Whatever Happened to the Religious Left? UPDATED
Frederick Clarkson printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 11:33:24 PM EST
As it happens, life has intervened and I am going to be unable to make it to Netroots Nation. However, Ryan Valentine of the Texas Freedom Network has graciously agreed to stand in, and to read my panel presentation for me. For those of us (including me!) who are unable to be there, I am informed that much of the Netroots Nation agenda will be video taped and live streamed via ustreamtv -- including Whatever Happened to the Religious Left. It will also be archived and available after the convention. I will post further details as they become available.

The annual Netroots Nation conference (formerly the Yearly Kos) will be held this year in Austin, Texas, July 17-20th.  I'm pleased to announce that  Pastordan and I will be leading a panel titled Whatever Happened to the Religious Left?.    I will talk about what the Religious Right has got that the Religious Left hasn't got -- and offer a few ideas of how to get it.

There is nothing on the Left corresponding to the politically dynamic Religious Right. But there are some promising elements with the potential to become greater than the sum of their parts.

This panel seeks to address what's going on and what should happen next. We will discuss how common approaches to electoral politics can be found and practiced in a way that respects the unique character of progressive faith.

Whatever Happened to the Religious Left?
Sat, 07/19/2008 - 4:30pm, Ballroom E



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Whatever Happened to the Religious Left? UPDATED | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)
Arrgghh! (none / 0)
You know, of all the times to choose to be away from Austin, it happens to be when the Netroots Nation is in town.  But with beaucoup bucks and plane tickets invested, alas there is little I can do.  

Have a great conference, and enjoy all that Austin has to offer its guests (though make sure you have plenty of sun-screen and water with you if you venture outside in the daytime -- it's been a very hot summer already, and we've barely started).

by tacitus on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 02:16:48 AM EST

thanks (none / 0)
sorry we'll miss you!  The last time I visited Austin it was over 100 degrees. Figures it would be summer.. again. I dunno why NN picked Austin in the summer for this. But I guess if we were going to pick a hot Southern city, it might as well be Austin. Cool place!

by Frederick Clarkson on Fri Jun 27, 2008 at 12:25:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]


Help me here (none / 0)
First. Going to Austin in the middle of summer is crazy. I live, just south, in San Antonio. It is seriously HOTTT down here and is just going to get worse. Why not meet at Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels? At least you can cool off in the water. Second (the serious part). Religious Left? Was there ever such a thing? Even a Religious Middle? Would that there was; but then maybe that's why the conference is happening. Okay, so I'm a little slow if that's it (yes, I read the entire post). I can't seem to recall any sort of united effort from a faith based standpoint in recent memory other than from the (not very) Religious Right. Third. The Religious Right seems to be locked into a struggle to kill itself off, or perhaps parts thereof. So while it is certainly politically noisy, not to mention dangerously out of touch, I don't think that I would call it dynamic. Damned maybe. Anyway, all the best (and my prayers for success) to you for making this effort.

by SemiDiscerning on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 04:26:53 PM EST
well (none / 0)
I am sure the conference center is air conditioned.

Second, I agree there is no Religious Left of any political consequence in the United States -- that is why we need to talk about it. Our session is but one in a wider conference of mostly progressive political bloggers.

And finally, the Religious Right has been and remains one of the most powerful and dynamic social and political movements in American history. We have discussed the ins and outs and ups and downs of the movement for close to three years now on this site. Stick around. there is much to discuss!

by Frederick Clarkson on Thu Jun 26, 2008 at 05:43:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]



Whatever Happened to the Religious Left? UPDATED | 4 comments (4 topical, 0 hidden)

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