Kuo says: The problem is that Christians have been so invested in evangelizing politics that they have politicized their religion, and they've bought into an us-and-them mentality

An us-and-them mentality is the very essence of religion. Exactly why it is such a divisive force throughout world history. Inclusiveness is not religion's strong suit. Oh sure, religions will pitch a big tent, but to stay in the tent you have to believe, you have to join the "us" and renounce the "them." Thus, the outsiders become less valid, less worthy, and less deserving in the eyes of the faithful (except insofar as their conversion potential). It is only a matter of degree compared to the dehumanization of enemies that has been used throughout history to polarize warring groups. And to many fundamentalists, it is indeed carried to the same extremes.

I have read all the letters and the article. I am struck by the allusion to the Tolkien ring. The wearer did not become ultimately dazzled, he (she) became Gollum like, a slave to the power of the object. (And I seem to recall that the Christian right had some big time problems with Mr. Tolkien, so how does this guy slip this one in?) One of the letters spoke of the apology as non apology. That writing a book pointing out the flaws and fallacies of this administration, was the authors way of cleansing the crud stuck onto them by Bush et. al. WTF, what rose colored glasses did these folks have on anyway. Or more cynically, had they gotten their money for the faith based initiative, my guess is they would still be in the thick of things no matter what the Rove called them. I belabor this point because it reminds me so much of the letter I wrote a few days ago about Woodwards' book. Again what blinders did these folks put on when they enterred the halls of power?? Unlike the letter writer who wants repentence rather than apology, I want an apology. I want a big fat public purple gnashing of teeth apology. I need to know from these hooligans that they understand that they have subverted the foundation of our democracy, and like my child who stays out past an appointed time, I want to extract a consequence on their sorry asses. I am thinking about a 3 or 4 year time out. Like no lobbying, no book contracts, no tv after dinner kind of consequence. and finally when and if they find Jesus, I hope, no I demand, that they keep it to themselves. Cause guess what?? Some of us just don't care. Some of us are not Christians. To some of us; what a person believes is an unimportant as the color of their skin, who they are sleeping with, or who they are going to vote for. As this latest power grab flushes itself down the toilet of history I truly hope that there is enough of America left to become a beacon of hope for us and others.

Thanks for the rant space,

Bill

HIGH Tide:

Low Tide;

A "DIRTY BOMB" washed up for Football Season:

KARK ROVE the DIRTY BOMB of these United States of America.

ROVEon washes up calling on CHEERLEADER NATION and FEAR FACTOR, and probably the newest of new "Friday Night Football".

GO TEAM GO says King George, keep 'em scared.

NASCAR is out; FOOTBALL is IN.

Scare 'em on the Home Field, KARL!

But let 'em in down in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

There is much more MONEY to be made OVERSEAS, American tax dollars at work!

The Evangelical Christian's used the Republican party to further their "Religious Agenda" of making this a Christian nation! Of imposing their Christian belief's upon every American! Of excluding everyone they deem to be undesirable from the American dream! Of having their every whim catered to by syphocant politician's! What did they expect? Respect from people who were using them and religion to win elections? Get real!!! I can not feel remotely sorry for these people! They got what they ask for! I for one am fed up with the religion in politic's! I am tired of these people shoving their religion down my throat ( I have my own)! It's time to start enforcing the separation of church and state! It's what made this country great! If we don't go the extra mile to get religion out of politic's it's going to destroy us in the end! The fact they put in a incompetent man into office strickly because he was Christian should be telling these people something! But I doubt it does! That's been the problem for 6 years now. George Bush was not qualified to do the job!

I find it interesting that Dobson had nothing to say about the remarks that specifically refered to him. All he could do is get mad at the messenger. For a man intellegent enough to start a nation wide ministry, he should have been able to figure out that he and his fellow theocrats were being used. The only logical explaination is that he does know, but is so desperate for power that he is willing to get knowingly laughed at behind his back. I don't think the revelations in this book come as a surprise to any of the evangelical leaders, I think they know they are not respected and don't care, largely because they think they have control of the party vote wise, and maybe they do. The culture war is the biggest weapon the republicans have, it's only a matter of time before the people who are it's targets start holding their votes hostage in exchange for actual results.

If these men are truly as intellegent as they seem, then they must also realize that faith through government enforcement isn't going to convince anyone that God exists, so why demand it? Because conversion isn't the real goal, control is. They don't care if you come to Christ, just so long as you obey them. Jesus is only the means to an end. I don't know if Kuo wrote this out of revenge or not, a last "gotcha" before he dies, but I do know that the republicans may have been caught in their own bear trap by courting people who ask for so much. Too much from a party dedicated to "less government".