Progressive Faith Groups Now Trying to Shift Debate

[davidinalameda]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003471.html?hpid=sec-religion

With a president they view as more sympathetic to their causes, progressive religious activists are pushing the new Obama administration for aggressive action -- on poverty, the environment and social justice issues -- that would mark a significant shift in the faith agenda that dominated the Bush years.

Many faith groups close to President George W. Bush focused on abortion, stem cell research and same-sex marriage. But now, liberal and centrist evangelicals and other activists say they are getting a voice and trying to turn the debate.

"The last administration showed no interest in talking to a large chunk of the religious community," said Melissa Rogers, director of the Center for Religion and Public Affairs at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. "We're already seeing change. . . . This administration, so far as I can see, is not making a similar mistake."

[terisan]

1. Obama promised Faith Based big bucks-and expects to get big voting block in 2012

Rick Warren will be increasingly setting Dem Agenda.

[Why Syzygy]

2. I don't think so.

I really got the impression that he (Warren) has met more that his match with Progressives. I'm pretty sure I watched him shrink a little as he went through the trials before the inauguration. Neither he nor his type are mentioned in the article. It claims the largest obstacle are the Catholics. whoop

[anonymous171]

5. lol Rick Warren isn't "progressive" or even centrist. He's just your average dominionist. nt

[ZombieHorde]

3. Liberal Christians are a completely different religion than conservative Christians.

A liberal Catholic worships a different God than a conservative Catholic, even though they both belong to the same religious club. At least in this heathens view.

If they help the poor, without being weird about it, I will be very happy.

[Why Syzygy]

4. One advances free will

The other suppresses it. If you don't believe in "free will", call it Liberty.

[skepticscott]

6. Why is any phrase with the word "faith" in it

now the preferred feel-goody euphemism of the day? Why not just say "religious groups" instead of "faith groups"? Why not just say "religiously-based" instead of "faith-based"?

[Occam Bandage]

8. Presumably because some hired linguist, such as Luntz, determined that

"faith group" was a more widely acceptable frame than "religion."

[Soodonim]

7. Well it's nice that people are putting their delusions to good use

but it is still a bunch of people choosing an imaginary friend, not just any imaginary friend, but one that demands you be his slave.