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Christians Find Common Ground on Abortion, Gay Rights
As leaders in the evangelical and progressive communities, we've believed for a while now that the divisiveness of the culture war is not only unproductive, but unnecessary. Over the course of two years of dialogue and relationship-building, we've discovered that we can unite around both shared principles and shared policies. The Come Let Us Reason Together governing agenda, launched this week, sets forth a platform that not only defuses conflict, but presents a way forward. This way forward promotes the common good without compromising our values.
About a year ago, we gathered at Third Way's office in Washington, DC to promote David's book, "The Future of Faith in American Politics: The Public Witness of the Evangelical Center," which touched on much of the common ground we'd established over time. After the press and the guests filed out, we got to talking about whether we could take our partnership beyond principles and come together on policy. It seemed like a stretch to some, but after more than a year of building trust, friendship and deep respect for each other's values, we believed in each other enough to try.
We're proud of the governing agenda we created: reducing abortions, protecting the rights of gays and lesbians in the workplace, reforming our broken immigration system, and abolishing torture. This agenda didn't come together overnight.
As division arose nationwide around issues including the parties' abortion platforms and Proposition 8, tailoring an agenda that could elicit a positive response from the progressive pro-choice group NARAL and also win the full support of Board members of the historically conservative and pro-life National Association of Evangelicals, became increasingly challenging. The task of creating the agenda was both delicate and strenuous, requiring both boldness and care.
By late summer, we had built enough support for the governing agenda to officially draft it. When we gathered at the Evangelicals for Human Rights conference in Atlanta, we cemented the final details, editing the footnotes together at the Galaxy Diner at 6:30 am. Over the smell of grits and coffee, in a spirit of friendship and respect, we finalized an agenda that upholds the human dignity of all, protects the vulnerable, and builds bridges where there were once only roadblocks.
The road from Washington to Atlanta is fraught with speed traps and gridlock. We came together as a coalition and became friends because we believed that our nation's politics doesn't have to be blocked by such obstacles any longer. We believe that the governing agenda we set forth provides an alternate route, which might just lead to the end of the culture wars. And we believe it's just the beginning of a new and collaborative journey in American politics.
Katie Paris is director of communications strategy at Faith in Public Life. Rachel Laser is culture programs director at Third Way. Dr. David Gushee is professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University. Other lead signatories are Rev. Joel C. Hunter, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Dr. Ronald J. Sider, and religion scholar Dr. Robert P. Jones.
By Katie Paris, Rachel Laser and David Gushee |
January 16, 2009; 9:01 AM ET
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Posted by: Paganplace | January 18, 2009 12:44 AM
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Here is one among many problems. The guidelines for religious tax exemptions specifically prohibit the involvement of religious institutions in politics. Yet here you are repeatedly proclaiming your interference in the political process of the United States of America. If this isn't grounds for removal of tax exempt status, I don't know what is. More importantly, it argues loudly for the repeal of religion-based tax exemptions all across the board.
Posted by: Farnaz2 | January 17, 2009 7:33 AM
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Not only is this in-gathering not a true discussion between conservatives and progressives, it is quite obvious from this rant posted in reply that such a discussion is still quite insular. It is deeply troubling that in the faith community such self-righteousness prevails with no compassion or understanding of the many factors that are involved. Lately the 'open minded' conservatives are acknowledging some rights and even the Godly origins of GLBT people while still denying them full citizenship and even basic humanity. These issues are so ripe for abuse since they are about "you" meaning I do not have to look at my own failings. How easy that is! it costs me nothing to deny others their humanity and godly origins! One wise evangelical calls these concerns "low sacrifice" issues. These discussions noted here seem to focus grudgingly on how little rather than how much we owe our fellow human beings in the way of support, compassion, love, and justice. That does not look like faithful progress to many of us.
Posted by: Churchlady1 | January 16, 2009 7:14 PM
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Reality 101
From below, on top, backwards, forwards, from this side of the Moon and from the other side too, gay sexual activity is still mutual masturbation caused by one or more complex sexual defects. Some defects are visually obvious in for example the complex maleness of DeGeneres, Billy Jean King and Rosie O'Donnell. Of course not all having these abnormal tendencies, show it outwardly as alluded to in the following synopsis:
From Wikipedia:
"Biology and sexual orientation is research into possible biological influences on the development of human sexual orientation. No simple cause for sexual orientation has been conclusively demonstrated, and there is no scientific consensus as to whether the contributing factors are primarily biological or environmental. Many think both play complex roles.[1][2] The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have both stated that sexual orientation probably has multiple causes.[3][4] Research has identified several biological factors which may be related to the development of a heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual orientation. These include genes, prenatal hormones, and brain structure. Conclusive proof of a biological cause of sexual orientation would have significant political and cultural implications. [5]"
Without the votes of the Immoral Majority i.e. the 70+ million "mothers and fathers" of aborted babies, BO would not have been elected President.
The RCC bishops and the religious leaders of other faiths must speak out when there are such obvious violations of the following rules that have evolved over 60,000 years of human history:
"Thou Shall not Kill"
"Thou Shall not Steal"
"Thou Shall not Bear False Witness"
"Thou Shall not Commit Adultery"
"Thou Shall not Covet Thy Neighbor's Wife/Husband"
The Violations:
One million womb-babies/yr killed for the last 35 years
Bill Clinton and other leadership adulterers
19 million cases of STDs/year
The Enron, Tyco, and Bernie Ebbers scandals
The 50% divorce rate
(see CDC reports for specific abortion and STD rates)
Posted by: CCNL | January 16, 2009 11:25 AM
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I think the only 'faith based reasoning' there could be is to reason to the utmost, with awareness, goodwill, and perspicacity, knowing that no faith which reason could break is a faith worth preserving in that way.
Any 'faith' that needs fear honesty is no faith at all.
Reason all you can. The Universe will make plenty more mystery. Never, ever dumb down. That's always *two* hubrises. That you could know enough to break the world, and that you could know enough what to withhold by crafting an ignorance.
Faith may be about not 'needing' to know more, sometimes, but it's certainly never about *fearing* to know more.