In a post titled “Q&A Friday #16: Do Libertarians Have A Beef With Religion?”, John Hawkins answers reader questions. The question today:
Question: “What beef do libertarians have with religion?” — covok48
“I like covak48’s question, “What beef do libertarians have with religion?” That is a very interesting question.” — dshompe
Answer: Truthfully, I don’t think most libertarians have a problem with religion. What ya gotta understand is that libertarians have a political philosophy that in essence almost boils down to “Anything goes” when it comes to social issues…
Of course, there are a VERY small number of people on the right whom I would categorize as overtly hostile to religion. But, the only two who really stand out in my mind are Andrew Sullivan (whom I don’t consider to be conservative anymore) and John Cole of Balloon Juice who gets linked fawningly by the likes of the Daily Kos.
I am not going to even comment in detail about this smear on Andrew Sullivan, who can take care of himself, but I find it the height of absurdity to label a practicing Catholic distraught by some of the actions of his Church as ‘overtly anti-religion.’
Now granted, it was 3:47 am when he wrote it, so he may have been drunk. But let’s clear some things up anyway:
– Disliking a narrow group of people who are overtly hostile to homosexuals under the guise of religious teachings does not make you anti-religion.
– Thinking that teaching creationism or Intelligent Design alongside evolutionary theory is a broadside against science does not make you anti-religion.
– Not wanting government licensed pharmacists to decide what meds you get because of the pharmacist’s beliefs does not make you anti-religion.
– Disagreeing that Democrats opposing the filibuster makes them ‘against faith’ does not make you anti-religion.
– Thinking that specially crafted legislation designed to overturn established law and to intervene in the tragedy of a family crisis as a clear political ploy is wrong is not anti-religion.
– Believing it is wholly inappropriate for certain evangelicals to proselytize during mandatory sessions and encouraging hostility to non-Christians at the Air Force Academy is wrong does not make you anti-religion.
– Recognizing that excommunicating Democrats is wrong does not make you anti-religion.
– Stating that you have no problem with Hindus, Buddhists, and other individuals who don’t practice a Judeo-Christian becoming judges does not make you anti-religion.
Meanwhile, I have no problem with public displays of the Ten Commandments (if the people of Alabama want that, let them), I have no problem with nativity scenes and celbrations of Easter and Christmas and other religious holidays, I have no problem with invocations of God in government rituals, I have no problem with a moment of silence for prayer or reflection in schools, I have no problem with religious people organizing to advance their beliefs or their political opinions, I have no problem with people proselytizing in private settings like my house (Mormons come to mind) or the public square (just not in schools or in official government capacity), I support faith-based initiatives- as long as all religions are given equal footing- in fact I think there should be more public support for the Salvation Army-like organizations and similar charities, and I think people like Donald Sensing (whose sermon I read every Sunday) and those like him are the salt of the earth.
And when I say I have no problem with, I mean that not only do I have no problem with it, I support most of the above-listed endeavors. Clearly I am overtly hostile to religion.
There is most certainly a role for religion in public life, but there should be no role for demanding doctrinal adherence to a narrow brand of Christianity. I am not attacking religion- I am hostile to some ‘religious’ people who are trying to foist on the public a very narrow, intolerant, mean-spirited, and exclusionary version of religion on the American people. But then again, maybe I am just under the misguided impression that all of the above behaviors are not very ‘Christian’ at all.
Yes, I have been writing almost daily about the atrocious excesses of some individuals- but I don’t make the news, and I most certainly am not responsible for their inappropriate and offensive behavior. I am also dismayed by the people who continue to run political cover for these few vocal zealots (by, say, smearing people who raise legitimate greivances are ‘overtly anti-religion,’) because I recognize where this is heading.
Just my two cents.
*** Update ***
I see I have also caught the attention of the wild-eyed Hundred Percenter, otherwise known as “He with the Spit Fleckled Monitor.” Apparently I am a Republicrat. At any rate, If you want some fun, go poke some fun at the retina-burning layout of his site, which most closely resembles the geocities layouts circa 1994 that are still fashionable with lunatics of all stripes.