Christian right driving wedge into U.S.

I couldn't agree more with John Danforth (as summarized by Joel Connelly of the Seattle PI).

...The Christian right has virtually taken command of one major political party, ruthlessly uses "wedge" issues, and often demeans those who dare disagree with it.

Liberal punditry? Nope. Such are the conclusions of John Danforth, an Episcopal priest, abortion opponent and former three-term Republican senator from Missouri...

"...Followers of the Rev. Jerry Falwell have distributed a bumper sticker bearing the slogan 'Vote Christian,' thereby conveying the clear message that there is a Christian way to vote, as opposed to a non-Christian or anti-Christian way to vote," Danforth writes.

Nor, he argues, does the religious right do the Lord's work...

I see little of the proverbial "Lord's work" being done in religion and politics. In fact, from a strict biblical standpoint, I only see "Satan's work" being done. There is more "hate the sinner" than "hate the sin," and a very large amount of “judging of one another” going on.

...Christian right groups, in our state and elsewhere, sent out propaganda and recruited foot soldiers for the campaign of personal denigration directed at state Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander in this year's primary election.

Danforth does not see such tactics as compatible with what he reads in the Gospels as well as the letters of St. Paul.

"When politics evolves into character assassination, all Christians should speak out against personal destruction," he writes. "We may never agree on the issues, but we should all agree that in America, the pursuit of a political cause does not warrant the intentional destruction of a fellow human."

Many so-called Christians see that politics is something to be avoided and refuse to speak out against it. In my opinion, that is a great "sin." Just as in the parable of the Good Samaritan, those who walk by and do not help are just as bad as those who cause the problem.

Jesus called upon his followers to help those who cannot help themselves. Equal treatment for minorities of race, sex, and sexual orientation as "God's children" are all demanded by Jesus to be protected from the mob of the majority. Yet, most in control of this country today (including many religious leaders) turn their back on their god and follow the desires of their devil. For shame.

Danforth sounds a note familiar from this year's U.S. Senate campaign here. He blames wedge issues for Americans' inability to unite and solve their country's urgent problems.

"When they divide America between 'people of faith' and their 'enemies,' Christians become not the means of peace but the cause of conflict," he argues. "They are powerful contributors to what has gone wrong in American politics."

The downfall of many civilizations in history has one thing in common, the conversion to a different religion. I now understand why. Apparently, many religions use the tactic of divide and conquer and in the case of the United States, Christianity is filling that role quite nicely. Unfortunately, this sounds more like the wishes of the biblical Satan than the biblical God.

If the biblical heaven is real, I don’t think very many people will make it there. Unfortunately, that means that I’ll have to share the biblical hell with the likes of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, George W Bush, Karl Rove, all those hypocritical and judgmental Christians, and every single Jihadist looking for their virgins. That will sure make hell not a very fun place.