Frank Schaeffer's Blog, page 13
February 28, 2011
What "Sex, Mom and God" Is About (Hint the Index)
People ask me what my new book (in stores May 7) is "about." Here's the index. Tell me if it makes you interested in the book.
You may order Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics—and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway now from Amazon by clicking HERE.
PS. this is also a work of humor, even if you won't "get" that from the index...
Frank Schaeffer
Abortion, 113, 114–115, 216–217
//clinics, bombing of, 188
//and compromise, 208
//extremes, 213
//and fetal viability, 130, 130n
//and health of woman, 130
//late-term, 131–132, 202–203, 202n
//legalization of, 128–129
//legalization of, state-by-state, 199, 203, 208
//medical, 209n
//and morning-after pill, 209, 209n
//and pro-choice advocates, misuse of, 210–211, 212
//public opinion on, 207–208, 214–215, 215–216
//and Republican Party, misuse of, 209–210
//restrictions on, 207–208, 209, 213–214
//statistics on, 210–212, 210n, 211n
//stereotypes, 204–207
//and Supreme Court, 198–199
//See also Antiabortion movement; Life issues; Roe v. Wade
Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation (Reagan), 135–136
Accountability, age of, 9, 196
Adultery, 64, 245, 246
Aesthetic empathy, 197
Afghanistan, 48–50
Age of accountability, 9, 196
Ahmanson, Howard, 108–109, 108n, 241
Al Qaida, 111
ALI. See American Law Institute
Alice (nanny), 93–95
Alienation, 67
America Can Be Saved (Falwell), 179
American exceptionalism, 40, 160
American Law Institute (ALI), 128
Andrusko, Dave, 28
Anscombe, Elizabeth, 73n, 168–169, 173
Antiabortion demonstrations, 187–188
Antiabortion movement, xi
//and culture wars, 144
//and doctors, murders of, 141, 142
//and documentary films, 107
//and doubt, 70, 71
//launching of, 16–17, 27–28
//and multi-billion-dollar industry, 142
//and Obama, 137–140, 140–141, 141–142, 202, 209
//politics of, 209–210
//and Republican Party, 135–137, 142–143, 162–163
//and secularism, 107–108
//and U.S. government, 171–172
//See also Abortion
"Anti-American," 163–164
Apophatic theology, 262
Art, 57–58, 91
Assisted suicide, 113, 195, 195n. See also Life issues
Atheism, 83–84
Augustine (saint), 196
Azaria, Hank, 96
Babies, in heaven, 8–9
Bahati, David, 256–257
al-Bana, Hassan, 103
Barrett, James, 141
Barzun, Jacques, 164
Bathing suits, 127–128
Beck, Glenn, 113, 115, 142, 209
Belz, Joel, 28
Berg, Robert, 132
Bible, 3–4
//as blasphemy against God, 83
//as curse or blessing, 99
//as flawed, 70, 72–73
//and government, 183–185
//old vs. new testaments, 102–103, 105
//as pro-Israel book, 41
//sex in, 50–51
//vs. God, 63
//women in, 1–3, 36–38, 243
//See also Biblical inerrancy; Biblical law; Biblical literalists; Biblical prophecy; Holy books; Scripture
Bible Presbyterian Church, 23
Biblical inerrancy, 42, 66–67, 71, 85–88, 103, 262
//and children, 98
//See also Biblical literalists
Biblical law, 98, 102–103, 106
//imposition of, 103, 110, 115
Biblical literalists, 3–4, 50, 64, 240, 262. See also Biblical inerrancy
Biblical prophecy, 39, 39n, 42, 176
Big-family movement, 158
The Birdcage (film), 96
Blackmun, Harry, 187, 199, 200
Blasphemy, 100, 105
//against God, Bible as, 83
Boccaccio, Giovanni, 247
Bolton, 130–131, 199, 202, 214–215
Bork, Robert, 198–199
Boston Globe, 250
Britton, John, 141
Buchfuehrer, Jim, 107
Buckley, William F., 142
Bugliosi, Vincent, 84
Bush, George H. W., 22, 135
Bush, George W., 100, 113, 114
Calvin, John, 100n
Calvinism, 100–101, 100–101n
Campaign funding, 184, 184n
Capital punishment, 102, 106
Career, vs. family, 153, 154–155
Castration, self-, 245, 246, 247
Celibacy, 246, 247
Chalcedon Foundation, 102, 102n
Challenging the Christian Right (Clarkson), 105–106
Chamberlin, George, 175
Child pornography, 53–54. See also Pornography
Child sexual abuse, 248–251, 251–252
//and Orthodox Jews, 252–253
Children
//and biblical inerrancy, 98
//raising of, by professional Christians, 30
//sexual awakening in, 53–54
//spacing of, 6, 11–12
Chilton, David, 101, 103–104
The Chosen People, 40, 42
//Puritans as, 260–261
Christian Activist, 160
A Christian Manifesto (Francis Schaeffer), 138, 139–140, 174
Christianity, vs. democracy, 111–112
Christianity Is Jewish (Edith Schaeffer), 223
Christians, professional, raising of children by, 30
Christians United for Israel, 41
Church Fathers, misogyny of, 42–43
Circumcision, 43
Civil disobedience, 115, 136, 140, 172
Clarkson, Frederick, 105–106
The Coercive Utopians (Isaac and Isaac), 160
Coitus interruptus, 79–80
Colson, Charles, 115, 143, 170, 171, 172
Commentary magazine, 161, 170
Complementarianism, 155
"Complete Submission Makeover," 156–157
Conservatives, 51
Continuity, 234, 236, 237–238, 278
Contraception, 4–5, 6, 12, 79, 168–169. See also Family planning
Conversion, 117
1 Corinthians, 45, 246
Corporate America, 184, 184n, 201–202
Coughlin, Charles, 173n
Couric, Katie, 143
Courts, 109
Cox, Archibald, 200
Cranach, Lucas, 58
Crazy for God (Frank Schaeffer), xii, 68
Creationism, 73
Creativity, 234, 238, 278
Criswell, W. A., 128–129
Cross-dressing ritual, 95–98
Crossway Books, 158, 159–160
Crowley, Mary, 161, 241
Culture wars, 50
//loss of, 98–99
//and pro-choice vs. antiabortion movement, 143
//and Roe "refined" by Bolton, 130–131
//and sexual dysfunction, 245
{TXB}
David (king), 75–76, 77–80, 221
Dawkins, Richard, 83–84
Decameron (Boccaccio), 247
Decter, Midge, 161–162
Delusion, 30
Democracy, 111–112
Demonization, 70, 72
DeMoss, Nancy, 166, 241
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh, 155, 156–157, 165–166
DeMoss family, 166–167
Dennis, Lane, 158–159
Depravity, doctrine of total, 100–101n
Dershowitz, Alan, 200
Deuteronomy 4:16, 124–125
Deuteronomy 16:22, 125
Deuteronomy 22:5, 95
Deuteronomy 22:16–21, 243
Deuteronomy 22:28–29, 82
DeVos, Rich, 241
Diaphragm story, 1, 4, 12
Dignitas, 195, 195n
Dines, Gail, 51–52, 53
Dionysius (archbishop of Alexandria), 43
Discipline, 25–26
Divinity of Doubt (Bugliosi), 84
Dobson, James, 109, 114, 137, 140, 241, 254
Doctors (abortion), murder of, 141, 142
Doe v. Bolton, 130–131, 199, 202, 214–215
Doubt, denial of, 66, 67–68, 70, 71
Dysfunction, 50–51. See also Family dysfunction; Sexual dysfunction
Ecumenical jihad, 170, 171–172
Ecumenical Jihad: Ecumenism and the Culture War (Kreeft), 170
Edith Schaeffer cult, 15–16
Education, vs. indoctrination, 164–165
Eisenhower, Dwight, 179
The Elect, 6, 13
Embryo-destructive research, 113, 114
End Times biblical prophecies, 39, 39n, 176
Ensign, John, 254
Esther (Old Testament queen), 181–182
Eternal Separation, 121
Eternal torture, 84–85
Euthanasia, 113, 195n. See also Life issues
Evangelical ghetto, 29–30
Evangelizing, 127. See also Witnessing
Execution, method of, 106
Exodus 20:4–5, 124
Exodus 20:4–6, 96
Exodus 21:17, 105
Exodus 33:3, 5
"Exposing the Truth Behind Homosexuality and the Homosexual Agenda" seminar, 255–256
Extremism, 50–51
//sexual, 52
Ezekiel 16:26–32, 123
Faith Theological Seminary, 23
The Fall, 5
Falwell, Jerry, 72, 112, 135, 157, 166, 179, 241
Family, 152–153, 154–155, 277–279
//and big-family movement, 158
the Family (aka the Fellowship), 247, 247n
//and National Prayer Breakfast, 253–254, 255, 256, 257
//and Uganda scandal, 255–260
Family dysfunction, 15
Family planning, 9–10. See also Spacing, of children; Contraception
Family Research Council, 254
Fear, 50–51, 99
the Fellowship. See the Family
Feminism, 31, 32
//anti-, 158, 163
Feminists, 128
Fertility, as punishment, 5, 6
Fetal viability, 130, 130n
Figurehead, male pastor as, 30–31
First Things, 170
Ford, Gerald, 22, 135
Foreknowledge, 4–5, 6, 9
Forever Music (Edith Schaeffer), 161–162
Fox News, 115, 142
France, 214
Free Will, 4, 5, 9
Gabriel (angel), 43
Gandhi (film), 161
The Gandhi Nobody Knows (Grenier), 161
Gay marriage, 66, 67, 113, 251–252
Gay rights, 112, 113
//and Uganda scandal, 255–260
Genesis 2:22, 37
Genesis 3:16, 5
Genesis 6:6–7, 5
George, Robert, 112–115, 116, 142, 169, 170, 172, 209
Giffords, Gabrielle, 138
Gingrich, Newt, 113, 166
Ginsburg, Ruth Bader, 199
God
//existence of, 88
//jealousy of, 96
//mind-changing of, 5, 6
//and rape, 81, 82–83
//scripture by inspiration of, 81–82
//and sex, 43, 246–247
//violent vs. loving, 39, 42, 62–63, 116
//vs. Bible, 63
//vs. religion, 83–84
//and women, 37–38, 38–39, 43, 81, 82–83
Gosnell, Kermit, 201
Gospel Walnut, 120–121, 121–122
Government, biblically mandated role of, 183–185
Graham, Billy, 119
//burial place of, 20–21
//as lifelong hypochondriac, 19
//and politics, 69, 70
//public vs. private life of, 68
Graham, Franklin, 20, 68–71, 166
Graham, Gigi, 68
Graham, Ruth, 19, 20–21
Graven images, 96, 124–225
Greek Orthodox Service of Forgiveness, 263–264
Greenberg, Brad, 181
Grenier, Richard, 161
Griffin, Bryan F., 160
Growing Up Straight: What Families Should Know About Homosexuality (Rekers), 254
Guttmacher Institute, 208
Hagee, John, 41
Haitians, defaming of, 71–72
Happiness, of nonbelievers, 66
Harris, Sam, 83–84
Hate, 99
Health care reform, 131, 138, 183–184, 252
"The Heart of Salvation" booklet, 120–121, 121–122
"The Heart of Salvation" song, 121–122
Heaven
//age of babies in, 8–9
//life's mysteries made clear in, 7–9, 12
Hebrews 9:27, 121
Hefner, Hugh, 51
Hell, 121
Helms, Jesse, 136, 137, 166
Heresy, 100
Hill, Paul, 141
Hippies, 128
Hitchens, Christopher, 83–84
Hitler, Adolf, 173n
Holocaust revisionism, 256
Holy books, 48, 72–73
//open interpretation of, 263
//See also Bible
Homeschool movement, 101, 158, 159, 163
//rise of, 164–166
Homeschools, 98, 178
Homosexuality, 45, 64–65, 67, 102, 113, 170
//in Afghanistan, 48–49
//and the Family, 255–260
//and 9/11 terrorist attack, 72–73
//and Roman Catholic Church, 250–251
//in Uganda, 255–260
How Should We Then Live? (documentary film), 107
How Should We Then Live? (Francis Schaeffer), 143
Howard, Thom, 251
Hudson, Deal, 249
The Human Faces of God: What Scripture Reveals When It Gets God Wrong (and Why Inerrancy Tries to Hide It) (Stark), 86
Human intervention, 88
Human Rights Campaign, 257
Humanism, 139, 140, 141
Humanity, lack of, 115–116
Humanizing hypocrisy, 98
Hunt brothers, 241
Hutaree Militia, 176–177
Hutchinson, Anne, 261, 262, 263
Hyde, Henry, 137
Hynes, Charles, 252–253
Hypocrisy, humanizing, 98
Ice Woman sculpture, 57–62
Idols, 123–124
Illegitimate pregnancy, 71
"The Increase of His Government and Peace" (Rushdoony), 111
Indoctrination, 9
//and homeschool movement, 158
//vs. education, 164–165
Infallibility, of Scripture, 85–88. See also Biblical inerrancy
Inferiority complex, 33
The Institutes of Biblical Law (Rushdoony), 104, 110–111, 110–111n
Intelligent Design, 73
Internet, 163, 197
Internet pornography, 52–53. See also Pornography
Ireland, 248
Irish Catholicism, 248
Irresistible grace, doctrine of, 100–101n
Is Capitalism Christian? (ed. Frank Schaeffer), 159n
Isaac, Erich, 160, 161
Isaac, Rael Jean, 160, 161
Isaiah 3:16–17, 37
Islam, 69
//and menstruation, 48
//and women, 49–51, 73
//See also Muslims
Islamic Brotherhoods, 103–104
Islamic law, and Reconstructionism, similarities between, 103–104, 111–112
Israel, 41–42, 161
Izzard, Eddie, 96–97
{TXB}
Jealousy, 96
Jeremiah 3:1–25, 123
Jerome (saint), 43
Jesus Christ
//acceptance of, 39, 121
//and adultery, 245, 246
//denial of, 127
//and Jews, 39, 40, 41, 42
//and Second Coming, 85–86
//and sexual dysfunction, 245, 246
Jesus Victims, 33, 99
Jews, 40–42, 169–170, 171, 223, 247
//and homosexuality, 260
//and Jesus, 41, 42
//and Jesus, acceptance of, 39
//and menstruation, 48
//See also Orthodox Jews
Jihad, ecumenical, 170, 171–172
John 18:36, 104
John Paul II, 249, 250, 252
Kalende, Val, 258
Kato, David, 258
Kemp, Jack, 135, 137, 159n
Kennedy, Ted, 198
Thy Kingdom Come (Rushdoony), 111
Klimt, Gustav, 57–58
"Knowledge of the big picture," 7
Koop, C. Everett, 107, 157
//and Republican Party, 135, 136–137
Kopp, James, 141
Kreeft, Peter, 170, 171–172
L'Abri Fellowship ministry, 11, 23–24, 116
//and family life, 24–25, 28–29
//founding of, 26–27
//funding of, 27
//growth of, 28–29
//as "hippie" community, 239–240
Lane, Nathan, 96
Law, Bernard (archbishop of Boston; and cardinal), 241, 249–250, 252
Leaders. See individual leaders; Political leaders; Religious leaders
Leary, Timothy, 239–240
Left Behind novels, 39, 39n
Leviticus 15:17, 43–44
Leviticus 15:19, 35
Leviticus 15:32, 80
Leviticus 18:24, 62
Leviticus 20:10, 64
Leviticus 20:18, 44
Leviticus 24:16, 105
Leviticus 25:40–45, 63
Leviticus 26:1, 124
Lewis, C. S., 173
Liberalism, theological, 15
Liberty University Law School, 179
Life issues, 108, 113, 115, 194–195, 195n, 196–197. See also Abortion; Stem cell research
Limbaugh, Rush, 142
//and Obama, 177, 177n
Limited atonement, doctrine of, 100–101n
Lively, Scott, 256
Love, 92, 153, 278
Love, John, 128
Luck, 6
Luke 16, 121
Lust, 47, 66
//in your heart, 61–62
Luther, Martin, 58
Machen, J. Gresham, 22–23
Male authority, submission to, 155–156, 156–157
"Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience" (George), 112–113, 170, 172–174
The Mark of the Christian (Francis Schaeffer), 68
Marriage, 115
//advice on, 273–277
//gay, 66, 67, 251–252
//same-sex, 113
//and sex, 12–13, 42, 43, 50–51
Massachusetts Citizens for Life, 249
Masturbation, 65, 80
Matthew 5:28, 61
Matthew 10:33, 127
Matthew 16:28, 85
Matthew 18:8, 245
Matthew 19:9–12, 245
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), 16, 17, 18–19
McCain, John, 114–115, 180–181
McFadden, Jim, 135
McVeigh, Timothy, 141, 174
Men
//and male authority, 155–156, 156–157
//and pastor as figurehead, 30
//uncleanness of, 80
Menstrual blood, 43–44, 46–47, 48
Menstrual synchrony, 36
Menstruation, 35–36, 38–39, 42–43, 48, 167–168
//in Afghanistan, 49
//sexual intercourse during, 44–46
//See also Women: uncleanness of
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 279–280
Mifepristone, 209n
Mind-changing (of God), 6
Misogyny, 42–43
//and pornography, 53
Misoprostol, 209n
Modernity, 66–67
Monogamy, 233, 236–237
Morality, legislation of, 98–99
Mormons, 40, 40n
Morning-after pill, 209, 209n
Moses, 5, 64
//and men, uncleanness of, 80
//and rape, 81
//and women, 1–2
Muggeridge, Malcolm, 136–137
Mugisha, Frank, 256
Murdoch, Rupert, 142
Music, 92
Muslims, 48, 69, 169–170, 171, 247
//and homosexuality, 260
//and Obama, 70
//See also Islam
Mussolini, Benito, 173n
National Prayer Breakfast, 253–254, 255, 256, 257
National Press Club, 257
National Public Radio, 249
Native Americans, 40, 40n, 261
Natural Law, 73, 73n
Nelson, Thomas, 135
Neoconservatives, 160
Neuhaus, Richard John, 170–173
New Atheists, 83–84
New Covenant, 103
New York Times, 162–163
9/11 terrorist attack, 72–73
1984 (Orwell), 46–47
Nixon, Richard, 69
Noack, Sarah, 207, 212
Noah's Ark story, 5
Nocturnal emission, 44, 80
Nonbelievers
//and biblical law, imposition of, 103
//happiness of, 66
North, Gary, 101, 105, 106, 107
North, Ollie, 114
Numbers 31:9–18, 2
Obama, Barack, 113, 259
//and abortion, 114–115
//anger toward, 137–140, 140–141, 141–142, 174–175, 175–176, 177, 177n
//and antiabortion movement, 137–140, 140–141, 141–142, 202, 209
//and health care reform, 131, 138, 252
//and Muslims, 70
//and Wright, 140–141
Obama administration, 69–70
Olasky, Marvin, 108n
Onanism, 80
Operation Rescue, 141
Orthodox Church, 160
Orthodox Jews, 260
//and child sexual abuse, 252–253
//and spousal abuse, 253
//and women, purity regulations for, 167n
//See also Jews
Orwell, George, 46
Other, rejection of the, 95
Palin, Sarah, 70, 142, 180–182
Panic Among the Philistines (Griffin), 160
Pastor (male), as figurehead, 30
Patriarchy Movement, 155–156, 157, 168, 172–173
Paul (apostle), 246
Perseverance of the saints, doctrine of, 100–101n
1 Peter 2:18, 82
Physical punishment, 25–26
Pickering, Chip, 254
The Pink Swastika (Lively), 256
The Plan, 5
Plymouth Rock Foundation, 166
Podhoretz, Norman, 161–162, 170–172
Political leaders, 67
Politics, 69–71, 99–100
//and Reconstructionists, 102, 112–113
//and salvation, 104–105
//sexual, 50
Pontifical Council for the Family, 250
Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality (Dines), 52
Pornography, 51–53, 65–66
//child, 53–54
//on the Internet, 52–53
//misogynist, 53
Portofino (Frank Schaeffer), xii
Portofino (Italy) vacation, 4, 9–10, 11–12
Potter, Beatrix, x
Practice, and theory, 67
Prayer-Warrior women, 30
Predestination, 5
Pregnancy, illegitimate, 71
Premarital sex, 146
Presbyterian Church of America, 23
Preservation of the saints, doctrine of, 100–101n
Pride, Mary, 157–159, 162–164, 165, 241
//books by, 165n
Princeton University, 115
Private life, vs. public life, of religious leaders, 68
Pro-choice advocates, 143
//and abortion, misuse of, 210–211, 212
//See also Antiabortion movement
Progressives, 51
"Pro-life" movement. See Antiabortion movement
Proverbs, 13:24, 19:18, 23:13
Proverbs 31, 156
Psalm 58:10, 39
Psalm 109:8, 142
Psalm 127:3, 157
Public life, vs. private life, of religious leaders, 68
Public opinion, on abortion, 207–208, 214–215, 215–216
Public schools, rejection of, 178–179
Punishment
//physical, 25–26
//of women, 5–6
Puritan correctness, 13
Puritan heritage, 260–261
Purity regulations, 167n
Quiverfull Movement, 157, 167–168, 172–173
Rape, 81, 82–83
Ratzinger, Joseph (cardinal), 196
Reagan, Ronald, 16, 22, 107, 129, 198
//and antiabortion book, 162–163
//and antiabortion movement, 135–136
Reconstructionism (aka Theonomism), 166, 167–168
//impact of, 112–115
//and Islamic law, similarities between, 103–104, 111–112
//mission of, 102–104
//origins of, 100–101
//and women, 155–156
//worldview of, 100–101, 102
Reconstructionist movement
//leaders of, 101 (see also Chilton, David; North, Gary; Rushdoony, Rousas)
//and patriarchy movement, 155–156
Reconstructionists, 95, 99–100
//and Bible, old vs. new testaments, 102–103, 105
//and biblical law, 110–112
//extremism of, 105–106
//and humanity, lack of, 115–116
//influence of, 101–102
//"inside" theological/political code of, 106
//and politics, 102, 112–113
//and Sermon on the Mount, version of, 106–107
Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, 23
Regnery, Henry, 160, 161
Regnery Gateway Publishers, 160
Rekers, George, 254
Religion
//and human intervention, 88
//vs. God, 83–84
Religious leaders
//children of, 67–68
//and politics, 69–71
//and sex scandals, 67
Religious Right, 28
//agenda of, 104–105
//and Republican Party, ix, 69
Religious Right movement, x–xi
Republican Party, 113
//and abortion, misuse of, 209–210
//and antiabortion movement, 135–137, 142–143, 162–163
//and corporate America, 184, 184n, 201–202
//and Israel, 161
//and Religious Right, ix, 69
Resentment, 67, 71
"Respecter of persons," 31
Revelation, 39
Revelation 3:11, 85
Revelation 4:11, 61
Rich, Frank, 254
Ridge, Tom, 201
Robertson, Pat, 109, 241
//and Haitians, defaming of, 71–72
Robinson, Gene, 257
Rochester, MN, 18
Rockefeller, Mrs. David, 240n
Rockefeller, Nelson A., 129
Roe v. Wade, 71, 128, 129–130, 130–131, 130n, 159
//criticism of, 199–204
//politicization of, 214–215
//reversal of, 136
//and U.S. Supreme Court, 199
//See also Abortion
Roman Catholic Church, 113, 173
//and art, 91
//and child sexual abuse, 248–251, 252
//and family planning, 9–10
//and graven images, 124–225
//and homosexuality, 250–251, 251–252
//and idols, 123–124
//and natural law, 73n
//sexual dysfunction in, 245, 247
Roman Catholics, 64, 72–73
Roosevelt, Franklin, 173n
Roosevelt, Kermit, 200
Rove, Karl, 113
Rudolph, Eric, 188
Rushdoony, Rousas, 101, 102, 103, 104–105, 106, 116
//and biblical law, 110–111
//and biblical law, imposition of, 110
//and secularism, 107–110
Russell, Esther Rachel, 253
Rutherford Institute, 109
Sacrifice, 25
Salter, Mark, 114
Salvation, 104–105
Salvi, John, 187
Same-sex marriage, 113. See also Gay marriage
1 Samuel 15:3, 82
2 Samuel , 78
Sanford, Mark, 254
Satan, 118
"Saved," 94–95, 121
Schaeffer, Debby (sister), 10–11, 21–22
Schaeffer, Edith (mother), xi–xii
//and "almost-affair," 234–236, 237–238
//ancestors of, 13
//and artistic types, 233–234
//as author, 161–162
//compassion and decency of, 31
//and continuity, 234, 236, 237–238
//creative side of, 89–91
//and creativity, 234, 238
//and dancing career, 24
//and daughter-in-law, 77, 191
//double life of, 91
//energy/strength of, 188–189
//extroverted sexuality of, 33
//as grandmother, 77, 190–191
//and husband/wife relationship, 14–15, 15–16, 29, 75–76
//and indoctrination by missionary parents, 24, 90
//and Jews, 223
//and miscarriage, 6, 7–8
//as missionary, in Switzerland, 23–24 (see also L'Abri Fellowship ministry)
//missionary parents of, 13–14
//and monogamy, 233, 236–237
//and mother/son relationship, 11
//in old age, 21–22, 188–195
//physical appearance of, 14
//as "respecter of persons," 31
//and scripture, interpretation of, 84–87, 245–246
//and scripture, selective application of, 64–65
//and sex education, 1–3, 4–6, 12–13, 31–33, 43–46, 135
//spiritual superiority of, 31
//and spousal abuse, 29, 234, 235–236, 237–238, 240, 241–242, 242–243
//and Talks for Girls, 31–33
//and "The Wife's Method", 32
//wisdom of, 92
//as writer, 15
Schaeffer, Francis (father), xi, 110
//and antiabortion movement, 27–28, 107, 108
//as author, 68, 138, 139–140, 143
//burial of, 16, 17–18
//children's fear of, 15–16
//death of, 16–17
//and documentary films, 107
//and female temptation, 220–221
//as hero to Religious Right, 28
//illness of, 16–17
//as missionary in Switzerland, 23–24 (see also L'Abri Fellowship ministry)
//and National Prayer Breakfast, 256
//as pastor, of small churches, 23
//and Republican Party, 135–136
//as screaming preacher, 221–223
//as seminary student, 22–23
//as spiritual inferior, 31
//spousal abuse by, 29, 234, 235–236, 237–238, 240, 241–242, 242–243
//violent moods of, 77
//"weaknesses" of, 7, 14–15, 64, 75–76, 77–80
//and wife/husband relationship, 14–15, 15–16, 29, 75–76
//as writer, 27
//as youth, 22
