MORE AND MORE CONSERVATIVES DON'T WANT THEIR CHURCH IN POLITICS

The Advocate ran a story last Friday that I found very interesting and affirming.

For awhile now, I've felt that the general public has been getting very tired of the extremist's rantings. There's only so many times you can cry wolf without the wolf showing up before people stop listening.

Over and over again the religious zealots have been shouting about the dire consequences of homosexuality. From gay rights and same-sex marriage to abortion, single-parent families and adoption, they've used their pulpits to vigorously campaign for candidates and issues that used to be the domain of political discourse outside of church walls.

To many believers, the church was always a sanctuary where they could go to get away from the pressures of daily life and reaffirm their faiths. But in the last couple of decades, almost every sermon has included impassioned warnings about the evils of one candidate or another, one issue or another. Finally, that seems to be taking its toll.

According to the Advocate, there has been a significant shift in conservative thought. In a survey released last Thursday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 50% of conservatives think churches and other places of worship should stay out of social and political matters. That's up a whopping 30% in just the last four years!

The Advocate story breaks down the specifics of the poll and it really is fascinating and encouraging reading. I recommend taking a few minutes out of your day and check this out.

For the whole report, go to: Advocate.com