Liberal Baptist has been posting some insightful blogs about the Baptist legacy.
The First Amendment is the Baptist legacy. At our nation's founding, Baptists were the most vocal, persistent and numerous advocates for separating church and state.
Unfortunately, some otherwise thoughtful Baptists have decided that "Resistance is futile." They see the juggernaut of theocracy approaching and, being of the majority faith with little to lose, have already made peace with it.
There is a price to pay for collaborating with theocrats. This generation may be able to live comfortably with theocracy, but another generation will surely revolt. Religious values that must be imposed by force of law are the dying gasps of a declining faith. Vibrant faith lives by the stength of persuasion and voluntary commitment.
4 comments:
There are a variety of contributers on The Emmaus Theory blog, from extreme right wing (the author of the piece you sited) to moderates and liberals (like me). Fortunately, there is more than one point of view on church and state at The Emmaus Theory as well. Be sure to read the additional comments after you read the "Resistance is Futile" post. Also, please see my earlier article "You Gotta Keep "Em Separated."
Peace,
Mike
Dr. Mike,
Thanks for pointing out the variety of contributors on the Emmaus Theory blog.
I'll make a point of noting the author of the blog in the future.
Hi Bruce,
David (the author of "Resistance is Futile") is a Reconstructionist Presbyterian. I am a liberal Baptist. You should hear the conversations we have at family gatherings!
October of last year was kinda tense, as you might imagine (David lives 20 miles from the western Whitehouse - he told me the theaters in Waco wouldn't dare show Farenheit 9/11 for fear of retaliation), but we made it through the election without familial bloodshed.
Whe things get really bad, I just pull out my ACLU membership card and say, "Talk to the card!"
But seriously, we do have some major differences in political, social, and religious points of view. When Matt Chapmond (another Emmaus contributor) read David's article, he said, "We really need to make our names big so that people will know that we don't all share the same opinion!"
Peace,
Mike
Dr. Mike,
Now I know what ACLU cards are for.
I've got to get one.
Post a Comment