Good lord, it was terrifying. The film pulls very few, if any, punches, delving deep inside the psychology of American Christian fundamentalism-one half of the Republican vote (other half being big business). The film shows in as impartial way as possible why it is so important to prevent fundies from returning to power-because they want theocracy.
GOMS establishes that the fundamentalists freely want to align the laws of America along their interpretation of Christian principles. With theocracy, the freedoms of religion perish. From the ten commandments outside government buildings, to teacher-lead prayer in schools, abortion and homosexuality illegalised,to abstinence-only indoctrination (I won't call it 'sex education' because 'abstinence-only sex education' is an oxymoron), the effects of American theocracy are terrifying.
American theocracy needs to be opposed because those policies above are the antithesis of a liberal democracy. What if a non-believing child doesn't wish to participate in school prayer? Who gets to decide what's morally 'right' in the bedroom, wherein all parties are consenting (indeed, such anti-Sodomy laws are highly reminiscent of anti-interracial laws)?
Fundies are unable to understand why separation doesn't protect only the state-it protects religion as well. Who gets to decide which interpretation of fundamentalist Christianity is correct? James Dobson? Joseph Ratzinger? Fred Phelps? All an America theocracy needs is a hardline-enough President, and Christian denominations with opposing beliefs will be illegalised. Democracy is a fundamental tenant of religious freedom. What is also seen is that fundamentalists view the past (pre-banning of prayer) as a golden age of morality. Fundamentalises would give David Irving a run for his money for historial revisionism; pre-1962, there was rampant racism, rape was legal, African-Americans couldn't vote, and McCarthyism had only just subsided.
What I find most unappealing about all fundamentalist religions (not merely Christianity), much more than the anti-science stances (creationism and stem cells, anyone?) is the total intolerance of any faiths other than their own, and the fundamentalist hatred this generates. These people believe that Earth enters the end times, they will enter heaven, and the rest of humanity will be left on a hellish earth. It doesn't matter how moral I am; that I support various human rights and anti-poverty organisations-I am a non-believer, and so I will spend all eternity in torture in the lake of fire, simply for being so.
Perhaps these so-called Christian folk could take a lesson or two from the Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
If you can, watch Jesus Camp. Even more disturbing.
I think my soul vomit if I watched it.
"the effects of American theocracy are terrifying."
No shit tom.
The US, of all developed countries has the worst healthcare and education systems, the highest HIV and Hep C infection rates in the developed world, significantly higher rates of drug use and imprisonment, the highest rate of teen pregnancy, and double the homicide rate of the UK, Canada or Australia.
Looks like its all really working out well for them, eh?!
So to all the "conservatives" (BTW, you are nothing of the sort) out there who admire the US model, how 'bout you all just fuck off and move to the US, and take your lousy "God" with you.
You'll get all the freedom you can afford!
Post a Comment