[lbo-talk] USA, dumb and dumber

[C. G. Estabrook]

This sort of uncomprehending contempt for American religious culture is
quite dangerous.  There are two great twentieth century examples of
movements of political liberation being suppressed and returning as
(fundamentalist) religious movements, American socialism and Arab
nationalism.  In these two vital domestic and foreign instances, American
government policy successfully trammeled up the Debs and Nassers and drove
the American working class and the Arab street into the religious
institutions, where the rejection of capitalist modernity could continue.
(In the US, it was particularly easy, because in contrast to Absolutist
Europe, the churches had never been a department of government but rather
a refuge from it.) When Israel financed the foundation of Hamas, it was
simply enacting the policy it had learnt from its patron.  --CGE

On Sat, 3 Apr 2004, Eubulides wrote:


> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Carl Remick" <carlremick at hotmail.com>
> 
> Scholars who study religion in American culture say the trend partly
> reflects the growing clout of evangelical Christians and the relative
> decline of the liberal mainline Protestant denominations over the last
> 30 years. The image of a fearsome Jesus who will turn the tables on
> the unbelieving earthly authorities corresponds to a widespread sense
> among many conservative Christians that their values are under assault
> in a culture war with the secular society around them.
> 
> =========================
> 
> Xtian passive-aggressive cynicism. The contemporary ecopolitical epoch
> is a manifestation of their impotence, not clout. Dubya may read the
> Bible but he can't escape the spectre of Machiavelli...........