Zero tolerance for the theocracy movement -

In a well-written piece on BuzzFlash.com, Steven C. Day writes about a conversation with his elderly father (a retired minister) about the the theocracy movement.

His father is a “Give ‘em Hell Harry” kinda guy, it seems. And his father says that since the theocractic forces want a holy war, we oughta give it to them (politically, within the bounds of law, of course).

The author argues that theocracy is fascism with a little prayer thrown in.

The author, a liberal Democrat who usually practices tolerance for opposing viewpoints (unlike the right wingers), says we should not practice tolerance for the theocratic viewpoint - we should not respect the theocratic viewpoint because it is a threat to the very survival of our democratic government. He says history will not forgive us if we lose this fight.

His suggested method of “not tolerating the theocratic viewpoint” is to fearlessly oppose it at every turn, and to be unafraid to use the T-Word in opposing the right-wingers’ actions.

The author was pleased to find that fear of theocracy is becoming so mainstream that even his elderly father’s friends were talking about it.

I, too, appreciate that more and more everyday people are becoming aware that the wingers are trying to impose theocracy.

The main distinction the wingers will be able to make is that they are not going to have a cadre of official pastors actually in charge of the government. But if you look at what they are trying to do, they are trying to appoint persons of the most extreme religious philosophy into positions of power throughout government, and trying to prevent courts from being able to hear challenges to the religious-based actions of those officials.

And they want to stack the scientific committees with those who reject scientific principles that are in conflict with a literal Biblical reading. We are back to the days where Galileo and others were charged with heresy for their astronomical observations, because their observations differed from the priests’ interpretation of the Bible’s astronomical passages.

Do we really want to return to a 16th century view of science? Do we want priests or pastors or the government to discourage (or prohibit) scientists from publishing scientific findings, just because those findings are in conflict with a literal Biblical reading?

Do we want the US Government to refuse to support (or officially reject) all science that seems in conflict with a lilteral reading of certain Biblical passages?

Of course we do not want those things! Only the tiniest minority wants those things. But it seems that such minority might in fact be nearly in control of the US Government’s reigns of power right now.

Our elected officials proposed something called the “Constitution Restoration Act” which the author of the excerpt below discusses. So our officials are really trying to bring their theocratic-type vision to America.

The Last Chance Democracy Cafe: Episode 34: Zero Tolerance for Theocracy
We’ve been spending a great deal of time at the Last Chance Democracy Cafe lately talking about the Religious Right. There’s a good reason for this: They scare the hell out of us.

The Last Chance Democracy Cafe
Episode 34: Zero Tolerance for Theocracy

by Steven C. Day

… I knew because that very subject had been weighing heavily on my mind since reading a special section of this month’s Harper’s Magazine, entitled Soldiers of Christ, made up of two extremely important articles. If you don’t subscribe, go to the bookstore and buy a copy: It’s that good.

The first article, by Jeff Sharlet, “Inside America’s Most Powerful Megachurch,” takes us into the very heart of the Religious Right. The second piece, by Chris Hedges, “Feeling the Hate with the National Religious Broadcasters,” carries the theme forward, using the author’s observations at a convention of “Christian” broadcasters to examine Dominionism. Here’s how Hedges describes it:

“Under Christian dominion, America will no longer be a sinful and fallen nation but one in which the Ten Commandments form the basis of our legal system, Creationism and “Christian values” form the basis of our educational system, and the media and the government proclaim the Good News to one and all. Aside from its proselytizing mandate, the federal government will be reduced to the protection of property rights and “homeland” security. Some Dominionists (not all of whom accept the label, at least not publicly) would further require all citizens to pay “tithes” to church organizations empowered by the government to run our social-welfare agencies, and a number of influential figures advocate the death penalty for a host of “moral crimes,” including apostasy, blasphemy, sodomy, and witchcraft. The only legitimate voices in this state will be Christian. All others will be silenced.”

Color me scared shitless.

… Check out the proposed Constitution Restoration Act:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Supreme Court shall not have jurisdiction to review, by appeal, writ of certiorari, or otherwise, any matter to the extent that relief is sought against an element of Federal, State, or local government, or against an officer of Federal, State, or local government (whether or not acting in official personal capacity), by reason of that element’s or officer’s acknowledgement of God as the sovereign source of law, liberty, or government.”

(Later clauses extend the prohibition to federal district courts, meaning absolutely no federal judicial review would be allowed.)

Bottom line: The Act declares “God’s law” (religious law as determined by the likes of former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy S. Moore) to be the supreme law of the land,

… So, let this be fair warning to all those who are trying to replace our constitutional democracy with theocracy: Before that happens, you’ll first have to go straight through millions upon millions of Americans who are prepared to stand behind freedom and who will fight by every lawful means to preserve it.

And I wouldn’t take us lightly, if I were you.

It’s the blood of Cotton Mather that courses through your veins; ours is from Thomas Jefferson.

I like our chances.