Religious Left

[Coggeh]

Ok didn't know whether to post this in this forum or learning but whatever .

I was raised a catholic and since I've become an athiest not mainly because i don't believe in god but that the fake church of catholicism has completely turned me off it ,I was searching for articles on the religious left but all that seems to come up is things like the British labour party ;)

I'm basically looking for any good articles on how religion has been perversed to suit right wing conservative ideology but that aren't necessarily athiest .

Thanks.

[Genosse Kotze]

Well, there's liberation theology. But any religious group that acknowledges that religion is a pawn of ruling class domination....good luck finding them!

[Coggeh]

I was looking at the "Christian Left" who i remember reading support the separation of church and state (although i could be wrong).

[Wozza]

The reason you are having trouble finding religious left groups is they mainly support a authoritarian system and in that belief carry a right wing opinion.

Most religions bow down before a higher power (ie, a non deity figure) as well as a god. Think how Catholics bow to the Pope (gods "right" hand man.)

[Kwisatz Haderach]

It is not true that most religious people are right-wing. Most religious people - like most people in general - are completely uninterested in politics (sadly).

Among those religious people that are interested in politics, I would say that the majority tend to support the status quo in their respective societies - which in most cases in today's world means being right-wing.

The reason why you cannot find any Religious Left organizations is because most people on the religious left prefer to keep their politics and their religion separate. Thus they will join leftist political organizations on the one hand and religious groups on the other, but they will very rarely try to create a politico-religious organization.

The Religious Right, meanwhile, thinks theocracy is great, so they spawn politico-religious organizations all the time.

[Question everything]

I was a theist for a while... three parts of the bible (these parts are pretty well known) I used to justify socialism-

1. Blessed are the poor... (More "blessed"s ect.)... Woe to the Rich for they have already recceive their reward... (more "Woes")

2. The rich man has the same chance of entering heaven as a camel going through a needle's eye

3. If you have two coats and you see your brother naked, give him your other coat.

There are many more (Luke has the most of these if you're a part of the religious left then this is you're favourite gospel)

[More Fire for the People]

Check out Cornel West's Democracy Matters.

[Question everything]

not really. Except for the Church of Patton :P

[Question everything]

Here are some good Bible Quote I found

[edit] Biblical passages cited by anarchists

[edit] The Golden Rule
Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31).
Do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12).
Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).
Do not judge, or you too will be judged (Matthew 7:1).
Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone (John 8:7)

[edit] Pacifism, nonviolence and nonresistance
You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:39).
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27).
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well (Matthew 5:40).
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

[edit] Simple living
If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me (Matthew 19:21).
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back (Luke 6:30).
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19).
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24).
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need (Acts 2:44-45).
At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts (Deuteronomy 15:1).
You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countrymen you shall not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess (Deuteronomy 23:18-19).

[edit] Freedom from earthly authority
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you (Matthew 20:24-28).
We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).
No king but the Lord shall rule over you (Judges 8:23).
Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7).

[edit] Anarchist Biblical interpretations
The Kingdom of God - there are no monarchs, rulers, states, borders, governors or governments, except for one, God.
To seek rule by man is to reject the rule of God (1 Samuel 8).
Honest people are too busy making an honest living to accept political power, so only the corruptible will accept political power (The Parable of the Trees Judges 9:7-15).
The devil controls man-made governments (Matthew 4:8-10).
The gentiles have rulers over them, but it shall not be so among Christians (Mark 10:42-45). (Notice that the word for rulers here in the Greek version is archos. Therefore some say Christians are by simple deduction an-archos or in English anarchists).
So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined, let man not separate.(Matthew 19:6)
All of the Book of Exodus can be viewed as a revolution inspired, led, and achieved by God on behalf of the oppressed.

[Coggeh]

Thanks alot comrade , some good sayings there .

[Yardstick]

Those are excellent biblical quotes that I plan on using now!

Anyway, there is the Catholic Worker Movement (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Worker_Movement)

[Zero]

For something more recent you can look at websites like Spiritualprogressives.org (http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/) and books like The Left Hand of God (http://www.amazon.com/Left-Hand-God-Country-Religious/dp/B000NNXX30/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-5144171-1404628?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177355428&sr=8-1). Though I haven't actually read the book yet, the website seems to give off a stench of reform Liberalism and revisionism "soft capitalism" nutjobs.