Neoconservatives and Evangelicals

I have always been of the opinion that the alliance between the neoconservatives and evangelical Christians was essentially a one-sided affair, at least for the run-of-the-mill average Christian. I will not deny that access to power is seductive to evangelical leaders but for the millions of otherwise good folks that comprise the army of voters, supplying the neocon power base, there is no benefit. In reality there is a moral cost for their votes that they simply do not realize that they owe.

David Kuo has just released a book entitled Tempting Faith in which he alleges that several senior White House staff members routinely openly ridiculed evangelicals. Kuo was the No. 2 man in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from 2001 to 2003. I suppose he was in a position to know what he is talking about. (Articles here, here and here)

“National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as ‘ridiculous,’ ‘out of control,’ and just plain ‘goofy,’” Kuo wrote. Top political officials in the office of White House aide Karl Rove referred to the leaders as “the nuts,” he added. (Baptist Standard)

The neoconservative agenda is appealing to evangelical Christians on many levels. Key in the appeal is unquestioned support for Israel (yes the place with a current president as bad as a Clinton/Nixon morph - here, here and here )

The fact that the fascination with the manmade Nation of Israel - as opposed to the Biblical people of Israel - is flawed. This is a point that transcends mere politics, folks that accept Israel - the Nation formed by men in 1949 - as the fulfillment of endtimes prophecies will not easily be dissuaded from such a notion. This issue becomes political only when a group like the neoconservatives use this item to garner support for their candidates and agendas. There is a difference in Zionism and the people of Israel - but this is a topic of another post. (a pretty good essay on the topic can be found here)

I am a Christian, I am a conservative. I see nothing conservative or Christian in the neoconservative worldview.

Blogged at Blog From the Capital

This story promises to continue casting a dim light on the faith-based program, and confirming the worst fears of those of us who have been opposed to this kind of faith-based funding: it folds otherwise genuine religious folks into the cynical world of politics, both compromising and ridiculing religion while also improperly associating whole branches of government with particular religious beliefs.