As I have traveled around the country, one line in my speeches always draws cheers: “The monologue of the Religious Right is over, and a new dialogue has now begun.” We have now entered the post-Religious Right era. Though religion has had a negative image in the last few decades, the years ahead may be shaped by a dynamic and more progressive faith that will make needed social change more possible. In the churches, a combination of deeper compassion and better theology has moved many pastors and congregations away from the partisan politics of the Religious Right. In politics, we are beginning to see a leveling of the playing field between the two parties on religion and “moral values,” and the media are finally beginning to cover the many and diverse voices of faith. These are all big changes in American life, and the rest of the world is taking notice.
Far be it from me to disagree with the great Jim Wallis, but I’m every bit as leery of the new dialogue as I’ve been angry at the old monologue. We can’t forget that the tactics of the Religious Right have been borne out by the liberal tactics that came before them. Liberals started the bullying back in the early part of the 20th century. Many Christian denominations have been tackled and ramshackled by the bullying and badgering of the liberals and completely taken over such that the Church in those denominations is no longer recognizable.
While I agree that living in a “post-Religious Right” world might be desirable, I’m not certain that it has come to an end. I think it is more likely that we will get a temporary reprieve. But what we will be subjected to from the other side of our culture during the absence may be just as frightening. I doubt very seriously that it will consist of very serious “dialogue.”
And “better theology?” Who’s he kidding?
Congregations may be moving away from the partisanship of the Religious Right, but the question remains, “What will they embrace in the process?”
Evangelicals — especially the new generation of pastors and young people — are deserting the Religious Right in droves. The evangelical social agenda is now much broader and deeper, engaging issues like poverty and economic justice, global warming, HIV/AIDS, sex trafficking, genocide in Darfur and the ethics of the war in Iraq. Catholics are returning to their social teaching; mainline Protestants are asserting their faith more aggressively; a new generation of young black and Latino pastors are putting the focus on social justice; a Jewish renewal movement and more moderate Islam are also growing; and a whole new denomination has emerged, which might be called the “spiritual but not religious.”
In other words, evangelicals have given up on the old idea that charity is not the province of the government. Our first clue might have been the Religious Right’s standard bearer, George W. Bush’s, faith-based initiative. Evangelicals have thrown in the towel and joined the big government liberals in their progressive promise - if we think we can fix it, we should try. Christians built this country on the idea that liberty and justice means the government should stay out of as much of the people’s business as possible and make way for the churches to be there when they should be. Now, it seems they are aiming to destroy it by shirking their personal and private charitable responsibilities by handing it over to government. It doubt that it will live up to its promise to make the world a better place.
Even more amazing, the Left is starting to get it. Progressive politics is remembering its own religious history and recovering the language of faith. Democrats are learning to connect issues with values and are now engaging with the faith community. They are running more candidates who have been emboldened to come out of the closet as believers themselves. Meanwhile, many Republicans have had it with the Religious Right. Both sides are asking how to connect faith and values with politics. People know now that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat, and we are all learning that religion should not be in the pocket of any political party; it calls all of us to moral accountability.
Just what exactly is the Left starting to get? That Christians are a large voting bloc? That they can learn to speak the language that will win them votes so they, too, can use religion as a battering ram? I hardly consider that a lesson worth learning.
While much of this is scary in some respects, Wallis does make a great point with regard to God not being a partisan. Now if we can just somehow unlock the hold that the political parties have on the electoral process and allow true dialogue to take place between individuals instead of party heads. I wonder if Rev. Wallis would support that initiative.
Most people I talk to think that politics isn’t working in America and believe that the misuse of religion has been part of the problem. Politics is failing to resolve the big moral issues of our time, or even to seriously address them. And religion has too often been used as a wedge to divide people, rather than as a bridge to bring us together on those most critical questions. I believe (and many people I talk with agree) that politics could and should begin to really deal with the many crises we face. Whenever that happens, social movements often begin to emerge, usually focused on key moral issues. The best social movements always have spiritual foundations, because real change comes with the energy, commitment and hope that powerful faith and spirituality can bring.
No kidding. Why isn’t politics working? Because the two major parties have rigged the system to shut out anyone who disagrees with them. Both parties are in the pocket of Big Business no matter what they say. The problem with politics and morality is that moral issues should not be a political discussion. That’s why the Religious Right was so adamant about letting blood. Now the moralists are moving left again after having moved right after their disappointment with Jimmy Carter. It makes me wonder what it will take to get them to move right again. Who will piss them off next time?
We don’t need any more social movements. What we need are government servants who care enough to get out of people’s way and let them live their lives in pursuit of happiness. When that happens, then the churches can engage in healthy social commentary with their neighbors and, by the grace of God, hope to make a difference in their lives at the deepest levels. As long as the moralists attempt to make that difference through legislation and strong arm tactics - whether right or left in their politics - we will keep rolling along the same immoral track that we’ve been rolling on.
It’s time to remember the spiritual revivals that helped lead to the abolition of slavery in Britain and the United States; the black church’s leadership during the American civil rights movement; the deeply Catholic roots of the Solidarity movement in Poland that led the overthrow of communism; the way liberation theology in Latin America helped pave the way for new democracies; how Desmond Tutu and the South African churches served to inspire victory over apartheid; how “People Power” joined with the priests and bishops to bring down down Philippine strongman Ferdinand Marcos; how the Dalai Lama keeps hope alive for millions of Tibetans; and, today, how the growing Evangelical and Pentecostal churches of the global South are mobilizing to addresse the injustices of globalization.
Spiritual revivals aren’t planned. They’re like big gusts of wind that come up from out of nowhere. Unpredictable and strong. They are deeper and more fundamental than grass roots. They are the soil that feeds the roots. And they are nothing that can be instilled or ingrained in mass consciousness. They just are - like God Himself. Take all the examples from history that you can find but if there is another Great Awakening in America, you can bet it won’t have anything to do with political parties, social consciousness or partisan divides. Social change happens when millions of people individually make internal personal change. That can only happen as an act of God.
I believe we are seeing the beginning of movements like that again, right here in America, and that we are poised on the edge of what might become a revival that will bring about big changes in the world. Historically, social reform often requires spiritual revival. And that’s what church historians always say about real revival — that it changes things in the society, not just in people’s inner lives. I believe that what we are seeing now may be the beginning of a new revival — a revival for justice.
The era of the Religious Right is now past, and it’s up to all of us to create a new day.
I don’t believe that’s what we’re seeing at all. There’s no revival. There is a sense of regret and resentment that the so-called moral element among us lied to us, bullied us, badgered us, cajoled us and manipulated us to start an unjust war that we know should never have happened. And I think there is a sense of guilt that most of us went along with it without question. The guilt is real and it’s quite warranted. But it’s not a revival. And America is still seeped in sin.
Jim Wallis is the founder of Sojourners and the author of God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get It