Schaeffer, Francis (son), 77, 191, 242
Schaeffer, Frank, xi
//and "almost-affair," 219–220, 223–233
//and antiabortion crusade, 16–17
//as artist, 240, 240n
//as author, xii, 68, 109–110, 137, 159, 159n, 174
//documentary films of, 107, 109–110
//dyslexia of, 32
//early schooling of, 11, 25
//and family, advice on, 277–279
//and father, fear of, 15–16
//as father, 135, 187, 227–228
//as filmmaker, 30, 107–108, 109–110, 143, 162, 219–220, 220n, 228–229
//as grandfather, 153, 279, 280–281
//homeschool experience of, 32
//as literary agent, 157–164
//and marriage, advice on, 273–277
//and Mayo Clinic checkup, 19
//and mother/son relationship, 11
//outside influences on, 95–98
//and polio/leg brace, 7, 24–25, 192
//siblings of, 10–11, 24
//and Switzerland, early life in, 24–25, 28–29
//as teenager, 132–135, 145–152
//and unsolicited advice, 269–270
//and wife/husband relationship, 54–56, 133–135, 152–154, 263–264, 279
//and women, treatment of, 240
Schaeffer, Genie (wife)
//and miscarriage, 54–56
//and mother-in-law, 77, 191
//pregnancy of, 71, 133–135, 152–154
//as Roman Catholic, 244, 245
//as San Francisco hippie, 244
Schaeffer, Jessica (daughter), 54, 162, 187, 242
//and father/daughter relationship, 135, 187, 227–228
//and grandmother, 77, 191
Schaeffer, John (son), 190–191, 242
Schaeffer, Priscilla (sister), 11, 22
Schaeffer, Susan (sister), 8, 11, 22, 26
Schaeffer V Productions, 30, 109, 160
Schools, Christian, 98
Schools, public, rejection of, 179–180
Science, 179–180
Scripture, 3
//infallibility of, 85–88
//by inspiration of God, 81–82
//open interpretation of, 261–262, 263
//See also Bible
The Second American Revolution (Frank Schaeffer), 109–110
Second Coming, 85–86
Secular Humanists, 116
Secularism, 107–110, 164, 170
Secularists, 116
Semen, emission of, 43–44
Sermon on the Mount, Reconstructionist version of, 106–107
Seville, George (grandfather), 13–14
Seville, Jessie (grandmother), 13–14
Sex
//in the Bible, 50–51
//fear of, 50–51
//and God, 43, 246–247
//and marriage, 12–13, 42, 43, 50–51
//and pornography, 51–53
//premarital, 146
Sex education, 1–3, 4–6, 12–13, 31–33, 43–46, 135, 170
Sex scandals, 67
//congressional, 254–255
Sexual awakening, 53–54
Sexual dysfunction, 50–51, 245–248
Sexual extremism, 52
Sexual hypocrisy, 254–255
Sexual intercourse, 44–46, 59–62
Sexual politics, 50
Sexual revolution, 170
Sexuality, and Bible-believing views, damage of, 65–67
Shame, Shanda, and Silence (documentary film), 253
Sheen, Fulton (archbishop of New York), 241
Six Day War, 41
Slavery, 62–63, 82, 87
Slepian, Barnett, 141
Smith, Joseph, 40
Solomon (king), 221
Southern Poverty Law Center, 102
Spacing, of children, 6, 11–12. See also Family planning
Spousal abuse, 29, 234, 235–236, 237–238, 240, 241–242, 242–243, 253
Stack, Joseph, 176
Stark, Thom, 86
Stem cell research, 113, 114, 252. See also Life issues
Stevens, John Paul, 199
Strange Women, 2–3, 220–222. See also Women
Submission, to male authority, 155–156, 156–157
Success
//vs. family, 152–153
//worldly, 25
Suicide, assisted. See Assisted suicide
Sunstein, Cass, 200
Suver, Katie, 175–176
Switzerland, 189. See also L'Abri Fellowship ministry
The Tale of Two Bad Mice (Potter), x
Talks for Girls, 31–33
Target America: The Influence of Communist Propaganda on U.S. Media (Tyson), 160
Tea Party movement, 131, 174
Temptation, 66
Tertullian, 262
Testimony, 95
Theological Liberalism, 15
Theology of not knowing, 262
Theonomism. See Reconstructionism
Theory, and practice, 67
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 159–160
Tiller, George, 138
A Time for Anger: The Myth of Neutrality (Frank Schaeffer), 137, 159, 174
1 Timothy 2:9–10, 156
1 Timothy 2:12, 81–82
2 Timothy 3:16, 81
Titus 2:1–5, 156
Tonsure, 64
Total depravity, doctrine of, 100–101n
Tracts, 126–127
Traditional roles, for "other" women, 165–166
Transvestites, 95–98
Tribe, Laurence, 200
"True Woman Conference," 155–156, 155n
"True Woman Manifesto," 155
Turnidge, Bruce, 175–176
Turnidge, Joshua, 175–176
Tyndale House, 159–160
Tyson, James L., 160
Uganda, homosexuality in, 255–260
Unchosen: The Hidden Lives of Hasidic Rebels (Winston), 252
Uncleanness
//of men, 80
//of women, 35–36, 38–39, 44, 49, 50–51, 53, 167 (see also Menstruation)
Unconditional election, doctrine of, 100–101n
U.S. Congress
//and the Family, 247, 253–254, 255
//and sex scandals, 254–255
U.S. government
//anger/hatred toward, 137, 138–140, 141, 143, 179, 184–185
//and antiabortion movement, 171–172
//delegitimizing of, 174–177
//and the Family, 247n
U.S. Supreme Court, 184, 184n, 198–199, 200
Viability, of the fetus, 130, 130n
Victimhood, 33, 99, 142, 167, 171, 181
Walt Disney Company, 20
The Way Home (Pride), 158
Westminster Theological Seminary, 22–23
What Is A Family? (Edith Schaeffer), 15
Whatever Happened to the Human Race? (documentary film), 28, 107–108, 143, 158
Whitehead, John, 109, 157
"The Wife's Method", 32
Winston, Hella, 252
Winthrop, John, 260
Witnessing, 120–127
Witnessing aids, 120–122
Womanhood, 25
Women, 240
//in Afghanistan, 49–50
//biblical, 1–3, 36–38, 243
//body of, 47–48, 80–81
//fear of, 50–51
//and God, 37–38, 38–39, 43, 81, 82–83
//and Islam, 49–51, 73
//Jewish Orthodox, 167n
//and male authority, submission to, 155–156, 156–157
//and Moses, 1–2
//punishment of, 5–6
//purity regulations for, 167n
//and Reconstructionism, 155–156
//and Strange Women, 2, 220–222
//traditional roles for, 165–166
//uncleanness of, 35–36, 38–39, 44, 49, 50–51, 53, 167 (see also Menstruation)
//as unofficial head of church, 30–31
Women's rights, 158
Word Books, 159–160
Worry, 13
Wright, Jeremiah, 140–141
Zondervan, 159–160
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Frank Schaeffer
Abortion, 113, 114–115, 216–217
//clinics, bombing of, 188
//and compromise, 208
//extremes, 213
//and fetal viability, 130, 130n
//and health of woman, 130
//late-term, 131–132, 202–203, 202n
//legalization of, 128–129
//legalization of, state-by-state, 199, 203, 208
//medical, 209n
//and morning-after pill, 209, 209n
//and pro-choice advocates, misuse of, 210–211, 212
//public opinion on, 207–208, 214–215, 215–216
//and Republican Party, misuse of, 209–210
//restrictions on, 207–208, 209, 213–214
//statistics on, 210–212, 210n, 211n
//stereotypes, 204–207
//and Supreme Court, 198–199
//See also Antiabortion movement; Life issues; Roe v. Wade
Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation (Reagan), 135–136
Accountability, age of, 9, 196
Adultery, 64, 245, 246
Aesthetic empathy, 197
Afghanistan, 48–50
Age of accountability, 9, 196
Ahmanson, Howard, 108–109, 108n, 241
Al Qaida, 111
ALI. See American Law Institute
Alice (nanny), 93–95
Alienation, 67
America Can Be Saved (Falwell), 179
American exceptionalism, 40, 160
American Law Institute (ALI), 128
Andrusko, Dave, 28
Anscombe, Elizabeth, 73n, 168–169, 173
Antiabortion demonstrations, 187–188
Antiabortion movement, xi
//and culture wars, 144
//and doctors, murders of, 141, 142
//and documentary films, 107
//and doubt, 70, 71
//launching of, 16–17, 27–28
//and multi-billion-dollar industry, 142
//and Obama, 137–140, 140–141, 141–142, 202, 209
//politics of, 209–210
//and Republican Party, 135–137, 142–143, 162–163
//and secularism, 107–108
//and U.S. government, 171–172
//See also Abortion
"Anti-American," 163–164
Apophatic theology, 262
Art, 57–58, 91
Assisted suicide, 113, 195, 195n. See also Life issues
Atheism, 83–84
Augustine (saint), 196
Azaria, Hank, 96
Babies, in heaven, 8–9
Bahati, David, 256–257
al-Bana, Hassan, 103
Barrett, James, 141
Barzun, Jacques, 164
Bathing suits, 127–128
Beck, Glenn, 113, 115, 142, 209
Belz, Joel, 28
Berg, Robert, 132
Bible, 3–4
//as blasphemy against God, 83
//as curse or blessing, 99
//as flawed, 70, 72–73
//and government, 183–185
//old vs. new testaments, 102–103, 105
//as pro-Israel book, 41
//sex in, 50–51
//vs. God, 63
//women in, 1–3, 36–38, 243
//See also Biblical inerrancy; Biblical law; Biblical literalists; Biblical prophecy; Holy books; Scripture
Bible Presbyterian Church, 23
Biblical inerrancy, 42, 66–67, 71, 85–88, 103, 262
//and children, 98
//See also Biblical literalists
Biblical law, 98, 102–103, 106
//imposition of, 103, 110, 115
Biblical literalists, 3–4, 50, 64, 240, 262. See also Biblical inerrancy
Biblical prophecy, 39, 39n, 42, 176
Big-family movement, 158
The Birdcage (film), 96
Blackmun, Harry, 187, 199, 200
Blasphemy, 100, 105
//against God, Bible as, 83
Boccaccio, Giovanni, 247
Bolton, 130–131, 199, 202, 214–215
Bork, Robert, 198–199
Boston Globe, 250
Britton, John, 141
Buchfuehrer, Jim, 107
Buckley, William F., 142
Bugliosi, Vincent, 84
Bush, George H. W., 22, 135
Bush, George W., 100, 113, 114
Calvin, John, 100n
Calvinism, 100–101, 100–101n
Campaign funding, 184, 184n
Capital punishment, 102, 106
Career, vs. family, 153, 154–155
Castration, self-, 245, 246, 247
Celibacy, 246, 247
Chalcedon Foundation, 102, 102n
Challenging the Christian Right (Clarkson), 105–106
Chamberlin, George, 175
Child pornography, 53–54. See also Pornography
Child sexual abuse, 248–251, 251–252
//and Orthodox Jews, 252–253
Children
//and biblical inerrancy, 98
//raising of, by professional Christians, 30
//sexual awakening in, 53–54
//spacing of, 6, 11–12
Chilton, David, 101, 103–104
The Chosen People, 40, 42
//Puritans as, 260–261
Christian Activist, 160
A Christian Manifesto (Francis Schaeffer), 138, 139–140, 174
Christianity, vs. democracy, 111–112
Christianity Is Jewish (Edith Schaeffer), 223
Christians, professional, raising of children by, 30
Christians United for Israel, 41
Church Fathers, misogyny of, 42–43
Circumcision, 43
Civil disobedience, 115, 136, 140, 172
Clarkson, Frederick, 105–106
The Coercive Utopians (Isaac and Isaac), 160
Coitus interruptus, 79–80
Colson, Charles, 115, 143, 170, 171, 172
Commentary magazine, 161, 170
Complementarianism, 155
"Complete Submission Makeover," 156–157
Conservatives, 51
Continuity, 234, 236, 237–238, 278
Contraception, 4–5, 6, 12, 79, 168–169. See also Family planning
Conversion, 117
1 Corinthians, 45, 246
Corporate America, 184, 184n, 201–202
Coughlin, Charles, 173n
Couric, Katie, 143
Courts, 109
Cox, Archibald, 200
Cranach, Lucas, 58
Crazy for God (Frank Schaeffer), xii, 68
Creationism, 73
Creativity, 234, 238, 278
Criswell, W. A., 128–129
Cross-dressing ritual, 95–98
Crossway Books, 158, 159–160
Crowley, Mary, 161, 241
Culture wars, 50
//loss of, 98–99
//and pro-choice vs. antiabortion movement, 143
//and Roe "refined" by Bolton, 130–131
//and sexual dysfunction, 245
{TXB}
David (king), 75–76, 77–80, 221
Dawkins, Richard, 83–84
Decameron (Boccaccio), 247
Decter, Midge, 161–162
Delusion, 30
Democracy, 111–112
Demonization, 70, 72
DeMoss, Nancy, 166, 241
DeMoss, Nancy Leigh, 155, 156–157, 165–166
DeMoss family, 166–167
Dennis, Lane, 158–159
Depravity, doctrine of total, 100–101n
Dershowitz, Alan, 200
Deuteronomy 4:16, 124–125
Deuteronomy 16:22, 125
