FWD from Sam: religion, AA and more

(Hunter, once again I am having trouble sending out from my netscape
account.  Could you please send this on to the lists? Thanks, sam)

As a pretty atheist guy who has had his own tussles with some organized
fundy religionists like the Traditional Values Coalition, I agree with
Hunter that I have had a lot of positive experiences working with
church-involved floks.  In the 60s, I too spent a lot of time in (mainly
African American) churches in the border states before demos, and the
singing really helped build the courage when we needed it.

And later in the 60s, a lot of fine peace folks were also very much into
religion.  And we worked together just fine.  As I did in LA with an
older steelworker with pictures of Stalin on his wall (and probably at
least one copy of Stalin's collected works.)

Two other thoughts: In some of the AIDS prevention work I have been
involved with, we have had trouble with 12 steppers, whether AA or NA in
their activities.  Some of them are too rigidly focused on the substance
and the damages it caused to them that they can get in the way of what
needs to be done to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading big-time.  On the
other side of the equation, they have helped a lot of people get their
lives into shape.  It makes for some delicate organizing situations
indeed.

Another though on religion.  I just submitted my article on "Making the
world anew" to a magazine for publication, and am thinking over which 
aspect of the struggles we will go through after we take power I am
going to take up next.  On of them is religion.  There is no doubt in my
mind at all that any successful taking of power from capital will be
based in part on the thoughts and struggles of a lot of very religious
workers (and others) as well as atheists, agnostics,
couldn't-care-lessers, etc.  Yet many of the issues we will need to take
up as we re-make the world will trample on some folks' religious values,
beliefs, etc.  Thus, there will be lots of fights here, within a
generally much more hospitable atmosphere in which conflict does not
interact with the needs of capital for division to breed hate.  So this
may (or may not) be the next thing I go into.  I will appreciate folks'
thoughts around these issues!
best
sam







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