Bill Moyers, well-known producer of PBS’s NOW series, observed,
'One of the biggest changes in my lifetime is that the delusional is no longer marginal. It has come in from the fringe, to sit in the seat of power in the Oval Office and in Congress. For the first time in our history, ideology and theology hold a monopoly of the power in Washington.”
Is Moyers equating ideology and theology with the delusional? How ironic that a long time Baptist who believes in orthodox Christian doctrine would consider “ideology and theology” delusional as it relates to governmental influence.
Moyers mirrors the concern of many religious and non-religious people. To embrace religion on a personal level is one thing. It is an entirely different matter to demand that particular religious beliefs dictate policy, legislation, and judicial appointments. Today, one cannot discuss politics apart from religious belief and faith. Moyers’ concern is about religious right clergy getting to impose their doctrinal beliefs on pliant politicians.
Northwestern University History Professor Gary Willis speaks of a, “fringe constellation of Republican interest groups.” He explains, “That is why federal agencies reject scientific reports on ecology, stem cell, contraceptive, and abortion issues. They sponsor not only faith-based social relief, but faith-based war, faith-based science, faith-based education, and faith-based medicine.”
Americans must take a hard look at what the religious right’s faith-based input produces.
- The religious right’s middle east pro-war stance accommodates Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind vision--Armageddon- Jesus’ second coming, rapture scenario-- regardless of the cost or how many Americans and Iraqis are killed or maimed in the process.
- Reproductive choice is opposed because of an arbitrary, non-scientific religious definition of when life begins. Regardless of the fact that:
- the bible says Adam did not become a living soul until after he took his first breath,
- St. Augustine taught that a soul could not inhabit a formless body (zygote), and
- the Roman Catholic church endorsed St.Augustine’s pro-choice position for over 14 centuries, the religious right now seeks legislation criminalizing all who participate in abortion.
- The anti-gay marriage amendment, based solely on a few bible verses and religious bigotry, discriminates against the homosexual minority.
- End of life decisions, as in the Terry Schiavo case, would be regulated by law instead of by the individuals concerned and/or family because the religious right deems it a sin to accelerate death for the terminally ill.
- Pharmacist’s religious conscience determines whether a woman can purchase a doctor-prescribed morning after pill. Following this logic, what would happen if a pharmacist were a Christian Scientist?
- President Bush’s promise of $15 million for AIDES prevention to African nations remains denied to those nations which, contradictory to pro-life doctrine offer family planning and/or contraceptives.
- American youth receive the failed “abstinence only” program instead of comprehensive sex education because the religious right fear young people cannot make intelligent choices about sex.
- Science is demeaned because its evolutionary theory contradicts the bible.
- In spite of the Constitution’s Article VI that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust,” today’s candidates for office must prove their religious credentials as if religion were a test.
- President Bush’s funding of faith-based initiatives contradicts the Constitution’s 1st Amendment prohibition against the establishment of religion and America’s longstanding separation of church and state
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