Religion and the left

[hoov]

> I think that just about everybody here takes it for granted that secular
> leftists should be willing to work with religious believers on issues of
> peace or social justice.  In fact the history of the American left
> indicates
> that such cooperation has long been the norm.  If anything the left has
> too unwilling to voice criticisms of organized religions in the US.  This
> is no doubt due to the perception that the US remains the most religious
> of any of the industrialized nations.  Therefore, there is a fear of
> giving
> offence to religious believers who might otherwise be political allies.

I spent Monday morning defending an abortion clinic alongside both 
believers and non-believers...I spent Monday afternoon at a protest
and city council hearing about the flying of the rainbow flag on
public poles alongside gay/lesbian/bi/hetero believers and non-believers...
I spent Monday evening at a farmworker event alongside Cahtolic nuns
and others who oppose abortion (there were non-believer supporters of
abortion rights beside me in attendance as well)...

a good many of the peace and justice folks in the community I live in have 
have always been religious...that such an orientation is hegemonic in
this society (and therefore 'common sense') is evident in the way that
gatherings often begin with messages that convey religious faith...these
good people apparently assume that everyone in attendance is motivated
by the same social gospel teachings...there is no recognition of non-
believers/agnostics/atheists because faith 'just is'...pragmatic secular 
activists always say, 'just ignore it, don't say anything, it's no big
deal, we don't want to offend them...it is. however, apparently ok for
those like me to be offended and treated as if we're not standing among 
among the group...Michael Hoover