subgroup is not the so-called "Religious Right" but rather the so-called "African-Americans."
If you're surprised it's probably because we've been hearing a lot about the religion differences between the parties. Republicans are the party of the faithful and Democrats the party of secularists, goes the C.W. There is, according to Time magazine, a "Religion Gap." That's not exactly right, however. What exists is a church-attendance gap, not a religion gap or a "God gulf." More Republicans do indeed go to church regularly, and the most secular folks are more likely to be Democrats. Both tendencies have, in fact, become more pronounced in recent years. But in general, most Republicans and most Democrats are pretty religious. The stark differences are at the extremes of each party, and, as so often is the case, the big question is whether the extremes will define the party as a whole. Most Republicans aren't conservative fundamentalists, although it sometimes seems that way given the proclivities of the leadership. And the Democrats have their own version of that same dilemma, and it's affecting the most important arena there is—this year's presidential race: Will Kerry's Democrats act like the Party of Secularists even if they aren't?
More likely, the Kerry campaign suffers from the fact that while most Democrats are religious, many liberal Democratic activists are not. Perhaps the real problem with the paucity of African-Americans at senior levels of the Kerry campaign is not that he doesn't understand racial language but that—forgive the gross stereotyping—the white aides tend to be more tone deaf about religion than the black ones.
posted on September 22, 2004 05:00:13 PMBut in general, most Republicans and most Democrats are pretty religious.
Libra, I dont know where he makes this claim from? There is a large portion of society who are not religious. They may lay claim to one faith or another, but only attend church on Christmas,Easter,or whatever. I think most people might believe in a God, but if you catagorize it as religious, I would think it would mean thinking about God at least once a day and not just when calamity happens. jmo
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.. Go'wan and row yer boat. And try to do it merrily, merrily, cause this life IS but a dream...
posted on September 22, 2004 05:29:34 PM
You can be religious without going to church. Although it's good to be with friends who share the same values and to hear the "teaching" every week, it's certainly not a requirement.
I suspect God puts a lot more weight on your morals, beliefs and actions than where you go on your Sundays. Many of the "Easter & Xmas Christians" probably do fall short in these categories as well, but the simple fact that they don't attend church is not a "damning" factor.
But I could be wrong. I'll know when I'm dead
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on September 22, 2004 11:29:21 PM
lol, realplay. You're right. You dont have to go to church to be religious. I didnt mean to imply that not going is damning. It is just that my concept of being "religious" normally involves some participation in an actual religion with other members of a congregation? I suppose you could be a stand alone mystic or saint or something...but I guess I'll find out when I'm dead too!
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.. Go'wan and row yer boat. And try to do it merrily, merrily, cause this life IS but a dream...
posted on September 22, 2004 11:42:01 PM
I believe there are a lot of people that are religious and don't have a church. Many have their own religious ceremonies. I also believe that there are a lot of people that pray before they go to bed, also before they eat. I consider these people religious. To conform to one religion, i.e. Methodist, Lutheran etc. I believe is not a requirement to be religious.
I don't believe people are religious that go to church to impress others. That only pray when they have surgery. This is not a religious person in my estimation. Others might see it different and that is their right.
I will also find out when I die, until then I will keep my values.
