Further Exposing a Bogus Narrative of the Religious Right
Frederick Clarkson printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Wed Apr 25, 2012 at 06:56:04 PM EST
The bogus narrative of the Religious Right -- that there is a humanist or secular humanist or secularist "religion" bent on taking over America has already been one of the features of this election season.  We have heard about it from Rick Santorum and from Mitt Romney.  And of course, we have written extensively about this bogus narrative and its variants here at Talk to Action over the years, including a discussion of Mitt Romney's recent declaration:  "I think there is in this country a war on religion. I think there is a desire to establish a religion in America known as secularism."

Happily, historian Rick Perlstein, writing in Rolling Stone magazine, has an excellent take on the matter.  
Here are a few quotes from Perlstein's column:

Note the careful language:  Democrats want "to establish a religion" -- a precise quotation of the First Amendment's' Establishment Clause banning same.  And the claim that "they gave it a lot of thought" insinuates a deliberate conspiracy.  But conservatives would not fall for it, the stalwart Romney announced:  "Those of us who are people of faith recognize [what] this is--an attack on one religion is an attack on all religion."

A marker has been laid down.  Heed it well.  Universal healthcare is the Trojan Horse in Obama's radical religious crusade to undo orthodox religion. Could a notion so crazy possibly have legs?  Crazier things have penetrated the fog before -- and this one has the advantage of tickling the most abiding anxiety of conservative-minded citizens:  that liberalism is contributing to the sexual dissolution of their very own homes and hearths.  Romney's recycling of the smear may already have helped him assuage the doubts of the religious right that he is one of them.

And Democrats losing their nerve, backing away from defending desperately needed reform out of fear stepping on mysterious "deeply held" beliefs that are actually the invention of hucksters with right-wing agendas?  Well, that's happened before, too.

Don't let it happen again.



To discuss this story, sign up for a free account

Display:
Further Exposing a Bogus Narrative of the Religious Right | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 hidden)
This really can't be stressed too much (5.00 / 1)
This is one of the most important elements of the worldview of the Religious Right.

by Frederick Clarkson on Wed Apr 25, 2012 at 10:30:08 PM EST

It's normal - (none / 0)
for religious groups to attempt to use government to advance their own positions. It's not unique to religious groups, but unions, industry's, regions, any group large enough to have common interests respond when government does something to benefit them. Tragically the story is the religious right using government to advance their agenda. It's a media deception. The religious right is being played and used by the political right wing, a right wing which panders to a few hot button issues using "morality language" while advancing social programs, and agendas destroying the middle class. The narrow focus of the religious right wing is so blinded to the big picture, that they are allowing themselves to be destroyed by the very group they support. Until we can expose how much of a fool the political right wing takes the religious right wing to be -- they will continue create a hostile political climate which threatens the American middle class. Wake up America.

by chaplain on Thu Apr 26, 2012 at 08:53:39 AM EST
I don't agree with that frame (5.00 / 1)
The narrative frame that seems to best suit the facts I encounter is one in which neo-fundamentalist Christianity, which sees itself at war with secularism and all other belief systems, and is militantly anti-communist and worships at the altar of "Biblical capitalism", has over the course of the 20th Century quietly and patiently evangelized America's business class and used it as a power base from which to build political power and influence.

Point being, who is gaming who? Rather, I see a menacing co-evolution of corporate big business and right-wing evangelism.

by Bruce Wilson on Thu Apr 26, 2012 at 09:50:43 AM EST
Parent

That is the intention (5.00 / 1)
This is particularly true with the "prosperity gospel" component, and there is certainly an attempt to reach the powerful and bring them into the fold, but having grown up in, and a part of that right wing, both actually, I believe that for the most part politics is the driving force, and far more "Christians" and been brought into the conservative political fold than conservatives brought into the "Christian faith".

by chaplain on Thu Apr 26, 2012 at 07:20:39 PM EST
Parent

And this is an old narrative... (4.00 / 1)
Iknow others have written about this, but it really hit home for me this week while reading some post WWII Healing Movement magazines while doing dissertation research.  There were several of them, but Voice of Healing became the defacto organ of the most famous healing evangelists (William Branham, A.A. Allen, T.J. Osborn, Oral Roberts, etc.).  Of the ones I've been reading, it is also the most sensationalist... kind of like the Fox News or New York Post of healing magazines.  The layout reminds me of the National Inquirer.  The anti-communist, America is a Christian nation, anti-Christian Washington rhetoric was there too in a big way.  Replace the "red threat" of Russia with Islam and it wasn't that different than what we're hearing and seeing today.

