Evangelicals ponder wisdom of being a "conservative political movement"

Evangelicals rethink their public face
Faithful must branch out beyond politics, leaders say
By Alex Johnson
Reporter, MSNBC
Updated: 7:40 a.m. ET May 23, 2005

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7911488/

Evangelical leaders are re-examining whether American evangelicalism has suffered from its portrayal as a conservative political movement rather than as a broad religious philosophy rooted in a literal reading of the Bible.

Although evangelical leaders have been among the most prominent spokesmen for conservative causes, “evangelical” and “religious right” are not the same thing. Studies indicate that as many as 40 percent of Americans who call themselves evangelicals are politically moderate or identify with the Democratic Party.

But two recent declarations by evangelical and conservative religious thinkers suggest that evangelicals have become too closely identified with conservative political activism, at the expense of attracting new followers. The declarations are likely to be hot topics of conversation when the Southern Baptist Convention holds its annual meeting next month in Nashville, Tenn.

“Because evangelicals have been portrayed as being very, very limited in their range of societal concerns, there is an element of challenge in the evangelical community to say, ‘Let’s not get caught up in narrow partisan concerns,’” said Mark L. Sargent, provost of Gordon College, a nondenominational Christian institution in Wenham, Mass. “Many evangelicals say they feel very alienated with the partisan rhetoric in the nation.”

Sounds like the DNC should look for ways to get new evanglical voters. One thing that would help is to show the godlessness of the administration and the whole conservative economic and foreign agenda.

Look for them in places like the Unitarian/Universalist church and The Church Of The Brethren.

How fitting.
The movement you describe is certainly aided by Robertson's demented brain and his eagerness to spout opinions that are so shocking and so far-right that even Rove hasn't thought of them.
Way to go PAT! Keep up the good work. Hallelujah!