Deuteronomy 22:5, 95
Deuteronomy 22:16–21, 243
Deuteronomy 22:28–29, 82
DeVos, Rich, 241
Diaphragm story, 1, 4, 12
Dignitas, 195, 195n
Dines, Gail, 51–52, 53
Dionysius (archbishop of Alexandria), 43
Discipline, 25–26
Divinity of Doubt (Bugliosi), 84
Dobson, James, 109, 114, 137, 140, 241, 254
Doctors (abortion), murder of, 141, 142
Doe v. Bolton, 130–131, 199, 202, 214–215
Doubt, denial of, 66, 67–68, 70, 71
Dysfunction, 50–51. See also Family dysfunction; Sexual dysfunction
Ecumenical jihad, 170, 171–172
Ecumenical Jihad: Ecumenism and the Culture War (Kreeft), 170
Edith Schaeffer cult, 15–16
Education, vs. indoctrination, 164–165
Eisenhower, Dwight, 179
The Elect, 6, 13
Embryo-destructive research, 113, 114
End Times biblical prophecies, 39, 39n, 176
Ensign, John, 254
Esther (Old Testament queen), 181–182
Eternal Separation, 121
Eternal torture, 84–85
Euthanasia, 113, 195n. See also Life issues
Evangelical ghetto, 29–30
Evangelizing, 127. See also Witnessing
Execution, method of, 106
Exodus 20:4–5, 124
Exodus 20:4–6, 96
Exodus 21:17, 105
Exodus 33:3, 5
"Exposing the Truth Behind Homosexuality and the Homosexual Agenda" seminar, 255–256
Extremism, 50–51
//sexual, 52
Ezekiel 16:26–32, 123
Faith Theological Seminary, 23
The Fall, 5
Falwell, Jerry, 72, 112, 135, 157, 166, 179, 241
Family, 152–153, 154–155, 277–279
//and big-family movement, 158
the Family (aka the Fellowship), 247, 247n
//and National Prayer Breakfast, 253–254, 255, 256, 257
//and Uganda scandal, 255–260
Family dysfunction, 15
Family planning, 9–10. See also Spacing, of children; Contraception
Family Research Council, 254
Fear, 50–51, 99
the Fellowship. See the Family
Feminism, 31, 32
//anti-, 158, 163
Feminists, 128
Fertility, as punishment, 5, 6
Fetal viability, 130, 130n
Figurehead, male pastor as, 30–31
First Things, 170
Ford, Gerald, 22, 135
Foreknowledge, 4–5, 6, 9
Forever Music (Edith Schaeffer), 161–162
Fox News, 115, 142
France, 214
Free Will, 4, 5, 9
Gabriel (angel), 43
Gandhi (film), 161
The Gandhi Nobody Knows (Grenier), 161
Gay marriage, 66, 67, 113, 251–252
Gay rights, 112, 113
//and Uganda scandal, 255–260
Genesis 2:22, 37
Genesis 3:16, 5
Genesis 6:6–7, 5
George, Robert, 112–115, 116, 142, 169, 170, 172, 209
Giffords, Gabrielle, 138
Gingrich, Newt, 113, 166
Ginsburg, Ruth Bader, 199
God
//existence of, 88
//jealousy of, 96
//mind-changing of, 5, 6
//and rape, 81, 82–83
//scripture by inspiration of, 81–82
//and sex, 43, 246–247
//violent vs. loving, 39, 42, 62–63, 116
//vs. Bible, 63
//vs. religion, 83–84
//and women, 37–38, 38–39, 43, 81, 82–83
Gosnell, Kermit, 201
Gospel Walnut, 120–121, 121–122
Government, biblically mandated role of, 183–185
Graham, Billy, 119
//burial place of, 20–21
//as lifelong hypochondriac, 19
//and politics, 69, 70
//public vs. private life of, 68
Graham, Franklin, 20, 68–71, 166
Graham, Gigi, 68
Graham, Ruth, 19, 20–21
Graven images, 96, 124–225
Greek Orthodox Service of Forgiveness, 263–264
Greenberg, Brad, 181
Grenier, Richard, 161
Griffin, Bryan F., 160
Growing Up Straight: What Families Should Know About Homosexuality (Rekers), 254
Guttmacher Institute, 208
Hagee, John, 41
Haitians, defaming of, 71–72
Happiness, of nonbelievers, 66
Harris, Sam, 83–84
Hate, 99
Health care reform, 131, 138, 183–184, 252
"The Heart of Salvation" booklet, 120–121, 121–122
"The Heart of Salvation" song, 121–122
Heaven
//age of babies in, 8–9
//life's mysteries made clear in, 7–9, 12
Hebrews 9:27, 121
Hefner, Hugh, 51
Hell, 121
Helms, Jesse, 136, 137, 166
Heresy, 100
Hill, Paul, 141
Hippies, 128
Hitchens, Christopher, 83–84
Hitler, Adolf, 173n
Holocaust revisionism, 256
Holy books, 48, 72–73
//open interpretation of, 263
//See also Bible
Homeschool movement, 101, 158, 159, 163
//rise of, 164–166
Homeschools, 98, 178
Homosexuality, 45, 64–65, 67, 102, 113, 170
//in Afghanistan, 48–49
//and the Family, 255–260
//and 9/11 terrorist attack, 72–73
//and Roman Catholic Church, 250–251
//in Uganda, 255–260
How Should We Then Live? (documentary film), 107
How Should We Then Live? (Francis Schaeffer), 143
Howard, Thom, 251
Hudson, Deal, 249
The Human Faces of God: What Scripture Reveals When It Gets God Wrong (and Why Inerrancy Tries to Hide It) (Stark), 86
Human intervention, 88
Human Rights Campaign, 257
Humanism, 139, 140, 141
Humanity, lack of, 115–116
Humanizing hypocrisy, 98
Hunt brothers, 241
Hutaree Militia, 176–177
Hutchinson, Anne, 261, 262, 263
Hyde, Henry, 137
Hynes, Charles, 252–253
Hypocrisy, humanizing, 98
Ice Woman sculpture, 57–62
Idols, 123–124
Illegitimate pregnancy, 71
"The Increase of His Government and Peace" (Rushdoony), 111
Indoctrination, 9
//and homeschool movement, 158
//vs. education, 164–165
Infallibility, of Scripture, 85–88. See also Biblical inerrancy
Inferiority complex, 33
The Institutes of Biblical Law (Rushdoony), 104, 110–111, 110–111n
Intelligent Design, 73
Internet, 163, 197
Internet pornography, 52–53. See also Pornography
Ireland, 248
Irish Catholicism, 248
Irresistible grace, doctrine of, 100–101n
Is Capitalism Christian? (ed. Frank Schaeffer), 159n
Isaac, Erich, 160, 161
Isaac, Rael Jean, 160, 161
Isaiah 3:16–17, 37
Islam, 69
//and menstruation, 48
//and women, 49–51, 73
//See also Muslims
Islamic Brotherhoods, 103–104
Islamic law, and Reconstructionism, similarities between, 103–104, 111–112
Israel, 41–42, 161
Izzard, Eddie, 96–97
{TXB}
Jealousy, 96
Jeremiah 3:1–25, 123
Jerome (saint), 43
Jesus Christ
//acceptance of, 39, 121
//and adultery, 245, 246
//denial of, 127
//and Jews, 39, 40, 41, 42
//and Second Coming, 85–86
//and sexual dysfunction, 245, 246
Jesus Victims, 33, 99
Jews, 40–42, 169–170, 171, 223, 247
//and homosexuality, 260
//and Jesus, 41, 42
//and Jesus, acceptance of, 39
//and menstruation, 48
//See also Orthodox Jews
Jihad, ecumenical, 170, 171–172
John 18:36, 104
John Paul II, 249, 250, 252
Kalende, Val, 258
Kato, David, 258
Kemp, Jack, 135, 137, 159n
Kennedy, Ted, 198
Thy Kingdom Come (Rushdoony), 111
Klimt, Gustav, 57–58
"Knowledge of the big picture," 7
Koop, C. Everett, 107, 157
//and Republican Party, 135, 136–137
Kopp, James, 141
Kreeft, Peter, 170, 171–172
L'Abri Fellowship ministry, 11, 23–24, 116
//and family life, 24–25, 28–29
//founding of, 26–27
//funding of, 27
//growth of, 28–29
//as "hippie" community, 239–240
Lane, Nathan, 96
Law, Bernard (archbishop of Boston; and cardinal), 241, 249–250, 252
Leaders. See individual leaders; Political leaders; Religious leaders
Leary, Timothy, 239–240
Left Behind novels, 39, 39n
Leviticus 15:17, 43–44
Leviticus 15:19, 35
Leviticus 15:32, 80
Leviticus 18:24, 62
Leviticus 20:10, 64
Leviticus 20:18, 44
Leviticus 24:16, 105
Leviticus 25:40–45, 63
Leviticus 26:1, 124
Lewis, C. S., 173
Liberalism, theological, 15
Liberty University Law School, 179
Life issues, 108, 113, 115, 194–195, 195n, 196–197. See also Abortion; Stem cell research
Limbaugh, Rush, 142
//and Obama, 177, 177n
Limited atonement, doctrine of, 100–101n
Lively, Scott, 256
Love, 92, 153, 278
Love, John, 128
Luck, 6
Luke 16, 121
Lust, 47, 66
//in your heart, 61–62
Luther, Martin, 58
Machen, J. Gresham, 22–23
Male authority, submission to, 155–156, 156–157
"Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience" (George), 112–113, 170, 172–174
The Mark of the Christian (Francis Schaeffer), 68
Marriage, 115
//advice on, 273–277
//gay, 66, 67, 251–252
//same-sex, 113
//and sex, 12–13, 42, 43, 50–51
Massachusetts Citizens for Life, 249
Masturbation, 65, 80
Matthew 5:28, 61
Matthew 10:33, 127
Matthew 16:28, 85
Matthew 18:8, 245
Matthew 19:9–12, 245
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), 16, 17, 18–19
McCain, John, 114–115, 180–181
McFadden, Jim, 135
McVeigh, Timothy, 141, 174
Men
//and male authority, 155–156, 156–157
//and pastor as figurehead, 30
//uncleanness of, 80
Menstrual blood, 43–44, 46–47, 48
Menstrual synchrony, 36
Menstruation, 35–36, 38–39, 42–43, 48, 167–168
//in Afghanistan, 49
//sexual intercourse during, 44–46
//See also Women: uncleanness of
Metropolitan Museum of Art, 279–280
Mifepristone, 209n
Mind-changing (of God), 6
Misogyny, 42–43
//and pornography, 53
Misoprostol, 209n
Modernity, 66–67
Monogamy, 233, 236–237
Morality, legislation of, 98–99
Mormons, 40, 40n
Morning-after pill, 209, 209n
Moses, 5, 64
//and men, uncleanness of, 80
//and rape, 81
//and women, 1–2
Muggeridge, Malcolm, 136–137
Mugisha, Frank, 256
Murdoch, Rupert, 142
Music, 92
Muslims, 48, 69, 169–170, 171, 247
//and homosexuality, 260
//and Obama, 70
//See also Islam
Mussolini, Benito, 173n
National Prayer Breakfast, 253–254, 255, 256, 257
National Press Club, 257
National Public Radio, 249
Native Americans, 40, 40n, 261
Natural Law, 73, 73n
Nelson, Thomas, 135
Neoconservatives, 160
Neuhaus, Richard John, 170–173
New Atheists, 83–84
New Covenant, 103
New York Times, 162–163
9/11 terrorist attack, 72–73
1984 (Orwell), 46–47
Nixon, Richard, 69
Noack, Sarah, 207, 212
Noah's Ark story, 5
Nocturnal emission, 44, 80
Nonbelievers
//and biblical law, imposition of, 103
//happiness of, 66
North, Gary, 101, 105, 106, 107
North, Ollie, 114
Numbers 31:9–18, 2
Obama, Barack, 113, 259
//and abortion, 114–115
//anger toward, 137–140, 140–141, 141–142, 174–175, 175–176, 177, 177n
//and antiabortion movement, 137–140, 140–141, 141–142, 202, 209
//and health care reform, 131, 138, 252
//and Muslims, 70
//and Wright, 140–141
Obama administration, 69–70
Olasky, Marvin, 108n
Onanism, 80
Operation Rescue, 141
Orthodox Church, 160
Orthodox Jews, 260
//and child sexual abuse, 252–253
//and spousal abuse, 253
//and women, purity regulations for, 167n
//See also Jews
Orwell, George, 46
Other, rejection of the, 95
Palin, Sarah, 70, 142, 180–182
Panic Among the Philistines (Griffin), 160
Pastor (male), as figurehead, 30
Patriarchy Movement, 155–156, 157, 168, 172–173
Paul (apostle), 246
Perseverance of the saints, doctrine of, 100–101n
1 Peter 2:18, 82
Physical punishment, 25–26
Pickering, Chip, 254
The Pink Swastika (Lively), 256
The Plan, 5
Plymouth Rock Foundation, 166
Podhoretz, Norman, 161–162, 170–172
Political leaders, 67
Politics, 69–71, 99–100
//and Reconstructionists, 102, 112–113
//and salvation, 104–105
//sexual, 50
Pontifical Council for the Family, 250
Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality (Dines), 52
Pornography, 51–53, 65–66
//child, 53–54
//on the Internet, 52–53
//misogynist, 53
Portofino (Frank Schaeffer), xii
Portofino (Italy) vacation, 4, 9–10, 11–12
Potter, Beatrix, x
Practice, and theory, 67
Prayer-Warrior women, 30
Predestination, 5
Pregnancy, illegitimate, 71
Premarital sex, 146
Presbyterian Church of America, 23
Preservation of the saints, doctrine of, 100–101n
Pride, Mary, 157–159, 162–164, 165, 241
//books by, 165n
Princeton University, 115
Private life, vs. public life, of religious leaders, 68
Pro-choice advocates, 143
//and abortion, misuse of, 210–211, 212
//See also Antiabortion movement
Progressives, 51
