Monday, July 23, 2007

negative view of faith among some progressives


The misbehavior of the religious right in this country and the shameful acts of religious extremeists in other parts of the world, now and throughout history, have caused many in the strictly secular community to view all religions the same way. Many of us who struggle to have the spiritual a part of who we are share many of the same concerns. Judgements about who we are should't be limited to those, who because of human frailty to the more sinister, have fallen away from the dictates of their faith community.

We don't all belong in one box and it's not progressive to put people there.

The best cure for ignorance and prejudice is a little bit of knowledge. Many of todays far right conservatives love wallowing in their ignorance and wrap themselves up in prejudice as if it were a warm fuzzy blanket. Progressives strive to do better when confronted with their own misconceptions. Although many people of all stripes love that warm fuzzy blanket making it hard to come out from under it and greet the world afresh.

After the Fall: Why America Needs a Spiritual Left
Rabbi Michael Lerner
http://www.tikkun.org/rabbi_lerner/society_politics
.
a simple lesson so hard to accept

Monday, July 16, 2007

crusades?


I just ran into a short conversation with a good Catholic man on the war. The usual right-wing stuff. Christians and Jews against the Muslems. Its all so sad really and another example why the propaganda merchants need to be held accountable for the lies and distortions they've helped the Neocon war machine diseminate.



For the Grace to Desire Peace