Of Pinkos, Patriarchalists, and Puritans

It seems to me that American religious life (of a Christian flavor) can be delineated into three basic groupings, which I am referring to as "Pinkos, Patriarchalists, and Puritans." (I like the alliteration.)

Pinkos are on the far left. They believe that the state is the savior. These are typically theological and church liberals. All of their answers are to be found in government, law-making, and social engineering.

Patriarchalists are on the far right. These people are generally extremely conservative. Their salvation is to be found in the family, with the father serving as the "god-figure." All the solutions to life are to be garnered from home life.

Puritans are in the middle. Their first line of priority is the church (and neither the state, nor the family). Puritans seek to affect, change, and revolutionize *all* of life--including the home and the government; but they seek to do this first and foremost through the church.

To be fair, Pinkos and Patriarchalists also pay some heed to the church, (and to the home [in the case of Pinkos]; and to the state [in the case of Patriarchalists])--but this is subservient to their first allegiances.

Let us see the genius of the Puritan model. In so doing, we will actually benefit both the state, and the family--as we serve them through the church.