[lbo-talk] Spirituality Up, Religion Down in America

[Chuck0]

Chip's stats underscore my point. Just because somebody belong to a 
religion or professes that they are "born again" in a poll, doesn't mean 
that they are part of the hardcore religious right. Somebody can be a 
Southern Baptist (15 million of them, 5% of the U.S. population) and not 
take an interest in politics.

I wish I could cite an article I read around two years ago that talked 
about how many members of churches associated with the religious right 
were expressing a desire to separate their religion from politics.

Of course, the conservatives can mobilize *all* evengelicals with 
squishy issues like gay marriage. That issue appeals to the discomfort 
many conservative religious people have with queer rights. On the other 
hand, let's be clear that less of these people are down with the overall 
political agenda of the religious right.

In other words, the wrong response to them is to make the mistake the 
Democrats are making now with their new focus on "values."

Chuck