Christopher Hitchens in the Opinion Journal:
At least two important conservative thinkers, Ayn Rand and Leo Strauss, were unbelievers or nonbelievers and in any case contemptuous of Christianity. I have my own differences with both of these savants, but is the Republican Party really prepared to disown such modern intellectuals as it can claim, in favor of a shallow, demagogic and above all sectarian religiosity?
Perhaps one could phrase the same question in two further ways. At the last election, the GOP succeeded in increasing its vote among American Jews by an estimated five percentage points. Does it propose to welcome these new adherents or sympathizers by yelling in the tones of that great Democrat bigmouth William Jennings Bryan? By insisting that evolution is “only a theory”? By demanding biblical literalism and by proclaiming that the Messiah has already shown himself? If so, it will deserve the punishment for hubris that is already coming its way. (The punishment, in other words, that Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson believed had struck America on Sept. 11, 2001. How can it be that such grotesque characters, calling down divine revenge on the workers in the World Trade Center, are allowed a respectful hearing, or a hearing at all, among patriotic Republicans?)
Hitchens nails the sectarian nature of this recent assault on the country from the whacky and out of control religious right. Once more- this is not about religion, per se. This is about people trying to push their religion on everyone else.
George Will, in the Washington Post:
The state of America’s political discourse is such that the president has felt it necessary to declare that unbelievers can be good Americans. In last week’s prime-time news conference, he said: “If you choose not to worship, you’re equally as patriotic as somebody who does worship.”
So Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes and a long, luminous list of other skeptics can be spared the posthumous ignominy of being stricken from the rolls of exemplary Americans. And almost 30 million living Americans welcomed that presidential benediction…
Some Christians should practice the magnanimity of the strong rather than cultivate the grievances of the weak. But many Christians are joining today’s scramble for the status of victims. There is much lamentation about various “assaults” on “people of faith.” Christians are indeed experiencing some petty insults and indignities concerning things such as restrictions on school Christmas observances. But their persecution complex is unbecoming because it is unrealistic…
Unbelievers should not cavil about this acknowledgment of majority sensibilities. But Republicans should not seem to require, de facto, what the Constitution forbids, de jure: “No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust.”
Why does George Will hate the baby Jesus? Compare these two pieces with this montage of excuses and claims of victim status for evangelicals.
*** Update ***
Jeebus- Great minds think alike.
Rick
John,
And this proves incipient theocracy?
Cordially…
John Cole
Just how many times am I going to have to write that I don’t think we are becoming a theocracy before you put away your straw men, Rick?
Searchg for “theocracy’ on this site. Tell me what you come up with.
Paul
The RR is noisy, but the real growth in the Republican Party is amongst the “9-11 Republicans” and the younger anti-PC “SouthPark Conservatives”. Despair not.
Rick
John,
Sorry, just reacting to some your new constituency. That, and your use of “theocrats” here and there to describe some pols and clergy. Strawman? I don’t think so.
But I wouldn’t scold you if I didn’t love you. In a heteronormsative, internet kind of way.
Cordially…
Geo
The RR is noisy, but the real growth in the Republican Party is amongst the “9-11 Republicans” and the younger anti-PC “SouthPark Conservatives”. Despair not.
Yeah, what a relief. The base is still consistently rooted in hatred and irrational fears, regardless of the particulars of pathological variation, just be comforted that ignorance is still strength!
Rick
The base is still consistently rooted in hatred and irrational fears, regardless of the particulars of pathological variation, just be comforted that ignorance is still strength!
Gosh, if that’s true, then the complainers that the ‘pubbies are becoming just like Dems are correct. I shall have to move to France.
Cordially…
everyone except the French
Huzzah!
RW
Yeah, war for oil, they want to take away your social security, tax cuts for the rich, chimp……irrational hatred & fear mongering, all.
[groan]
John Cole
Rick- Dosbon IS a theocrat. Terry is a theocrat. Falwell IS a theocrat.
What have I done that you are all upset about here.
Jay
John, please cite some evidence where James Dobson has called for a government ruled by and subject to religious authority, in his case, Christian.
In order for Dobson to be a theocrat, his agenda would have to be to make the practive of any religion other than Christianity illegal. I’ve never heard that from Dobson (or Falwell for that matter).
Now before you start accusing me of “defending” Dobson, think for a moment. I’m not defending Dobson’s position on any particular issue (in fact, I wrote a long letter to him and his organization for sending out a letter wherein he called Judge Greer “immoral.”). I’m asking you to back up your allegations.
Kimmitt
In order for Dobson to be a theocrat, his agenda would have to be to make the practive of any religion other than Christianity illegal.
I don’t think that’s valid — one could want a government which is subservient to the Church but which at least nominally tolerates persons of other faiths.
John Cole
Americans United here discusses the issue nicely.
RW
For someone who wants a theocracy, he’s sure going about it in a very democratic fasion.
If I had a dollar for every “theocrat” mention I’ve seen in the last month…….
ppgaz
Yes, there is nothing so “democratic” as insisting that disagreement with your policy is an attack on “people of faith”, or on “morality”, which as we all know, is spelled out clearly and in the only correct way by “christian” text. That people have to choose between the bible, and the law. That establishing “God’s law” (as interpreted by selected humans, of course) is a worthy democractic initiative.
Birkel
“What have I done that you are all upset about here.”
It’s just a guess but the lack of question marks might be the reason. :)
Does that make me a punctuatiacrat?
***************
Joking aside (and just because it’s not funny doesn’t mean it’s not joking):
After looking at the definition in my handy-dandy dictionary it would appear a theocrat wants a theocracy. And I don’t doubt that many on the right do want that. Although the degree to which they would move toward theocracy is open for debate. Most would want much more religion in courts, legislatures, classrooms, etc but would not want to impose religious views on others. In fact, most protestants thinks one must come to a personal relationship with God so that imposition would be self-defeating. Or at least that’s what I remember from lo those many years ago.
However the claims of those on the Left about a creeping theocracy are surely overblown.
So it seems objecting to use of theocrat is misplaced while hand-wringing over theocracy is tinfoil hat silliness.
And John Cole deserves some apologies, IMO.
Jay
John, that article proves nothing. It’s a lot of accusations. “Dobson wants….” and “Dobson probably…”
And since when are laws regarding homosexuality and abortion limited to Christianity? No religion is more homophobic than the Muslim faith.
So where is the evidence? I’ve heard Dobson talk about school prayer quite often. Never has he said that only Christians would be allowed to pray in school.
It’s a bunch of unsupported allegations.
So, I’ll wait for some real evidence.
The point is John, while you say we’re not in danger of becoming a theocracy, you’re still engaging in ridiculous fear-mongering when you talk about the ‘theocrats.’
And please. Give me a huge horking break with Randall Terry. The guy hasn’t been heard from in basically 7-8 years and he gets his puss back on television because of the Schiavo case and now people are acting like the guy has this amazing power hold on the country.
Kimmitt
And since when are laws regarding homosexuality and abortion limited to Christianity? No religion is more homophobic than the Muslim faith.
Wasn’t aware that there were a supermajority of practicing Muslims in Congress and the Executive. The things you learn on blogs.
Rick
John,
Wow, Americans United: Unlike Dobson, some in the Religious Right are upfront about what they want to do to America. A recent poll by the Barna Group found that 32 percent of respondents say they favor a constitutional amendment
Rick
BTW, John, just wanna note that this is *not* me writing:
http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/05_05_01_corner-archive.asp#062309
Cordially…
ObjectivismOnline
For their part, Ayn Rand fans seem to have a healthy respect for Christopher Hitchens, as the URL shows.