As a Christian and libertarian, I agree with a good deal of what Joe Carter wrote in his "open letter to the religious right." It was a good start, but it doesn't go far enough, especially if you believe that it's the duty of Christians to work toward the regeneration of society in the areas that they are given authority. There are a few things that I think that Christians both of the conservative and libertarian strain can agree should be added to the list.
Ten -- There is a significant amount of injustice that has been allowed to fester in the government and legal system besides the injustice of abortion on demand, and the more obvious restrictions on religious freedom. One of many examples is the system of civil asset forfeiture laws which allow state governments and the federal government to seize private property by merely accusing it of being used in the commission of a crime. No evidence of wrong-doing on the part of the owner is required. I don't think that I need to remind the religious right that God's law, as revealed in the Old Testament makes it abundantly clear that  God has a standard of how criminal and civil justice should be carried out, and that a thorough reading of it reveals a profound concern for protecting the innocent and falsely accused from ever falling victim to undeserved punishment. The religious right should be well aware of just how far the standard of "justice" in modern America has fallen away from its own ancient ideals and the minimum standards that Christians should find acceptable from the bible.
Eleven -- As an extension to number three, Christians should be mindful of moral arguments made in defense of policy, especially policies that seek to impose a single solution on one where individual choice and liberty could lead to many satisfactory solutions. A good example of this is environmental policy. Christians should encourage, through the power of persuasion, individuals to adopt more environment-friendly habits, rather than support the mandate of top-down, one-size-fits-all solutions on the majority of environmental issues.
Twelve -- The religious right should be aware of the fact that wherever the state takes on roles that were once carried out by the church, the church will lose authority and influence in society in those areas over time. This has been the result of social welfare policies and marriage licensing laws. It must be mindful of the fact that sometimes when it "advances its vision" through the state, it is in fact leading to a potential crisis where the church will no longer be able to act independently in society with an appreciable amount of influence.
Ten -- There is a significant amount of injustice that has been allowed to fester in the government and legal system besides the injustice of abortion on demand, and the more obvious restrictions on religious freedom. One of many examples is the system of civil asset forfeiture laws which allow state governments and the federal government to seize private property by merely accusing it of being used in the commission of a crime. No evidence of wrong-doing on the part of the owner is required. I don't think that I need to remind the religious right that God's law, as revealed in the Old Testament makes it abundantly clear that  God has a standard of how criminal and civil justice should be carried out, and that a thorough reading of it reveals a profound concern for protecting the innocent and falsely accused from ever falling victim to undeserved punishment. The religious right should be well aware of just how far the standard of "justice" in modern America has fallen away from its own ancient ideals and the minimum standards that Christians should find acceptable from the bible.
Eleven -- As an extension to number three, Christians should be mindful of moral arguments made in defense of policy, especially policies that seek to impose a single solution on one where individual choice and liberty could lead to many satisfactory solutions. A good example of this is environmental policy. Christians should encourage, through the power of persuasion, individuals to adopt more environment-friendly habits, rather than support the mandate of top-down, one-size-fits-all solutions on the majority of environmental issues.
Twelve -- The religious right should be aware of the fact that wherever the state takes on roles that were once carried out by the church, the church will lose authority and influence in society in those areas over time. This has been the result of social welfare policies and marriage licensing laws. It must be mindful of the fact that sometimes when it "advances its vision" through the state, it is in fact leading to a potential crisis where the church will no longer be able to act independently in society with an appreciable amount of influence.
Mike, please explain #2; "Being Right doesn't mean we are always right." How can you be right, and yet not be?
As to #1, do we, as a country, not do quite a bit to fight Aids? Is not part of that fight the responsibility of those who have the disease to NOT spread it, and those who engage in high risk behaviour to avoid such, or maybe be expected to take precautions? I know that's politically incorrect, but it's true. As for Aids in Africa, Heath Organizations need to step up efforts to convince men with Aids that screwing a virgin will NOT cure them.
I agree with most of the rest of the list, even the torture part, yet I'm still in the bleachers on Waterboarding. As for your additions, I fall mostly in line with your thinking here.
Being on the Right, doesn't mean that your opinions are always right...
About waterboarding, it has been traditionally accepted as a form of torture by the church.
As for the spread of AIDS, what needs to happen, is that the men who are doing these rapes of virgins need to be executed for homicide since they are both raping and spreading a fatal disease.
It doesn't say Being ON the right.. it says Being right. Maybe he wrote it wrong. As far as Waterboarding being considered torture by the church, that doesn't make it so.
Actually, it says "being Right." The capitalized R in right is what explains that he is referring to the political right.
Ah. In that case, it is correct.