On Religion, Fundamentalism and Politics

This weeks Gravitational Pull-Up from the Unpaid Punditry Corps is:

Is the religion or belief structure that you practice, or try to follow, a matter of personal choice?

Good question. And answering it will give a good background to why I am so worried about developments in American politics that issue from the crusades of the rabid Christian Taliban. Here we go.

I am a Pagan, a member of that diverse set of believers who comprise the 18th largest religion worldwide today. That is, 18th if you only count those who are avowedly part of the resurgence of Western polytheism which began about 50 years ago. If you count other pagan religions like Hinduism (and Hindus mostly proudly accept the label "pagan")then the situation changes quite a lot.

I am not going to describe what a Pagan is. I don't have to describe what a Christian is or a Moslem. If you don't know, follow the link and educate yourself -it's your problem, not mine. For those who are interested in the exact "lineage" of my Paganism (all of whom will be Pagans themselves) - I am a third degree Alexandrian Wiccan with a strong preference for Celtic symbology and Druidic philosophy. I am co-founder of the Red Alder (Fearnan Ruadh) covens in the UK, US, Canada and Australia.

And so the answer to the question is obvious. Yes, my religion is a matter of choice. Choice is one of the key definers of what it is to be a Pagan. We are a decentralised bunch, accepting no Popes or organisational leaders. We rely on our immanent relation to divinity to be our guidance and that in turn gives rise to a strong prohibition on imposing our beliefs on others, either as evangelism, as a slate of beliefs that adherents "must" have or as moral "rules" that we demand be enforced by the State. We welcome those of every ethnicity, every sexual orientation, every political point on the compass. As Prudence Jones, one of the founders of the Pagan Federation in the UK, puts it:

“Paganism is pluralistic-we have many ways of worshipping deity. It is the religion of the 21st century. It respects individuality and it respects others. It welcomes diversity and other ideas.”

Which explains my implacable opposition to the Dominionist movement which has recently become such a power bloc inside the Republican Party. They are the exact antithesis of everything Paganism is about, and they glory in it, being self-avowed biblical literalists who believe God has called them to take over the U.S. government. These activists of the religious right are intent on making of America a Christian Taliban - and a particularly virulent and fascist form of Christianity at that, which will have no room for agnostics, pagans, moslems, believers in "some form of divinity" who don't feel the need to put a dogmatic shape on that belief or even other forms of Christian like my friends Harkonnendog and Shamanic.

As one leading Dominionist, D. James Kennedy who leads the $37 million a year Coral Ridge Ministries, told a meeting of influential conservative Christian powerplayers entitled "Reclaiming America For Christ":

"Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost,"... "As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society."

During the conference's opening ceremony, the Dominionists recited an oath they dream of hearing in every classroom: "I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe."

So who are these rabid evangelisers who would turn the US into a Christian fundamentalist state? Some of the main leaders of the movement are: