The Religion of Politics- January 8, Readings and Sermon

Transcription

1 1 The Religion of Politics- January 8, Readings and Sermon FIRST READING : Quoted in its entirety from the Christian Coalition of America website Welcome to our website! You have come to the home of one of the largest conservative grassroots political organizations in America. Christian Coalition of America offers people of faith the vehicle to be actively involved in impacting the issues they care about -from the county courthouse to the halls of Congress. We are a political organization, made up of pro-family Americans who care deeply about ensuring that government serves to strengthen and preserve, rather than threaten, our families and our values. To that end, we work continuously to identify, educate and mobilize Christians for effective political action. We believe that effective citizenship begins with knowledge. Since our founding, we have worked to provide critical education and political training to the pro-family community in order to challenge and equip individuals and churches to make a difference at all levels of government. Under my leadership, the Coalition has distributed tens of millions of voter guides throughout all fifty states, (up to seventy million in 2000 alone!). These guides help give voters a clear understanding of where candidates stand on important pro-family issues -before they go to the polls on Election Day. Our efforts do not stop with voter guides. We actively lobby Congress and the White House on numerous issues and hold grassroots training seminars and events all around the country that

2 2 draw thousands of pro-family supporters and help organize activists on critical issues facing our country. Today, Christians need to play an active role in government again like never before. If we are going to be able to change policy and influence decisions, it is imperative that people of faith become committed to doing what Ronald Reagan called "the hard work of freedom". Please take some time to investigate the resources our site has to offer and decide how you would like to get involved. Click here and become a registered user of our site today! Your involvement is critical to our success Signed: Roberta Combs President & CEO SECOND READING: Non-Negotiable Beliefs -The Mission and Platform of the Tea Party quoted in its entirety from their website What Is the Tea Party? The Tea Party is a grassroots movement that calls awareness to any issue that challenges the security, sovereignty, or domestic tranquility of our beloved nation, the United States of America. From our founding, the Tea Party represents the voice of the true owners of the United States: WE THE PEOPLE. Many are credited to be the founders of this movement; however, it was the brave souls of the men and women in 1773, known today as the Boston Tea Party, who dared to defy the greatest military might on earth. We are the beneficiaries of their courage. The Tea Party includes those who possess a strong belief in the foundational Judeo-Christian values embedded in our great founding documents. We believe that the responsibility of our beloved nation is entrenched within the hearts of true American Patriots from every race, religion, national origin, and walk of life who share a common belief in the values which made and keep our beloved nation great.

3 3 This belief led to the creation of the modern-day Tea Party. Many Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents alike identify with the premises set forth by the Tea Party Movement, which is striking a chord and ringing true with the American Spirit. We stand by the Constitution as inherently conservative. We serve as a beacon to the masses that have lost their way, a light illuminating the path to the original intentions of our Founding Fathers. We must raise a choir of voices declaring that America must stand on the values that made us great. Only then will the politically blind see and deaf hear! By joining the Tea Party, you are taking a stand for our nation. You will be upholding the grand principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Non-negotiable Core Beliefs 1. Illegal aliens are here illegally. 2. Pro-domestic employment is indispensable. 3. A strong military is essential. 4. Special interests must be eliminated. 5. Gun ownership is sacred. 6. Government must be downsized. 7. The national budget must be balanced. 8. Deficit spending must end. 9. Bailout and stimulus plans are illegal. 10.Reducing personal income taxes is a must. 11.Reducing business income taxes is mandatory.

4 12.Political offices must be 4 available to average citizens. 13.Intrusive government must be stopped. 14.English as our core language is required. 15.Traditional family values are encouraged. (end quote) As a Unitarian Universalist what would be your non-negotiable beliefs? How many could you list? SERMON The Religion of Politics The Religion of Politics January 8, 2012 On April 30, 1789 president- elect George Washington stood on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City to take the oath of office. Someone noticed that there was no bible present and a runner was dispatched to find one. Ironically the US Constitution does not require the use of a bible in order to take the oath of office. Washington was highly criticized for neglecting to bring one, the substance of his faith or lack there-of came into question. From that time forward any candidate for office, especially presidential hopefuls, whose faith was anything other than Christian mainline Protestantism have struggled to balance their personal beliefs with the religious preferences of their constituents. Abraham Lincoln, rumored to be a Catholic or an infidel was forced to issue a public statement that he never denied the truth of Scriptures. John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president was accused of potentially taking his ethical and policy guidance directly from the Vatican and on the eve of his Inauguration Kennedy was forced to announce his loyalties only to the US Constitution not to his Catholic faith.

