A California Republican

The word religion is so loaded - especially in California. In California, people assume when you say that “you are religious” that you are also a member of the Religious Right - the RR. Being religious is also synonomous with being close-minded, petty and bigoted. This is especially true after the Prop. 8 vote.

However, most religious people wouldn’t characterize themselves that way. In fact, religious people choose political affiliations based on what best matches their beliefs  - the entirety of their beliefs- just like anyone else. It is not assumed that those on the left are godless and agnostics. However, when you say you are religious it is simply assumed that you are a amember of the Religious Right. It is almost as if peole don’t see how somone who holds Christianity dear to their hearts could be a Democrat. After all, Democrats kill babies because they vote in favor of abortion.

But here’s the thing - people choose political parties based on the entirety of their beliefs. For some, this means republican, for some this means democrats, and for others it mean green, independent, free, or some other party. There is no one party that can define faith and say they are the decisive party of the faithful.

It is because of this, that religion is so hard to bring to the table in politics. It gets even harder when you talk about core issues to religion - marriage, children, and stewardship. The Catholic Church does a great job with their political positions. They have taken the position that all people in CA should be helped - legal or illegal. And you know this about the church. It is a decisively left position - yet they are religious. The Catholic Church also believes marriage should be between a man and a woman only - a right position - yet they took the left on other issues. How can this be? You mean that churches don’t fit neatly into political categories either?

In California, it is a strange situation. Words associated with church - sepcifically Christianity - seem to be banned. Talking about religion in work is a bad idea. Talking about religion is school is forbidden. Heaven forbid the children learn that the Founding Fathers were Christian, or that our system of laws - specifically the criminal ones - were created from a distinctly Christian perspective. You cannot celebrate Christmas here, you have to celebrate the “holidays.”

So how do we bring back religion to the table in California politics? It has been removed, nuetered and spayed. It has become a bad word - the third rail of state politics. It should never be mentioned except in hushed tones on Sunday, and forgotten by Sunday evening when you are watching football.

Here’s how - attribute those actions that are based on religious values to them, and don’t be afraid. When someone asks me why I do so much charity work the answer isn’t simple “I like to do things for other people,” which is true, but isn’t the who truth. The answer is, ” I believe that God would’ve wanted us to take care of others, and it makes me feel good.” That’s the whole truth.

As peole begin bringing religion back into their daily lives, it will come back onto the political table as well. And back into daily lives doesn’t mean that you go to church on Sunday, and forget about the Bible on Monday. It means making it a part of your daily life. Then, and only then, will it become part of the discussion in California politics.

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