I saw Bill O’Reilly on the Colbert Report the other night, which motivated me to watch The O’Reilly Factor with Stephen Colbert as the guest. I suppose it says something about me that I see Colbert regularly and O’Reilly hardly at all. (I’d like to think it says I’m really cool… but that’s pushing it.)

It was a surprisingly civil exchange. I thought that Colbert was funnier than O’Reilly, (but I think he’s funnier than just about anyone.) The analysis that O’Reilly’s people did after the interview segment was mostly on track, though I thought it was a little disingenuous. What Colbert does is not terribly different from what Stephen Colbert, or Jon Stewart do. They all present their opinions on a variety of topical issues in an entertaining format. For Colbert and Stewart the format is comedy, for O’Reilly it is punditry. We may agree or disagree with any of them, but it is useful to remember that they are all entertainers.

I appreciated hearing O’Reilly define the ‘Culture War.’ He said that it is a struggle in our nation between the “secular progressives” and the “religious conservatives.”

I admit that there is such a struggle, but I don’t see it as the defining cultural conflict for our time. For one thing, it leaves me out completely. I am (for lack of a better label) a Christian progressive. My faith in God and in Jesus Christ is the primary motivating factor in my life, but it does not in any way make me a social conservative. Here’s a short credo of who I am…

I have a deep conviction that God is the creator of the universe, but I think that Creationism and Intelligent Design are hokey pseudo-science and should not be taught in public schools.

I believe that people of faith should follow the example of Jesus in welcoming outcasts. I believe this means showing compassion and respect to gays, immigrants, and any other group that our culture is on the ‘outs’ with.

I believe that terrorism is horribly wrong, but that equating all Muslims with terror is also wrong. I believe that making decisions about how to treat people based on fear is as destructive to us as it is to them.

I believe that the clear message of scripture calls us to renounce vengeance, and to work for peace.

I believe the Bible calls believers to advocate for social and economic justice for all people, even if that means upsetting the comfortable status quo.

I am a patriot and believe that capitalism can be a useful tool, but am concerned that nationalism and capitalism are too important in our culture. They have become de facto idols which (too often) we invoke to justify inexcusable behavior.

I believe that most of the battles of the “Culture War” are petty and unnecessary. I wish we could talk more and fight less. I believe that we would discover that the world isn’t as simple, or as hostile, as the culture warriors want to make it.

I am not a “secular progressive” or a “religious conservative” and I reject the idea that I have to be one or the other to have an opinion that counts. I believe there are a lot more like me out there, people for whom this “war” is foolish and needlessly divisive.

I believe we ought to be heard!