Commentary: How Christianity failed Anne Rice (amen)

[babsbunny]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/08/06/98626/commentary-how-christianity-failed.html?storylink=MI_emailed

Organized religion, Christianity in particular, is on the decline, and it has no one to blame but itself: It traded moral authority for political power.

By Leonard Pitts Jr. | The Miami Herald

"Today, I quit being a Christian."

With those words last week on Facebook, Anne Rice delivered a wake-up call for organized religion. The question is whether it will be recognized as such.

"I remain committed to Christ as always," she wrote, "but not to being 'Christian' or to being part of Christianity. It's simply impossible for me to 'belong' to this quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious and deservedly infamous group. For 10 years, I've tried. I've failed. I'm an outsider. My conscience will allow nothing else."

[VAliberal]

1. terrific article!

I particularly liked the turn of phrase that many regard the GOP platform as a lost gospel. Too true.

[I Have A Dream]

2. K&R. nt

[mwb970]

3. I was very pleased to read this.

Pitts is exactly right. Christianity, which used to be a religion, is now part of the PR apparatus of the far-right republican party. When I think "Christian", I think "right-wing wacko". The two have become synonymous.

But....weren't some of Christ's teachings kind of, I don't know....liberal? These phony Christians are nothing but the usual racist bigots, except that they're sitting in a church instead of at a NASCAR event.

I know, I know, some Christians are OK, some liberals like NASCAR, etc. I am making a point about the grotesque overlap between a religion based on the Prince Of Peace and ugly, inhuman, gutter-level right-wing politics. Talk about an unholy alliance!

[Lint Head]

4. Here. Here. I agree with her. I have felt this way for many years.

Because I made this decision I no longer have fear in my life.