Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

alltexansnotsometexans

Deliberate Democracy versus Deliberate Dictatorship

Last updated on: February 24, 2024 at 5:50 pm   by Julie Nichols

Deliberate Democracy versus Deliberate Dictatorship 2024-02-24T17:50:15-06:00 Julie Nichols

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I think I’ve possibly figured out what we are facing when it comes to our constitutional democracy and liberty, justice, and freedom for all Americans without exception.  It’s not red versus blue, Christian versus non-Christian, rich versus poor, or any other group versus another group.  It’s those individuals who deliberately support American democracy versus those individuals who deliberately do not support American democracy; however, there is a range of misunderstanding and non-deliberation of gray in-between.  Minus the gray, those who willingly support Christian Authoritarianism, Christian Rule, and political power (like some CPAC guest speakers) versus those who fully support the US Constitution, American Democracy, and freedom for all Americans without exception are the two primary groups of Americans we have right now.  Like the LGBTQ+ issue, there are various degrees of understanding, “grayness,” and acceptance just as there are various degrees of understanding what should and should not be passed as law and what is and what isn’t oppressive on others.  Even though it took me a while to open my eyes to reproductive healthcare, I opened my eyes, well-before Roe was overturned.   But every day, my eyes open to more and more injustice. I wish my eyes would have opened fully at an earlier time, but they finally opened to a point where I could identify as a pro-choice Catholic Democrat and an LGBTQ+ ally.

It’s impossible to broadbrush any group of people and make statements such as “All Republicans are racist” or “All Christians are Christian Nationalists,” or “all minority groups are Democrats.”  It boils down to each individual and which side of history that person will choose.  However, there are some gray spaces of misunderstanding where people cannot see different levels of injustice; I was unable to start noticing more injustice until Trump mocked the disabled reporter.  It took some awakenings for me to open my eyes further; it took some hard lessons, but I choose American democracy because I believe that each and every person is beloved by God, is equally-sacred, and deserves equal human rights.   As a Catholic-Christian, I should want the same rights and freedoms for those who are different than myself, regardless if they share my values and beliefs or not. As Amanda Tyler of Christians Against Christian Nationalism says, full participation in American society should never be based on how someone identifies religiously.  In order for religious liberties of all kinds to flourish, a secular democracy must flourish.

But this is not what the far Putin right-wing of the Republican party wants.  Let’s look at a very recent CPAC speech from a member of the Putin wing of the Republican party. He specifically states that he supported January 6th, that he wants democracy defeated, and then he ties in “The name of God” to the end of his short speech.  It’s getting dangerous, my fellow Americans.  Catholic Americans, will you stand on the side of the vulnerable, the oppressed, and the marginalized, or will you stand on the side of the oppressors like this who have promised to defeat democracy. I choose to stand with democracy and liberty and justice for all because each and every human being is equally-created in God’s image.

@dy0czm8581ex

♬ original sound – The Neuro-Catholic MamaBear

 

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Previous Post



February 19, 2024

Legal Bannings of Human Rights but Not for Some

Next Post



February 28, 2024 Donald Trump's Current Rhetoric, It's "Hitler-esque"--videos


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 July 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022




TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What biblical advice is given to those who are anxious?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Trust only yourself Never tell anyone Cast your cares on the Lord Worry constantly

Related posts from All Texans, Not Some Texans

Family

Reconciling Spirituality and a LGBTQ+ Ally's and Mom's...

All Texans, Not Some Texans

Family

Traditional Settings, Inclusivity, & LGBTQ+ Affirmation

All Texans, Not Some Texans

Family

Reembracing Black Spirituality; MAGA White Church Betrayal

All Texans, Not Some Texans

Family

Republican Reactions to McCain Were a Warning Sign...

All Texans, Not Some Texans

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian

Dolly Parton’s Last Song Wins Dove Award with...

Bluegrass band The Grascals, speaking on the red carpet at the 57th...

The Image: On the Horror of Capitalism and...

The Image Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might...

Thoughts about Halloween

We are approaching the date of our new American national holiday: October...

Letters on Living the Faith by C.S. Lewis

Most of us met C.S. Lewis as a public intellectual. Mere Christianity....

When Halloween Unmasks Married Hearts

Written by Dr. David K. Ewen from Eternal Truth Bible College Behind...

Jesus Was Not an Aristotelian

Aristotle. He’s been called the father of logic, the father of the...

view all Progressive Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube