In his book The Family, Jeff Sharlet has done a masterful job of exposing the machinations of the of shadowy evangelical group known variously as “The Fellowship,” or “The Family,” (or, most recently, “those nuts from Congress living in a far-right commune on C Street who counsel wayward congressmen regarding adultery.”)
Recently, Rachel Maddow has helped bring the whole issue of subversive far-right evangelical religion to a wider public (and gotten some flak for it). But in the light of the Obama presidency—and the rabid right-wing opposition to it—it’s worth noting that the majority of the lies being told about our president, his programs, and the Democratic Party are originating not just from the right wing but from the evangelical right wing in particular.
Destroying the Credibility of Faith
I grew up as the son of Francis Schaeffer, the spiritual father to just about all the people in the news connected with the evangelical right. My father is the man who inspired evangelicals to get involved in politics. Today’s leading anti-gay activists, Obama-haters like Charles Colson and Dobson, publications like World Magazine, and others like the late Jerry Falwell got into far-right evangelical-inspired politics because of Dad’s theology of “taking back” America for Jesus. (I describe this series of events at greater length here.)
Without people like Dobson—remember his paranoid lie-filled “letter” warning his followers about an Obama presidency?—the lies now commonly circulated about Obama wouldn't have been given traction. When I check who’s sending me the most scurrilous email (Obama is the “next Hitler,” he’s the “Antichrist,” etc.), I find a lot of it comes from the evangelical right, now the bedrock of the anti-Obama camp. I’m a religious person, so they are my enemies too; the far-right evangelicals are doing more to destroy the credibility of faith than Hitchens and Dawkins could in a lifetime.
Here’s the thing: the C Street gang and their backers represent only a fraction of the threat to American democracy that right-wing evangelicalism as a whole poses. Far-right evangelicals don’t see America as just another country, but as a battleground and springboard for world conquest in the name of Christ. In that the evangelical left and right agree: from Wallis to Dobson, they all believe that God is on their side; they may differ on precise issues but they all believe in some form of American exceptionalism.
The reason for this is that intellectually lazy political players of the kind who lead the evangelical movement crave power, or to be close to power, just like the people who run C Street. These are the same folks who have been putting together the so-called National Prayer Breakfast; they are the “professional Christian” hangers-on running around Washington DC putting together Bible studies and all the rest.
If they were just interested in serving Jesus they would be called to places like Peoria or the East Village once in a while. But they’re really only interested in being close to power; without having to do the hard work to actually run for electoral office or get boring bureaucratic jobs inside the government. The radical religious right are the ultimate camp followers. They’re latching onto government for a free ride while decrying it. They want to overthrow the present order from the inside in the name of God.
The result is that there are two kinds of far-right evangelicals: the ones who make a public show of their animosity toward the president, accusing him of not being an American citizen, for example. They even say Obama has a secret plan to kill old people within his health care reform proposals. The other kind of evangelicals are the sort of people who run outfits like The Fellowship Foundation and the National Prayer Breakfast, and run around speaking at Evangelical colleges, think tanks, law schools and so forth, working to influence government and world affairs directly while bypassing the democratic process.
How to deal with this? A few thoughts:
First, all religious organizations should to be taxed in exactly the same way as any other business or individual; second, full disclosure of candidates’ (and elected members of government, as well as government employees) connections with religious organizations of any kind need to be made; along with financial disclosures subject to exactly the same kind of tough investigation that candidates’ tax returns and other financial dealings are subject to. And last, links among dozens of evangelical organizations and The Fellowship Foundation (or The Family or whatever you want to call it) should be made clear. (There are actually some people on the evangelical “left” who are tied to these groups.)
Above all, ordinary Americans—and especially religious people who seek faith rather than power—need to understand that the evangelical right is basically unpatriotic and anti-American. They feel alienated from the diverse, pluralistic country that America has become, and are working to undermine it both here and abroad. They resent the system that allowed Obama to succeed, and they worship what they believe is “God-given” free-market capitalism.
In effect, the radical right movement in America, having failed at the ballot box to find a successor to their boy in the White House, George W. Bush, is regrouping in the Senate and Congress and working hard to undo the Obama presidency.
The sooner Americans wake up to the fact that what Jeff Sharlet describes in his book is only the tip of the iceberg the better. The right-wing evangelical enterprise is anti-democratic from top to bottom.
Tags: democracy, evangelicals, jeff sharlet, obama, rachel maddow, the family, theocracy
Have these people read their Bibles?
No. Why read something for yourself when you can just trust in the God-given ability of your preacher to give you the important points? :-P
I just saw the most interesting history of Judaism. During the influence of Hellenistic Greece, socialism was the "rule" for Jews and their treatment of money as well as their economy. This happened even though this was at the "beginning" of the creation of "money" for trade rather than "barter."
The govt interferes in so much of our private realms which it has only the flimsiest (General Welfare clause) excuses for doing.
If the Right were smart they would de-escalate any type of theological rhetoric, End Times talk etc and make their pitch to the good old Goldwaterite view oddly resurgent in the OBama era: you dont need a nanny state, youre a proud member of the Leave Us Alone Coalition.