"Pro-life" movement. See Antiabortion movement
Proverbs, 13:24, 19:18, 23:13
Proverbs 31, 156
Psalm 58:10, 39
Psalm 109:8, 142
Psalm 127:3, 157
Public life, vs. private life, of religious leaders, 68
Public opinion, on abortion, 207–208, 214–215, 215–216
Public schools, rejection of, 178–179
Punishment
//physical, 25–26
//of women, 5–6
Puritan correctness, 13
Puritan heritage, 260–261
Purity regulations, 167n
Quiverfull Movement, 157, 167–168, 172–173
Rape, 81, 82–83
Ratzinger, Joseph (cardinal), 196
Reagan, Ronald, 16, 22, 107, 129, 198
//and antiabortion book, 162–163
//and antiabortion movement, 135–136
Reconstructionism (aka Theonomism), 166, 167–168
//impact of, 112–115
//and Islamic law, similarities between, 103–104, 111–112
//mission of, 102–104
//origins of, 100–101
//and women, 155–156
//worldview of, 100–101, 102
Reconstructionist movement
//leaders of, 101 (see also Chilton, David; North, Gary; Rushdoony, Rousas)
//and patriarchy movement, 155–156
Reconstructionists, 95, 99–100
//and Bible, old vs. new testaments, 102–103, 105
//and biblical law, 110–112
//extremism of, 105–106
//and humanity, lack of, 115–116
//influence of, 101–102
//"inside" theological/political code of, 106
//and politics, 102, 112–113
//and Sermon on the Mount, version of, 106–107
Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod, 23
Regnery, Henry, 160, 161
Regnery Gateway Publishers, 160
Rekers, George, 254
Religion
//and human intervention, 88
//vs. God, 83–84
Religious leaders
//children of, 67–68
//and politics, 69–71
//and sex scandals, 67
Religious Right, 28
//agenda of, 104–105
//and Republican Party, ix, 69
Religious Right movement, x–xi
Republican Party, 113
//and abortion, misuse of, 209–210
//and antiabortion movement, 135–137, 142–143, 162–163
//and corporate America, 184, 184n, 201–202
//and Israel, 161
//and Religious Right, ix, 69
Resentment, 67, 71
"Respecter of persons," 31
Revelation, 39
Revelation 3:11, 85
Revelation 4:11, 61
Rich, Frank, 254
Ridge, Tom, 201
Robertson, Pat, 109, 241
//and Haitians, defaming of, 71–72
Robinson, Gene, 257
Rochester, MN, 18
Rockefeller, Mrs. David, 240n
Rockefeller, Nelson A., 129
Roe v. Wade, 71, 128, 129–130, 130–131, 130n, 159
//criticism of, 199–204
//politicization of, 214–215
//reversal of, 136
//and U.S. Supreme Court, 199
//See also Abortion
Roman Catholic Church, 113, 173
//and art, 91
//and child sexual abuse, 248–251, 252
//and family planning, 9–10
//and graven images, 124–225
//and homosexuality, 250–251, 251–252
//and idols, 123–124
//and natural law, 73n
//sexual dysfunction in, 245, 247
Roman Catholics, 64, 72–73
Roosevelt, Franklin, 173n
Roosevelt, Kermit, 200
Rove, Karl, 113
Rudolph, Eric, 188
Rushdoony, Rousas, 101, 102, 103, 104–105, 106, 116
//and biblical law, 110–111
//and biblical law, imposition of, 110
//and secularism, 107–110
Russell, Esther Rachel, 253
Rutherford Institute, 109
Sacrifice, 25
Salter, Mark, 114
Salvation, 104–105
Salvi, John, 187
Same-sex marriage, 113. See also Gay marriage
1 Samuel 15:3, 82
2 Samuel , 78
Sanford, Mark, 254
Satan, 118
"Saved," 94–95, 121
Schaeffer, Debby (sister), 10–11, 21–22
Schaeffer, Edith (mother), xi–xii
//and "almost-affair," 234–236, 237–238
//ancestors of, 13
//and artistic types, 233–234
//as author, 161–162
//compassion and decency of, 31
//and continuity, 234, 236, 237–238
//creative side of, 89–91
//and creativity, 234, 238
//and dancing career, 24
//and daughter-in-law, 77, 191
//double life of, 91
//energy/strength of, 188–189
//extroverted sexuality of, 33
//as grandmother, 77, 190–191
//and husband/wife relationship, 14–15, 15–16, 29, 75–76
//and indoctrination by missionary parents, 24, 90
//and Jews, 223
//and miscarriage, 6, 7–8
//as missionary, in Switzerland, 23–24 (see also L'Abri Fellowship ministry)
//missionary parents of, 13–14
//and monogamy, 233, 236–237
//and mother/son relationship, 11
//in old age, 21–22, 188–195
//physical appearance of, 14
//as "respecter of persons," 31
//and scripture, interpretation of, 84–87, 245–246
//and scripture, selective application of, 64–65
//and sex education, 1–3, 4–6, 12–13, 31–33, 43–46, 135
//spiritual superiority of, 31
//and spousal abuse, 29, 234, 235–236, 237–238, 240, 241–242, 242–243
//and Talks for Girls, 31–33
//and "The Wife's Method", 32
//wisdom of, 92
//as writer, 15
Schaeffer, Francis (father), xi, 110
//and antiabortion movement, 27–28, 107, 108
//as author, 68, 138, 139–140, 143
//burial of, 16, 17–18
//children's fear of, 15–16
//death of, 16–17
//and documentary films, 107
//and female temptation, 220–221
//as hero to Religious Right, 28
//illness of, 16–17
//as missionary in Switzerland, 23–24 (see also L'Abri Fellowship ministry)
//and National Prayer Breakfast, 256
//as pastor, of small churches, 23
//and Republican Party, 135–136
//as screaming preacher, 221–223
//as seminary student, 22–23
//as spiritual inferior, 31
//spousal abuse by, 29, 234, 235–236, 237–238, 240, 241–242, 242–243
//violent moods of, 77
//"weaknesses" of, 7, 14–15, 64, 75–76, 77–80
//and wife/husband relationship, 14–15, 15–16, 29, 75–76
//as writer, 27
//as youth, 22
Schaeffer, Francis (son), 77, 191, 242
Schaeffer, Frank, xi
//and "almost-affair," 219–220, 223–233
//and antiabortion crusade, 16–17
//as artist, 240, 240n
//as author, xii, 68, 109–110, 137, 159, 159n, 174
//documentary films of, 107, 109–110
//dyslexia of, 32
//early schooling of, 11, 25
//and family, advice on, 277–279
//and father, fear of, 15–16
//as father, 135, 187, 227–228
//as filmmaker, 30, 107–108, 109–110, 143, 162, 219–220, 220n, 228–229
//as grandfather, 153, 279, 280–281
//homeschool experience of, 32
//as literary agent, 157–164
//and marriage, advice on, 273–277
//and Mayo Clinic checkup, 19
//and mother/son relationship, 11
//outside influences on, 95–98
//and polio/leg brace, 7, 24–25, 192
//siblings of, 10–11, 24
//and Switzerland, early life in, 24–25, 28–29
//as teenager, 132–135, 145–152
//and unsolicited advice, 269–270
//and wife/husband relationship, 54–56, 133–135, 152–154, 263–264, 279
//and women, treatment of, 240
Schaeffer, Genie (wife)
//and miscarriage, 54–56
//and mother-in-law, 77, 191
//pregnancy of, 71, 133–135, 152–154
//as Roman Catholic, 244, 245
//as San Francisco hippie, 244
Schaeffer, Jessica (daughter), 54, 162, 187, 242
//and father/daughter relationship, 135, 187, 227–228
//and grandmother, 77, 191
Schaeffer, John (son), 190–191, 242
Schaeffer, Priscilla (sister), 11, 22
Schaeffer, Susan (sister), 8, 11, 22, 26
Schaeffer V Productions, 30, 109, 160
Schools, Christian, 98
Schools, public, rejection of, 179–180
Science, 179–180
Scripture, 3
//infallibility of, 85–88
//by inspiration of God, 81–82
//open interpretation of, 261–262, 263
//See also Bible
The Second American Revolution (Frank Schaeffer), 109–110
Second Coming, 85–86
Secular Humanists, 116
Secularism, 107–110, 164, 170
Secularists, 116
Semen, emission of, 43–44
Sermon on the Mount, Reconstructionist version of, 106–107
Seville, George (grandfather), 13–14
Seville, Jessie (grandmother), 13–14
Sex
//in the Bible, 50–51
//fear of, 50–51
//and God, 43, 246–247
//and marriage, 12–13, 42, 43, 50–51
//and pornography, 51–53
//premarital, 146
Sex education, 1–3, 4–6, 12–13, 31–33, 43–46, 135, 170
Sex scandals, 67
//congressional, 254–255
Sexual awakening, 53–54
Sexual dysfunction, 50–51, 245–248
Sexual extremism, 52
Sexual hypocrisy, 254–255
Sexual intercourse, 44–46, 59–62
Sexual politics, 50
Sexual revolution, 170
Sexuality, and Bible-believing views, damage of, 65–67
Shame, Shanda, and Silence (documentary film), 253
Sheen, Fulton (archbishop of New York), 241
Six Day War, 41
Slavery, 62–63, 82, 87
Slepian, Barnett, 141
Smith, Joseph, 40
Solomon (king), 221
Southern Poverty Law Center, 102
Spacing, of children, 6, 11–12. See also Family planning
Spousal abuse, 29, 234, 235–236, 237–238, 240, 241–242, 242–243, 253
Stack, Joseph, 176
Stark, Thom, 86
Stem cell research, 113, 114, 252. See also Life issues
Stevens, John Paul, 199
Strange Women, 2–3, 220–222. See also Women
Submission, to male authority, 155–156, 156–157
Success
//vs. family, 152–153
//worldly, 25
Suicide, assisted. See Assisted suicide
Sunstein, Cass, 200
Suver, Katie, 175–176
Switzerland, 189. See also L'Abri Fellowship ministry
The Tale of Two Bad Mice (Potter), x
Talks for Girls, 31–33
Target America: The Influence of Communist Propaganda on U.S. Media (Tyson), 160
Tea Party movement, 131, 174
Temptation, 66
Tertullian, 262
Testimony, 95
Theological Liberalism, 15
Theology of not knowing, 262
Theonomism. See Reconstructionism
Theory, and practice, 67
Thomas Nelson Publishers, 159–160
Tiller, George, 138
A Time for Anger: The Myth of Neutrality (Frank Schaeffer), 137, 159, 174
1 Timothy 2:9–10, 156
1 Timothy 2:12, 81–82
2 Timothy 3:16, 81
Titus 2:1–5, 156
Tonsure, 64
Total depravity, doctrine of, 100–101n
Tracts, 126–127
Traditional roles, for "other" women, 165–166
Transvestites, 95–98
Tribe, Laurence, 200
"True Woman Conference," 155–156, 155n
"True Woman Manifesto," 155
Turnidge, Bruce, 175–176
Turnidge, Joshua, 175–176
Tyndale House, 159–160
Tyson, James L., 160
Uganda, homosexuality in, 255–260
Unchosen: The Hidden Lives of Hasidic Rebels (Winston), 252
Uncleanness
//of men, 80
//of women, 35–36, 38–39, 44, 49, 50–51, 53, 167 (see also Menstruation)
Unconditional election, doctrine of, 100–101n
U.S. Congress
//and the Family, 247, 253–254, 255
//and sex scandals, 254–255
U.S. government
//anger/hatred toward, 137, 138–140, 141, 143, 179, 184–185
//and antiabortion movement, 171–172
//delegitimizing of, 174–177
//and the Family, 247n
U.S. Supreme Court, 184, 184n, 198–199, 200
Viability, of the fetus, 130, 130n
Victimhood, 33, 99, 142, 167, 171, 181
Walt Disney Company, 20
The Way Home (Pride), 158
Westminster Theological Seminary, 22–23
What Is A Family? (Edith Schaeffer), 15
Whatever Happened to the Human Race? (documentary film), 28, 107–108, 143, 158
Whitehead, John, 109, 157
"The Wife's Method", 32
Winston, Hella, 252
Winthrop, John, 260
Witnessing, 120–127
Witnessing aids, 120–122
Womanhood, 25
Women, 240
//in Afghanistan, 49–50
//biblical, 1–3, 36–38, 243
//body of, 47–48, 80–81
//fear of, 50–51
//and God, 37–38, 38–39, 43, 81, 82–83
//and Islam, 49–51, 73
//Jewish Orthodox, 167n
//and male authority, submission to, 155–156, 156–157
//and Moses, 1–2
//punishment of, 5–6
//purity regulations for, 167n
//and Reconstructionism, 155–156
//and Strange Women, 2, 220–222
//traditional roles for, 165–166
//uncleanness of, 35–36, 38–39, 44, 49, 50–51, 53, 167 (see also Menstruation)
//as unofficial head of church, 30–31
Women's rights, 158
Word Books, 159–160
Worry, 13
Wright, Jeremiah, 140–141
Zondervan, 159–160
You may order Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics—and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway now from Amazon by clicking HERE.