So the Pentecostal and charismatic subcultures have been steeped in this for a very long time.

The difference is that with the advent of electronic media, especially the Internet, this has gone extremely mainstream outside a limited subculture.  It's one thing to read a magazine once a month or hear it on the occasional Sunday but now our culture is bathed in this, and the subcultures most steeped in it are stuck in an endless feedback loop.  But the rhetoric is eerily familiar.

by ulyankee on Fri Apr 27, 2012 at 09:01:02 AM EST
Parent

Voice of Healing, eh? (none / 0)
I've got a stack of those, next to my back copies of "New Wine".  The VOH issues with UFO references are especially interesting.

by Bruce Wilson on Fri Apr 27, 2012 at 02:52:39 PM EST
Parent




Rick Perlstein (none / 0)
Rick Perlstein is one of the better historians writing today. I think his work eloquently rebuts David Barton's pseudohistory.

by khughes1963 on Thu Apr 26, 2012 at 12:46:38 PM EST
Barton and others on this bogus narrative (5.00 / 1)
I was going to post this in response to wilkyir's article "James Robison's Indivisible America" here at Talk To Action http://www.talk2action.org/story/2012/4/24/14223/5697/Front_Page/ James_Robison_s_Indivisible_America but I think it fits as well or better here.

According to James Robison, David Barton is a "hero" and "a priceless treasure". In this video http://lifetoday.org/video/our-christian-founders-part-3/ "Two historians bring actual documents that reveal the true divine inspiration behind the inspiration of America's founders." One of the historians is Barton, the other, it would appear, is Glen Beck! (I would love to hear Chris Rodda's comments on this debacle of a discussion.)

I am posting this link because in this show Robison asserts that "The only theocracy we've got to be concerned about is a secular progressive theocracy that's being imposed on people" and that there is "an all-out assault" on practically everything by progressives. Barton generalises this to "it is really an assault on everything the bible represents" and says "I'll guarantee you most christians cannot tell you the two parables Jesus taught about the capital gains tax" and more on biblical economics. For his part, Beck is convinced that "most people don't know that they are being used by evil .....that they are in bed with absolute evil .... and that we are a society, globally, that is now worshiping Baal"

For an insight into the positions and behaviours of Robison, see http://www.rightwingwatch.org/category/people/james-robison which includes information about Robison's collaboration with Jay Richards in book-writing. (Richards has sufficient credibility in the community at large that he was invited to debate Christopher Hitchens on the topic "Atheism, Theism and the evidence for intelligent design" at Stanford University http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmnxKpN2Zxg )

My point is Robison is well-connected with influential friends. This bogus narrative of the religious right is being taken seriously and is gaining adherents (if not credibility).

by Brian H on Thu Apr 26, 2012 at 11:35:08 PM EST
Parent



I have come across another (none / 0)
definition of "religion".  According to Professor Robert H. Nelson of the University of Maryland and David Theroux of the Independent Institute (Nelson is also on the institute's board), environmentalism is a religion. Nelson just posted an op-ed arguing 1) that environmentalism is another form of "secular religion and 2) since it is a religion and it is taught in public schools, Protestantism should now also be allowed to be taught in public schools.  When I emailed Mr. Nelson with my protest of this concept, I was bombarded by both he and David Theroux with subtle and not so subtle Christian dominionism writings, research papers etc.  What really bothered me is that Pace University Environmental Law Review published one of Nelson's papers. I wonder what Robert Kennedy Jr. who teaches environmental law at Pace thinks of this nonsense!

