Brad McIntyre: Getting religion right while leaning to the left

The political left is getting religion right. It's like a late-inning rally for a baseball team that finally decides to get some hits and score some runs rather than endure another loss.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is promoting her new book, "The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God and World Affairs." She represents a sudden surge of God and Country books written by notable persons who lean left. Apparently there is permission now for Democrats to be religious and to talk about it, as long they don't shout.

This is a refreshing alternative to the revved-up Religious Right and the Armageddon mindset of our current administration. Consider, for example, "Our Endangered Values" by former President Jimmy Carter, or Kevin Phillips' "American Theocracy," or Bill Moyers discussing religion and American society in "Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times."

We have absorbed the blow from ultra-conservative religion, and now we are hearing from the other side. It's good to know the other side exists. Anti-modern, defensive spiritualities do not point the way to a more humane future. And shouldn't religion, above all, be humane? Albright thinks so.

She does not believe that Jesus was a fundamentalist (whew!). She rejects a literalistic interpretation of the Bible, preferring the radical notions of historical context and common sense when reading holy texts. She acknowledges that doubt exists in even the most secure faith.

She writes, "If God has a plan, it will be carried out." Look out now, that's sounds a bit flighty. But she immediately brings us down to earth by saying we need to be responsible and use our "gifts" to create a better future. From a purely theological point of view, this is about as orthodox as it gets.

I think, however, the timing for Albright's book is unfortunate. She is competing with the premiere of the unorthodox movie, "The Da Vinci Code."

I cannot recall any other time in my life when Jesus got so much publicity. He's everywhere, and now he has a girlfriend, Mary Magdalene. Why religious conservatives are getting so riled up over this movie is beyond me. Voltaire said that persecution makes proselytes. The more haranguing by offended hierarchs, the more converts for the opposing side.

I wonder what effects "The Da Vinci Code" will have on good old secular Europe. Allah, we all know, has pitched his tent in Europe's front yard. Now we have the Holy Grail at the Louvre. Europe overcast skies, intermittent showers, and a worn-out skepticism that hacks and coughs like someone with emphysema.

But Albright emphasizes a living personal faith and public responsibility. A healthy balance. Why sell out to atheism on one side or to fundamentalism on the other? A reasonable faith cuts a path between the two. Furthermore, a genuine faith has a social conscience. This is, perhaps, the most effective point that Albright makes in her book.

Religion in the West is no longer destiny. It depends on personal choice. In our free market religious economy, an increasing number of people paste together multiple spiritualities based on their personal needs. This can result in a "purpose-driven life" in search of self-fulfillment without addressing the world and its messy problems.

Albright presents a reasonable case for a socially conscious and active religious faith, within the bounds of democratic values and toleration. She is a reasonable person writing for reasonable people.

But there's the rub. How does reasonableness play out in world affairs? If her book gets fuzzy, it is on this issue. Can sheer diplomacy overcome militant religious fundamentalism? Albright, the professional diplomat, preaches a gospel of salvation by communication and cooperation.

However, I am reminded again of Voltaire: "Once fanaticism has cankered a brain, the disease is almost incurable." Religious fanatics are not interested in peace or diplomacy. They want theocracy now. We can only hope (and pray?) that they will be continually disappointed.

Meanwhile, we are at last getting religion right from the left.

Brad McIntyre is an adjunct faculty member of the departments of philosophy and theology at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc. E-mail: bmc1952@new.rr.com