Coulter Christianity
The title of this post from the God's Politics blog (Jim Wallis, et al.) got me thinking again. For at least four years, Ann Coulter has been one of my least favorite talking heads. It's not just that I disagree with her politically--my rhetorical disagreements are what most irk me. Using terms like "raghead" and "faggot" (the latter used most recently in reference to pres. candidate John Edwards) in blatant, provocative ways does nothing except drum up headlines and make people mad. There's absolutely no intellectual integrity there--she's not looking to engage in an honest debate, and she's using hyperbole in deceptive, damaging ways.
Perhaps most astonishing, Coulter claims to be speaking from a Christian perspective. While Jesus did save some choice words for the Pharisees, I just can't understand how this kind of speech models God's kingdom in any real way. Um, blessed are the peacemakers? Bless those who curse you? To me, it's the worst manifestation of the right wing takeover of my faith.