Evidence not all Republican Leaders are Insane

Lost in the brouhaha over the John Bolton UN nomination is the degree to which this nomination signifies the triumph of extremism over moderation in the halls of BushCorp.

John C. Danforth, Episcopal minister, and Bolton's potential predecessor, seems a true paragon of Republican moderation, as demonstrated by some of his writings on the role of Christian extremisits within the GOP.

By a series of recent initiatives, Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians. The elements of this transformation have included advocacy of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, opposition to stem cell research involving both frozen embryos and human cells in petri dishes, and the extraordinary effort to keep Terri Schiavo hooked up to a feeding tube.

Standing alone, each of these initiatives has its advocates, within the Republican Party and beyond. But the distinct elements do not stand alone. Rather they are parts of a larger package, an agenda of positions common to conservative Christians and the dominant wing of the Republican Party.

When someone of Danforth's standing within the GOP sees a problem with the Christian right, you know there's a problem.

His latest essay (originally in the NYT) is almost a point by point explication of why the Christian right does a disservice both to this country and Christianity.

First his view of the situation as it now stands:

In recent years, conservative Christians have presented themselves as representing the one authentic Christian perspective on politics. With due respect for our conservative friends, equally devout Christians come to very different conclusions.

It is important for those of us who are sometimes called moderates to make the case that we, too, have strongly held Christian convictions, that we speak from the depths of our beliefs, and that our approach to politics is at least as faithful as that of those who are more conservative. Our difference concerns the extent to which government should, or even can, translate religious beliefs into the laws of the state.

People of faith have the right, and perhaps the obligation, to bring their values to bear in politics. Many conservative Christians approach politics with a certainty that they know God's truth, and that they can advance the kingdom of God through governmental action.

So they have developed a political agenda that they believe advances God's kingdom, one that includes efforts to "put God back" into the public square and to pass a constitutional amendment intended to protect marriage from the perceived threat of homosexuality.

Mr. Danforth politely omits how such beliefs are being exploited to feed the personal power trips of Ralph Reed, Tom DeLay, Bill Frist and the like. He does, however, go on to make a strong case as to why moderate Christians ought to reject the blatherings of such demagogues:

Moderate Christians are less certain about when and how our beliefs can be translated into statutory form, not because of a lack of faith in God but because of a healthy acknowledgement of the limitations of human beings. Like conservative Christians, we attend church, read the Bible and say our prayers.

But for us, the only absolute standard of behavior is the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Repeatedly in the Gospels, we find that the Love Commandment takes precedence when it conflicts with laws. We struggle to follow that commandment as we face the realities of everyday living, and we do not agree that our responsibility to live as Christians can be codified by legislators.

When, on television, we see a person in a persistent vegetative state, one who will never recover, we believe that allowing the natural and merciful end to her ordeal is more loving than imposing government power to keep her hooked up to a feeding tube.

When we see an opportunity to save our neighbors' lives through stem cell research, we believe that it is our duty to pursue that research, and to oppose legislation that would impede us from doing so.

We think that efforts to haul references of God into the public square, into schools and courthouses, are far more apt to divide Americans than to advance faith.

Following a Lord who reached out in compassion to all human beings, we oppose amending the Constitution in a way that would humiliate homosexuals.

For us, living the Love Commandment may be at odds with efforts to encapsulate Christianity in a political agenda. We strongly support the separation of church and state, both because that principle is essential to holding together a diverse country, and because the policies of the state always fall short of the demands of faith.

Aware that even our most passionate ventures into politics are efforts to carry the treasure of religion in the earthen vessel of government, we proceed in a spirit of humility lacking in our conservative colleagues.

In the decade since I left the Senate, American politics has been characterized by two phenomena: the increased activism of the Christian right, especially in the Republican Party, and the collapse of bipartisan collegiality. I do not think it is a stretch to suggest a relationship between the two.

To assert that I am on God's side and you are not, that I know God's will and you do not, and that I will use the power of government to advance my understanding of God's kingdom is certain to produce hostility.[Emphasis mine-CK]

It is absolute certainty such as this which I find most frightening in the Christian right. It is the sort of certainty that leads to Crusades and witch-burnings, to jihad and suicide-bombings.

The United States now faces the dilemma of all civilized nations when confronting an enemy so ruthless in its self-righteousness as are the jihadis: to risk, in the face of such evil, adopting our enemies' tactics and in so doing destroy the thing we would wish to protect.

Running up our credit card debt won't be a defeat for those who have terrorized us. Continuing to treat one another with the respect we deserve as fellow human beings and fellow Americans can be.

Unless we defeat the extremists who wrap themselves in our flag, we will never defeat those who would rather burn it.

As an Agnostic I can yet say, without any ironic bent whatsoever, thank God for moderate Christians like Mr. Danforth.