It’s rather pathetic to be nothing more than a Joe Klein wannabe, but I once again find his explanation helping me to better understand what’s going on in this presidential election:
Sarah Palin’s Myth of America
Nostalgia is an incredibly powerful force because it doesn’t require being grounded in reality. For example: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42)
Yesterday I asked what Sarah Palin means when she claims to be a Bible-believing Christian. For all who make such a claim, I have to believe that this “quote” of Jesus must be troubling. Taken literally, it is antithetical to nearly everything so-called born-again Christians stand for. But to begin to interpret the passage in the context of the times undermines the allegiance to “God’s Word” as word for word, inerrant, infallible.
My experience is that literalists don’t stop with the Bible, but incorporate this black-and-white, right-and-wrong, good-and-evil worldview into their daily lives. It’s no wonder, then, that fundamentalists are far more receptive to the “word” written by institutionalized religion because it is more amenable to what they want to believe is true. Jesus was crucified not because he appeased the status quo, but because he threatened their ideology to the point they had to get rid of him. Who cares what Jesus said when we can get all fired up about what he was supposed to say?
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