The first modern kulturkampf took place during the 1870s and 80s in Europe by Bismarck, chancellor of the German Empire, against the Catholic church, its leaders, and also against the Catholic political party (the Center party) and other Catholic social, cultural, and educational institutions.
This was a battle of the State against public Catholicism, a battle of secularism against the right of a public role for religious conviction and religious institutions.
This same kulturkampf reared its very ugly head in the U.S. in the 19th century as American Protestantism battled Catholicism with Blaine Amendments and other legal restrictions on faith.
True “culture war” is a fight between different views of what moral code should be predominant in a nation’s common life (pro-life or not? pro-historic marriage or not? pro-sexual fidelity or not?).
But the kulturkampf was a battle against the very institutions, the faith-based organizations or parachurch ministries, through which people of particular religious convictions preserve, develop, propagate, and exemplify those convictions in society.
Whatever the motivation today, the new “anti-discrimination” crusade has become a battle against the religious freedom of religious organizations, as Greg Baylor and Timothy Tracey show in their paper (below).
This is the new culture war that has become manifest in the increasingly wide-ranging set of restrictions that curtail their freedom to be distinctive, to follow religious standards and policies.
It all hangs on the ability of so-called “progressives” to equate sexual preference with race and so receive the same protections under the 14th Amendment. Once this equation is made progressives can legally vilify and castrate any orthodoxy that does not recognize the legal claims of this highly partisan and religiously loaded bait and switch.
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If you wish to see a local side of the conflict between a church/religion and parts of the community look at the current issue of Sufism Reoriented and Saranap/Walnut Creek. It covers some of the issues without the hot button Gay Rights aspect that seems to terrify the Republican Christian Taliban movement.
http://crazyinsuburbia.blogspot.com/2009/03/big-ugly-spaceship-looking-building-or.html
There is a long history of a ‘culture war’ between religious organizations and the populace and governments. The idea that this started with Bismark is an interesting starting point for the definition of ‘modern’. We had religious conflicts in our culture from the beginnings of our country or the pre-colonial period continuously. You might recall that the Aztec blood sacrifices to their Gods was an excellent example of the unity of Church and State policy.
To the Editor:
Europe has a history of religious intolerance.
Catholics have been battling Protestants for years — and still do so today in Northern Ireland.
But Europe’s worst sins were committed against the Jews.
In 1290, King Edward the First of England expelled the Jews. In 1306, the French expelled them. In 1492, the Jews were expelled from Spain. In 1648, they were expelled from Poland. At other times, Jews were expelled from Poland. From 1933 to 1945, the Nazis ruled Germany and ordered the execution of 6 million of Europe’s Jews.
People often praise Europe for its “humitarian” Welfare State.
But what is the Welfare State? It’s just another example of Big Government.
And what Big Government giveth, Big Government can taketh away.
And what does Big Government like to take away? Answer: religious freedom.
If America keeps its government small, government will not have the power to attack religion. Example: If Alabama expels religious minorities, these minorities can go to Rhode Island. But if America as a nation expels religious minorities, then these minorities have to find another country. It’s not easy to find another country.
So whenever I hear some European saying how “superior” European civilization is, I always respond by saying: “America has its faults. But its Constitution guarantees freedom of worship and many other freedoms. Despite America’s faults, America, unlike much of Europe, has never expelled the Jews.”
When it comes to personal freedom, there is no place better than America.
Richard Colman
Orinda, CA
March 17, 2009
~ EDITOR RELOADS — And what happens when government tells a faith-based adoption agency they can no longer be licensed unless they agree to place children in same sex homes? Same for doctors and abortions, or suing Options for Women for not hiring pro-abortion book keeper?
Who kisses like that, anyways?