There's a chasm of disconnect between the Republican Party and Christianity. Jesus was a poor rabbi, who lived amongst the poor. What cognitive dissonance for rich, powerful right-wingers! How awkward for them to hear Jesus's advice to that rich young man, "Sell all that thou hast and give to the poor" and ". . thou shalt have treasure in heaven."

Or, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth." Or yet, "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." These Mammon-servers are giving Christianity a bad name. I hope it survives them, because real Christians, who try to live by the precepts of Christ, are good folks. I've known some. They know the Republican Party as representing the rich and predatory -- the opposite, in sum, of Jesus of Nazareth.

Love,

Carolyn Jones Silver (electronic mail, December 5, 2001).