Religious and Secular Left

Bruce Wilson, on Talk to Action, has an interesting, and I think quite useful discussion of the issues relating to the ways in which the secular left and religious left talk to each other, and the broader community, and the language that gets used. He's mostly discussing Michael Lerner's new book, "The Left Hand of God," which is for sure on my list of books to read when I have the time. He says:

As the religious left arises to flex, perhaps, newfound political muscles it would do well to remember that many of the great social justice battles of the last century in America were advanced by a coalition between religious and secular forces. And, the secular left has fewer bearings in the new landscape. So, it may be incumbent upon Michael Lerner's spiritual progressives to reach out - difficult or perplexing though it may seem - to those on the secular left for whom the religious left might now appear to be in a position of relative power.

There are quibbles with his perspective, and I'd say it's incumbent on both sides to reach out, but I think it's quite interesting that he feels that religious progressives now have the upper hand. Worth a read.

technorati tags: religion, progressive, left, secular