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Its the Substance, Not the Slogan
As Talk to Action regulars know, we believe that name calling and cheap sloganeering are no substitute for actual knowledge and the capacity to think about and discuss the Religious Right in thoughtful ways. Indeed, labeling and demonization tactics not only tend to distort civil discourse, but are often substituted for knowledge and sound analysis. (I have encountered more otherwise sensible people over the years than I ever could have imagined who seem to think that you really don't need to know much more than what to call "THEM.")
While developing broadly held understandings of the Religious Right and the capacity to discuss it has always been difficult, some trends in recent years posed additional obstacles. The pandering to conservative Catholics and evangelicals by the Democratic Party and related interest groups has had the perhaps unintended consequence of knowledge reduction, and of the marginalization of genuinely informed analysis about the Religious Right. For example, Jeff Sharlet's book The Family came out with little notice or interest from the media, the political community or the blogosphere. When the "C Street" scandal hit, Jeff's book suddenly became required reading -- as it should have been all along. Another consequence was that conferences now tended not to feature speakers and panels about the right, but often highlighted discussion of dubious notions of "faith outreach" and "common ground."
So I am pleased to note a recent exception, and I hope it signals a trend. |
Talk to Action contributor Rachel Tabachnick spoke at a major progressive political conference, the PA Progressive Summit in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Here is the program description of her session.
The "Sacralizing" of Economic and Political Issues by the Religious Right
10:30-11:30am, Birch Room
Religion can provide the motivation for activism in support of justice and equality, or it can be manipulated to justify attacks on progressive activism and legislation. This presentation begins with a very brief introduction to the American Fundamentalist movement of the early 1900s and their battles against the social gospel, labor rights and regulation--and then traces that movement to the Religious Right of today. Most of the presentation is dedicated to showing how the Religious Right "sacralizes" economic and political issues.
Its the Substance, Not the Slogan | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
Its the Substance, Not the Slogan | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
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