I just finished watching an hour question and answer panel on religion and progressive politics in 2008. Although, the presentation of the material is slightly dry, the content itself is chalked full of wonderful observations, ideas, and commentary about this new movement in Christianity; a movement that wants “to work together to make sure that everybody’s needs in society are met.”

I encourage anyone who has the time to watch the panel discussion yourself, as I am sure it will give you more insights into this great social shift. Most note-worthy to me was Jennifer Butlers comments about the religious right:

“It was interesting to see the Huckabee campaign, actually, because Huckabee is this Republican candidate who has a bit of a broader agenda as an evangelical. And then recently, he weighed in on the Jeremiah Wright controversy in the Obama campaign. He said, “You know, sometimes people have chips on their shoulder. They get angry about things. If I had seen what Jeremiah Wright had seen, I might have the chip on my shoulder as well. In fact, I would have a bigger chip on my shoulder.”

Recently two Christian Right figures, Harry Jackson and Tony Perkins, came out with a book about how evangelicals need to broaden their agenda. And I find that very interesting, both of those examples, because I think it says something about the ability of people of faith also to broaden even a conservative agenda and a Republican agenda.”

I have not at all been following how the religious right might be playing into this movement of Ordinary Radicals. But after watching discussion I decided to look into Jackson and Perkins’ new book. Although I have not read it, I found it interesting that they are trying to “advocate building upon the pro-life, pro-family issues that have been the mainstay of the religious Right. They intend to expand the religious Right’s influence into immigration policy, poverty and social justice, racial reconciliation, and global warming.” All things that I have considered concerns of the ‘Progressive Christian Left”. And although I do not know where the right stands on such issues the fact that they are talking about more than just abortion and homosexuality is… well just not what I expected from the religious right. As such I think I am going to pick up Jackson and Perkins’ book, just so perhaps my prejudice against the religious right can be broken down a bit.

1. Jonathan, June 20, 2008:

   right on! I hope we can look for ways to become a more unified body of Christ with the religious right. I think there is a certain amount of rebellion that is healthy, as long as we’re careful about how we’re rebelling. But throwing prejudice and judgement right back at them will not help anything.