[lbo-talk] USA, dumb and dumber

[Carl Remick]

>From: Chuck0 <chuck at mutualaid.org>
>
>Carl Remick wrote:
>
>>Dr. LaHaye and Mr. Jenkins did not invent fire and brimstone. But some 
>>scholars who study religion say that the phenomenal popularity of their 
>>"Left Behind" series of apocalyptic thrillers - now the best-selling adult 
>>novels in the United States - are part of a shift in American culture's 
>>image of Jesus. The gentle, pacifist Jesus of the Crucifixion is sharing 
>>the spotlight with a more muscular warrior Jesus of the Second Coming, the 
>>Lamb making way for the Lion.
>
>This stuff matches what I'm seeing out here in Kansas City, in both my 
>family and in the churches around here. The upside of this is that it might 
>become easier to develop a secular anti-religious movement in opposition to 
>this nonsense. I know that the tolerance towards "progressive" religion 
>that I had adopted over the years has basically evaporated since I moved 
>back to Kansas City. All religion has to go, because it maintains 
>conservatism, ignorance, blind obedience to authority and the state, and 
>all kind of other social ills.
>
>What strikes me about this purported shift in the American image of Jesus 
>is that is parallels the bloody arrogance of the American state. Perhaps we 
>can tie evangelical Christianity to the American state and work towards 
>eliminating both diseases.
>
>No gods, no masters,
>
>Chuck0

There are some wise thoughts on religion in this NY Times interview today 
with Karen Armstrong, whom I always find a very interesting writer even when 
I don't understand what she's talking about:  
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/04/magazine/04QUESTIONS.html>

Carl

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