Summer Reading: "Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of the Religious Right", by Rev. Mel White

I'm not one of those who reads a lot of books, mostly because I find most of the stuff that makes it to the best seller lists has been done to death. I've yet to see anything that looks remotely original or thought-provoking. One exception comes from Soulforce founder and author, Rev. Mel Wight, called "Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of the Religious Right". Every LGBT person who is as appalled as I am at the rise to power and the undue influence of the religious right in this country over the last four decades should read this book.

White, who was an evangelical preacher for many years, was in a unique position as a bible student, pastor, film maker, TV producer and writer to learn the inner workings of the religious right. He was part of the inner circle of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and James Dobson and even ghostwrote their biographies.

White explains in his book how the Unholy Trio collectively decided to exploit homophobia to build their base, infiltrate and take over the Republican party and the secure the highest seats of power in Washington, including the White House. If you thought the culture wars were just a sign of the times, think again. 

The following is from the book's website:

This Fall's midterm elections will see much discussion about the enhanced power of the Christian fundamentalist Right, leaving many people to wonder: just who are these people and what exactly do they want? What are their ultimate goals? The Reverend Mel White, a deeply religious man who sees fundamentalism as "evangelical Christian orthodoxy gone cultic," believes that it is not a stretch to say that the true goal of today's fundamentalists is to break down the wall that separates church and state, superimpose their "moral values" on the U.S. Constitution, replace democracy with theocratic rule, and ultimately create a new "Christian America" in their image. White's new book, Religion Gone Bad, is a wake-up call to all of us to take heed.

Young People Fleeing the Religious Right

Young people raised in strict evangelical homes are increasingly rejecting their parents' extreme religious beliefs.

So says, Rev.Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, a group of progressive Christians. Iin an article on CNN's Belief Blog, entitled, "Has the religious right lost its children?", Wallis says that the increased focus by evangelical churches on just two issues, abortion and same-sex marriage, is a real turn off to the younger generation.

Wallis told CNN's John Blake, "The religious right has lost its children."

Wallis added, "They really object to the tone of the culture wars. I’m on the road a lot and I’ll have these young Christians say to me, 'If they force us to only care about two issues, they’re going to lose my generation.'

Wallis claims that the religious right peaked in 2004, with the re-election of George W. Bush and is currently on a downward slide in popularity. Read the full story here.

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Who Would Jesus Hate? Anti-Gay Rally Today in DC

When President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Act into law earlier this month, it was apparently too much for the "Jesus is Love" folks, who think their constitutional right to practice their faith through hate speech will be taken away. On the news of the bill's passage, the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (CADC) immediately called on it's intolerant  followers to join them at a rally, scheduled for later today, in front of the Justice Department.

The group intends to test the limits of free speech by ramping up their homophobic lies and daring the law enforcement officials to arrest them.

It remains to be seen if this little hate fest has any real support. Some sites I've read say there is, but those are mostly gay blogger sites. Maybe I'm missing something, but I haven't seen much reporting of it any where else. I think I may have found the possible reason.

The CADC web site has mentioned their martyrdom marketing effort only four times since the Hate Crimes law was passed, including the first post on November 3rd. In each article, they mention the date and location of the planned event, but only in their first post does it mention what time to be there. For the record guys, it's 1:30 pm.

From my limited experience in protest planning, I can tell you that they're doing it all wrong. And as anyone who has ever thrown a dinner party can tell you, if you want 20 people to show up at your soiree, you send out 60 invitations. Similarly, if you want to make a statement of hate and intolerance in order to show your Christian love, than getting the word out to anyone who will listen and talking about it 24/7 is key.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the CADC public relations machine has been spreading the word like manure, but real Christians (and there are some) can't get past the stench.

For mainstream Christians, having the homophobic, extremist right wing speak for you must be very embarrassing. It's kind of like going to church with your mom who wears a goofy bespangled hat pulled down over her sinuses while singing the wrong words, off key and clapping her hands and swaying her humongous hips back and forth to a rhythm that has nothing to do with what the musicians are playing. (Sorry. My shrink told me I was over that particular childhood trauma.)

My point is that we all know that there are a growing number of LGBT-friendly Christian churches and church goers who truly understand the teachings of their savior. But when those folks keep quiet, it only serves to turn up the volume on the hateful message coming from the lunatic fringe. It's time for our Christian allies to stand up for fairness and equality under the law for all Americans.

One final note to CADC founder, president and CEO, Rev. Dr. Gary L. Cass on planning your next event, as Martha Stewart will tell you, be sure to mention what time your party is starting and what time you want your guests to leave. It's just good manners. And by the way, you're the one in the goofy hat.

This Just in From Bizzaro World: Christians Favor Torture

What else can you say but, WTF?

From CNN:
The more often Americans go to church, the more likely they are to support the torture of suspected terrorists, according to a new survey.

More than half of people who attend services at least once a week -- 54 percent -- said the use of torture against suspected terrorists is "often" or "sometimes" justified. Only 42 percent of people who "seldom or never" go to services agreed, according to the analysis released Wednesday by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

White evangelical Protestants were the religious group most likely to say torture is often or sometimes justified -- more than six in 10 supported it. People unaffiliated with any religious organization were least likely to back it. Only four in 10 of them did.