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This has been an interesting news week for discussions of politics and religion.
First we have James Dobson, evangelical leader, criticizing Barack Obama's view of scripture because he is not a literalist. Dobson is the host of the popular conservative, evangelical radio program "Focus on the Family". His scathing denunciations of liberals are legendary.
But this time, as my aunt used to say -- "the one finger that pointed out was on a hand with four pointed back at the sender." Translation: backfire.
First,within a day, a site launched called James Dobson Doesn't Speak For Me. And who launched it? Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell. Does that name ring a bell? It should. Rev Caldwell introduced President Bush at the 2000 Republican convention, and officiated at the wedding recently of Jenna Bush.
The site includes a side by side comparison of Dobson's critiques and what Obama actually said. For Example:
Dobson: “What [Obama is] trying to say here is unless everybody agrees, we have no right to fight for what we believe” (Focus on the Family Broadcast, 6/24).
Obama: "Indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their "personal morality" into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in the Judeo-Christian tradition" (A Call to Renewal).
Further in the news of electioneering and religion, the Obama campaign has recently hired a new religious Affairs advisor, Shaun CaseyWesley Theological Seminary in Washington , D.C.
As we just learned from the Pew Study released this week, younger evangelicals are more tolerant and more liberal than their older counterparts, although still more conservative than the national averages.
This month, Obama has also announced an upcoming project called "The Joshua Generation Project", an effort to reach out to that group of younger evangelicals and younger Catholics around issues held in common - environmental concerns, poverty, HIV/AIDS, Darfur, climate change, healthcare and the war. (Of course that is if they get to keep the name -- because they are being sued over it. CBNNews says "..."Generation Joshua," a division of the Home School Legal Defense Association, has been established since 2003 and is pursuing legal action against the Obama campaign.")
The past, when candidates would just cringe, pose outside a church or get vague when assaulted by the religious right, seems to be over. We are seeing a new kind of candidate, and a weakening in the once united voice of the evangelical right.
RELATED BLOGS:
Self-described Muslim-by-choice Aaminah Hernandez voices her negative reaction to Dobson, even though she may not vote in the upcoming election.
Vanessa Unplugged points out that over 10,000 supportive signitures have been put on to the Rev Caldwell's site.
Zoe, a former fan of Dobson laments her past choices and is saddened by the religious right's response.
Esri Rose, a conservative who has yet to decide for whom to vote, in the post Why I am Not A Right Wing Nut Job" speaks of the Dobson email lashing out at Obama and walks readers through her reaction. This is a fascinating account from someone who is as yet undecided about the vote.
Mata H, CE for Religion and Spirituality also blogs about this and that on her blog, Time's Fool
