CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM

From AlterNet:

The mass movement I've described aims to supplant Enlightenment rationalism with what it calls the "Christian worldview." The phrase is based on the conviction that true Christianity must govern every aspect of public and private life, and that all -- government, science, history and culture -- must be understood according to the dictates of scripture. There are biblically correct positions on every issue, from gay marriage to income tax rates, and only those with the right worldview can discern them. This is Christianity as a total ideology -- I call it Christian nationalism. It's an ideology adhered to by millions of Americans, some of whom are very powerful. It's what drives a great many of the fights over religion, science, sex and pluralism now dividing communities all over the country.

I am not suggesting that religious tyranny is imminent in the United States. Our democracy is eroding and some of our rights are disappearing, but for most people, including those most opposed to the Christian nationalist agenda, life will most likely go on pretty much as normal for the foreseeable future. Thus for those who value secular society, apprehending the threat of Christian nationalism is tricky. It's like being a lobster in a pot, with the water heating up so slowly that you don't notice the moment at which it starts to kill you.

If current trends continue, we will see ever-increasing division and acrimony in our politics.

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I think this guy's got a good handle on the issue: we're not in danger of imminent theocracy, but we are in danger. The leaders of this fundamentalist movement have power and influence that dwarf the percentage of the population they lead, and they're not going to go away. Look, I have no problem with religion in and of itself. I have no problem with people believing any kooky thing they want to believe, from UFOs to ghosts to resurrection, and I definitely have no problem with people organizing in order to persuade others to adopt their beliefs. But these guys want to use the government to force adherence to their beliefs on our entire nation, whether we believe or not. That's not only a direct attack on the Constitution, and therefore unAmerican on its face, but it's also stupid and dangerous. I don't think it's necessary to rant about why a secular government and society are best for America. Suffice it to say, knowledge and understanding do not progress when tied down by unchanging dogma. The Renaissance, and then the Age of Enlightenment, could not begin without the Protestant Reformation happening first, which greatly shook up the Catholic dominated power structure in Europe during the Middle Ages, allowing free discussion and inquiry to flourish. These fundamentalists want to turn back the clock, and, thus, retard humanity greatly. They've got to be stopped.

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