This is my first diary at Daily Kos. I am usually more of a lurker, but I feel compelled to voice my feelings after reading the diary on the Rec list entitled "Islamic Countries Can suck Jesus' Chocolate Covered C***."" I am a practicing Catholic, that being said I agree with many of the sentiments expressed by the diarist. The problem is the way the debate is being framed and the hyperbolic rhetoric being used.
As I understand it, Dkos is about formulating Democratic electoral strategy and getting progressive candidates elected. These types of diaries in no way help to accomplish that and in fact hurt the community. For better or for worse 90 percent of people in the United States claim to profess some sort of faith. Challenging the wignuts of these faiths on their ridiculous assertions is important. The problem is taking that to another level and saying that all people of a particular faith are practitioners of "voodoo".
The Bill Donahue's of the world do not represent the majority of Christians. Most Christians use their faith as a moral guide and a source of strength. They aren't fanatical and don't seek to push their faith upon others. They probably aren't offended by a chocolate Jesus or even if they were wouldn't protest to have it taken down. Many Christians will be offended, however, when you discuss Jesus' genitalia at length. This type of angry response pushes moderates closer to fundamentalists and gives the fundamentalists power. They can point to it as an example of an attack on faith.
The fringe elements of religion dominate religious discourse in this country. The Religious Right has aligned itself with the Republican Party and placed all of the focus of religion on issues such as homosexuality and abortion. This has had a powerful effect on politics and provided a boon to the Republican Party. These issues that define the Religious Right in reality have little to do with faith and are certainly not what Christianity should be about.
The problem isn't with religion, it’s with the framing of the debate. There is untapped power for the progressive movement in faith. The bible in fact is on our side. Jesus didn't have a lot to say about homosexuality, but he sure had a hell of a lot to say about poverty and oppression. Jesus was one of the most radical equalitarian and pacifist thinkers the world has ever known. Christianity naturally supports many of progressives’ chief issues ike economic reform, healthcare reform, and anti-militarism. Progressive politicians should not be afraid to use faith to bolster their positions.
The Bill Donahues and Pat Robertsons are the loudest voices. This cannot be allowed to continue. The way to defeat their hypocrisy and fundamentalism is not to attack faith, but to properly harness it. When progressive politicians use faith as their own it can only have a positive effect at the ballot box in this very religious nation. Besides it being good strategy, harnessing faith lends an even more powerful moral force to progressive arguments than they already have.
I welcome all discussion, thanks for taking the time to read my first diary.