I'm not ready to move to the religious left either...

I read the proposed ad and the list of issues to consider. I don't consider myself a member of the religious right - don't have much contact with either Falwell or Robertson, but I am not ready to move to the religious left either - or are the Ads supporters the religious middle?

I think too often Christians see in government/politics the hope of national revival, but I do not believe spiritual battles are won on political stages.

I do, however, see in the questions of the petition an attempt to diminish views on homosexual marriage and pro-life issues. As a Christian I still see these issues as staking ground essential for moral stands. I understand the issues on the petition, but tend to believe it provides encouragement to reduce the importance of these two issues of conscience.

Because I see these issues equal with those of the petition, but not appearing equally in the petition, I cannot sign.


I appreciate your thoughts here. Issues of sexuality (which include abortion, homosexuality, and a lot of other issues too, such as the harmful use of sexuality by business in advertising and entertainment, or the horrific global abuse of women and children in various forms of prostitution) are indeed important. I can't help but think though, that some other nonsexual issues are more important in the long view than we realize in the short run. For example, if we fail to turn around our environmental policy, and a hundred years from now, millions have died due to global climate change, rising ocean levels, increased violent weather, etc., homosexual marriage may not seem in retrospect as important as it seems now. But again, I agree, these issues need serious consideration and intelligent debate - both theologically and politically. I'm not saying these issues are unimportant - just that we need to think in both the long view and short view when we determine what our priorities will be.

It's unfortunate that anyone who raises quesitons about the priorities of the religious right is automatically assumed to be on the religious left. I sense from your question that you feel, as I do, that what we need is less polarization, less demonization, and more intelligent conversation. I agree with Tony Campolo and Jim Wallis, that the old polarity between left and right is counterproductive and playing that game is unwise. I hope we Christians can find ourselves dialoguing on a higher level, above the line that runs between left and right.
"God's ways are not our ways" - and I hope we can all seek his higher ways in these matters. Please be assured that I do not consider myself an expert or the last word on these matters. There are many voices more experienced and wise than mine.