Archive for the ‘Culture Wars’ Category

Are culture war 'victories' worth the casualties?

(CNN) -- In the midst of all the shouting over Indiana's new religious-freedom law, which many fear will lead to increased discrimination against LGBT people, culture warriors marked the grim anniversary of another conservative "victory," one that left more than 10,000 needy children without their pledged financial support.

A year ago this week, I rose each morning with red, puffy eyes and heavy sense of exhaustion. I hadn't slept soundly since March 26, a day many of my friends and readers mark as the last day they wanted anything to do with organized Christianity.

It all started when World Vision, a humanitarian organization I had long supported and promoted, announced a change to its hiring policy allowing people in same-sex marriages to work in its U.S. offices.

In response, conservative evangelicals rallied, and within 72 hours, more than 10,000 children had lost their financial support from canceled World Vision sponsorships.

Ten-thousand children.

In addition, funding for schools, hospitals, water projects, and medical care was threatened as churches vowed to cut off support to an organization that hired LGBT people.

As one of my readers, Anthony, recalls, "Our church leadership vowed that they would pull all support, including over $2 million to build two hospitals in Zambia."

To try and stem some of the bleeding, I joined with other World Vision bloggers to encourage my readers to sponsor children or make one-time donations to the organization. We had raised several thousand dollars and multiple sponsorships -- many coming from gay and lesbian couples -- when the CEO of World Vision announced the charity would reverse its decision and return to its old policies discriminating against gay and lesbian employees.

It had worked. Using wells and hospitals and child sponsorships as bargaining chips in the culture wars had actually worked.

Never in my life had I been so angry at my own faith tradition.

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Are culture war 'victories' worth the casualties?

Indiana law a 2016 litmus test — heres what they said

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Buzz Cut: Indiana law a 2016 litmus test -- heres what they said Walker, Jeb tied in N.H. poll Q Poll: Hillary slides in key states, big dip on favorability Emails show Hillary mingled work, personal business Its happening

INDIANA LAW A 2016 LITMUS TEST -- HERES WHAT THEY SAIDAppearing on Fox & Friends this morning, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended a religious freedom law that has become a flashpoint in the culture wars. But Pence said he and lawmakers were working through the day and into the night on a potential clarification of the laws intent. Pence said that the changes would come in the days ahead and promised: Well fix this, and move forward. The move to clarify the law comes as Indiana business leaders crank up the pressure on conservatives to ensure there could be no legalized discrimination based on sexual preferences.

[Pence made the case for the law in a widely circulated WSJ op-ed.]

While Pence sorts out his own potential presidential ambitions and what this eruption means for his future, the GOP presidential field is going through its first litmus test of the cycle. And on the key question of religious liberty, which is a huge concern for the GOP base, heres what they had to say:

IN SUPPORT Jeb Bush Bush offered support in a radio interview with host Hugh Hewitt on Monday: I think Governor Pence has done the right thing.

Scott Walker While Walker hasnt offered his opinion of the specific language of the Indiana law, a campaign spokeswoman told news outlets: As a matter of principle, Gov. Walker believes in broad religious freedom and the right for Americans to exercise their religion and act on their conscience.

Ted Cruz Cruzs campaign put out a statement of full-throated support: Governor Pence is holding the line to protect religious liberty in the Hoosier State. Indiana is giving voice to millions of courageous conservatives across this country who are deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks upon our personal liberties. Im proud to stand with Mike, and I urge Americans to do the same.

Marco Rubio In an appearance on The Five on Monday, Rubio offered his support: Nobody is saying that it should be legal to deny someone service at a restaurant or at a hotel because of their sexual orientation. I think thats a consensus view in AmericaThe flip side is, should a photographer be punished for refusing to do a wedding that their faith teaches them is not one that is valid in the eyes of God?

Mike Huckabee The former Arkansas governor backed the law in a statement provided to Fox News First: We must stand behind those who stand up for religious freedoms. Indianas law is the same that was supported and signed by President Bill Clinton and most Democrats back in 1993; Senator Barack Obama also supported it at one time. It's not a bill that discriminates, but protects from religious discrimination and upholds religious liberty for everyone.