February 24, 2011
Chris Hedges Was Right
I'm not the only person to note that if Jesus ever actually showed up in America it would be our "Christians" who would quite literally kill him-- if that is he talked about peace and the horror of an imperial nation addicted to war. "Blessed are the peacemakers"? No thanks!
If you ever want to know what it looks like when a mob in love with far right nationalism and on fire with a lust for war, violence and empire looks like confronting the truth of Peace, Love and Tolerance there is a stunning visual document on YouTube you need to see. And it has become more relevant with time because the prophecy in it all came true.
In 2003 Chris Hedges the Pulitzer Prize winning war correspondent and New York Times reporter gave a commencement address at Rockford College. He questioned America's war in Iraq and laid out a moving call to find love and camaraderie in peace not war. He was booed off the stage in this "liberal" arts college. His mike was cut twice and later police had to escort him off campus.
His boss-- The New York Times -- reprimanded Hedges for standing up for peace because they had sold out and backed the war. He was more or less fired though officially he resigned because he would not agree to shut up.
America -- the new Rome, this fading empire -- has no room for truth tellers in the "mainstream." Believe me when I say that when this country slides into corporate sponsored fascistic decline that this historic You Tube video of Hedges being verbally lynched by an American mob will be studied as a portent of a grim future by those who someday will ask: "What happened to American democracy?" (Check out Hedges' new book Death of the Liberal Class if you want to understand the failure of liberal institutions to protect the truth.)
The video is in 4 parts and through the "boos" and near riot it is worth listening to every word Hedges speaks. First this was a pivotal little noticed moment in American history symbolic of the move of the vast middle to accept a permanent culture of war as "normal." Second Chris Hedges' voice is prophetic. This was 2003! He spoke when few did. He was proved right down to the last detail of what then actually happened in Iraq.
Lastly, this video is what it must look like when a prophet is about to be killed. No one killed Hedges but it sure sounded like some people there wanted to silence him any way they could.
(And no, I'm not comparing Hedges to Jesus (!), just saying that here we have a classic example of what the message of Love and Redemption is up against in America, now more than ever. And by the way, my son served as a Marine in Afghanistan and Iraq. I'm not "anti-military." I am anti imperial quests. As Hedges says war is poison.
Here are the links to all 4 parts. Take 20 minutes and watch. This is our future: The American right wing mob turning on any truth speakers.
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
PART 4
Watch, think, pray for America and fight to roll back a future we don't want: A future controlled by corporate interests where the mob has been conditioned to confuse empire and war with patriotism.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back
If you ever want to know what it looks like when a mob in love with far right nationalism and on fire with a lust for war, violence and empire looks like confronting the truth of Peace, Love and Tolerance there is a stunning visual document on YouTube you need to see. And it has become more relevant with time because the prophecy in it all came true.
In 2003 Chris Hedges the Pulitzer Prize winning war correspondent and New York Times reporter gave a commencement address at Rockford College. He questioned America's war in Iraq and laid out a moving call to find love and camaraderie in peace not war. He was booed off the stage in this "liberal" arts college. His mike was cut twice and later police had to escort him off campus.
His boss-- The New York Times -- reprimanded Hedges for standing up for peace because they had sold out and backed the war. He was more or less fired though officially he resigned because he would not agree to shut up.
America -- the new Rome, this fading empire -- has no room for truth tellers in the "mainstream." Believe me when I say that when this country slides into corporate sponsored fascistic decline that this historic You Tube video of Hedges being verbally lynched by an American mob will be studied as a portent of a grim future by those who someday will ask: "What happened to American democracy?" (Check out Hedges' new book Death of the Liberal Class if you want to understand the failure of liberal institutions to protect the truth.)
The video is in 4 parts and through the "boos" and near riot it is worth listening to every word Hedges speaks. First this was a pivotal little noticed moment in American history symbolic of the move of the vast middle to accept a permanent culture of war as "normal." Second Chris Hedges' voice is prophetic. This was 2003! He spoke when few did. He was proved right down to the last detail of what then actually happened in Iraq.
Lastly, this video is what it must look like when a prophet is about to be killed. No one killed Hedges but it sure sounded like some people there wanted to silence him any way they could.
(And no, I'm not comparing Hedges to Jesus (!), just saying that here we have a classic example of what the message of Love and Redemption is up against in America, now more than ever. And by the way, my son served as a Marine in Afghanistan and Iraq. I'm not "anti-military." I am anti imperial quests. As Hedges says war is poison.
Here are the links to all 4 parts. Take 20 minutes and watch. This is our future: The American right wing mob turning on any truth speakers.
PART 1
PART 2
PART 3
PART 4
Watch, think, pray for America and fight to roll back a future we don't want: A future controlled by corporate interests where the mob has been conditioned to confuse empire and war with patriotism.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back
February 9, 2011
Republicans Love Abortion
By Frank Schaeffer
Abortion politics is back. According to the press reports; Republicans began committee work this week on two bills that will expand restrictions on financing for and access to abortions. At the same time the Conservative Political Action Committee begins Thursday with 10,000 ultra-conservatives meeting in Washington. Expect to hear a lot about abortion.
My late father, Francis Schaeffer, was a key founder and leader of the Religious Right. In the 1970s I joined my Dad in pioneering the Evangelical antiabortion Religious Right movement.
As I describe in my book Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway I changed my mind. I no longer ride around "saving" America for God, nor am I a regular on religious TV and radio these days. As I describe in my forthcoming book -- I am also pro-choice. Like most Americans, I am pro-choice but not "pro-abortion."
Something has been lost in the debate: The "sides" aren't clear when it comes to actual people (especially "ordinary" people as opposed to the talking heads). The notion that "most liberals are pro-choice" and that "most conservatives are antiabortion" is simplistic.
Most people don't fit such blanket simplification. The purists on each side refuse to admit that most Americans (if public opinion polls are to be believed) occupy a--sensibly conflicted--middle ground on "the issue." They (like me) want abortion legal-- but don't like it one bit.
A plurality of Americans would like to see stricter limits placed on abortions in the United States. According to a New York Times/CBS News poll, only 23 percent of those surveyed called for an end to all abortions. But the split between those who wanted it kept legal without restriction (34 percent)--in other words to maintain the Roe/Bolton status quo--and those who would like to see more restrictions (41 percent) was tilted against Roe.
Thus, almost forty years after Roe v. Wade a whopping 61 percent of the American public (including many who are pro-choice) have negative views about the abortion laws--as they stand.
The Republicans want to take advantage of this natural ambivalence. So it is well to look at their record as they launch their next round of anti-abortion activism.
The thing most Americans don't know is that the Republicans actually love abortion: as a means of political manipulation that is.
The politics of the antiabortion movement became -- and is -- about everything but saving babies. I know, I raised millions of dollars "fighting for life." Just as the Far Right used abortion as a handy stick with which to beat up on Obama during the 2008 election, so, too, other far right Republicans used abortion when they were in power to do everything but help women. They will again.
Welcome to round two of the culture wars
The Republicans already had their chance. They dominated Congress and the White house off and on over almost a 40 year period after abortion was legalized. How did they use that time?
If the Republicans had wanted to prevent abortions, they would have:
funded a thorough and mandatory sex education initiative from the earliest grades in all schools and combined it with the distribution of free contraceptives in all high schools, public and private (religious schools included).
legislated generous family leave for both mothers and fathers
provided federally funded day care as a national priority
expanded adoption services, including encouraging gay parents to adopt children
encouraged gay couples to marry and adopt
provided a generous tax incentive to have children and direct financial assistance and educational opportunities for all families, including single parents
raised taxes to pay for these programs
not equated stem cell research with abortion, much less with murder, thereby making the antiabortion position patently ridiculous...
Above all - since over 40 percent of all abortions in America are done on women under the poverty line -- the Republicans would have addressed the injustice of the growing gap between the superrich and everyone else and fought to raise the living standards of poor people.
What the Republicans did instead was misuse abortion--again and again and again and again--as a polarizing issue to energize their base.
They are about to do that again... with a vengeance.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer. His forthcoming book is -- Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway
Abortion politics is back. According to the press reports; Republicans began committee work this week on two bills that will expand restrictions on financing for and access to abortions. At the same time the Conservative Political Action Committee begins Thursday with 10,000 ultra-conservatives meeting in Washington. Expect to hear a lot about abortion.
My late father, Francis Schaeffer, was a key founder and leader of the Religious Right. In the 1970s I joined my Dad in pioneering the Evangelical antiabortion Religious Right movement.
As I describe in my book Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway I changed my mind. I no longer ride around "saving" America for God, nor am I a regular on religious TV and radio these days. As I describe in my forthcoming book -- I am also pro-choice. Like most Americans, I am pro-choice but not "pro-abortion."
Something has been lost in the debate: The "sides" aren't clear when it comes to actual people (especially "ordinary" people as opposed to the talking heads). The notion that "most liberals are pro-choice" and that "most conservatives are antiabortion" is simplistic.
Most people don't fit such blanket simplification. The purists on each side refuse to admit that most Americans (if public opinion polls are to be believed) occupy a--sensibly conflicted--middle ground on "the issue." They (like me) want abortion legal-- but don't like it one bit.
A plurality of Americans would like to see stricter limits placed on abortions in the United States. According to a New York Times/CBS News poll, only 23 percent of those surveyed called for an end to all abortions. But the split between those who wanted it kept legal without restriction (34 percent)--in other words to maintain the Roe/Bolton status quo--and those who would like to see more restrictions (41 percent) was tilted against Roe.
Thus, almost forty years after Roe v. Wade a whopping 61 percent of the American public (including many who are pro-choice) have negative views about the abortion laws--as they stand.
The Republicans want to take advantage of this natural ambivalence. So it is well to look at their record as they launch their next round of anti-abortion activism.
The thing most Americans don't know is that the Republicans actually love abortion: as a means of political manipulation that is.
The politics of the antiabortion movement became -- and is -- about everything but saving babies. I know, I raised millions of dollars "fighting for life." Just as the Far Right used abortion as a handy stick with which to beat up on Obama during the 2008 election, so, too, other far right Republicans used abortion when they were in power to do everything but help women. They will again.
Welcome to round two of the culture wars
The Republicans already had their chance. They dominated Congress and the White house off and on over almost a 40 year period after abortion was legalized. How did they use that time?
If the Republicans had wanted to prevent abortions, they would have:
funded a thorough and mandatory sex education initiative from the earliest grades in all schools and combined it with the distribution of free contraceptives in all high schools, public and private (religious schools included).
legislated generous family leave for both mothers and fathers
provided federally funded day care as a national priority
expanded adoption services, including encouraging gay parents to adopt children
encouraged gay couples to marry and adopt
provided a generous tax incentive to have children and direct financial assistance and educational opportunities for all families, including single parents
raised taxes to pay for these programs
not equated stem cell research with abortion, much less with murder, thereby making the antiabortion position patently ridiculous...
Above all - since over 40 percent of all abortions in America are done on women under the poverty line -- the Republicans would have addressed the injustice of the growing gap between the superrich and everyone else and fought to raise the living standards of poor people.
What the Republicans did instead was misuse abortion--again and again and again and again--as a polarizing issue to energize their base.
They are about to do that again... with a vengeance.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer. His forthcoming book is -- Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway
February 1, 2011
How Do You Keep Faith?
Someone emailed me today with a question that I think may haunt many of us. (They had just read my book
Patience With God
) where I describe my loss of faith in the Evangelical religion that I was raised on by my pastor father.
The question was:
"Frank, how do you pick up the pieces after your faith falls apart? How do you bring some order back to the chaos?"
