In 30 years we have seen a radical shift in how this country views Democrats, not to mention liberals. Why this has occured has been argued, debated and beaten into a mashed pulp. I don't plan on rehashing (much) of those issues.
What we face today is as damaging as McCarthy's Red Scare, where merely the hint of socialism could lose you your job, brand you as a traitor, or worse, put you in jail. Today, to discredit someone, all you need to say is "you are a liberal".
At that point you have no views worth listening to. You are a non-person. Everyone is equal, just Republicans have more equality than others.
Religion is More Than Saying "God Bless America"
Republicans are, for the most part, viewed as being "more religious" than their Democrat counterparts. But what does "more religious" actually mean? What is prayer all about?
As a newly ordained priest, I was on the staff of a large parish a member of which, about my age, was hospitalized with spinal cancer. The clergy of the parish visited him and his family on a regular basis over the months it took his disease to kill him, and I can assure you that he, his family and the parish clergy prayed earnestly and sincerely for his health. He was remembered daily at the altar, and still he died a painful lingering death. Did our prayer's influence the outcome? I don't think so.
And yet we are clearly told that "If (we) believe...( that is, if we trust in God's power to help)... (we) will receive whatever (we) ask for in prayer." (Matt. 21:22) Maybe those prayers almost 40 years ago were not offered with enough belief or faith. Maybe we didn't really trust in God's power to heal. Could be, but such an understanding of prayer suggests God's intervention is in some sense available only to those who can achieve an adequate quality of belief or faith or trust, and we all know that is no good news and thank God is inconsistent with the Gospel.
So what is the answer? Maybe the theologians are correct in saying that the answer is in the purpose of prayer, which, they say is not to influence the course of events, but rather to conform our will to God's will. I personally find some merit in that answer, especially when viewed in the light of Jesus' own prayer of "not my will but yours be done." (Luke 22:42)
On the other hand people tell stories of how prayer has influenced or even, in their mind, determined the course of events in their lives, and who am I to dispute their experience? So what is the answer? Each of us will have to look into our own heart and decide what that answer is according to the gifts we have received. As for me, based on my experience and my gifts, part of the answer is that our prayers are intended to conform us to God's will rather than influence the outcome of events, the remainder of the answer remains, for me, a Mystery of Faith. -- Sermon for Sept. 16, 2001, The Rev. Arthur L. Sargent (retired)
The above quote is from a man whom I fortunately share half of my genetic makeup. Much of my material will contain portions of his sermons to underline a point.
If indeed the Republicans are "more religious", then that would mean, would it not, that they are attempting to conform to God's will?
However, I would argue that just the opposite is happening and that they are attempting to conform God to their will. Everything from arguing that the Bible says to hate homosexuals to arguing about the tenet of assassination (at which point Father Sargent said "What doctrine of assassination? The Church has no such doctrine!")
Has religion become the new loyalty oath? According to State Senator Bill Napoli a woman is only entitled to an abortion if the "girl was a virgin. She was religious. She planned on saving her virginity until she was married. She was brutalized and raped, sodomized as bad as you can possibly make it, and is impregnated."
But perhaps the tide is changing. The top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society has suggested that Bush should be impeached (Bush and Cheney both belong to that denomination).
Perhaps, once again, I will be able to talk about religion - my beliefs - without the first question being "are you a liberal?".