A Post-Evangelical America

Please expand the definition of the Pro-Obama faithful to include at least a few of those who attend church multiple times a week and whose culture insists on a personal relationship with Christ. I'm a conservative evangelical who not only supported Obama, but who worked hard to sway several of my Christian brothers and sisters. Some evangelicals understand that the separation of church and state was instituted by Christ long before that idea was echoed in our Constitution--and despite being bombarded by the radical right, we vote that conviction.

Please expand the definition of the Pro-Obama faithful to include at least a few of those who attend church multiple times a week and whose culture insists on a personal relationship with Christ. I'm a conservative evangelical who not only supported Obama, but who worked hard to sway several of my Christian brothers and sisters. Some evangelicals understand that the separation of church and state was instituted by Christ long before that idea was echoed in our Constitution--and despite being bombarded by the radical right, we vote that conviction.

Well Lisa....have you ever had a 5 year old talk to you about a subject they obviously have little knowledge of? Reading your article and much of the comments...reminds me of such. Contrary to what Obama believes...the Bible actually says there is but one way to Heaven...and that way is acceptance through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In your article you describe all these different types of religious faith...and they certainly exists. But you miss the point ....unless one's faith is built upon the acceptance of Christ ...there is no salvation. What good is faith without salvation?

When my mother steps on the brakes in her car...she doesn't understand the specifics of how the brake system works...but she has faith if she pushes the brake pedal it will stop the car. That faith is like Obama's...it may be grounded in the reality of his experiences...but it no more leads one to salvation then pushing on the brakes in a car.

Have a nice day.

This is the double-edged sword of Obamas victory. Try as they may,proponants of gay marriage for example,were faced with the reality that they were dealt by black and latino voters in California and Florida who turned out in large numbers for Obama. A rude slap in the face,as neither of these voting blocs represented the ''white fundie Falwell ''clique they were used to whipping on ,leaving them feeling somewhat betrayed. [ For the record,Obama is opposed to gay marriage,as comporting with his belief system].
The other edge of the sword will be the diminishing power of the professional race-baiter who prefaces his name with ''Rev.'' attached. Even other black evangelicals have affirmed that they are a ''past''thing,and can no longer go down those old divisive roads in the new way of things. It remains ironic that such things as gay marriage were dumped almost as an afterthought,an ancillary portion of the larger political drama. It was not writ large in the scheme of things,yet died [for now],all the same.

I've seen this same survey mentioned in several articles and I wish these reporters would actually think about what they are writing and quit quoting this particular line of the survey: "a quarter of atheists say they believe in a higher power or universal spirit." Either the survey question was worded oddly, or there are a lot of people that call themselves atheists and have no idea what it means. The word means the disbelief of any higher power, so someone is mistaken.

Likeitis, I would say the same thing to you that I say to bible thumpers. Keep an open mind. The worms will still think you taste fine.

Thank you for this article Newsweek. I am so tired of the overly righteous bigotry of self proclaimed evangelical conservatives. They are the absolute epitome of Christianity slander. They threaten like terrorists, screech and yell like rabid dogs and rank right up there with extremists of other religions. They preach fear, they hate to their core and dismiss any of Gods children who do not accept their ugly, single-minded beliefs. How unbelievable arrogant to threaten "hell on earth", as if they can call it down from the heavens with assumed authority. Their lack of integrity and unethical behavior is appallingly filled with sinful pride. They just don't get it yet. They have wagged their oversized tongues so much that people are starting to turn their backs on their lunacy.
If you want to "save" people in Christ's name, alienation won't cut it. I think it is time they examine their terroristic souls and save themselves while leaving the rest of the non-extreme Christians alone.
I would be guessing God is getting awfully tired of your actions in His name........ You will definitely reap what you sow and I would be willing to bet the crop is going to be sadly sparse.
And just in case the evangelicals forget this, God's on my side also, along with his son Jesus.

I do not share the author's belief of anything 'post-evangelical.' Reagan carried 49 states in '84. GWB's administration was the most completely incompetent America has ever seen. McCain STILL carried over 45% of the vote. That says that those who do not vote based on reason, but rather on faith, tradition, bias and belief in disinformation now comprise almost a majority of Americans. There is nothing to be optimistic about. Far too many Americans have their minds firmly closed. It will be very difficult to fix the problems Americans face when so very many are not listening to reason. NO ONE rational should have voted republican this cycle. That so many STILL did so is very ominous. The last time there was such a marked disconnect between belief and reality in the western world led to Nazi Germany. God help America.

Here is a fascinating quote from 1787 when Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.
Does this strike anyone else as likely given the promises we've heard from the pres-elect?

Why wouldn`t you put a story like this in your magazine also? This is such an inspiring article!