Some other thoughts on the book of the month

I finished Del's book last week. The book is a gift for the Progressive Christian community and for other seekers wondering what distinguishes progressive Christianity from a typical liberal or conservative perspective.

The last chapter speaks directly to issues of religion and politics that we so often discuss on this site. I'm not sure that I agree with the claim that we need more religion in politics, especially given the open embrace of faith of the Democratic Party. We have about as much religion in politics as I think our pluralistic society can handle. I am reminded of John F. Kennedy's speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association:

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute--where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote--where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference--and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.

(For the whole speech: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/40/story_4080_1.html)

That being said, I do think Del lays out some important ground rules for bringing religion into the public square:
- Christians must not think of themselves as privileged.
- We must seek to understand our adversaries first, before seeking to be understood.
- Christians should identify the values they share with others.
- Whenever possible, Christians should give ground and compromise. (Can you imagine someone from the Religious Right saying this?)
- Christians should never press to outlaw conduct unless it affects the common good. (The problem here is that religious conservatives can and do make common ground arguments on personal behavior issues).

In any case, I think these are fair rules for Christians to engage in public dialogue, especially discussing public policy issues in terms that address the common good and with shared values no matter the religion or lack of religion to which an individual ascribes.