Evangelicals branch out politically

[Cowperson]

LA Times with an interesting analysis of how the evangelical movement in the USA is switching gears and branching out its various politcal causes into areas that might surprise you.

Are evangelicals right wing or left wing . . . . or both?

These "watch parties" are being organized by a small but growing movement of evangelical Christians who no longer want to be defined by gay marriage and abortion. Plumbing the Bible for God's priorities, they are talking instead about global warming and affordable housing, about fewer tax cuts for the rich and more food stamps for the poor.

"The typical image of evangelicals is that they're concerned with the sanctity of life, the traditional family and that's it — they buy the whole Republican agenda when they vote," said Ron Sider, president of Evangelicals for Social Action, a think tank based in Wynnewood, Pa.

Without giving up their opposition to abortion and gay marriage, "they're asking, what [else] does God care about?" Sider said.

Citing Jesus' concern for the most vulnerable, evangelicals last month led a protest against a proposed federal budget that would cut deeply into food stamps, subsidized health insurance and student aid.

The Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Assn. of Evangelicals, has spoken out for clean-air and clean-water policies, arguing that God ordered man to be a good steward of creation. He hears pastors everywhere picking up the theme.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationwo...la-home-nation

Cowperson

[FireFly]

It's about time. Many 'fundamentalists' forget about the part where Jesus said not to 'cast the first stone'. They're so busy casting stones, they aren't helping others, which was his main message. Nice to see them start to try and help others.

[Bobblehead]

If they want to be lobbiests then they should be treated and taxed like lobbiests.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

If they want to be lobbiests then they should be treated and taxed like lobbiests.

I think there is a case in the courts in the USA right now where the tax exempt status of a church is in danger because of political activism.

Cowperson

[Hack&Lube]

When people speak of Christians, they invariably always lump them in with the right conservatives.

They completely forget that Catholics have been for decades, almost completely liberally left (desiring greater welfare society) and striving for social modernism. Funny how after all these centuries, it's the Pope who declares the Big Bang and Evolution to be real science and the Protestants sticking with the past.