We're now seeing 'the most disproportionate power that the Christian Right has had in my lifetime': Religion expert - Raw Story - Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism
By: Travis Gettys (Raw Story - Celebrating Years of Independent Journalism)
cool. looks like the start of thumper season is just around the corner...
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A small but growing minority of white evangelicals are embracing Christian nationalism, and they just achieved two longstanding goals with U.S. Supreme Court decisions on abortion and school prayer.
Even as the number of white evangelicals have shrunk in population, and their median age has been climbing, the high court has helped this influential minority grab power despite a Democratic trifecta in the White House and Congress, reported NPR.
"This is the most disproportionate power that the Christian Right has had in my lifetime," says Robert Jones, CEO and founder of the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute.
Six in 10 Americans say abortion should be legal, but the court just struck down the 49-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling and justice Clarence Thomas signaled a willingness to end same-sex marriage protections, although seven in 10 support that right -- and the religious right has reacted to the loss of their so-called "moral majority" by grabbing for even more power.
"White evangelicalism rejects pluralism - completely," said Tim Whitaker, creator of a group called The New Evangelicals. "They do not see themselves as coexisting with other religious views or other sexuality ethic views. They see it as a spiritual battle and they are on God's side."
"When they start getting a taste - a small taste - of just making room for other viewpoints, that's perceived as a loss of power," Whitaker added, "and then they campaign on that."
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), one of the most outspoken Christian nationalists in the House, complained just two days after the abortion ruling that Christians were exerting a power they should have had all along.
"The church is supposed to direct the government," Boebert said at a Colorado church. "The government is not supposed to direct the church. That is not how our founding fathers intended it, and I am tired of this separation of church and state junk. It's not in the Constitution."
The Constitution does, in fact, explicitly prohibit the establishment of any specific religion in the First Amendment, and Timothy Head, executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, said that was done to prevent the government from interfering with religion.
"Not to keep anybody that holds a religious view out of government," Head said. "All of us have certain kinds of worldviews. Some of those are based on college professors, or your favorite philosophers, or a comedian somewhere. It just so happens that some people base their worldview on biblical teachings."
Head disagreed that Christian conservatives were trying to impose their worldview on the rest of the country, but Whitaker believes a small number of influential conservatives were pursuing Christian nationalist ideals.
"It truly does concern for the future of the country because ultimately Christian nationalism is not about democracy," Head said. "It's really about - I hate to use such blunt language - but it's really more about theocracy."
Jones agreed, saying the Christian right was beginning to reject democracy in the face of their waning demographic power.
"I think we are seeing the last kind of desperate grasp - that by the way includes violence - that is kind of a desperate attempt to kind of hold on to that vision of the country and to hold on to power," Jones said. "I think if we can protect our democratic institutions and we can weather these attacks on it, then I think there is light at the other end of the tunnel, but I do think we are in for some dark days."
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I'm really going to enjoy doing my patriotic duty of defending our country and the constitution from theocracy.
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I salute you sir!
Wait until organized religion starts attacking each other.
There is already a split in the Methodist church.
Organized religion sects have been attacking each other and themselves for centuries.
True. I don't know much about the Baptists, they seem to be fighting. I think most of them are nuts.
The split in the Methodist church is actually about letting women be pastors.
True dat.
“Organized religion sects have been attacking each other and themselves for centuries.”
Of course they have…when man made agendas attempt to interpret ‘god’s’ word, what is to be expected?
With all the human rights advancements made, I still can't fathom why somebody would want to be part of such an oppressive system.
I have read that is why the independent churches are rising. I don't trust them either.
There are so many "interpretations" floating out there, it wouldn't surprise me if the original texts weren't a recipe for falafel.
I've always seen somebody's religious belief as something personal. I'm a firm believer that is should be kept personal.
I actually come from a religious family (Methodist). I was always taught/told to pray quietly. Doing it out loud and in front of people was considered hubris. Or something like that.
In that aspect we were raised the same. It's a private, personal act.
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Left Biased = Truth/Reality
Religious right. What a bunch of hate-filled fucks.
If churches start getting involved with politics, they should lose their tax-exempt status.
I have been saying that for a while.
Now they are overtly political.
Love me some hate filled fucks, it's, like make up sex without makeup, and i'm not making this up, cause i'm not a makeup artist named Maybellene, cause, i'm Mary , K, and i'll do as i want and say whatever i may, cake, and eat it too, cause that is what religion tells us we can't do, and the Max factor being prime, makes make up sex forbidden to us all the time, course, exceptin if you are an extra happy priest , or an altered boy oh boy what i would and could make up if i were a make up artist, cause i could disguise myself and others, and just slip em, under the covers, so, perhaps, it is best that i confess to, besides being guilty to in no cense, i AM a make up artist who religiously lies consistently, but, if i am making that up, does it truly not say, if i lie while sitting up in bed, will my head spin or yours, ewhile we both upchuck on a bed spread with thighs, cause i swears to god, i make up no lies, unless they enable me entrance to the pearly necklace gates, or her thighs....
