Michele Bachmann: Too Much Religion in Her Politics?

As an atheistic agnostic (that's the best I can narrow it down for you), I'm distressed by the injection of religion into politics. Even before I'd sorted out my (lack of) beliefs, I learned that our founding fathers sought to keep religion and state separate. Even as a kid, I glossed over the "under God" in the pledge of allegiance. Since the age of fourteen, and solidifying as I got older, I've seen all religions as--let's just put it charitably--highly unlikely to be true.


All of that said, I'm not usually militant about it. As long as people aren't trying to force me to follow their religions tenets, especially by writing them into laws, I really don't care what others believe. I'm able to sit through a religious service (such as a funeral) without fidgeting--much--at all the overt religiosity. In fact, I'd say I give a lot more respect toward other people's beliefs than I get in return as a non-believer. I overlook Presidents and other politicians invoking God in speeches and at special events, even though to me it is like praising the Great Gazoo. But there is a line that is being crossed that I can not tolerate.


This year's crop of GOP presidential hopefuls is chock full of overtly religious candidates. One of them, Rick Perry, just had a big "pray for Texas" rally. Michele Bachmann is also extremely quick to lay on the religious talk. There are others like Rick (don't Google me) Santorum, who are irritatingly willing to mix religion and politics. But it is Perry and his associated preachers, and Bachmann who worry me the most. They are both alleged to be "dominionists." This goes beyond merely religious. Unless I'm misreading the subject, dominionists wish to supplant the United States Government with their own version of Christianity. That is not what the United States of America is about. And it puts a lie to the alleged allegiance these people claim to have to the Constitution. In fact, it makes them just about as un-American as you can be.


[Excerpt]


Frank Schaeffer: Bachmann wants to replace American democracy with Christian theocracy




Former evangelical Christian Frank Schaeffer told Democracy Now on Wednesday that Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann wanted to turn the United States into the Christian version of modern-day Iran. . .


Read more at: Raw Story

Frank Schaeffer on Fundamentalist Christians and Danger to President Obama

It's been my contention for a while that one of the biggest problems in politics right now is religion. Not religion in and of itself--though I have my issues with that too--but political ideology as religion. As the conservatives and/or Republicans boil themselves down to the hardcore fringe, the line between political ideology has blurred. No, even that's not strong enough. For some people, religion and politics have merged.

Look at the tea bagger rallies for evidence. These people have taken their political beliefs and elevated them to doctrine. And like most religion, the doctrine can be contradictory, radical, and most of all: impervious to logic or debate. Scarier than that, is how religions treat heretics. Transpose in political adversaries, and treat them as though they were opponents of a hardline religion, and you can see the danger for people in the opposing political camps.

Frank Schaeffer warns against fundamentalist christians wanting to harm President Obama

GOP Gets Dressing Down from Former Evangelical

I've seen DL Hughley on Real Time with Bill Maher, and while he was entertaining, I didn't see him getting his own show on a cable news network. But he has made a name for himself in the short period of time he's been on the air. It was on his show that RNC chair Michael Steele got himself into hot water with "Boss Limbaugh." And this piece of video stunned even Hughley.

Former evangelical Frank Schaeffer exposes the GOP's use of the the religious right, and describes--in extremely frank terms (see, he was aptly named)--where the GOP stands right now. Good stuff.

UPDATE: Apparently Hughley's show has been cancelled. Well, now!