One of the problems which many Christians have with the Christian Right is idea that one must vote conservative in order to be a "true" Christian. Liberals attempt to counter this by arguing that they are "real" Christians as well, but in doing so they appear to concede far too much ground to the conservatives.

John C. Danforth writes:

It is important for those of us who are sometimes called moderates to make the case that we, too, have strongly held Christian convictions, that we speak from the depths of our beliefs, and that our approach to politics is at least as faithful as that of those who are more conservative. Our difference concerns the extent to which government should, or even can, translate religious beliefs into the laws of the state.

People of faith have the right, and perhaps the obligation, to bring their values to bear in politics. [The New York Times]

It is arguable, however, that Danforth isn't much better than those he opposes:

This country is not about having the more true Christian lead us, but to have someone in power that will defend and protect all of us from the government becoming too religious oriented.

I don’t want to hear that Republicans are pushing Christian beliefs in their running of this country, nor do I want to hear Democrats doing the same from their perspective. They just don’t get it do they? The United States of America is the foundation of freedom, and as such, should have a government that is neutral when it comes to religion.

When I vote I want a candidate who says that they will fight for the freedom of all the people, not just for the Christian people. I want a government who will protect the Buddhist as well as the Atheist and the Wiccan believers. If a candidate or party starts spewing how they are the true Christians, and will run this country in a Christian manner, I start to cringe. [Life in a Handbasket]

Liberal Christians are trying to counter some of the religious rhetoric of the far-right by arguing that they are just as good at being Christians and Christian politicians as conservative Christians. It's possible that this tactic will be effective in that not so many voters will think that Democrats are godless secularists or that only a vote for Republicans can be a vote for Christian values.

It is arguable, though, that such a tactic is one that is ultimately self-defeating because it accepts some of the key premises of the Christian Right — namely, that leadership of America should remain in the hands of devout Christians, that a person running for office must do so on the strength of their Christian convictions, and that godless secularists can't be trusted.

Perhaps this tactic is necessary in order to avoid offending conservative Christians and to avoid giving them an excuse to express their irrational bigotry when voting. In the end, though, liberal Christians won't be able to claim the moral high ground unless their arguments include the idea that there is nothing wrong with being a godless secularist (or a godly secularist) and that there is nothing about being a Christian which would make a person more moral and more fit for public office.

Read More:

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