Still working on posting more often…in the meantime, more Sunday links:
Damon Linker wants to know “Why Aren’t Conservative Intellectuals Disgusted with the GOP?” Good question, and it begs the “what is a conservative intellectual” follow up. Whoever it is, I think they’re wondering what to do now that they’ve constructed an electoral coalition on racism, nativism and a reactionary theological/cultural movement based on imagined existential threats to American society. They’ve painted themselves into an ideological corner and handed extremists the brush. To the extent any conservative intellectuals exist, I suspect they do feel disgust for today’s GOP. They just lack the moral courage to say so.
Googling around for background on Linker lead me to this post from over a year ago by Rod Dreher. Quoting a Linker piece about “…why its not right for same-sex marriage proponents — as he is — to say that Christians who oppose SSM are on the same footing as racists,” Dreher argues in effect that it’s impossible to “…reconcile normative Christianity with sanctioning gay relationships, without doing serious violence to Christian teaching.” Since this teaching so permeates the very essence of Christianity and its moral teachings, it justifies discrimination against homosexuals in a way it failed to justify racial discrimination. In the end it still comes down to using religion to justify discrimination.
Al Mohler responds to folks who wonder why evangelical Christians can’t just get with the program: “Now, at least some people seem genuinely perplexed that conservative Christians will not just go along with the program to redefine Christian morality, marriage, and doctrine.” I would respond to Mr. Mohler, and to Dreher as well, that no one wants them to change their views on morality, marriage, or doctrine. They and their churches can and should continue to apply their values as they see fit within these institutions. What they cannot do is use the machinery of the State to discriminate against those who don’t share them.