Non-American readers of Dialog International are probably curious about the religious rhetoric they hear coming from the United States. In fact, it is astonishing how the political discourse in the US has been hijacked by right-wing evangelical Christians. I call this group the American Taliban, since they have a rigid, fundamentalist understanding of Christian doctrine that they want to impose on all Americans. Many readers would not even recognize Christianity in the evangelical movement that calls for execution of human beings by the state, celebrates the war in Iraq, is silent on the torture of detainees in Guantanamo, demonizes gays and lesbians, and seeks to subjugate women. But this is what passes for Christianity for millions of Americans. The Republican Party has now aligned itself with this movement and has joined the call to eliminate the barrier between Church and State which has been a founding principle of the nation.
Some of the issues we will continue to track in both the US and German press:
The Evangelical Assault on Science. The debate currently taking place in Kansas on the teaching of science in public schools is but the first attempt to impose superstition by right-wing Christian groups. This was picked up earlier by taz:
Die Streiter Gottes bearbeiten zudem Parlamente und Schulgremien.
Alabama und Georgia wollen Gesetzentwürfe verabschieden, die Lehrern
gestatten, Darwins Evolutionslehre im Unterricht anzuzweifeln. Ohio und
New Mexico erlauben dies bereits. In Tennessee sollen Aufkleber auf
Schulbüchern darauf hinweisen, dass die Evolution unbewiesen ist. In
Kansas wies ein Gericht zwar den Beschluss des Parlaments zurück, die
Evolutionslehre aus Abschlussprüfungen zu streichen, doch die
konservativen Abgeordneten hoffen, dieses Urteil bald aufheben zu
können. "Die meisten Leute hier glauben nun einmal nicht, dass wir von
Affen abstammen", sagt Baptistenprediger Terry Fox aus Kansas.
The German science Web site Wissenschaft Online debunks "Intelligent Design" as for what it really is: a pseudo-theory, or "Stupid Design":
Charles Darwin hat es also nach wie vor schwer. Das beginnt schon mit
der weit verbreiteten Vorstellung über den Begriff "Theorie": Es
handelt sich hierbei nicht – wie häufig kolportiert – um eine
unbewiesene Behauptung – das wäre eine Hypothese -, sondern um ein
wissenschaftliches Gedankengebäude. Und die Evolutionstheorie mit ihren
zahlreichen Belegen aus den unterschiedlichsten Fachgebieten gehört
wohl zu den am besten und sichersten begründeten Theorien, welche die
Wissenschaft überhaupt zu bieten hat. Ohne Darwin wäre eine moderne
Biologie schlicht nicht vorstellbar. Und dass seine Idee immer wieder
ergänzt und erweitert wird, tut ihr keinen Abbruch – im Gegenteil.
The writers of this Web site are concerned that this idiotic "theory" will make its way across the pond to Europe.
The Evangelical Assault on the Courts. The stated mission of many evangelical groups is to stack the Supreme Court with Christian Conservatives who will reverse Roe v. Wade and criminalize abortions in the US. This movement is being spearheaded by groups such as Focus on the Family and the Judeo-Christian Council for Costitutional Restoration who are dedicated to tearing down the wall separating church and state. (By the way, "Judeo-Christian’ is a misnomer; these groups do not honor or recognize the Jewish faith).
The Politicization of Churches: Already some evangelical churches are demonizing Democrats as un-American and un-Christian and throwing them out.
The Roman Catholic Church is often at odds with evangelical Christians – in fact, many evangelicals openly call the Catholic Church a "satanic cult". But they are able to make common cause in working against progressive politics in the US. Now Pope Benedict XVI has moved swiftly and decisively to squelch any and all debate on church doctrine in the US Church.
These groups are minority in America. But they are well-organized and well-financed and they are currently dominating the Republican Party. How we deal with this threat to freedom will determine our future as a democracy.