Has anyone on this site ever heard of these men, the Institute or the anti-science (they are also against the science of global warming/climate change) views they represent?

by monarchmom on Fri Apr 27, 2012 at 08:56:51 AM EST

Environmentalism="False Theology"? (none / 0)
I am familiar with the concept that environmentalism, sustainability, population control, and acceptance of a human cause for global warming are anti-biblical. This is under the theory that God told us to have dominion over the Earth and subdue it, and to be fruitful and multiply, so no serious shortages, pollution crises, or other problems of over-use or under-care of the Earth will occur that we can't take care of before Jesus returns at the End of the Age. This was in the news in February during the Republican Primaries. http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/julieingersoll/5729/ obama%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9Cphony_religion%E2%80%9D_is_environmental ism%2C_santorum_explains

by arachne646 on Fri Apr 27, 2012 at 01:56:25 PM EST
Parent
There seems to be a coordinated attempt (none / 0)
to first argue that whatever they are against has become a "religion" and then to use that term in order to manipulate opinion and separation of church and state.  I think Nelson and Theroux and others like them should be called out for this as often as possible.

by monarchmom on Sat Apr 28, 2012 at 08:41:05 AM EST
Parent



I wonder what will happen (none / 0)
When us secular humanists don't actually bother attempting to eradicate religion? I guess the real question is, outside of converting the world to their version of Christianity, what would it take to disprove this narrative?

by Hirador on Thu May 03, 2012 at 12:17:15 AM EST

hi (none / 0)
This article provides a valuable insight into the commonly held belief that the religious right is a single entity with unified goals. The author effectively illustrates how this narrative falls apart when viewed through the lens of historical context and evidence.  gout in ankle It is an important reminder that we should not take the rhetoric of any group as an absolute truth. Instead, it is important to look at the facts and determine the truth for ourselves. This article provides a great starting point for doing just that.

by isabelladom on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 12:50:12 PM EST

Further Exposing a Bogus Narrative of the Religious Right | 13 comments (13 topical, 0 hidden)

WWW Talk To Action


Cognitive Dissonance & Dominionism Denial
There is new research on why people are averse to hearing or learning about the views of ideological opponents. Based on evaluation of five......
By Frederick Clarkson (375 comments)
Will the Air Force Do Anything To Rein In Its Dynamic Duo of Gay-Bashing, Misogynistic Bloggers?
"I always get nervous when I see female pastors/chaplains. Here is why everyone should as well: "First, women are not called to be pastors,......
By Chris Rodda (203 comments)
The Legacy of Big Oil
The media is ablaze with the upcoming publication of David Grann's book, Killers of the Flower Moon. The shocking non fiction account of the......
By wilkyjr (111 comments)
Gimme That Old Time Dominionism Denial
Over the years, I have written a great deal here and in other venues about the explicitly theocratic movement called dominionism -- which has......
By Frederick Clarkson (101 comments)
History Advisor to Members of Congress Completely Twists Jefferson's Words to Support Muslim Ban
Pseudo-historian David Barton, best known for his misquoting of our country's founders to promote the notion that America was founded as a Christian nation,......
By Chris Rodda (113 comments)
"Christian Fighter Pilot" Calls First Lesbian Air Force Academy Commandant a Liar
In a new post on his "Christian Fighter Pilot" blog titled "BGen Kristin Goodwin and the USAFA Honor Code," Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan......
By Chris Rodda (144 comments)
Catholic Right Leader Unapologetic about Call for 'Death to Liberal Professors' -- UPDATED
Today, Donald Trump appointed C-FAM Executive Vice President Lisa Correnti to the US Delegation To UN Commission On Status Of Women. (C-FAM is a......
By Frederick Clarkson (126 comments)
Controlling Information
     Yesterday I listened to Russ Limbaugh.  Rush advised listeners it would be best that they not listen to CNN,MSNBC, ABC, CBS and......
By wilkyjr (118 comments)
Is Bannon Fifth-Columning the Pope?
In December 2016 I wrote about how White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who likes to flash his Catholic credentials when it comes to......
By Frank Cocozzelli (251 comments)
Ross Douthat's Hackery on the Seemingly Incongruous Alliance of Bannon & Burke
Conservative Catholic writer Ross Douthat has dissembled again. This time, in a February 15, 2017 New York Times op-ed titled The Trump Era's Catholic......
By Frank Cocozzelli (64 comments)
`So-Called Patriots' Attack The Rule Of Law
Every so often, right-wing commentator Pat Buchanan lurches out of the far-right fever swamp where he has resided for the past 50 years to......
By Rob Boston (161 comments)
Bad Faith from Focus on the Family
Here is one from the archives, Feb 12, 2011, that serves as a reminder of how deeply disingenuous people can be. Appeals to seek......
By Frederick Clarkson (177 comments)
The Legacy of George Wallace
"One need not accept any of those views to agree that they had appealed to real concerns of real people, not to mindless, unreasoning......
By wilkyjr (70 comments)
Betsy DeVos's Mudsill View of Public Education
My Talk to Action colleague Rachel Tabachnick has been doing yeoman's work in explaining Betsy DeVos's long-term strategy for decimating universal public education. If......
By Frank Cocozzelli (80 comments)
Prince and DeVos Families at Intersection of Radical Free Market Privatizers and Religious Right
This post from 2011 surfaces important information about President-Elect Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. -- FC Erik Prince, Brother of Betsy......
By Rachel Tabachnick (218 comments)

