Why do we put ourselves through this? Religious people can be convinced to vote Democratic, but the rabidly radical "God Hates Fags" set will never come onto our side. But we can and should use religion as a positive tool in fixing our party. There are many positive aspects of use of God, and many negatives. I've been thinking these over, and here's what I'm coming up with.
1. NO FAKING!
If you don't believe in God, you sure as hell aren't the person who should be convincing the good people of the Heartland that Jesus was a liberal. These folks can see through a counterfeit fake without even trying, and all you do is patronize them, making them hate coastal liberal elitists even more. I am a Reform Jew, and I don't even buy into all of their tenets, but I have read the Tanach, and I can hold my own theologically. But I do not presume to tell a Christian that Jesus said, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; pardon, and you will be pardoned; give, and gifts will be given you." (Luke 6:37-8) Do not presume to tell someone what their faith states, it's almost as bad as when they accuse us of hating America ("Well, you must believe everything Noam Chomsky says about American imperialism, you pointy-headed intellectual!"). Do it at your own comfort level.
2. Read the book
The Bible's actually a pretty good read in places, definitely more fun than picking through Marx or Foucault. And it will dispell some misconceptions. The Old Testament is NOT an endorsement of militarism, no matter what they say Joshua said. Leviticus does lay down some pretty harsh rules, but it also orders you to leave the corners of your fields unharvested for the stranger, for you to let your animals have the Sabbath day of rest, for you to not take more than you need. Samuel I and II lay out that just because a leader is flawed doesn't mean he can't do great things (Saul and David). And the prophets condemn hypocritical dogmatists who follow the letter rather than the spirit of the law (as well as those who do not follow at all).
3. The Religious Right are a bullying minority
The Religious Right is the enemy, evangelical Christianity, orthodox Judaism, and traditional Islam aren't. Just as Osama bin Laden's men overwhelm and goad the silent majority of Muslims who are afraid to challenge them, Robertson's men have these people in fear of violating their traditional communities. I notice on this blog all the time something we have in common with the Puritians in Kansas: we look down on the vapid consumerist mainstream culture that holds their children in thrall. We need to show these people that their children are not being corrupted by the liberals, but by right-wing billionaire media execs (Rupert Murdoch, anyone? Who'se done more to lower American morals than FOX TV?) Peter Coors, a beer salesman, tried to sell himself to the good people of Colorado as a moral Christian businessman. Didn't fly. We are on the side of the angels on this one, if we can convince them that Media Monopolization is worse than Gay Marriage to their communities, we win.