We hear all the time that the “progressive church” has capitulated to the prevailing culture in their advocacy of certain controversial issues. The accusation is also made that in the attempts of the “progressive church” to justify their positions they interpret scripture not as God intended and as tradition encourages, but again according to the dictates of the prevailing culture, which is always viewed as anti-Christian or anti-Christ.
I wonder whether the mega-churches with their vast numbers that the “conservative church” uses to justify their correctness before God is in fact not a capitulation to the prevailing culture – the “mall-culture” or the “culture-of-materialism and self-interest.”
The accusation of capitulating to the prevailing culture can be made on both sides. Are we willing to admit it? Are we willing to question whether capitulation to the prevailing culture is always a bad thing, because perhaps at times the prevailing culture may be right?

I read this op-ed piece in July 5th’s New York Times. Well written, I think.

The Downing Street Memo
The end justifies the means
Is this what our government has come to?
Bill Clinton may have lied about having sex with that woman, but the lies that are going on right now are far more profound and have unimaginable consequences.
What war on terrorism? All of this has harmed any attempt to end terrorism and change the minds of those who wish to engage in it.

Frankly, we need to get away from identity-politics as the motivator for decision making. This isn’t an issue of avoidance in considering and remedying the profound forms of prejudice and bigotry that are still rampant in our society. It is a recognition that as we move away from considering people according to their merits – character, abilities, education, experience – and consider their identity as paramount – skin color, ethnicity, orientation, etc. – we will inevitably cause more harm to the advancement of equality than not. Maybe this is a period we must move through, but I am not convinced that the long-term good will be honestly achieved in this manner.

Go see the movie, Crash!!
http://www.crashfilm.com/

The Senate did what the Senate should do – compromise. The “middle” held during this round of our continuing governmental crisis. The fundamentalist social and political forces on the right and left condemn compromise. They can be satisfied only with complete victory and the obliteration of their “enemies.” How can a democracy function if the loyal opposition is demonized to such a degree? How can a democracy function if debate, disagreement, and compromise are not upheld as the ideal?
I am so hesitant to use words like “Fascist” or “Fundamentalist” in their pejorative meanings to describe people and movements because we can have honest, real, and strongly held opinions and disagreements, but when those who advocate and demand their positions be the only positions possible and demand that their positions be imposed upon everyone else, then the term “Fascist” or “Fundamentalist” may certainly apply.
Below is an excerpt from a recent press release from Focus on the Family Action, their political arm, after the Senate compromise concerning the Filibuster and conservative judicial nominees was announced. Dobson is becoming, I fear, someone in the likeness of a Fascist (or similar political/social theory). He and his political organization look more and more like the radical religious Fundamentalists who are causing such havoc throughout the world.
He, and those like him and who agree with him, cannot countenance compromise. It is either their viewpoint/position/theology/social theory, or nothing. He and those like him are not “democrats” or “conservatives” in the generally accepted and traditional definitions of these words. The way he expresses his Christian faith causes me to pause. Even the elect can be deceived; and I wonder more and more whether the politicized American Evangelical and Fundamentalist movements are being lead down a path of deception.
Here is the quote:

“This Senate agreement represents a complete bailout and betrayal by a cabal of Republicans and a great victory for united Democrats,” Dobson said. “Only three of President Bush’s nominees will be given the courtesy of an up-or-down vote, and it’s business as usual for all the rest. The rules that blocked conservative nominees remain in effect, and nothing of significance has changed.
“Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Chief Justice William Rehnquist would never have served on the U. S. Supreme Court if this agreement had been in place during their confirmations. The unconstitutional filibuster survives in the arsenal of Senate liberals.
“We are grateful to Majority Leader Frist for courageously fighting to defend the vital principle of basic fairness,” Dobson added. “That principle has now gone down to defeat. We share the disappointment, outrage and sense of abandonment felt by millions of conservative Americans who helped put Republicans in power last November. I am certain that these voters will remember both Democrats and Republicans who betrayed their trust.”