5 5 Mitt Romney, the first Mormon candidate for President was scrutinized for the basic premise of Mormanism, its founder Joseph Smith in 1830 claiming that he had received instructions from God that Mormanism was the only true and living church. In a recent article titled God in the Oval Office published in Parade Magazine; author Bruce Feiler wrote, One quarter of Americans have said they'd be less likely to vote for a Mormon for president. Romney has clearly stated that church authorities will not exert influence over his decisions, and he has also proclaimed his faith in Jesus as his personal savior. But he's largely sidestepped an in-depth discussion of his beliefs, beyond a speech he gave in December (Read it at Parade.com.) If he wants to reach the promised land of American politics the Oval Office he must begin finding his voice as the leader of Americans of all faiths, including those who subscribe to no organized religion at all. Our early attempts at the separation between church and state simply meant that the government would not seek to create a national church; rather each and every community had the right to establish their own houses of worship and religious sects. In the 19 th century, issues around the efficacy of the Bible were battled out in forums and human rights injustices became fodder for the social reformers, of which we UU s were the majority. The first amendment allowed for one to speak his or her opinion without undue government consequence. That fact is precisely where the boundaries between church and state have conflicted, in the present day struggle for power and governmental control through radical religious influence. What has changed is the vocal emphasis on Christian religious teachings, (as found in the readings this morning) by highly organized groups as the sole platform for supporting or rejecting candidates for public office.

6 6 With this in mind, there is another force growing among the political Christian advocates called "Dominionism or Diminion Theology." In an article in the Washington Post, The Rev Barry Lynn, Executive Director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, wrote. Dominionism is described as a tendency toward aggressive political activism by Christians who claim they are mandated by God to take over society. It was introduced and embraced by The late D. James Kennedy, former pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries, who called on his followers to exercise "godly dominion... over every aspect... of human society." At a "Reclaiming America for Christ" conference in February, 2005, Kennedy said: "Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society." Also discovered in The website of The Christian Coalition this excerpt comes from the greetings from the Coalitions Pastors Council And I quote: The Christian Coalition Pastor's Council is calling pastors nationwide to bond together in a mighty witness for Jesus Christ in the redemption of America. A serious crisis of cataclysmic proportion has erupted in our country. The nation is experiencing the beginning of a terrible tail spin. The evidence is manifested in the collapse of our culture, the serious erosion of our economy, a growing lack of interest in traditional religion, and the government's assault on all freedoms, especially religious freedom. There must be a vehicle to give identity to this massive movement. The

7 7 Pastor's Council is providing the spiritual covering for this spiritual awakening. We must join together as the pastors did in early colonial America and call for an end to a growing tyrannical government control. Whitefield and Wesley are no longer with us, but God's hand is as able as ever in raising up contemporary pastors with courage and heart to inspire godly citizens to rally together as one and say "No" to despotic edicts from radical politicians. Please join the Christian Coalition in this great endeavor. We can and we must stir this "sleeping giant," and save our freedom to preach without the interference of a spying bureaucrat. It is then followed by an appeal to join the pastor s council for ongoing spiritual guidance. Obviously, as Unitarian Universalists our political leanings are not in question here, our faith does not equate biblical literacy with politics; but what concerns me now, in light of the rapid rise of the radical Christian demands to embrace only Christianity in government policy, is the passive and complacent tenor of our faith. We are generally an overly tolerant society of individuals, who are very hesitant, or refuse to aggressively confront those who intend to implant their own religious beliefs into our constitution and system of government. This is a real dilemma for us as Unitarian Universalists as our own national leadership will not speak out in behalf of all UU churches in the name of true congregational polity. What I am suggesting is we need to take Our 7 UU Principles very seriously when it comes time to elect our leaders. We have to acknowledge the basic premise that our faith that rejects any attempt to impose a purely Christian or any other religious Doctrine on our leadership or our citizens. Bruce Keller executive editor of The New York Times, in an article in the Times Magazine on August 28, 2011, titled Not Just Between Them and Their God wrote:

