Tom’s Reviews > God's Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right > Status Update
Tom
is on page 22 of 401
A lot of familiar names in this narrative: Jerry Falwell, Bob Jones (jr & sr), Tim Le Hay (yes, THAT guy) and others. But the big one was Billy Graham. I had no idea that he was so instrumental in the birth of the modern evangelical movement. Or that he was so politically active. In later years he mostly stayed out of politics, but early on he was tight with Eisenhower * practically a political operative for Nixon.
— Jun 18, 2017 09:49AM
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Tom’s Previous Updates
Tom
is on page 44 of 401
In 1979 conservatives took over at the SBC. In 1980 Reagan beats Jimmy Carter with the help of the 'New Right'. Abortion, homosexuality, and the deficit become key topics for most conservatives. Things are starting to look more recognizable!
Of course the big controversy over gay rights at the time was not gay marriage. Conservatives opposed openly gay ppl being allowed to teach in school. That's... terrible.
— Jun 20, 2017 05:31AM
Of course the big controversy over gay rights at the time was not gay marriage. Conservatives opposed openly gay ppl being allowed to teach in school. That's... terrible.
Tom
is on page 29 of 401
Apparently in the 1970s up was down and black was white. Southern Baptists early on were moderate supporters of abortion, even adopting a resolution at the 1971 Southern Baptist Convention supporting abortion for health reasons and in case if rape. At the same time while gov of California Ronald Reagan signed an abortion legalization bill into law. Can you imagine that happening today??
— Jun 19, 2017 07:24AM
Tom
is on page 25 of 401
Another big nemesis of the Christian Right in the early days? Catholics. Ohhh how they hated those Catholics. They feared if America elected a catholic pres that he'd be taking marching orders from the pope in no time. :-P
— Jun 18, 2017 03:17PM
Tom
is on page 15 of 401
It's fascinating to read about the issues that really exercised churches in the past. Drinking, dancing, short hair - horrors! But the #1 thing that got them fired up from the late 40s to the 60s, was Communism. Both fundamentalists & evangelicals considered Communism to be evil & immoral. Anti-communism was not a political stance, but a moral one. The USSR was Satan. This was preached from pulpits across the US.
— Jun 18, 2017 09:46AM
Tom
is on page 13 of 401
Obvs its only in recent years that the Religious Right has become so politically powerful. Williams says that the reason is that thru the 1960s, conservative Christians were factionalized. There were the Fundamentalists, who desegregation, and then there were the moderate Evangelicals who supported it. It wasn't until the 70s when the civil rights issue was fading into the rear view that the groups came together.
— Jun 18, 2017 09:41AM
Tom
is on page 10 of 401
What are the origins of the American religious right? Members of the religious right will usually tell you that it organized in response to the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Opponents claim it actually began to protest school desegregation. Daniel Williams says they're both wrong - the religious right as a politically active force has existed for a long time, going back at least to the 1920's.
— Jun 18, 2017 09:38AM