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Indiana law a 2016 litmus test -- heres what they said

Are culture war ‘victories’ worth the casualties? – CNN.com

Story highlights Indiana's religious freedom law will not directly affect many people, but conversation around it, will have lasting effects, writes Held Evans The casualties of the culture wars tend to be the very people Jesus went out of his way to serve, says Evans

A year ago this week, I rose each morning with red, puffy eyes and heavy sense of exhaustion. I hadn't slept soundly since March 26, a day many of my friends and readers mark as the last day they wanted anything to do with organized Christianity.

It all started when World Vision, a humanitarian organization I had long supported and promoted, announced a change to its hiring policy allowing people in same-sex marriages to work in its U.S. offices.

In response, conservative evangelicals rallied, and within 72 hours, more than 10,000 children had lost their financial support from canceled World Vision sponsorships.

Ten-thousand children.

In addition, funding for schools, hospitals, water projects, and medical care was threatened as churches vowed to cut off support to an organization that hired LGBT people.

As one of my readers, Anthony, recalls, "Our church leadership vowed that they would pull all support, including over $2 million to build two hospitals in Zambia."

To try and stem some of the bleeding, I joined with other World Vision bloggers to encourage my readers to sponsor children or make one-time donations to the organization. We had raised several thousand dollars and multiple sponsorships -- many coming from gay and lesbian couples -- when the CEO of World Vision announced the charity would reverse its decision and return to its old policies discriminating against gay and lesbian employees.

It had worked. Using wells and hospitals and child sponsorships as bargaining chips in the culture wars had actually worked.

Never in my life had I been so angry at my own faith tradition.

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Are culture war 'victories' worth the casualties? - CNN.com

Far Cry 4 – Walkthrough Part 43: Culture Wars – Video


Far Cry 4 - Walkthrough Part 43: Culture Wars
Far Cry 4 - No Commentary Walkthrough Part 43: Culture Wars - PS4 Version.

By: WestWizzy

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Far Cry 4 - Walkthrough Part 43: Culture Wars - Video

Culture wars harm religious rights: Column

Stephen Prothero 7:20 p.m. EDT March 29, 2015

Supporters and opponents of Indiana's Religious Freedom bill at the state Capitol in Indianapolis.(Photo: Robert Scheer, AP)

After Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed a state religious liberty bill last Thursday, liberals lined up to ravage this "anti-gay" legislation as a "license to discriminate." Indianapolis-based Angie's List said it was shelving a headquarters expansion plan that would have brought the state a thousand jobs. Hillary Clinton and Apple's Tim Cook objected. Even singer Miley Cyrus weighed in, writing that "the only place that has more idiots than Instagram is in politics."

I support gay marriage. I support anti-discrimination laws protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens. But I also support religious liberty. These commitments sometimes conflict. But it is a sad day when there is so little support for the liberties of U.S. citizens, especially among liberals who should be their staunchest defenders.

Religious liberty took a big hit in a 1990 Supreme Court decision that went against American Indians fired after they ingested a hallucinogen in a Native American Church ritual. A law can prohibit any form of worship, Justice Antonin Scalia argued for the majority, as long as it is "neutral (and) generally applicable."

USA TODAY

Reynolds: You are probably breaking the law right now

Outraged over this reasoning, which would have outlawed using wine at the Catholic Mass during Prohibition, Congress responded (nearly unanimously) in 1993 with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Signed by President Clinton, this act instructed the judiciary to return to its prior approach, in which burdens on individual religious liberty would be unlawful unless the government could show that the burden was necessary to achieve a "compelling government interest" and that the law doing so employed the "least restrictive means."

After the Supreme Court ruled in 1997 that the RFRA applied only to the federal government, states responded with mini-RFRAs requiring this "compelling government interest" test in their religious liberty cases. Of these, Indiana's RFRA is the 20th.

There is no excuse for refusing to serve a lesbian couple at a restaurant and to my knowledge no state RFRA has ever been used to justify such discrimination. But if we favor liberty for all Americans (and not just for those who agree with us), we should be wary of using the coercive powers of government to compel our fellow citizens to participate in rites that violate their religious beliefs. We would not force a Jewish baker to make sacramental bread for a Catholic Mass. Why would we force a fundamentalist baker to make a cake for a gay wedding?

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Culture wars harm religious rights: Column