by Bill Fancher
WASHINGTON, DC (AgapePress) – When ideas are debated in today's political arena, both sides of the issue claim to be representing “mainstream thought.”
Family Research Council Director Ken Conner suggests that in the fight for control of the American culture, traditionally-oriented people of faith must realize certain facts in order to understand just what is taking place.
“What we have is a cultural 'tension' in which people are competing for a particular view of life,” Conner says. “In the final analysis, I think it's fair to say that we have a cultural conflict over what's mainstream.”
Conner says in his judgment, it is traditional values that are mainstream thought, because they are the values upon which our nation was founded and has prospered for more than 200 years. He cited several of those values and views:
“[T]he view that two-parent marriages are the foundation of our society. People who advocate that we protect life, not just in the womb at one end of the life scale but for the elderly at the other end of the life scale. People who advocate for greater parental and local control on educational decision-making … who yearn for tax relief for families … who advocate the importance of religious freedom.”
According to Conner, these views represent those of the vast majority of Americans — yet they are never portrayed as such by the pop culture. That is why he thinks there is confusion over what is mainstream today.
Perhaps if Catholics and other Christians took the advice of Gary Aldrich, such confusion would be lessened. Aldrich is Director of the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty. He believes personal attacks should never deter people from expressing their beliefs on political issues.
He says that when faithful Christians and traditionalists today are under constant barrage for their beliefs and values, they need to remember how Patrick Henry responded to such criticism: “Should I keep back my opinions at such a time through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country and as a disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.”
Aldrich suggests believers in the Natural Law should never be afraid of speaking out on issues, even when their beliefs are not “politically correct.”
(This update courtesy of Agape Press.)
