Good news for combox communicant Daniel: Beliefnet has launched "Progressive Revival," a religious-liberal group blog featuring some of the leading lights of left-wing Godtalk. Welcome to the blogosphere, y'all. I note with some satisfaction that our Big Cheese Editor, Steve Waldman, writes:
You might wonder: why no religious right group blog? We're lucky enough to have Crunchy Con (alias Rod Dreher) as our premier conservative blogger. In fact, we're proud to say that as far as we can tell Rod now has the most popular religious conservative blog on the web. It's the ultimate compliment that we needed a group of 30 plus liberal luminaries to create parity with Crunchy Con.
Bwahahahahahahaha! Now that I'm carrying the weight of 30, I'm going to have to start putting more conservative religious stuff into the mix. Must get dear Archbishop Akinola on speed dial...
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I just checked out the new progressive blog, and found it rather disappointing. Actually, boring is a better word. Rod has a way of ferreting out obscure, yet strangely relevant, stories and topics for discussion, and always gives them his own inimitable spin... He's funny, brilliant, and not afraid to champion an opinion that flies in the face of the fashionable set. Nor is he afraid to admit that he doesn't always KNOW how he feels about a particular topic. We learn from him, he learns from us, and we all learn from each other here. It's a truly extraordinary blog, in my experience. Keep it up, Rod! Those libruls next door ain't got nothin' on you...
Not only is it boring, it isn't progressive either.
Filled with nonsense about "a historic gathering of Catholics" (yeah, that's "progressive), Tim Kaine and his "faith background" (pro-life - whoda guessed? - and this "progressive" laudatory comment: "Kaine's response is the type of thing you're more likely to hear from Republicans, or conservative judicial nominees."), another article with "links to pro-gun Christian groups", anti-gay diatribes in the comboxes, an article promising to explain "Why Christians scare people" that does no such thing.
This 'promise' of a "progressive religious blog" is as big a fib as Waldman's "You might wonder: why no religious right group blog?" and his comment about "Rod's openmindedness".
The comboxes here are the most interesting of any blog I read, by far. Rod attracts a readership with real diversity of views, and it's not just two opposing camps. That's what makes it the most fun. The sharpest fights I've gotten into here (and I'm ashamed of them, btw; controlling my temper is a lifelong struggle) are with folks with whom I agree on a great many things.
The readership community of CrunchyCon will be difficult for anyone else to replicate. So let's raise a glass of non-crappy, Epernay-region cyber-champagne to our gracious, hard-working and patient host!
Recovering Ex-P, Rod IS open-minded. Open-mindedness is about listening to different points of view and giving them due consideration. Open-mindedness does NOT mean one must give all conclusions equal weight. Rod thinks freely so that he might draw informed conclusions... not just so he can say he's a "free thinker." Have you ever heard that expression "Some people are so open minded, their brains fall out"? Well, that doesn't describe Rod. And thank God it doesn't. Otherwise, this would just be another boring, PC, nicey-nice blog that we'd all be tired of pretty quickly.
Why do you struggle?
Just leave your worry,your contention, and disputes and go right to Christ. He tells us, "come to me". '"my yolk is easy and my burden light" Why turn circles in the fray? Why scuffle in the in the heated contest?
Jesus never called us to doctrine, rituals, theology or Holy days. He is so far above all of the things of religion. He calls us to himself.
"I am the truth" The truth then is a man. Not the answer to a question. All truth is manifested in the son of God. He is the mouth of God.
I am the truth, and the truth will set you free. You are truly free indeed when the Son sets you free. He is liberty. He is freedom. His burden is light. Take it up. Let yours fall from your back. He is all one needs. Take up the easy yolk.
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