fwd: religious progressives- the new silent majority

 For a progressive interpretation of the Bible, see http://biblequotes.blogspot.com/

 

From: American Progress Action Fund

To: Jim Kirwan

Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 8:35 AM

Subject: Progress Report

RELIGION
Progressive Morality

Conservatives have seized on the notion that the "moral values" of the religious right determined the recent election. As Frank Rich of the New York Times points out, however, "There's only one problem with the storyline proclaiming that the country swung to the right on cultural issues in 2004…it is fiction." According to a new poll co-sponsored by the Center for American Progress, Res Publica and Pax Christi, there actually is a new silent majority in America: a coalition of religious moderates, progressives and other non-traditional religious voters. "This bloc of religious voters constitutes 54 percent of the electorate and holds very similar moderate-to-progressive views on domestic and national security issues" such as economic justice and the war in Iraq. By comparison, religious conservatives make up less than a quarter of the national electorate. (For more on the changing focus of the new "silent majority," read the new op-ed by American Progress's John Podesta and John Halpin.)

THE MORALITY OF WAR: The American Progress poll showed more voters felt progressive issues were more important than socially conservative ones in this election. Forty-two percent of voters said the war in Iraq was the most important moral issue in the election; only 13 percent said abortion and fewer than 10 percent said same-sex marriage were the most important moral issues. The moral criticism of the war in Iraq is growing. Columnist Leonard Pitts writes, "one is hard pressed to find much evidence of morality in Bush's ineptly prosecuted war, his erosion of civil rights, and the loss of international credibility that his policies have caused." BeliefNet's Steve Waldman agrees, saying progressives "believe that launching any war unless absolutely justified is profoundly immoral…Liberals also believe that a morally indefensible policy was sold dishonestly – a gross moral breach compounded by another."

SEPARATING CHURCH AND STATE: Americans support the clear division between church and state. According to the American Progress poll, 52 percent of voters surveyed "say they want a president who is informed by faith but does not impose these views on others through public policy decisions." Only 13 percent of voters want a president who uses his or her faith to determine policy positions and another 31 percent want faith and policy completely separate. Waldman explains most progressives advocate a strict demarcation between church and state because "they want to protect the free expression of religious views."

GAY MARRIAGE: Exit polls on Nov. 2 showed 22 percent of voters claimed their votes were influenced by "moral values." The same survey, however, showed "nearly three times as many Americans approve of some form of legal status for gay couples."

CONSERVATIVES DISPARAGED BELIEF BEFORE THE ELECTION: Republicans spent a lot of effort before the election trying to paint Democrats as the anti-God party by disparaging their religious beliefs. During the 2004 campaign, the New York Times reported that mailings by Republicans warned voters that liberals wanted to ban the Bible. The GOP also distributed flyers in church parking lots saying John Kerry favored "'anti-Christian, anti-God, antifamily' judges, same-sex marriage and abortion." Jerry Falwell told CNN Democrats were on an "anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-religion kick."

CONSERVATIVES STILL AT IT AFTER THE ELECTION: After the election, gloating Republicans continued to attack the religious beliefs of many Americans. Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh charged Democrats "don't like God." Evangelical leader Bob Jones charged the reelection of George Bush was a "reprieve from the agenda of paganism," stating, "You owe liberals nothing. They despise you because they despise your Christ." And conservative television host Joe Scarborough accused Democrats of "taking solace" in "bigoted anti-Christian screeds."