The New Theology

Two items about the junction between religion and politics crossed my radar lately. From the AP:

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. -- A pastor of a small Baptist church led an effort to kick out church members because they didn't support President Bush, members said.

The nine members were voted out at a Monday meeting of the East Waynesville Baptist Church in this mountain town about 120 miles west of Charlotte. WLOS-TV in Asheville reported that 40 other members resigned in protest.

"It's all over politics," said Selma Morris, the church's treasurer. "We've never had a pastor like that before."

Pastor Chan Chandler had told the congregation before last year's presidential election that anyone who planned to vote for Democratic Sen. John Kerry should either leave the church or repent, said Lorene Sutton, who said she and her husband were voted out of the church this week.

I'm amused trying to imagine the theological thinking that would lead one to have to "repent" for planning to vote for Kerry. I wasn't aware that the Bible said anything about the 2004 election. But then, I guess I'm a sinner, so what do I know?

Speaking of sinners, here's a quote that gives a measure of how far we've come since the 80s.

"I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in A, B, C, and D. Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of conservatism."

--- Barry Goldwater

When Barry Goldwater sounds like a "liberal", you know things have turned topsy-turvy.