Rush Limbaugh Abuses & Taunts Moderate & Progressive People of Faith

Moderate and progressive people of faith have been reluctant to enter into the political arena. Frankly, we're more comfortable volunteering at food pantries, homeless shelters, or helping out others in need. Only recently and reluctantly have we recognized the need to stand up for the values- including being slow to judge others-- that we hold dear. But now Rush Limbaugh has seen fit to insult moderate and progressive people of faith on his top-rated radio program. Enough is enough: we must not take this lying down. Limbaugh must either apologize or we must consider a national boycott of all radio stations that carry his program. Just two days ago, this Blog spoke out against anti-religious bigotry from a left-wing non-believer. But at least he did not insult and taunt moderate religious people in the shocking and abusive manner that Mr. Limbaugh has. Anti-religious bigotry on all sides must stop, and seeking to impose one vision of religion must stop, too. There is no right way to worship G'd. Further, there is no one version of Christianity, nor is Christianity the official religion of this country. As Al Gore said yesterday, this is exactly the type of religious persecution and intolerance that America was founded to prevent. "How dare they?" Gore said. "This aggressive new strain of right-wing religious zealotry is actually a throw-back to the intolerance that led to the creation of America in the first place." Limbaugh thinks he can taunt the most deeply held values of millions of Americans with no consequence--he thinks the sleeping giant of moderate and decent Americans will not notice. But he is mistaken--the giant is waking up from a long nap.

c/o Mike Tidmus Blog:

In his broadcast, Rush postulated the proposition that there are two Christian Gods, and the God of that tiny, bigoted minority known as the radical religious right is the only correct and true God. As for other faiths (and non-faiths), this press release (in its entirety) from The Interfaith Alliance says it all.

Limbaugh's Religious Hate Talk Blasphemes Religion, Interfaith Alliance President Says

WASHINGTON -- April 28 -- Today, in response to Rush Limbaugh's statement that "the religious left in this country hates and despises the God of Christianity and Catholicism," the Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, president of The Interfaith Alliance, released the following
statement:

"All people of faith in the most religiously diverse nation on earth should be insulted by the uninformed religious pronouncements of a vitriolic radio host," said Rev. Dr. C Welton Gaddy, President of the Interfaith Alliance. "Mr. Limbaugh has repeatedly demonstrated his ignorance and insensitivity to the religious communities in this nation.

"Mr. Limbaugh demeans the very spirit of Christianity as well as the faithful Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Baha'i, and other religious communities. Unfortunately Mr. Limbaugh's words echo the recent misuse of religion by politicians. We remain gravely concerned about the continuing manipulation of religion for partisan political purposes. The fusion of partisan politics and religion arrogantly blasphemes religion and aggressively threatens the vitality of democracy.

"The Interfaith Alliance remains committed to the healing role of religion in America and stands with all people of faith and good will who remain dedicated to common values that enhance our lives together."

According to Media Matters, on the April 27 edition of The Rush Limbaugh Show, Mr. Limbaugh said:

LIMBAUGH: "I would submit to you that people on the left are religious, too. Their God is just different. The left has a different God. There's a religious left in this country.

"And, the religious left in this country hates and despises the God of Christianity and Catholicism and whatever else. They despise it because they fear it, because it's a threat, because that God has moral absolutes. That God has right and wrong, that God doesn't deal in nuance, that God doesn't deal in gray area, that God says, 'This is right and that is wrong.'"

FP says: APOLOGIZE OR WE WILL BOYCOTT! We also ask that all other people of faith and or good will, including our conservative Christian friends, to join us in seeking an apology and an end to religious intolerance in all its forms.