The events of the past few weeks, from the Terri Schiavo drama, to the attack on the state and federal courts by Christian Rightists in Congress, underscores the power and signficance of the Christian Right in American politics.
I was present, undercover, at the first national strategy conference of Pat Robertson’s Christian Coaltion in 1989. I wrote about thier plans to become the most powerful force in American politics. I spoke all over the country, and was a source for other journalists seeking to understand the new movement. Fifteen plus years later, they have substantially acheived their objective. Not, as it turned out, the Christian Coalition alone, but the Christian Right political movement they came to epitomize.
Still, the Christian Right is a mystery to many. They find it difficult to understand, to discuss, and to attempt to counter it. Joe Bageant has written, “Until progressives come to understand what [fundamentalists] read, hear, are told and deeply believe, we cannot understand American politics, much less be effective.”
Fortunately, there is a conference coming right up that seeks to help us begin to understand.
Examining the Real Agenda of the Religious Far Right, April 29-30 in New York, is an opportunity to hear as remarkable and impressive a group of experts on the Religious Right as has been assembled anywhere in a long time. I am honored to be included along with Rev. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, Rev. Joe Hough, president of Union Theological Seminary, authors Karen Amrstrong, Chip Berlet and Skipp Porteous, among many others.
Most of us get information and analysis about the Christian Right from rather narrow bands of sources and perspectives. This conference offers an engaging mix of journalists, academics, religious leaders and independent thinkers and activists who I think will broaden and deepen our knowledge and understanding of the Christian Right.
Examining the Real Agenda of the Religious Far Right
A Two-Day Conference
[printable conference flyer]
Friday April 29 7:30-10pm
Saturday April 30 10am-5:30pm
Co-sponsored by the NY Open Center and CUNY Graduate Center Public Programs
“Most Americans outside the Bible Belt have little idea of the beliefs held by millions of fundamentalist churchgoers,” according to the conference description. “We have an almost total lack of awareness of the rise of Dominionism and Christian Reconstructionism, forms of theology that advocate a biblical vision of God’s kingdom on earth. Some fundamentalists also foresee events such as The Rapture, the Times of Tribulation, Armageddon, and the Second Coming of Christ as we enter The End of Days…
The 2004 election tells us that socially conscious citizens need to awaken to the ambitions of this influential religious movement. What do fundamentalist theologies advocate regarding theocracy, abortion and homosexuality? What is the nature of the world order under God’s law that they anticipate? How do many fundamentalists interpret the role of Israel? How does this affect U.S. policy? Why are so many fundamentalists opposed to environmentalism and the UN? Why are millions in America drawn to this form of belief, and how can we come to understand them?”
I will write about the conference, and I hope others will as well. I will link to interesting reports I hear about.
[Crossposted from FrederickClarkson.com]
This is a time to seek knowledge, and to turn it into action.
If I read that correctly, it costs $85 to attend. Is that correct? Where do I get my press credentials? I would be interested in attending this conference, I just don’t know if I can afford it right now.
I’d say call ’em up 212-266-4056. I am not sure who handles press. Ralph White is the program director.
You can certainly mention that I am a contributor to your site.
This has been one of my biggest concerns for many many years-how the christian right has infiltrated the government(on state/local and national levels) to such a great extent and now has really gained ascendence and overwhelming acceptance by bush.
The main problem really is getting the general public to realize how widespread and ominous this has become.
What I keep telling myself is something Michael Moore likes to repeat and that is that most Americans when polled are generally a liberal bunch on many many issues…which gives me hope.
I’ll truly be eagerly awaiting your report on this convention and truly wish I could go.
Is the issue really understanding the religious right in excrutiating theological detail? Is a conference of experts really the most effective response? How do you really challenge the religious right?
The right has been challenging–no, make that hammering–mainstream religious churches for decades. They have been preaching with blind zealotrous fervor against liberal Christianity year after year, to larger and larger congregations.
And what has been the response? I may not be aware of all that has gone on, but as far as I can see, the response has hardly been vigorous.
These people have twisted and distorted Christianity. (I write here, not as a believer, but as a student of Christian poetry and, at times, theology.) Where was the righteous indignation? Where was the counter-attack? Where were the prophetic denuniciations of a deeply perverted Christianity?
Did I just miss them? Was the spiritual battle being waged, and I just didn’t notice?
If so, I’ll be happy to be corrected.
you are quite correct. the response of all other sectors of society — including and especially the religious community has been less than adequate.
I do think we need to understand broadly nature of this movement, and its main factions. Hardly excruciating, perhaps hard to digest, but a necessary prerequisite to political understanding. From this knowledge, a sensible political response emerges. Without it, resouces are misdirecrted, the wrong messages are crafted, poor strategic decisions are made. In other words, we risk the whole ball game, just as we have been doing for quite some time.
to my nephew, who is a deacon in his church in Washington Heights. He is very disturbed by the influence of the religious right on his religion and our country. I do hope he goes – he’s exactly the kind of person who should be fighting back, and learning more is, as you say, a necessary first step.
thats great. I hope he can come.
I venture to guess that this event will be a turning point.
I have found that there is only one way to have a discourse with these people which that is to listen to their arguments for a while and then come back with something like: “so, what you’re telling me is that you’re a communist?” and then add a completely nonsensical reason as to why they are, based on what they just said. Twist their words to your benefit. You can call them Nazis, but that doesn’t seem to upset them as much, since in their hearts this is what they are. To be rational, I’ve found, is a waste of time.
There is always an element that helps add fuel to the fire of the Christian right that is often overlooked, but very important. In every country I’ve been to there is a certain percentage of the population that fits into this category (10 – 30%), and it depends a great deal on economics. To be sure there are a few that are well off, but this is the minority. These people are mostly poor, have no access to proper education and are angry. It is a simple matter to preach hate and violence to them since independent thought is not something they’re taught. In the bigger picture this is the goal of the Republicans – this is why they are so against education, it’s a block of votes to them, as well as a group of people that won’t question their policies. Realistically speaking, these are the people that have the time to stand around protesting in places their masters send them, day after day, week after week. Education is the key.
As to posing a real threat; can Nazi Germany happen here – is the question – what they call themselves is irrelevant. These are people who are powerless and want to have some sort of control over something – that’s the appeal. Their lives are meaningless to them, and until they get those straight, they will be trouble.