I received the following over a GTS list. It is an very eloquent speech.
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Texas Representative Senfronia Thompson speaks against the Texas Legislature’s ban on same-sex marriage:
HJR 6 Speech
I have been a member of this august body for three decades, and today is one of the all-time low points. We are going in the wrong direction, in the direction of hate and fear and discrimination. Members, we all know what this is about, this is the politics of divisiveness at its worst, a wedge issue that is meant to divide.
Members, this issue is a distraction from the real things we need to be working on. At the end of this session, this Legislature, this Leadership will not be able to deliver the people of Texas, fundamental and fair answers to the pressing issues of our day.
Let’s look at what this amendment does not do: It does not give one Texas citizen meaningful tax relief. It does not reform or fully fund our education system. It does not restore one child to CHIP, who was cut from health insurance last session. It does not put one dime into raising Texas’ Third World access to health care. It does not do one thing to care for or protect one elderly person or one child in this state. In fact, it does not even do anything to protect one marriage.
Members, this bill is about hate and fear and discrimination. I know something about hate and fear and discrimination. When I was a small girl, white folks used to talk about “protecting the institution of marriage” as well. What they meant was if people of my color tried to marry people of Mr. Chisum’s color, you’d often find the people of my color hanging from a tree. That’s what the white folks did back then to “protect marriage.” Fifty years ago, white folks thought inter-racial marriages were a “threat to the institution of marriage.” Members, I’m a Christian and a proud Christian. I read the good book, and do my best to live by it. I have never read the verse where it says, “gay people can’t marry.” I have never read the verse where it says, “though shalt discriminate against those not like me.” I have never read the verse where it says, “let’s base our public policy on hate and fear and discrimination.” Christianity to me is love and hope and faith and forgiveness-not hate and discrimination.
I have served in this body a lot of years-and I have seen a lot of promises broken. I should be up here demanding my 40 acres and a mule because that’s another promise you broke. You used a wealthy white minister cloaked in the cloth to ease the stench of that form of discrimination.
So, now that blacks and women can vote, and now that blacks and women have equal rights-you turn your hatred to homosexuals- and you still use your misguided reading of the Bible to justify your hatred. You want to pass this ridiculous amendment so you can go home and brag…brag about what? Declare that you saved the people of Texas from what? Persons of the same sex cannot get married in this State now. Texas does not now recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, religious unions, domestic partnerships, contractual arrangements or Christian blessings entered into in this State- or anywhere else on this planet Earth.
If you want to make your hateful political statements then that is one thing- the Chisum amendment does real harm. It repeals the contracts that many single people have paid thousands of dollars to purchase to obtain medical powers of attorney, powers of attorney, hospital visitation, joint ownership and support agreements. You have lost your way- this is obscene.
Today, you are playing to the lowest common denominator- you are putting aside the real issues of substance that we need to address so that you can instead play on the public’s fears and prejudices to deceive and manipulate voters into thinking that we have done something important.
I realize that gay rights are not the same as civil rights-but I can guarantee you we are going in the wrong direction. I can not hide my skin color. In fact, in most of the South, people as pink as Rep. Wayne Smith were still Black by law if they had a great grandparent who was African. I was unable to attend an integrated and equally funded school until I got my Master of Laws degree. There were separate and unequal facilities
for nearly everything.
I got second-hand textbooks even worse than the kind you’re trying to pass off
on every public school student next year. I had to ride to school on the back of the bus.
I had to quench my thirst from filthy coloreds-only drinking fountains. I had to enter restaurants from the kitchen door. I was banned from entering most public accommodations, even from serving on a jury.
I had to live with the fear that getting too uppity could get you killed — or worse. I know what third-class citizenship feels like. In my first term, one of my colleagues walked up and down this aisle muttering about how Nigras should be back in the field picking cotton instead of picking out committees.
So, I have to wonder about Rep. Chisum’s 3/5 of a person amendment. Some of you folks hid behind your Bible then, too, to justify your cultural prejudices, your denial of liberty, and your gunpoint robbery of human dignity.
We have worked hard at putting our prejudices against homosexuals in law. We have denied them basic job protections. We have denied them and their children freedom from bullying and harassment at school. We have tried to criminalize their very existence.
But, we have also absolved them of all family duties and responsibilities: to care for and support their spouses and children, to count their family’s assets in determining public assistance, to obtain health insurance for dependents, to make end-of-life or necessary medical decisions for their life partners—sometimes even to visit in the hospital,
even to defend our own country. And then, we can stand on our two hind legs
and proclaim, “See, I told you homosexual families are unstable.” And nearly every one of you on this Floor has a homosexual in their extended families.
Some of you have shunned and isolated these family members. Some of you, even some of the joint coauthors, have embraced them within your own family for the essence of Christianity is love. Yet,you are now poised to constitutionalize discrimination against a particular class of people.
I thought we would be debating real issues: education, health care for kids, teacher’s health insurance, health care for the elderly, protecting survivors of sexual assault, protecting the pensions of seniors in nursing homes. I thought we would be debating economic development, property tax relief, protecting seniors pensions and stem cell research, to save lives of Texans who are waiting for a more abundant life. Instead we are wasting this body’s time with this political stunt that is nothing more than constitutionalizing discrimination. The prejudices exhibited by members of this body disgust me.
Last week, Republicans used a political wedge issue to pull kids-sweet little vulnerable kids- out of the homes of loving parents and put them back in a state orphanage just because those parents are gay. That’s disgusting. Today, we are telling homosexuals that just like people of my ilk, when I was a small child, they too are second class citizens. I have listened to all the arguments. I have listened to all of the crap.
Mr. Chisum, is a person who I consider my good friend and revere. But, I want you to know that this amendment are blowing smoke to fuel the hell-fire flames of bigotry. You are trying to protect your constituents from danger. This amendment is a CYB amendment for you to go home and talk about.

