The right has had a knack of taking over terms that used to be the common possession of all or most people. The flag and patriotism, Jesus and God, and even the phrase “Merry Christmas” are now indicators of where you stand in the culture wars that have dominated our political life for decades. In some ways, as a liberal protestant pastor, I see one of my tasks as reclaiming words. It’s not just a political move though. It’s the recognition that these words can open up a treasure trove of ideas and resources that are important to relate to if we would have a better world.
We’re threatened with the loss of another word: religious freedom. The idea of religious freedom is a wholly liberal idea. I was reminded of that recently listening to “Christian radio” as the speaker went off on how Muslims and atheists should not be included in our first amendment protections. In my brief time in Oklahoma I’ve discovered that I had been in a liberal bubble and that such sentiments are more common then I realized.
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