Freethought & Rationalism Archive

09-30-2002, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Ask Christians today where they stand in the Republican Party, and many of them will tell you a tale of woe. The Christian Coalition was a flash in the pan, some say: it sold them out and disappeared. A few talk of bolting to a third party, although the trickle out to those has reversed in recent years. Many are disheartened, and speak of “better days.”

The truth, though, is startlingly different.

Earlier this year, Campaigns and Elections, trade journal of political professionals, published a report entitled “Spreading Out and Digging In”, a follow-up to its decade-old study on the strength of the Christian Right in state Republican parties at the beginning of the Gingrich revolution.

Its conclusion? Christian conservatives now hold a majority of seats in 36% of all Republican Party state committees (or 18 of 50 states), plus large minorities in 81% of the rest, double their strength from a decade before. They are weak in just 6 states (plus D.C.), all northeastern. As the study put it, Christians are “gaining influence by spreading out to more states and digging in when faced with opposition.” Once dismissed as a small regional movement, “Christian conservatives have become a staple of politics nearly everywhere.”

<a href="http://www.christianculture.com/cgi-local/npublisher/viewnews.cgi?category=3&id=1033120734" target="_blank">Full article</a>

[ September 30, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]</p>

4th Generation Atheist · 09-30-2002, 04:46 PM

Hmph. No surprises there. The states where they're weak are in the Northeast, hm? That would be due to the presence of Republicans like my grandmother, who just can't bear to leave the Party of Lincoln, even if it's not winning us the war any more. The old live-and-let-live kind who considered the religion of one's neighbor none of one's business (or the sexual proclivities of one's neighbor either, frequently. "I don't care as long as I don't have to listen...."; not the best gay-rights strategy ever, but not an ex-gay ministry either!) Many of these Republicans in other parts of the country have moved to Libertarianism or to the Conservative Democrats, depending on personal views, but there's still some holdouts up North.

Also no surprise that the RRs consider themselves victims. They still can't beat atheists for their amusement, after all.

You know that line about giving 'em an inch? It was coined for these people. <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

Toto · 09-30-2002, 05:53 PM

This site provides links to several Reconstructionist sites (the "stone rebellious teenagers because Leviticus says to" people) plus something called <a href="http://www.thevanguard.org/" target="_blank">The Vanguard</a> (of the conservative revolution.)

galiel · 09-30-2002, 06:17 PM

I hope the folks who pooh-pooh the talk of a Radical Religious Right takeover of the Republican party read this thread and the article cited.

For some historical perspective and understanding of Christian Reconstructionism specifically, as well as its antagonism to democracy, check out this article by Frederick Clarkson, from the March and June 1994 issues of The Public Eye:

<a href="http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v08n1/chrisre1.html" target="_blank">http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v08n1/chrisre1.html</a>

4th Generation Atheist · 10-01-2002, 09:24 AM

There's something of a tendency among secularists to assume that progress is automatic; that with time our culture will become gradually more fair, more democratic, more egalitarian, more scientifically literate &c. This isn't necessarily so. Read some of those links to see why. We can't let these guys win; other cultures before us have made negative progress, and ours undoubtedly will eventually do so too, but why allow it to happen during our generation? Let's look at their "strategies" (some of these are delineated on those links) and come up with some counter-strategies. This gang is extremely cynical: they view the culture war as something they want to win by whatever means will do so fastest, and they're a well-organized threat. Their "God" may be an illusion but they have few others. We'd better wise up quick if we want to effectively counter their bid for the future.

ohwilleke · 10-01-2002, 01:13 PM

Interesting article. It isn't a huge change from what I thought, but does quantify it somewhat.

Berenger Sauniere · 10-01-2002, 06:25 PM

It must irk them to no end that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and not an elephant.

The Lone Ranger · 10-01-2002, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4th Generation Atheist:

There's something of a tendency among secularists to assume that progress is automatic; that with time our culture will become gradually more fair, more democratic, more egalitarian, more scientifically literate &c. This isn't necessarily so.

. . .

We'd better wise up quick if we want to effectively counter their bid for the future.

This is an excellent point, and one we would do well to remember.

-- Michael

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

09-30-2002, 04:46 PM	#2
4th Generation Atheist Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tower of Ecthelion...by the Starbuck's Posts: 1,815	Hmph. No surprises there. The states where they're weak are in the Northeast, hm? That would be due to the presence of Republicans like my grandmother, who just can't bear to leave the Party of Lincoln, even if it's not winning us the war any more. The old live-and-let-live kind who considered the religion of one's neighbor none of one's business (or the sexual proclivities of one's neighbor either, frequently. "I don't care as long as I don't have to listen...."; not the best gay-rights strategy ever, but not an ex-gay ministry either!) Many of these Republicans in other parts of the country have moved to Libertarianism or to the Conservative Democrats, depending on personal views, but there's still some holdouts up North. Also no surprise that the RRs consider themselves victims. They still can't beat atheists for their amusement, after all. You know that line about giving 'em an inch? It was coined for these people. <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

09-30-2002, 05:53 PM	#3
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	This site provides links to several Reconstructionist sites (the "stone rebellious teenagers because Leviticus says to" people) plus something called <a href="http://www.thevanguard.org/" target="_blank">The Vanguard</a> (of the conservative revolution.)

09-30-2002, 06:17 PM	#4
galiel Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Eastern Massachusetts Posts: 1,677	I hope the folks who pooh-pooh the talk of a Radical Religious Right takeover of the Republican party read this thread and the article cited. For some historical perspective and understanding of Christian Reconstructionism specifically, as well as its antagonism to democracy, check out this article by Frederick Clarkson, from the March and June 1994 issues of The Public Eye: <a href="http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v08n1/chrisre1.html" target="_blank">http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v08n1/chrisre1.html</a>

10-01-2002, 09:24 AM	#5
4th Generation Atheist Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tower of Ecthelion...by the Starbuck's Posts: 1,815	There's something of a tendency among secularists to assume that progress is automatic; that with time our culture will become gradually more fair, more democratic, more egalitarian, more scientifically literate &c. This isn't necessarily so. Read some of those links to see why. We can't let these guys win; other cultures before us have made negative progress, and ours undoubtedly will eventually do so too, but why allow it to happen during our generation? Let's look at their "strategies" (some of these are delineated on those links) and come up with some counter-strategies. This gang is extremely cynical: they view the culture war as something they want to win by whatever means will do so fastest, and they're a well-organized threat. Their "God" may be an illusion but they have few others. We'd better wise up quick if we want to effectively counter their bid for the future.

10-01-2002, 01:13 PM	#6
ohwilleke Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Denver, Colorado, USA Posts: 4,834	Interesting article. It isn't a huge change from what I thought, but does quantify it somewhat.

10-01-2002, 06:25 PM	#7
Berenger Sauniere Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: et in Arcadia ego... Posts: 406	It must irk them to no end that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and not an elephant.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.