Well, actually, the phrase “people of faith” is another problematic quip.
According to those in the politicized Religious Right, a “person of faith” is only someone who is “born-again,” and then only according to their definition of “born-again.” One must adhere to a their particular understanding of the meaning and application of Scripture, and one must adhere to their political and social philosophy, which they claim is God’s also. If we do not adhere ourselves to their principles, then we are not “people of faith,” despite how we may order our whole lives around faith in God. At best, they may grant that we are “people of faith,” but our faith in corrupted and in violation of God’s precepts.

Isn’t it true that “activist judges” is a code phrase for “accepting of gays?”
If a judge is at all willing to accept equal protections for homosexuals, or supports gay inclusion, etc., then he or she is automatically an “activist judge” who wishes to discriminate against “people of faith.”

There isn’t really any thing more I can say or want to say concerning the new pope, Benedict XVI. Andrew Sullivan say said many good things, and he is one who wants desperately to have hope.
I think we are now approaching a time that is very similar in some specific ways to that of England during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Reformers and the Catholics were warring against one another, and what emerged was the Elizabethan Settlement. A forced settlement, but one that enabled war to be averted.
Today, we are certainly in a different situation. I do think, however, that idea of Via Media, of the spirit of the Elizabethan Settlement, can be reasserted. To the Evangelicals who are sick of their leaders making an idol of America and political power, and to the Catholics who are very disturbed by the direction their church is taking (and perhaps the even faster push for a new inquisition), I say “come to the Via Media.”
Of course we have our own profound problems right now, but within Anglicanism we allow the problems to exist and we allow our dirty laundry to be aired-out before all. I have no desire to steel sheep from other flocks, but many Roman Catholics and Evangelicals will come (and are coming) to a point where they will not be able to abide by the continued politicalization of the faith or a new inquisition of questioning and differences in espoused theology.