Richard Parker

Discussions of religion and politics often focus on conservative opinion and the agenda of the Christian right. However, as Richard Parker explains in the following viewpoint, religious progressivism is a vital, albeit unrecognized, force in American life. Left-leaning religious believers in the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish traditions are actively participating in struggles for wage reform, labor rights, improved low- income housing, health care, and ecological sustainability. Moreover, the denominational teachings of the major religions emphasize the importance of such progressive ideals as economic justice and human rights. Parker is a senior fellow and adjunct lecturer at Harvard University’s Kennedy School. He is also the author of The Myth of the Middle Class and Mixed Signals: The Future of Global Television News.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Parker, what progressive victories...