ReligionDispatches.org

I take a lot of heat for not liking the things Jim Wallis says, but I have to say in all honesty that his piece yesterday in the Huffington Post was about the most egregious thing he's published in a long, long while. It's like a primer in all the ways Wallis' approach to religion and politics is flawed. It's so textbook, in fact, that I think I'll dispense with a conventional review and just list all the howlers for you, in no particular order:

The recent decision by US Attorney General, Eric Holder—that five Guantanamo detainees believed to have masterminded the 9/11 attacks will be brought to the US to be tried in a non-military court in lower Manhattan—has raised cries of outrage from many quarters. Here is yet another complex contemporary issue that does not seem to break down neatly according to the old logic of “liberal and conservative” politics.  

Some object to the decision not to try the five in military tribunals instead. Some object to the symbolism of bringing the men onto US soil. Others embrace the symbolism of trying the five in lower Manhattan, in the symbolic shadow of Ground Zero. Some worry that this cannot serve as anything other than a show-trial, whose outcome is already clear; the idea is that this decision would never have been rendered were the Attorney General in any doubt about the final outcome.

You don't have to drive long in South Carolina before you see a bevy of bumper stickers with an overarching Christian theme. Some I've witnessed recently include: "Pro-life and Christian," "American needs a faith lift," "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven," and the usual flood of Jesus fish. It's rare to find one of those "Darwin fish" eating the Jesus fish, or even rarer to find a bumper sticker proclaiming atheism.

One form of Christian expression we won't see on the back of cars and trucks here is a specialty license plate that proclaimed "I Believe" with stained glass and a cross on it. That license plate was authorized for production last year by the South Carolina state legislature — but none have been distributed. A group of progressive pastors including Rev. Dr. Neal Jones of Columbia's Unitarian church challenged the legality of the tag in court.

Pink boas and rainbow flags were the accessories of choice at the National Equality March on October 11, 2009 in Washington DC. Supporters of full civil and legal rights for same-sex loving people filled the Mall near the Capitol after a 2.3 mile prance by the White House where many shouted to President Obama to hurry up and lift “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Under a cloudless sky the rally began with prayer. The crowd, whose median age I would ballpark at 23, grew silent under the imposing dome of the Capitol.

Dear Mr. Goldberg,

My name is Dan Mathewson and I’m Assistant Professor of Religion at Wofford College in South Carolina. Like many people, I have been following with interest the fallout of the Fort Hood shootings, and particularly the ways that media figures (journalists, television personalities, etc.) have linked—or refused to link—Nidal Hasan’s actions with his Muslim faith. It is for this reason that I read with interest your recent post in the Atlantic, “When Muslims Commit Violence,” where you argue that we should not ignore an alleged criminal’s potential religious motivations simply because that person is Muslim.

You suggest that the media should follow the same protocol as is applied to Christians (or members of any other religion). You propose the following test: