The web log of
Christianity Today has a
level-headed commentary on Howard Dean's recent comments regarding religion and politics:
In the recent days and weeks, as Dean was making some odd comments about religion (like putting Job in the New Testament), Weblog wondered why Dean was trying to court conservative evangelicals in the first place. Perhaps he never was. In fact, perhaps the idea is to court mainline and nominal Christians who really don't like evangelicals, their commitment to Scripture, and their belief that religion must infuse every part of life, from politics to sexuality and beyond.
Their basic point is a good one: when it comes to politics, conservative evangelicals aren't the only game in town. Indeed, as pointed out a couple months ago by Rev. Allen H. Brill on his Right Christians web log, evangelicals make up barely 8% of American population, and are far outnumbered by "Catholics, mainline Protestants and Christians who consider themselves 'born again' but approach theological and political questions with an independent mind."
Christianity Today also points out the egregiously misleading headline: "Dean: God makes people gay, so marriage is OK."
Don't believe the headline that The Union Leader of New Hampshire put on its reprint of the Post story: "Dean: God makes people gay, so marriage is OK." Dean actually opposes gay marriage, a point that's made halfway through the story! This distinction is also based in faith--just not Dean's own. He told MSNBC's Chris Matthews that he supports same-sex civil unions but not same-sex marriage "because marriage is very important to a lot of people who are pretty religious." By the way, The Union Leader also mistakenly credits the Los Angeles Times with the story, not the Post.
I for one, have to give Dean credit for his bravery in dealing with religion on the campaign trail the way he has, particularly in linking it to his ultimate decision on civil unions. I can't think of any politician who's been this fearless.