Madeleine Albright to USA Today - On conservative Christians in U.S. politics:
"Like the Islamic revolutionaries in Iran, (members of the Christian right) believe that they are being compelled to raise their children in surroundings hostile to their deepest beliefs."
Madeleine Albright to Time Magazine in answer to - "What is it that Americans don't fully understand about the role religion plays in U.S. foreign policy?
“When I began this book [The Mighty and the Almighty] I looked at President Bush as an anomaly. But in working on the book I found that all American Presidents in one way or another invoke God. If you look at U.S. history through religious history, there is very much a motif that shows the importance religion has played in the U.S. We're a very religious country and it affects the way we look at various political issues. President Bush is a little different because he's so sure about what religion is telling him.”
Some eye opening statistics - The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
In a survey conducted on March 20, 2002 - “Nearly half of Americans (48%) think that the United States has had special protection from God for most of its history.” The perception that America has special status clearly links to religious beliefs. Seven-in-ten (71%) white evangelical Protestants believe this to be true.”
“Not only do many Americans believe that God protects the U.S., most see the religious belief of the American public as the basis for this country's success. Nearly six-in-ten Americans (58%) think the strength of American society is based on the religious faith of its people.”
”More than eight-in-ten (83%) white evangelical Protestants say religious faith is at the core of America's strength, compared with 57% and 58% of white mainline Protestants and white Catholics, respectively.”
'Of the various communities African-Americans (69%), whites (58%) and Hispanics (49%) say the nation's strength is based on the religious faith of its people. Hispanics with strong religious commitment are twice as likely as those with weaker ties to religion to see religious faith as an essential part of American society (64% to 31%).'
The national survey Released: August 30, 2005 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
“Deep religious and political differences over questions relating to evolution and the origins of life. Overall, about half the public (48%) says that humans and other living things have evolved over time, while 42% say that living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. Fully 70% of white evangelical Protestants say that life has existed in its present form since the beginning of time; fewer than half as many white mainline Protestants (32%) and white Catholics (31%) agree.”
“The public remains generally comfortable with politicians mentioning their religious faith; in fact, more continue to say there is too little expression of religious faith by political leaders (39%), not too much (26%). However, a growing minority feels President Bush mentions his faith and prayer too much. The percentage expressing this view has doubled from 14% to 28% over the past two years."
A Quote from theocracy watch
"Today's hard right seeks total dominion. It's packing the courts and rigging the rules. The target is not the Democrats but democracy itself. According to acclaimed journalist and television host Bill Moyers, “True, people of faith have always tried to bring their interpretation of the Bible to bear on American laws and morals ... it's the American way, encouraged and protected by the First Amendment. But what is unique today is that the radical religious right has succeeded in taking over one of America's great political parties [Republicans]. The country is not yet a theocracy but the Republican Party is and they are driving American politics, using God as a battering ram on almost every issue: crime and punishment, foreign policy, health care, taxation, energy, regulation, social services and so on.”
If what I have quoted above doesn’t raise your concerns about the worlds most powerful nation and the sometimes labelled “world’s policeman” you should spend some time here:
"Like the Islamic revolutionaries in Iran, (members of the Christian right) believe that they are being compelled to raise their children in surroundings hostile to their deepest beliefs."
Madeleine Albright to Time Magazine in answer to - "What is it that Americans don't fully understand about the role religion plays in U.S. foreign policy?
“When I began this book [The Mighty and the Almighty] I looked at President Bush as an anomaly. But in working on the book I found that all American Presidents in one way or another invoke God. If you look at U.S. history through religious history, there is very much a motif that shows the importance religion has played in the U.S. We're a very religious country and it affects the way we look at various political issues. President Bush is a little different because he's so sure about what religion is telling him.”
Some eye opening statistics - The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press
In a survey conducted on March 20, 2002 - “Nearly half of Americans (48%) think that the United States has had special protection from God for most of its history.” The perception that America has special status clearly links to religious beliefs. Seven-in-ten (71%) white evangelical Protestants believe this to be true.”
“Not only do many Americans believe that God protects the U.S., most see the religious belief of the American public as the basis for this country's success. Nearly six-in-ten Americans (58%) think the strength of American society is based on the religious faith of its people.”
”More than eight-in-ten (83%) white evangelical Protestants say religious faith is at the core of America's strength, compared with 57% and 58% of white mainline Protestants and white Catholics, respectively.”
'Of the various communities African-Americans (69%), whites (58%) and Hispanics (49%) say the nation's strength is based on the religious faith of its people. Hispanics with strong religious commitment are twice as likely as those with weaker ties to religion to see religious faith as an essential part of American society (64% to 31%).'
The national survey Released: August 30, 2005 by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
“Deep religious and political differences over questions relating to evolution and the origins of life. Overall, about half the public (48%) says that humans and other living things have evolved over time, while 42% say that living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. Fully 70% of white evangelical Protestants say that life has existed in its present form since the beginning of time; fewer than half as many white mainline Protestants (32%) and white Catholics (31%) agree.”
“The public remains generally comfortable with politicians mentioning their religious faith; in fact, more continue to say there is too little expression of religious faith by political leaders (39%), not too much (26%). However, a growing minority feels President Bush mentions his faith and prayer too much. The percentage expressing this view has doubled from 14% to 28% over the past two years."
A Quote from theocracy watch
"Today's hard right seeks total dominion. It's packing the courts and rigging the rules. The target is not the Democrats but democracy itself. According to acclaimed journalist and television host Bill Moyers, “True, people of faith have always tried to bring their interpretation of the Bible to bear on American laws and morals ... it's the American way, encouraged and protected by the First Amendment. But what is unique today is that the radical religious right has succeeded in taking over one of America's great political parties [Republicans]. The country is not yet a theocracy but the Republican Party is and they are driving American politics, using God as a battering ram on almost every issue: crime and punishment, foreign policy, health care, taxation, energy, regulation, social services and so on.”
If what I have quoted above doesn’t raise your concerns about the worlds most powerful nation and the sometimes labelled “world’s policeman” you should spend some time here:
Refs:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2006-04-30-albright-sidebar_x.htm
http://www.time.com/time/nation/printout/0,8816,1188130,00.html
http://people-press.org/reports/print.php3?ReportID=150
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=254
http://www.theocracywatch.org/
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