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"The religious threats to democratic practices abroad are much easier to talk about than those at home. Just as demagogic and antidemocratic fundamentalisms have gained too much prominence in both Israel and the Islamic world, so too has a fundamentalist strain of Christianity gained far too much power in our political system, and in the hearts and minds of citizens. This Christian fundamentalism is exercising an undue influence over our government policies, both in the Middle East crisis and in the domestic sphere, and is violating fundamental principles enshrined in the Constitution; it is also providing support and "cover" for the imperialism aims of empire." (Cornel West, Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism)
"The three dogmas that are leading to the imperial devouring of democracy in America - free-market fundamentalism, aggressive militarism, and escalating authoritarianism - are often justified by the religious rhetoric of this Christan fundamentalism. And perhaps most ironically - and sadly-this fundamentalism is subverting the most profound, seminal teachings of Christianity, those being that we should live with humility, love our neighbors, and do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Therefore, even as we turn a critical eye on the fundamentalisms at play in the Middle East, the genuine democrats and democratic Christians among us must unite in opposition to this hypocritical, antidemocratic fundamentalism at home.""The battle for the soul of American democracy is, in large part a a battle for the soul of American Christianity, because the dominate forms of Christian fundamentalism are a threat to the tolerance and openness necessary for the sustaining of any democracy. Yet the best of American Christianity has contributed greatly to preserving and expanding American democracy." (Cornel West, Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
Published October 25, 2008 by Gerald Britt |
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| Tags:
Christianity
Constitution
Democracy
Faith
Middle East
Religion