8 8 I do want to know if a candidate places allegiance (fealty) to the Bible, the Book of Mormon (the text, not the Broadway musical) or some other authority higher than the Constitution and laws of this country. It matters to me whether a president respects serious science and verifiable history in short, belongs to what an official in a previous administration once scornfully described as "the reality-based community." I do care if religious doctrine becomes an excuse to exclude my fellow citizens from the rights and protections our country promises. And I care a lot if a candidate is going to be a Trojan horse for a sect that believes it has divine instructions on how we should be governed. He further suggests the following questions we all need to ask of candidates who solicit our votes: Do you agree with those religious leaders who say that America is a "Christian nation" or "Judeo-Christian nation?" and what does that mean in practice? Would you have any hesitation about appointing a Muslim to the federal bench? What about an atheist? What is your attitude toward the theory of evolution, and do you believe it should be taught in the public schools? Our time is now. We have not finished the task begun by our forefathers and mothers, only our task is more crucial than ever before. We are asked as a society of individuals, a community of diverse and tolerant thinkers to come forward and to express our principles in a way that we have never been so challenged to do so before. We cannot afford to just live and let live, lest we find ourselves living in a nation ruled by someone else s religious laws.

9 9 This is about the freedom of religion, of Catholics and Jews, Muslims and Hindus, Buddhists, pagans and Unitarian Universalists to express their faith freely and to run for political office without being expected to accept Jesus as ones personal savior. To even suggest Christianity as a requirement for any position of public leadership is a direct violation of our constitutional rights, one which the Radical Right seems to have overlooked. The bulk of the issues attached to the radical right wing Christian organizations are decidedly social in nature, the right for a woman to make choices about abortion; about love between same sex couples, birth control and reproductive rights cannot ever be dictated by any ecclesiastical authority regardless of its origin. Our 7 principles make that very clear and our fight to preserve the intended foundations our nation was built upon, is just beginning. We can remain tolerant of others with differing beliefs from our own. What we can never allow is the imposition of one faith for all. This is not the time for introspection, comfort or complacency. We can and must Stand on the Side of Love, one to one, person to person. That is exactly how the Christian Coalition and the Tea Party gained so much support. Now it is our turn. Several years ago one of my parishioners found herself listening to a conversation in a restaurant taking place at the table next to her. The couple was moaning about the sins of homosexuality, god s laws and the new law that Massachusetts had just passed legalizing same sex marriage. She could stand it no longer and walked over to that table and calmly spoke to the couple and said; I am a church going woman, a Unitarian Universalist who believes deeply in the sacredness of Jesus teachings about love, and if two people find one another, and care for each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together, I do not recall Jesus defining true, responsible love as anything other than holy. That is the way I see it and I hope that you will too.

10 10 She then went back to her table, shocked and surprised at herself for intervening, but as she told me later, I had to say something, because they were wrong. Our strength lies in the value of our faith, in our principles that we must begin to share in the public arena, one on one, or in support of those organizations that have the support and means to express our understanding of what justice and religious freedom for all people really means. I would like to conclude with these words from The Standing on the Side of Love campaign which was started by our national Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Churches to respond to those whose agenda is also wrong. UUA President Peter Morales said, Standing on the Side of Love is grounded in religious values. (Today) There s no difference between spiritual values and social action They re two sides of the same coin. When we experience our connection with that which transcends us and with other people, we become compassionate. We suffer with, not separated from the other. That s a deeply spiritual experience. Standing on the side of love is simply a way in which we can act upon our deepest religious passions. There can never be any one religion of politics but act we must, to preserve the efficacy of our constitution, to assure that no religious group ever dominates the content or the intent of our government or the constitution. It is our place now to respond to the Christian radical right according to our conscience, our understanding of justice, our principles, and our love for one another. So be it Amen

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