BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--The Over the Mountain Democrats and its ministers' caucus is sponsoring a Birmingham screening of a new DVD challenging a prevailing myth that GOP stands for "God's Only Party."
"Golden Rule Politics: Reclaiming the Rightful Role of Faith in Politics" is produced by the Baptist Center for Ethics, a non-profit organization that challenges people of faith to advance the common good.
The screening and discussion is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 8, at Dwight Beeson Hall on the campus of Samford University.
Following the 36-minute video is a panel discussion with three prominent Alabamians who are featured in the film: Congressman Artur Davis, D-Ala.; the Rev. James Evans, newspaper columnist and pastor of Auburn First Baptist Church; and Susan Pace Hamill, professor of law at the University of Alabama and author of "The Least of These: Fair Taxes and the Moral Duty of Christians."
The DVD challenges a political myth constructed over 25 years by the Christian Right that the Republican Party is America's moral party and the party of God's favor.
Rooted in the theological conviction that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat and that neither party is thoroughly moral or completely immoral, the DVD explores the rightful role of faith in politics through interviews with clergy and politicians in Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee.
It expands the moral agenda from the narrow list of issues prioritized by the Christian Right to the fuller expression of issues found in the Christian tradition, beginning with the biblical priority of doing justice.
"Golden Rule Politics" explores how party politics have attempted to co-opt religion and trample on the separation of church and state. Instead of the familiar faces and shouting heads of partisan politics, it interviews four faithful Democratic politicians in red states who know the religious and political landscape better than many.
Along with Congressman Davis, politicians interviewed include Congressman Lincoln Davis from Tennessee; State Representative Judy Wall Baker from Missouri and State Senator Roy Herron from Tennessee. Featured clergy are from various Christian denominations.
All interviewees agree that God transcends all political parties, is captive to none and expects people of faith to do justice.
"If you understand that this world is inherently sinful, you have to ask the question, What does politics have to do with it?" Davis says in the DVD. "And the way that I get there as a Christian is, I do think there are moral principles that the state can advance that are relevant to everyone and to the way we organize our lives. Justice is one of them."
The Birmingham screening is one of the earliest public viewings of the DVD, which was released Sept. 5. Other announced screenings are next Friday at Belmont University and the following week at Athens State University, sponsored by the Center for Religious Studies and Ethics. A number of social justice organizations, houses of faith and religious and academic institutions are planning future screenings with panel discussions.
"The Baptist Center for Ethics hopes our new DVD will press a wider and more substantive public discourse about what is the rightful role of faith in politics," said Robert Parham, executive director of the agency based in Nashville, Tenn.
Video clips and more information about the DVD can be found here.
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/
http://otmdems.org/
"Golden Rule Politics: Reclaiming the Rightful Role of Faith in Politics" is produced by the Baptist Center for Ethics, a non-profit organization that challenges people of faith to advance the common good.
The screening and discussion is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 8, at Dwight Beeson Hall on the campus of Samford University.
Following the 36-minute video is a panel discussion with three prominent Alabamians who are featured in the film: Congressman Artur Davis, D-Ala.; the Rev. James Evans, newspaper columnist and pastor of Auburn First Baptist Church; and Susan Pace Hamill, professor of law at the University of Alabama and author of "The Least of These: Fair Taxes and the Moral Duty of Christians."
The DVD challenges a political myth constructed over 25 years by the Christian Right that the Republican Party is America's moral party and the party of God's favor.
Rooted in the theological conviction that God is neither a Republican nor a Democrat and that neither party is thoroughly moral or completely immoral, the DVD explores the rightful role of faith in politics through interviews with clergy and politicians in Alabama, Missouri and Tennessee.
It expands the moral agenda from the narrow list of issues prioritized by the Christian Right to the fuller expression of issues found in the Christian tradition, beginning with the biblical priority of doing justice.
"Golden Rule Politics" explores how party politics have attempted to co-opt religion and trample on the separation of church and state. Instead of the familiar faces and shouting heads of partisan politics, it interviews four faithful Democratic politicians in red states who know the religious and political landscape better than many.
Along with Congressman Davis, politicians interviewed include Congressman Lincoln Davis from Tennessee; State Representative Judy Wall Baker from Missouri and State Senator Roy Herron from Tennessee. Featured clergy are from various Christian denominations.
All interviewees agree that God transcends all political parties, is captive to none and expects people of faith to do justice.
"If you understand that this world is inherently sinful, you have to ask the question, What does politics have to do with it?" Davis says in the DVD. "And the way that I get there as a Christian is, I do think there are moral principles that the state can advance that are relevant to everyone and to the way we organize our lives. Justice is one of them."
The Birmingham screening is one of the earliest public viewings of the DVD, which was released Sept. 5. Other announced screenings are next Friday at Belmont University and the following week at Athens State University, sponsored by the Center for Religious Studies and Ethics. A number of social justice organizations, houses of faith and religious and academic institutions are planning future screenings with panel discussions.
"The Baptist Center for Ethics hopes our new DVD will press a wider and more substantive public discourse about what is the rightful role of faith in politics," said Robert Parham, executive director of the agency based in Nashville, Tenn.
Video clips and more information about the DVD can be found here.
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/
http://otmdems.org/
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