I think FoF misses the point. I don't see Christians slamming each other. What I see is many who use Christianity to inflict their views on others. The problem with using an approach that preaches by exhorting others to "stop that" is that it often reflects upon the "preacher". Why is it that the preacher consider himself as so special to talk down to others?

Too many preachers abound but few who can walk the walk.

There is not one unified Christianity today. There are sects and followers who disagree on the nature of Christianity as there always has been throughout our history. There may have been one Jesus and I think that his teachings are loud and clear in the Beatitudes. I don't see them being followed by any so-called Christians today.

As to this business of "righteousness". It's a quagmire because those who espouse it misuse it as if to say they know what it is and others don't. This kind of condescension gives Christianity and religion in general a bad name.

I am impressed with the interpretation of Joseph Campbell, I believe to be a genius, who sees the power of myth in religion as a socializing force but sees it also as deviant when it is narrowly and literally applied by demagoguery.

This is an important discussion because religion has found it's way into the political area through the devious mantle of "values" which are lauded by the Religious Right and have ignored basic human rights and values such as economic relief for the working poor, the corruption found in many major American corporations today, the infringement of civil liberties through fear of "terrorism" and the neo-con subjugation of women through attempting to legislate their bodies. Also, the introduction of pre-emption as an American foreign policy has defiled any claim to divinity.

The "religious" wars have been manufactured as part of the Culture Wars at the expense of a class war which is very much with us today.

You will begin to see, now, the rise of the Religious Left which is concerned with these human rights and have been silent too long through the intimidation of the media, and neo-con pundits.

It's a new day.

Frank