Here was my answer and I share it here because I think that this person (and I) may not be the only people wrestling with this question.
I don't think there is a "how to" because of something I've learned along the way: There is no final arrival.
I think that one side effect of the "born-again" way of looking at things is that we tend to think in terms of in or out, lost or saved. Some days I'm an atheist, on others an agnostic, on other days I believe and feel God's hand "on me" as we used to say.
So what? Some days I'm in love with my wife, others not, some days I love to see my children, on others I don't. The journey of faith is a struggle and there is no destination because (I believe) the life of the spirit is real. Therefore we never arrive because the spirit never dies.
So then what matters? And what may keep us going on this journey and make it seem worthwhile?
Love is the only answer, and I mean that in a very basic and ordinary way.
Love of a child, partner spouse or friend. Love of art and beauty. Love of seeing and being in the moment. This love points to a greater meaning. So what if we will never fully know what that meaning is?
As far as specific Christian faith, well, admit it, it is all about geography. You were born here, not there. That is why a particular theology challenged you. If you'd been born in say, Saudi Arabia, you'd have other questions about theology.
Theology per se, let alone theological correctness, doesn't matter because it isn't universal.
What is?: The longing for meaning.
That is why I believe in God on the days that I do. And that is why some -- not all -- of Jesus' teaching resonate with me. Because some of his words tap into a universal love of meaning through Love of other people.
Stick with your love of beauty, and stick with the Sermon on the Mount and forget the rest.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of 'Patience With God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)'
The question was:
"Frank, how do you pick up the pieces after your faith falls apart? How do you bring some order back to the chaos?"
Here was my answer and I share it here because I think that this person (and I) may not be the only people wrestling with this question.
I don't think there is a "how to" because of something I've learned along the way: There is no final arrival.
I think that one side effect of the "born-again" way of looking at things is that we tend to think in terms of in or out, lost or saved. Some days I'm an atheist, on others an agnostic, on other days I believe and feel God's hand "on me" as we used to say.
So what? Some days I'm in love with my wife, others not, some days I love to see my children, on others I don't. The journey of faith is a struggle and there is no destination because (I believe) the life of the spirit is real. Therefore we never arrive because the spirit never dies.
So then what matters? And what may keep us going on this journey and make it seem worthwhile?
Love is the only answer, and I mean that in a very basic and ordinary way.
Love of a child, partner spouse or friend. Love of art and beauty. Love of seeing and being in the moment. This love points to a greater meaning. So what if we will never fully know what that meaning is?
As far as specific Christian faith, well, admit it, it is all about geography. You were born here, not there. That is why a particular theology challenged you. If you'd been born in say, Saudi Arabia, you'd have other questions about theology.
Theology per se, let alone theological correctness, doesn't matter because it isn't universal.
What is?: The longing for meaning.
That is why I believe in God on the days that I do. And that is why some -- not all -- of Jesus' teaching resonate with me. Because some of his words tap into a universal love of meaning through Love of other people.
Stick with your love of beauty, and stick with the Sermon on the Mount and forget the rest.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of 'Patience With God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism)'
January 27, 2011
Did Evangelicals Kill a Gay Man
Heres my latest on this: Click here
January 10, 2011
Blame the NRA
Lost in the "who is to blame" game after the tragedy in Arizona is this fact: The NRA, above any one group is to blame.
Was the killer of a 9-year old honor student, a judge and many others, "of the right" or "of the left?" Did he shoot a congresswoman because of his anti-government ideology? Or was he just nuts? Those questions may never be resolved. But one thing is certain: the killer used a weapon that no American should ever have the right to carry in public outside of law enforcement, and no American with even a hint of mental problems should ever be allowed to buy a weapon like that either.
There is one group of activists who have made sure reasonable Americans -- of both parties -- have no voice when it comes to guns.
NRA J'accuse.
I own two guns; a single shot ten gauge shot gun and a single shot .22. Both are used from time to time (rarely) re woodchucks decimating my garden. My son became a Marine, scored "expert" in his rifle qualification on Parris Island, fought in Afghanistan and came home. I'm proud of him. I'm not anti-gun. Some of my books are used as text books by our military.
I'm a gun owner but not a supporter of the NRA, let alone of the gun lobby.
To me the word freedom means freedom to go to church or not where I want, freedom to educate myself and my family, freedom to vote, freedom to have access to my elected representatives, freedom to speak my mind. It does not mean freedom to own, use, collect and play with the sorts of weapons that only make sense in the hands of Marines like my son when they are at war, but no sense whatsoever in the hands of civilians.
One point: whoever is to "blame" other than the shooter -- if anyone -- the right and only the right has steadily supported is America's insanely permissive gun "laws." The right owns them.
One truth no one can deny: the Second Amendment indeed guarantees our right to own weapons, but nowhere does it guarantee the right to own, carry and use what in the modern era of semi-automatic multiple shot weapons are exclusively weapons of mass destruction.
Who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to allow someone to carry a handgun with a 30 round clip in public, anywhere, ever? Who in their right mind wants a young man like the alleged shooter Jared Loughner that the Army wouldn't take and a school kicked out for trouble making having access to such weapons?
Whoever the killer was motivated by, right, left, Fox, News, the Village Voice or Vogue Magazine, whatever, (or just "voices") why did he have that kind of weapon?
Answer: the NRA.
Who let the NRA succeed in intimidating America into accepting the "fact" of such guns in the hands of killers as somehow inevitable let alone "constitutional?"
Answer: The NRA's base.
Who is that "base"?
In that sense the right owns this tragedy. In that sense all the political leaders telling us they are praying for the victims yet who received high marks from the NRA for their voting records on guns are complicit.
I own a guns. I don't carry my guns to political rallies to make a "point," as did some Tea Party folks last summer. I don't wave a "Don't tread On Me" banner in one hand and a gun in the other. I don't carry a firearm to presidential rallies and wear a T-shirt with the same words Timothy McVeigh proudly wore the day he blew up the Oklahoma government offices. But there are people who do. And the weapons they carry are a lot more like what my son was using to shoot our enemies than anything any Founding Father ever owned!
I don't think I should have the "right" to carry a handgun in public, as one can in Arizona and a host of other NRA-influenced (dominated?) states spiraling into insanity. And I don't think guns are cute or fun. And nor does my Marine son, who won't even own one as a civilian given his wartime experiences. As he said to me after returning for multiple deployments: "Dad, I've seen enough guns to last me a lifetime."
As (political psychologist and neuroscientist) Drew Westen brilliantly put it:
I don't feel my freedom depends on the right to own a semi-automatic weapon with a 30 round clip. I don't think gun shows, gun dealers, or people who own combat weapons are protecting me or my country. In fact I know my real freedom is curtailed by the fools who have empowered the NRA and the weapons companies they shill for and the political "leaders" who pimp for them all.
Forget the left/right politics for a moment. Forget Sarah Palin's "cross hairs" and Fox News anti-government crusade. Whoever our latest mass murderer was or is or turns out to be: Gun laws in America are off the rails. Want to blame someone for that? Blame the NRA.
How about freedom from the sorts of weapons that no one hunts with, that you don't need for home protection, and that are only "good" for one thing: murder? How about freedom to own guns in a reasonable manner and from the NRA?
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of the forthcoming Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway
Was the killer of a 9-year old honor student, a judge and many others, "of the right" or "of the left?" Did he shoot a congresswoman because of his anti-government ideology? Or was he just nuts? Those questions may never be resolved. But one thing is certain: the killer used a weapon that no American should ever have the right to carry in public outside of law enforcement, and no American with even a hint of mental problems should ever be allowed to buy a weapon like that either.
There is one group of activists who have made sure reasonable Americans -- of both parties -- have no voice when it comes to guns.
NRA J'accuse.
I own two guns; a single shot ten gauge shot gun and a single shot .22. Both are used from time to time (rarely) re woodchucks decimating my garden. My son became a Marine, scored "expert" in his rifle qualification on Parris Island, fought in Afghanistan and came home. I'm proud of him. I'm not anti-gun. Some of my books are used as text books by our military.
I'm a gun owner but not a supporter of the NRA, let alone of the gun lobby.
To me the word freedom means freedom to go to church or not where I want, freedom to educate myself and my family, freedom to vote, freedom to have access to my elected representatives, freedom to speak my mind. It does not mean freedom to own, use, collect and play with the sorts of weapons that only make sense in the hands of Marines like my son when they are at war, but no sense whatsoever in the hands of civilians.
One point: whoever is to "blame" other than the shooter -- if anyone -- the right and only the right has steadily supported is America's insanely permissive gun "laws." The right owns them.
One truth no one can deny: the Second Amendment indeed guarantees our right to own weapons, but nowhere does it guarantee the right to own, carry and use what in the modern era of semi-automatic multiple shot weapons are exclusively weapons of mass destruction.
Who in their right mind thinks it's a good idea to allow someone to carry a handgun with a 30 round clip in public, anywhere, ever? Who in their right mind wants a young man like the alleged shooter Jared Loughner that the Army wouldn't take and a school kicked out for trouble making having access to such weapons?
Whoever the killer was motivated by, right, left, Fox, News, the Village Voice or Vogue Magazine, whatever, (or just "voices") why did he have that kind of weapon?
Answer: the NRA.
Who let the NRA succeed in intimidating America into accepting the "fact" of such guns in the hands of killers as somehow inevitable let alone "constitutional?"
Answer: The NRA's base.
Who is that "base"?
In that sense the right owns this tragedy. In that sense all the political leaders telling us they are praying for the victims yet who received high marks from the NRA for their voting records on guns are complicit.
I own a guns. I don't carry my guns to political rallies to make a "point," as did some Tea Party folks last summer. I don't wave a "Don't tread On Me" banner in one hand and a gun in the other. I don't carry a firearm to presidential rallies and wear a T-shirt with the same words Timothy McVeigh proudly wore the day he blew up the Oklahoma government offices. But there are people who do. And the weapons they carry are a lot more like what my son was using to shoot our enemies than anything any Founding Father ever owned!
I don't think I should have the "right" to carry a handgun in public, as one can in Arizona and a host of other NRA-influenced (dominated?) states spiraling into insanity. And I don't think guns are cute or fun. And nor does my Marine son, who won't even own one as a civilian given his wartime experiences. As he said to me after returning for multiple deployments: "Dad, I've seen enough guns to last me a lifetime."
As (political psychologist and neuroscientist) Drew Westen brilliantly put it:
Whether they are owned and operated by the NRA, too cowardly to take on the NRA for fear of being defeated in the next election, or misled into believing that the average American is as psychotic as the man who opened fire in Tucson (i.e., that most Americans can't tell the difference between hunting deer and hunting people, or between a hunting rifle and a semi-automatic), our leaders have either faithfully served the interest of Smith and Wesson and the gun lobby or failed to oppose them. The result is that the country has shifted to the right on gun safety, which is what naturally happens when the right is vocal and the left is frightened and silent.
But even today, if you simply speak to ordinary Americans in plain English, they do not believe in the NRA's interpretation of the Second Amendment...
Consider a message colleagues and I tested with two large national samples of registered voters, which beat a tough conservative anti-regulation message on guns by 20 points with both the general electorate and swing voters:
Every law-abiding citizen has the right to bear arms to hunt and protect his family. But that right doesn't extend to criminals, terrorists, and the dangerously mentally ill... We need to use some common sense in deciding what kind of weapons we want on the streets. I don't know any hunters who keep stockpiles of munitions in their basements, and I don't think the Founding Fathers had AK-47s in mind when they wrote the Second Amendment.
Another message beat the conservative message by 40 points with Independent voters, by beginning with a simple statement of principle with which voters across the political spectrum agree if they simply hear it enunciated:
My view on guns reflects one simple principle: that our gun laws should guarantee the rights and freedoms of all law-abiding Americans. That's why I stand with the majority who believe in the right of law-abiding citizens to own guns to hunt and protect their families. And that's why I also stand with the majority who believe they have the right to send their kids to school in the morning and have them come home safely.
Or consider yet another message, which began as follows:
Every law-abiding American has the right to own a gun to hunt and protect his family... But you don't need an assault weapon to hunt deer, and if you do, you shouldn't be anywhere near a gun.
Americans get it, if you just speak to them like adults.
None of these messages is a "hard left" message on guns -- a message that might better fit the sensibilities of (and be more appropriate for) New York City, Connecticut, Massachusetts, or much of the West Coast. But these are messages that win all over the heartland -- and even win in some unlikely places, like the Deep South and the West -- because they aren't about taking away the rights of law-abiding gun owners. They are about protecting the rights of law-abiding citizens, whether they own a gun or not...
If our elected officials are in the pockets of those who would allow the shooting of their colleagues with semi-automatic weapons with no legitimate civilian uses -- while mouthing platitudes about their concern for their colleagues -- it's time to call their bluff.
Guns don't kill people. Cowards and lobbyists do.
I don't feel my freedom depends on the right to own a semi-automatic weapon with a 30 round clip. I don't think gun shows, gun dealers, or people who own combat weapons are protecting me or my country. In fact I know my real freedom is curtailed by the fools who have empowered the NRA and the weapons companies they shill for and the political "leaders" who pimp for them all.
