Interesting that there has been so little interest among liberals highlighting the new movie Amazing Grace, about William Wilberforce, the British Christian evangelical credited with helping Britain to abolish slavery. This movie has been the talk of my church and Christian publications. It shows that religion isn't always the evil certain secular liberals make it out to be. and it shows the commitment of both secular human rights groups and evangelical groups (including Focus on the Family and Concerned WOmen for America) to ending modern day slavery.
THis blog tends to focus on all the evil, bad stuff of the religious right and how they aim to impose their "theocracy." i do not blame seculars or those w/o direct knowledge of Christian evangelicals to think, from the likes of Frederick Clarkson's posts and others, that we are a bunch of gay-hating, fetus-obsessed hypocrites who worship cardboard cutouts of George Bush every week. The evangelical community i know (black, latino, immigrant, esp) are way more diverse than the stereotypes imposed on us by both the mainstream media and secular liberals.
I have always recommended to Democratic activists that the most important publication they should read is not the Wash post, NYT or Harpers, but Christianity Today.
It is highly disappointing when i read books like Michelle Goldberg and others on the CHristian right's theocratic agenda, where they profile only the most extreme fundamentalist nutcases (fundie different from evangelical) without ever refering to Christianity Today, which is a pretty mainstream, intelligent and influential media outlet. I may not agree with some of their political agenda, and neither will most folks here, but I always respect their thoughtful point of view, and the ways in which they enrich my faith by showcasing ordinary folks (maybe even Republicans...) doing wonderful things in Christ's name.
See this profile of rich Christians in Texas helping out Zambian boys who were held in bondage:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/...
is the woman profiled a Republican probably? in all likelihood, but it shows the humanity of the folks who we sometimes disagree with. Another cover story in Christianity Today talked about Christians rescuing women from sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. Those are the folks you don't hear about in either the New York Times or on liberal blogs. If you want to equate us all with Jerry Falwell/Pat Robertson, fine go ahead. but then you are being just as bigoted and narrowminded as the theocrats you so rightly condemn. I suggest to those who may not have a good understanding of evangelicals to read Christianity Today (as well as anything by Phillip Yancey) to gain a better understanding of a group that is so influential in the US.