Respect for Others? or Political Correctness?
The term "political correctness" as used by Conservatives and Republicans has often puzzled me: what exactly do they mean by it? After reading Chip Berlin's piece here-- http://www.talk2action.org/story/2016/7/21/04356/9417 I thought about what he explained......
MTOLincoln (253 comments)
Fear
What I'm feeling now is fear.  I swear that it seems my nightmares are coming true with this new "president".  I'm also frustrated because so many people are not connecting all the dots! I've......
ArchaeoBob (107 comments)
"America - love it or LEAVE!"
I've been hearing that and similar sentiments fairly frequently in the last few days - far FAR more often than ever before.  Hearing about "consequences for burning the flag (actions) from Trump is chilling!......
ArchaeoBob (214 comments)
"Faked!" Meme
Keep your eyes and ears open for a possible move to try to discredit the people openly opposing Trump and the bigots, especially people who have experienced terrorism from the "Right"  (Christian Terrorism is......
ArchaeoBob (165 comments)
More aggressive proselytizing
My wife told me today of an experience she had this last week, where she was proselytized by a McDonald's employee while in the store. ......
ArchaeoBob (163 comments)
See if you recognize names on this list
This comes from the local newspaper, which was conservative before and took a hard right turn after it was sold. Hint: Sarah Palin's name is on it!  (It's also connected to Trump.) ......
ArchaeoBob (169 comments)
Unions: A Labor Day Discussion
This is a revision of an article which I posted on my personal board and also on Dailykos. I had an interesting discussion on a discussion board concerning Unions. I tried to piece it......
Xulon (180 comments)
Extremely obnoxious protesters at WitchsFest NYC: connected to NAR?
In July of this year, some extremely loud, obnoxious Christian-identified protesters showed up at WitchsFest, an annual Pagan street fair here in NYC.  Here's an account of the protest by Pagan writer Heather Greene......
Diane Vera (130 comments)
Capitalism and the Attack on the Imago Dei
I joined this site today, having been linked here by Crooksandliars' Blog Roundup. I thought I'd put up something I put up previously on my Wordpress blog and also at the DailyKos. As will......
Xulon (331 comments)
History of attitudes towards poverty and the churches.
Jesus is said to have stated that "The Poor will always be with you" and some Christians have used that to refuse to try to help the poor, because "they will always be with......
ArchaeoBob (149 comments)
Alternate economy medical treatment
Dogemperor wrote several times about the alternate economy structure that dominionists have built.  Well, it's actually made the news.  Pretty good article, although it doesn't get into how bad people could be (have been)......
ArchaeoBob (90 comments)
Evidence violence is more common than believed
Think I've been making things up about experiencing Christian Terrorism or exaggerating, or that it was an isolated incident?  I suggest you read this article (linked below in body), which is about our great......
ArchaeoBob (214 comments)

More Diaries...




All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments, posts, stories, and all other content are owned by the authors. Everything else © 2005 Talk to Action, LLC.