Morals, Motivation, and Movements: What the Left Can Learn from Religion

[KoKo]

Morals, Motivation, and Movements: What the Left Can Learn from Religion
By: GRITtv Wednesday November 4, 2009 9:30 am

One year ago, Americans were energized to elect Barack Obama president, casting more votes than had ever been cast in a U.S. election. Now it’s election day again, and with Democratic candidates facing tough races in several states, we take a look at what the left can learn from religious organizations, who manage to keep people coming back week after week. Does religion have a place in social justice movements, and does the right have a lock on religious motivation to act?

Joining us to debate the proper place of religion and spirituality on the Left are Michael De Dora of the Center for Inquiry, Reverend Osagyefo Sekou, Senior Minister of Lemuel Haynes Congregational Church, Kim Gandy, Fellow, Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School and former president, National Organization for Women, and Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Director of the Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition.

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An interesting watch from Laura Flanders, GRIT TV.

[Odin2005]

1. The proper place for religion is in a history book.

[KoKo]

2. Nothing constructive to say? Didn't watch it? Think this Forum is DU GD or GDPresidential?

Lost your way? Topic Troll?

[Odin2005]

3. No, an Atheist that has doesn't need fairy tales to be a good person.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Why does an atheist name himself after a Norse god?

On edit...

Oops.

This was for that Odin person.

[darkstar3]

5. Here's a hint, who in this world currently believes in said Norse god? n/t

[darkstar3]

6. My only problem here is credibility.

Anytime someone stands on their own self-constructed pedestal and states "you know, you could learn a thing or two from me," it tends to make me go :eyes:.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. So, that lineup on the show lacks credibilty? You must be...

sumpin' if you can't pick up a thing or two from any of them.

[darkstar3]

8. Was my statement unclear? n/t

[TreasonousBastard]

9. It was all too clear.

[darkstar3]

11. So which part of my statement do you disagree with?

The fact that these people are on a pedestal?
The fact that said pedestal is self-created?
The fact that the phrase "You could learn something from me" is conceited at best, and oppressive at worst?
Or perhaps the fact that all of these things together damage one's credibility?

[laconicsax]

10. The left can clearly learn things from religion.

Though I'm not sure that lock-step ideological dogmatism, persecution of out-groups, or fanaticism, are worth picking up. Better to leave that to the right wing nut-jobs over at FR.

[Jim__]

12. Is there any summary of what each of the participants said?

It's kind of hard to come to any conclusion about the debate without any clues as to what was said.

[rd_kent]

13. What I learned from religion------Do exactly the opposite...........

of what they say.......thats what they do......hypocrites......

Laura Flanders....isnt she on the Simpsons??????