I’m not American, and I don’t live in America. Nevertheless, being British (in fact, any member of the human race) I am inherently affected by US Politics and the American Government’s influence across the globe. Unfortunately, US Politics is intertwined with religious dogma and fundamentalism. It didn’t start with George ‘dubyah’ Bush but he certainly helped cement the Christian right-wing philosophy into the public eye across the globe.
Unfortunately, this religious influence, specifically Christian influence is only going to get stronger if Obama fails to hold onto the Presidency. Republican theocracy will reign supreme if any of their front-runners end up taking the top job. Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, and of course, Rick Perry are some of the scariest people I’ve ever seen. Scary not just because of their beliefs, as many people share them, but really scary because they could end up being the most powerful people on Earth. We should all be worried.
The following post from ‘The Daily Beast’ goes into far more detail, but highlights the problem at hand:
Put simply, Dominionism means that Christians have a God-given right to rule all earthly institutions. Originating among some of America’s most radical theocrats, it’s long had an influence on religious-right education and political organizing. But because it seems so outré, getting ordinary people to take it seriously can be difficult.
I’m actually worried.
Further reading:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08/15/110815fa_fact_lizza?mbid=gnep
http://www.texasobserver.org/cover-story/rick-perrys-army-of-god
5 Comments
I picked up that story form another source today and did some research into that mob. Talk about a bunch of whackos. What else would happen in the United CHRISTIAN States of America where the God Virus is poisoning the population. All I can say as an Atheist is “God” help America and as there is no “God” America is doomed to the status of a Third World Country.
It’s scary that these people are even serious contenders for political office.
America is like a 3rd World Country in this respect.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/29/opinion/republicans-against-science.html?_r=1
Its scary that one of these people could be the most powerful people in the world!!
it’s white man’s burden repacked for the theists
we should be worried, but the Crusades 2.0 have been underway for just over a decade now
and so far science, rationality and reality are loosing
uneducated loud amateur opinion has been deemed if not on par, at least “deserving” of equal time with educated expert opinion – a tragic underside to the information age no doubt
I think worry is justified. I was first introduced to this idea by the late Bill Hicks, who talked about fundamentalist christians like Reagan and Bush (Sr.) being in the White House, having their “finger on the button” and believing that “wacky, fire and brimstone, revelations ending”.
If you’re not concerned by such people, you’re clearly not paying attention!