This advice is from a Political Research Associates (PRA) document titled "Ground Rules and Tips for Challenging the Right." There are three sections--Do Your Homework, Stay Cool in Public, and Keep Organizing--each with several suggestions. Here are the two workshops in which I am a participant:
Fred Clarkson has kindly posted all the workshop information. Several groups that challenge the Religious Right have developed policies for respectful criticism.
Here is another example:
And don't forget Talk to Action that has this policy statement: Talk to Action is a platform for reporting on, learning about, and analyzing and discussing the religious right -- and what to do about it. It is not a forum for discussion, dialog or debate with those who sympathize with or belong to this movement. There is an editorial framework for this site that is different than you will find on other major blog sites, so please read this carefully: We are pro-religious equality and pro-separation of church and state. We are prochoice, and we support gay and lesbian civil rights -- including marriage equality. Therefore, debates about the validity of abortion and gay rights are off topic. We understand that some people who share our general concern about the politics of the Christian Right may not agree on all of these matters. That's fine. Anyone who agrees with the purpose of this site is welcome to participate -- but bearing this in mind. It is our intention to take the conversation forward, and not let it be held back by debating what, in our view are or should be, settled matters of human, civil and constitutional rights. Similarly, religious debates are off topic, especially debates between theism and atheism. Finally, we are nonpartisan. While political discussions are welcome, -- even central to the purpose of this site -- we do not wish the site itself to be a platform that is necessarily for or opposed to any particular party. So here are four groups, Faith in Public Life, DefCon: Campaign to Defend The Constitution, Talk to Action, and Political Research Associates (where I work) that are struggling to find language to challenge the Religious Right while at the same time respecting a person’s right to hold opinions and religious beliefs that many of us find offensive. We will' talk about it more at the Yearly Kos workshop. Ground Rules and Tips for Challenging the RightMaking Distinctions - Seeing Possibilities (1)Recognize that the Right is a Complex Movement (2) Respecting the Right to Hold Religious Beliefs You Find Offensive (3) Decode the Right's Agenda on Your Issue (4a) Ideology, Frames, and Narratives in Right-Wing Social Movements (4b) How do Social Movements Gain Political Power? (4c) Chip Berlet, Senior Analyst, Political Research Associates The Public Eye: Website of Political Research Associates--- Chip's Blog
Respecting the Right to Hold Religious Beliefs You Find Offensive (3) | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
Respecting the Right to Hold Religious Beliefs You Find Offensive (3) | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
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