I've got a lot different kind of mark in mind for them...
Identifying Trump as the anti-Christ gives him to much credit.
Why do fundamentalist Christians worship him?
They don't worship him. Have you ever heard someone pray to Donald?
Yes, and sometimes in unknown languages!
I've heard dipshit thumpers refer to that POS as the chosen one a lot more than once...
Never saw so many bend over backwards to excuse each and every damn little thing the mental midget did swing past so many, for hist CULTure of arrogance to me, can only be explained by that of his followers, and they go to superhuman means to tell US all what he actual;y did means, now and then and constantly when, cause the only constant is the constant of Trump being constantly being defended for he is a defamation of character acted out before US ALL, with mind and hands so small, yet followed religious;y till the ends of time after committing crime after committing crime after crime after crime after crime with passion he performs for his pathetic , but hey, what the hectic does it take to be a heretic, for what is the difference between a here and now, here tic, and a deer tic, sucking blood and money like a prostituted Easter Island hopping Bunny, tail along the camp pain trail, while sucking the old, sick, and frail, for money to make bail out his defense funs as the sheep are fleeced just like a corrupt Judas Priest singing to the required, "you've got another thing coming" round her mountains out of mole hills, biting necks like insects, while the Pigs drink wine and prefer pearls, laced to neck with the swine, all while a maid made a bed for Trump to LIE IN yet AGAIN
for the only ones who have God status, are the ones who are incapable of doing wrong, 'Right'?
or are you wishing to sing another song, in the re choired version of the Instrumental that continues to many way in strew the mental with a cause not incidental . for he has false teeth, that bite, while he gums up the works with whatever ever does, and they conmtinue to support and defend what long ago should have been the abort and cessation of the descend ,
cause when you can just grab a woman buy the pussy is probably the best message a for
prophet could ever send to the flock that gaggle at what is quite a gander as he gooses his fowl following and they meander around in amazemeant for them, where they remain lost at any cost sting of watt i heard the herd has not, cause so much and quite a lot LOST to the real profits a pseudo prophet did got while fleecing the sheep, and soon may he and they ROT
I forgot all about that crazy bitch! There are so goddamned many of them alignied with the steaming pile of shit though it's easy to lose track
I’m a life long agnostic, so I don’t really know.
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How about Satan's asshole?
Speaking of, every time former Supreme Court Justice Scalia tries to sneak a sip of water in hell, Nancy Reagan slams the lid on his head!
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Obviously your comments have much more value than mine, thanks.
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I have a feeling that the Republicans are in for a big surprise like the slap down like a whales tail. Today's America will NOT return to the 1800's and will make their voices heard in the in best way to protest. With their votes.With the backing of the Republicans, the Republicans on the SCOTUS think they have America by the short hairs now, but, that, too, shall pass.
Once Trump no longer has such control of a large number of dumbass Republicans and his brain dead, gun crazy private groups who think they can overthrow our government and easily beat our military, there will be a rude awakening for over confident Beijing McConnell and his over top group of allies.
Americans are now seeing what it will be like if our Democracy is defeated. I know I won't, and I don't think I am am alone, just sit back and bite my nails, wiring my hands and cry at losing the freedoms so many of our loved ones have fought and died for, or had their and their own loved ones lives forever changed by their injuries.
My family and Cherokee ancestors have fought to save this land and he hard won freedoms we have gained since before the Civil War, and there are millions more from other Tribes that have helped save our country at a great loss of life ass well.
So never, ever, think that the American people will give up those hard own, very costly freedoms at the flip of as coin, so to speak, by obviously anti-American people who try to use their high positions for personal reasons, or political preference.
Just my own opinion.
escaping to freedom from a national religion compelled some of the first settlers in this country. I hope thumpers realize what a horrific price that they will pay for attempting to create a xtian theocracy.
They obviously do not see it coming as they so blinded with political power, and party and personal zealousness and/or revenge that they don't care about anything regarding what is truly needed by our country or its people. Just what they think is in their personal best favor or their party.
The shit will hit the fan big time, and it won't go away no matter who sits in the oval office, or Beijing Mitche's feeling of high importance and feeling he is ruling America now, not who sits in the oval office. He could care less who it is, he is just in it for himself. not the party, not the people and not America. That has been written on the wall of Congress for decades.
James Madison knew of what he spoke
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The troll continues to troll
I appreciate the comedy. We live in a country where gay marriage is legal, corporations spend millions of dollars promoting gay pride, all sorts of laws exist to protect people from discrimination, belief in god has never been lower and we have , by light years, the most secular culture we've ever had in the country.
But fear sells. And people need boogymen and scapegoats to blame for their own unhappiness.
so sure, we are on the verge of some Christian dictatorship. Put on your costumes and pretend to be persecuted. You are the true heroes.
it seems to be pretty clear now that we have a few too many federalist mackerel snappers on the SCOTUS bench.
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Yup.
You got Gorsucks who I'm sure is behind the EPA decision
Did Sotomayor get a mitre and red robe, too?