Forget the left/right politics for a moment. Forget Sarah Palin's "cross hairs" and Fox News anti-government crusade. Whoever our latest mass murderer was or is or turns out to be: Gun laws in America are off the rails. Want to blame someone for that? Blame the NRA.
How about freedom from the sorts of weapons that no one hunts with, that you don't need for home protection, and that are only "good" for one thing: murder? How about freedom to own guns in a reasonable manner and from the NRA?
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of the forthcoming Sex, Mom, and God: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway
January 9, 2011
The Shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords
In the shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords, make no mistake: we have a mere taste of the deep river of know-nothing sewage that flows just under the American surface that is about to gush into view with the Far Right having having made their takeover of one house of our Congress a reality. This is the "Second Amendment remedy" they've been rooting for. The shooter may be nuts. Who pushed him? Who created the climate where these actions were thinkable?
In the 1970s and 80s I was a Far Right instigator, a leader of the (then new) anti-abortion movement. I describe why I left this movement in my book Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back. My late father Francis Schaeffer has been called the father of the Religious Right. I -- following the Evangelical "holy tradition" of North Korea-style nepotism -- was for a time his sidekick. Together we helped set the table for the feast of reactionary hate America is dining on today as the White Far Right/Neoconservative War Machine and the Religious non-reality-based anti-modern Permanent American Lynch Mob hits America in the mouth for daring to elect our first black president and other "liberals."
Who is the Republican Far Right and what do they want? To understand our Republican future -- check out our recent Republican past. These are the "patriots" who gave us:
Two non-stop wars that needlessly killed over 5,000 Americans
Replaced our military with a mercenary killers-for-hire dirty world of "contractors" that now outnumber our men and women in every American military operation
Destroyed our economy by deregulating business and the banks
Launched an anti-gay "gays-choose-to-be-gay" mythology on America leading to the further oppression of gay men and women
Put secretive Far Right religious operatives including the "C-Street" ("Family") in positions of influence through members of congress who are in their pockets
Aided and abetted the death to gays legislation in Uganda
Tried to launch a race and religion war in America by stirring up hate against the Muslim minority
Have tried to turn non-Latino Americans into a Latino-fearing xenophobic anti-immigrant mob
Created the climate wherein abortion providers were first labeled "baby killers" then murdered
Lied about the President, saying he isn't American, is a Muslim, is the Antichrist
Unleashed a plague of guns on America feeding one murder spree after another
Struck down over a century of legal rulings limiting the buying and selling of elections by corporations, giving us a "new" and "improved" system of unlimited secret contributions to eviscerate even the pretense of actual democracy and finally hand America over to the super wealthy -- maybe forever
Run candidates for Congress who are calling for the violent overthrow of the American Government should they fail at the ballot box
Supported anti-science, anti-education biblical mythology
Backed candidates who want to force rape victims to carry their pregnancies to term
Fought people fighting global warming and plunged us into an irrevocable date with global death while reaping short term profits for the coal and oil industry
Put the American future in hock to Far Right Zionists forever by backing the settlers in the State of Isreal and by trying to undermine peace iniatives
Put America in hock to Far Right Evangelicals who are rooting for the "return of Christ" and the Apocalypse...
And with the Tea Party Republicans in Congress now you haven't seen anything yet. To change the way things are we need to understand why at any given moment about a third of our population doesn't care about what is true -- or even fact-based -- but instead live life informed by self-reinforcing beliefs which are proudly non-fact-based and rooted in deep-seated resentment that can't be cured because what is resented never actually happened.
Stop the flood of putrid moral failure that is about to engulf us. Get into the "minds" of the killers, into the heads sort of people who saw Sarah Palin's cross hairs targeting an American congresswoman and decided to pull an actual trigger. "Listen to the killer's "thoughts" of the sort of person who gunned down cops in Pittsburgh because he said that since Obama was elected "the government" would take away his guns...
I hope Obama fails... watch Fox News, put a Psalm 109 bumper sticker on my car calling for the death of the President, carry a loaded weapon to a political rally to show them we will keep our Second Amendment options open, put enemies in the crosshairs of a rifle scope on Facebook, Obama isn't a real American, he's Muslim, He's a communist, like Hitler, like Stalin, Death Panels, watch Fox News, government takeover of health care, watch Fox News, return to the gold standard, watch Fox News, buy gold, the Fed is evil, the United Nations is evil, Jesus will come back soon, the gays chose to be that way, the gays want to take over America, watch Fox News, we're here to take back our country, Obama is a white racist, there will be Second Amendment remedies, government is the problem, there is no global warming, watch Fox News, if Obama is elected he'll take our guns, watch Fox News, Jesus is coming back, watch Fox News, Obama hates America, watch Fox News, Obama doesn't believe in American exceptionalism, buy guns, watch Fox News, buy more guns, Jesus is coming back, one world government is on the way, stand with Israel, Jesus is coming back, global warming is a conspiracy to take our freedoms away, stop those Mexican immigrants now, send them back, watch Fox News, say no to citizenship for immigrant's children, even ones born here, buy guns, buy gold, kill a judge, kill a liberal, kill a congresswoman...
And the Far Right/Fox News reaction?
Ooops! This has nothing to do with us!
Take down the Facebook page that put the victim in the rifle cross hairs!
This is a tragedy!
Call for prayers for the victims!
We were just kidding!... Until the next time that is...
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back
In the 1970s and 80s I was a Far Right instigator, a leader of the (then new) anti-abortion movement. I describe why I left this movement in my book Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back. My late father Francis Schaeffer has been called the father of the Religious Right. I -- following the Evangelical "holy tradition" of North Korea-style nepotism -- was for a time his sidekick. Together we helped set the table for the feast of reactionary hate America is dining on today as the White Far Right/Neoconservative War Machine and the Religious non-reality-based anti-modern Permanent American Lynch Mob hits America in the mouth for daring to elect our first black president and other "liberals."
Who is the Republican Far Right and what do they want? To understand our Republican future -- check out our recent Republican past. These are the "patriots" who gave us:
Two non-stop wars that needlessly killed over 5,000 Americans
Replaced our military with a mercenary killers-for-hire dirty world of "contractors" that now outnumber our men and women in every American military operation
Destroyed our economy by deregulating business and the banks
Launched an anti-gay "gays-choose-to-be-gay" mythology on America leading to the further oppression of gay men and women
Put secretive Far Right religious operatives including the "C-Street" ("Family") in positions of influence through members of congress who are in their pockets
Aided and abetted the death to gays legislation in Uganda
Tried to launch a race and religion war in America by stirring up hate against the Muslim minority
Have tried to turn non-Latino Americans into a Latino-fearing xenophobic anti-immigrant mob
Created the climate wherein abortion providers were first labeled "baby killers" then murdered
Lied about the President, saying he isn't American, is a Muslim, is the Antichrist
Unleashed a plague of guns on America feeding one murder spree after another
Struck down over a century of legal rulings limiting the buying and selling of elections by corporations, giving us a "new" and "improved" system of unlimited secret contributions to eviscerate even the pretense of actual democracy and finally hand America over to the super wealthy -- maybe forever
Run candidates for Congress who are calling for the violent overthrow of the American Government should they fail at the ballot box
Supported anti-science, anti-education biblical mythology
Backed candidates who want to force rape victims to carry their pregnancies to term
Fought people fighting global warming and plunged us into an irrevocable date with global death while reaping short term profits for the coal and oil industry
Put the American future in hock to Far Right Zionists forever by backing the settlers in the State of Isreal and by trying to undermine peace iniatives
Put America in hock to Far Right Evangelicals who are rooting for the "return of Christ" and the Apocalypse...
And with the Tea Party Republicans in Congress now you haven't seen anything yet. To change the way things are we need to understand why at any given moment about a third of our population doesn't care about what is true -- or even fact-based -- but instead live life informed by self-reinforcing beliefs which are proudly non-fact-based and rooted in deep-seated resentment that can't be cured because what is resented never actually happened.
Stop the flood of putrid moral failure that is about to engulf us. Get into the "minds" of the killers, into the heads sort of people who saw Sarah Palin's cross hairs targeting an American congresswoman and decided to pull an actual trigger. "Listen to the killer's "thoughts" of the sort of person who gunned down cops in Pittsburgh because he said that since Obama was elected "the government" would take away his guns...
I hope Obama fails... watch Fox News, put a Psalm 109 bumper sticker on my car calling for the death of the President, carry a loaded weapon to a political rally to show them we will keep our Second Amendment options open, put enemies in the crosshairs of a rifle scope on Facebook, Obama isn't a real American, he's Muslim, He's a communist, like Hitler, like Stalin, Death Panels, watch Fox News, government takeover of health care, watch Fox News, return to the gold standard, watch Fox News, buy gold, the Fed is evil, the United Nations is evil, Jesus will come back soon, the gays chose to be that way, the gays want to take over America, watch Fox News, we're here to take back our country, Obama is a white racist, there will be Second Amendment remedies, government is the problem, there is no global warming, watch Fox News, if Obama is elected he'll take our guns, watch Fox News, Jesus is coming back, watch Fox News, Obama hates America, watch Fox News, Obama doesn't believe in American exceptionalism, buy guns, watch Fox News, buy more guns, Jesus is coming back, one world government is on the way, stand with Israel, Jesus is coming back, global warming is a conspiracy to take our freedoms away, stop those Mexican immigrants now, send them back, watch Fox News, say no to citizenship for immigrant's children, even ones born here, buy guns, buy gold, kill a judge, kill a liberal, kill a congresswoman...
And the Far Right/Fox News reaction?
Ooops! This has nothing to do with us!
Take down the Facebook page that put the victim in the rifle cross hairs!
This is a tragedy!
Call for prayers for the victims!
We were just kidding!... Until the next time that is...
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back
January 3, 2011
Speaking Tour for SEX, MOM and GOD
Hi, Frank Schaeffer here:
Happy New Year! I'm setting up my 2011 book tour/speaking tour to launch my new book "SEX, MOM and GOD: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway."
I'd like your help. Do you have a connection to an event, college, church, or other group you'd like me to speak to and that might invite me?
The dates I'm hoping to fill are between May 10 (the day my new book comes out) to the end of the year.
Contact me soon at frankaschaeffer@aol.com if you'd like to talk about this before my calendar fills up.
You may also pre-order my new book on Amazon HERE.
I speak at colleges, churches, events and will be talking about the connection between political and sexual dysfunction as this sexual/political dysfunction motivates the religious right and the hatred, fear, myth and paranoia they cling to. Why is religion such a life long prison for so many perople?
I think there is an alternative to religion-inspired fear: a deeper connection with God and Love that leads full lives and also to sane reality-based politics. I believe we must push back against religious right mythology and willful (homophobic and misogynist) ignorance and fear. It destroys individual lives. It threatens America.
Having once been a leader on the other -- and wrong -- side I think I can help provide a counter-argument that is effective. That's what my new book, "Sex, Mom and God" will do -- besides (I hope) -- make my readers laugh out loud!
(If you want to see/hear the way I approach these things there are plenty of examples, interviews on NPR with Terri Gross on "Fresh Air" etc., that you may check out on my website frankschaeffer.com.)
Again, if you want to contact me, please e-mail me at frankaschaeffer@aol.com (but not at the e-mail address used to send you this group e-mail) and we can set something up.
Thank you for considering ways to help me launch this speaking tour,
Very Best,
Frank
frankschaeffer@aol.com
Happy New Year! I'm setting up my 2011 book tour/speaking tour to launch my new book "SEX, MOM and GOD: How the Bible's Strange Take on Sex Led to Crazy Politics--and How I Learned to Love Women (and Jesus) Anyway."
I'd like your help. Do you have a connection to an event, college, church, or other group you'd like me to speak to and that might invite me?
The dates I'm hoping to fill are between May 10 (the day my new book comes out) to the end of the year.
Contact me soon at frankaschaeffer@aol.com if you'd like to talk about this before my calendar fills up.
You may also pre-order my new book on Amazon HERE.
I speak at colleges, churches, events and will be talking about the connection between political and sexual dysfunction as this sexual/political dysfunction motivates the religious right and the hatred, fear, myth and paranoia they cling to. Why is religion such a life long prison for so many perople?
I think there is an alternative to religion-inspired fear: a deeper connection with God and Love that leads full lives and also to sane reality-based politics. I believe we must push back against religious right mythology and willful (homophobic and misogynist) ignorance and fear. It destroys individual lives. It threatens America.
Having once been a leader on the other -- and wrong -- side I think I can help provide a counter-argument that is effective. That's what my new book, "Sex, Mom and God" will do -- besides (I hope) -- make my readers laugh out loud!
(If you want to see/hear the way I approach these things there are plenty of examples, interviews on NPR with Terri Gross on "Fresh Air" etc., that you may check out on my website frankschaeffer.com.)
Again, if you want to contact me, please e-mail me at frankaschaeffer@aol.com (but not at the e-mail address used to send you this group e-mail) and we can set something up.
Thank you for considering ways to help me launch this speaking tour,
Very Best,
Frank
frankschaeffer@aol.com
January 1, 2011
President Obama Puts My Article on His Website
Go to the President's personal website Here
December 31, 2010
Frank Schaeffer's Blog
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