tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post6042134536565732561..comments2024-03-26T11:33:59.219-06:00Comments on Religion in American History: Transatlantic Tea Party Time?Paul Harveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13881964303772343114noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-43964303417261921372010-11-12T12:40:59.279-07:002010-11-12T12:40:59.279-07:00Thx, Hilde. The set of Norway's dynamics is f...Thx, Hilde. The set of Norway's dynamics is fascinating, and seems to me have more similarities to the US than most other European countries.<br /><br />I'm not quite sure the Tea Parties make a direct connection of the Constitution with divine will, all there are surely some who try. But the surveys said only half the Tea Partiers are religious Right. There's a statistical correlation, but it may be more an overlap.<br /><br />Cheaper booze and more porn? Now that's a platform that would fly bigtime in America!Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-83134943241973479952010-11-12T10:30:58.030-07:002010-11-12T10:30:58.030-07:00With Robert Putnam and David Campbell's (and e...With Robert Putnam and David Campbell's (and earlier, Michael Hout and Claude Fischer's) assertion that the increased secularism of America's younger cohorts is essentially a negative reaction against the Religious Right, shouldn't these "Norwegian Tea Partiers" think twice about trying to replicate those tactics there? Not that Norwegian young people are particularly religious anyway, at least compared the U.S. or some other nations . . .Kevin Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-41446470396287620772010-11-11T22:54:36.204-07:002010-11-11T22:54:36.204-07:00Tom:
oh, you ask lots of big questions! I'll ...Tom: <br />oh, you ask lots of big questions! I'll answer the best I can and hope it makes some sense. <br /><br />The Christian Democrats had its glorydays in the late 90s, but it has never been as big as the Labor Party or the Conservative Party. Now, with record low support theparty looks to other European Christian Democratic parties for inspiration, where they do not require party officials to confess the Christian faith. The one who is likely to become the new leader has positioned himself as a voice of moderation and support of gay rights (to the despair of the right wingers who see it as part of the de-Christianization of Norway). <br /><br />The Progressive Party does have ideological similarities with the Tea Party. In fact, it started in the 1970s as a party with a single goal: lower taxes. Over time, it has developed into a large populistic party that also call for individual order, law and order, and immigratin restriction. The party attracts a solid number of right wing Christians, mainly because of its strong support of Israel and hostility towards Islam (and despite its call for cheaper booze and easer access to porn).<br /><br />However, I have not seen (so far?) the same conflation of then and now; of Christianity and the nation when I listen to the Progressive Party that I saw in the editorial from Norge IDAG. <br /><br />In addition to the libertarian ideology, the the Norge IDAG editorial expresses some of the Tea Party movement's focus on the Constitution as a divinely inspired text/a document that express the will of God for the nation.Hildenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-37721242503419365392010-11-11T16:11:29.729-07:002010-11-11T16:11:29.729-07:00Actually, Randall, it's a lot more interesting...Actually, Randall, it's a lot more interesting than that.<br /><br />From what I gather---and I hope Hilde will correct me if needed---the Christian Democrats are moribund, with support in the single digits. Most of the linked Christians were more concerned with the de-Christianization of the party.<br /><br />The real analog to the Tea Party is the Progress Party, which has been marginalized by the political-media establishment since its inception in the 1970s as a sort of BNP, but now, combined with he Conservative Party, is polling a majority. [Although much may change before the elections in 2013.]<br /><br />Enjoy.<br /><br /><br />http://blog.norway.com/2010/09/28/on-the-edge-enthusiastic-about-the-enthusiasm/<br /><br />http://www.frp.no/National+Review,+July+19,+2010:+%22Among+the+Progs%22.d25-TwRLWWJ.ips<br /><br />4.5 million people, 7 parties represented in parliament. Something for everyone.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_NorwayTom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-64428273821153917292010-11-10T22:29:09.357-07:002010-11-10T22:29:09.357-07:00Tom: Glad I can generate some interest in Norway!
...Tom: Glad I can generate some interest in Norway!<br /><br />Randall: Thanks! <br /><br />Based on completely anecdotal evidence, I would say there is a some sort young evangelical left in Norway, usually based in cities and among people with higher education. <br /><br />There are a couple of churches in Oslo that I guess would fit into emergent movement. One is non-demominational, the other belongs to a non-state church Lutheran denomination. They both stress being "culturally relevant" and mix tradition and innovation. Instead of rallying for political activism, they tend to stress interpersonal connections and international justice through NGOs. <br /><br />Shane Claiborne is a great hero among many of them. So is Brian McLaren. Some are also often influenced by European traditions, for instance Taize movement and celtic traditions. <br /><br />I'm not sure what the situation is like in other cities. <br /><br />Again, this is just based on observations I've made over the years.Hildenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-63580618720211760172010-11-10T18:02:07.964-07:002010-11-10T18:02:07.964-07:00Hilde: Excellent post. It's wild to see Americ...Hilde: Excellent post. It's wild to see America's Christian Right politics in a funhouse mirror across the Atlantic. It's also fascinating that Norway has its own Bible Belt cinched around parts of the country. Does it also have a young evangelical left? I wonder if there's any action for the emergent church over there.Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755286304057000048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-70310435388572412712010-11-10T16:51:53.975-07:002010-11-10T16:51:53.975-07:00Sorry, if anyone was interested. Link."Sorry, if anyone was interested. <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101017/wl_afp/germanymuslimreligionimmigration" rel="nofollow">Link."</a>Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37589721331585843.post-50992346068909859792010-11-10T16:42:30.394-07:002010-11-10T16:42:30.394-07:00It's been fascinating catching up on Norwegian...It's been fascinating catching up on Norwegian politics as a result of this post, and thank God for google translator, from the original Norwegian.<br /><br />But although there's a few wack things mixed in there, the sentiments are not quite fringe in Europe these days.<br /><br />http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101017/wl_afp/germanymuslimreligionimmigrationTom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.com