Govt provided anything (health care, education) is by and large increasingly another tool of govt control. And govt control is the one truly bipartisan trait seen in US politics.
If R men and women would concede the right of Americans to have a multiple option you-pick-it via referenda and plebiscites approach to govt (with amateur noncareer elected officials regularly sent home from DC once they've served X years) the reforms you'd see enacted would rectify lots of the systemic problems which guarantee other issues will only be solved according to the lobbyists paymasters' will
How long since you escaped from the "home?" What the heck is this all about???
I generally agree - if you take government's "gifts", you also take their regulations on the gift. However, Americans have clearly shown both parties, Rs and Ds (Republicans and Dems) they are not interested in the dangers of a welfare state. Nor are they interested in a balanced budget. The Republicans learned their lessons well after Goldwater and there is barely a difference between the two parties now. A serious development is how the Evangelical Christians are influencing the Rs. The Evangelicals will take government handouts as fast as anyone. It is up to the American people whether they want to back the Evangelical rhetoric. I pray they do not. On the other hand, I hope the Evangelicals ramp up their rhetoric even more. These are some dangerous folks and I want the public to see them in all their glory. The reforms we are likely to see are happening in all branches of the military right now - anti Muslim and strong arm Evangelical Christian leanings. Sorry, I'm afraid they won't recognize the Leave Us Alone Coalition. They simply have no room for differences.
As originally conceived I do feel a free market is the most moral form of econ organization short of socialism presided over by the Lord himself.
In capitalism you only succeed by providing a much needed good or service. If your good is no longer desired (Detroit car vs car built in Alabama Honda plant) you should be permitted to close shop and relocate or take up a new industry. I enrich myself only by serving others, seeking out their desires and filling them.
True this is distorted by a plethora of govt subsidies to those businesses with generous PACs and lobbyists, but even those distortions could be minimized or eliminated if we had the political will/muscle to say "ya basta!" to them. Which we so far do not, sadly.
I am sorry to report to you that ALL failed empires in the past failed only after a great rise in free-market capitalism that resulted in a severe "crash." Read your history! Socialism is NOT the enemy; capitalism is!
But that's exactly what the CONSERVATIVES want to do - make decisions for you! They want to enact laws dictating what language you have to speak, or whether or not you have a right to an abortion.
I think you will enjoy this essay. It's as relevant today as it was 10 years ago.
The Market as God by Harvey Cox
Excellent. Thank you for posting that reference. I posted it to my Facebook page. I wish I had read it ten years ago.
"In capitalism you only succeed by providing a much needed good or service."
omg, that's so CUTE!! You believe that?
I too have shed the parochial and theologically errant thinking of far-right Evangelical-inspired politics. But Mr. Schaeffer, in his role as a left-wing partisan, seems to be continuing with his unfortunate habit of trafficking in venomous and ad hominem attacks on those he disagrees with, just as he so often did when he was a right-wing partisan.
Displays of hatred are just as unpleasant coming from his left-wing perch as they were when made from his perch on the right.
It is amazing that in the year 2009, the masses still hold on to one OUNCE of this religous GARBAGE. It only created evil. And war. ANd oppression, and divisaion, and hatred and bigotry and.... should I go ON???????????????
I think we'd get better results worshipping the Velveteen Rabbit.
Careful Bill, two can play that silly game of yours--picking out the worst examples of a view (believing in God) and tarring every holder of the view with the "garbage" of the religious right.
The flip side is to take the worst examples of the anti-religious crowd--i.e., Stalin, Mao, et. al.--and try to tar all atheists with supporting their atrocities.
Now go back and look at Schaffer's article again and stick to the point of the discussion--religious right opponents of Obama.
This is false religion as identified in Revelations 17 & 18. It will shortly be exposed ... then de.stroyed by God himself for the bloodguilt and falsehood perpetrated on gullible mankind.
When you get to hell will you let me know how hot it really is? I mean I hear so much, and it is real, I just want to know. Luckily you still have time, all you have to do is ask and it will be given.
As for these wars, would you rather be living in a communist state, Where to speak your mind is certain death? thats what America with the help of God, fought to save you from. Show some respect huh?
Don't get off-topic. Socialism is not communism.
I agree in principle with the original post, but I have a hard time lumping Wallis in with the likes of the right wing evangelical-political crowd. A lot of people like to say he's the same sort of thing - just in with the lefty crowd instead of the conservatives, but I don't see it. I'm not sure he would go for U.S. exceptionalism like the right would.
Hi good point. I didn't mean to lump Jim Wallis in with Dobson. My point is that the big Prayer Breakfast get close to power types and groups have their connections with the evangelical left as well as right. If you check out all the groups with ties to The Family you'll find a lot of more lefty folks in there too. When it comes to American exceptionalism I think the left and right have bought into this same idea too.
Thanks, Frank. I do think that patriotic Christians believe in American exceptionalism. I'm not sure that Jim Wallis fits that - he's a Christian first, and never a Republican or a Democrat. He recognizes that "God's Politics" are much more about care for the least of these than they are about political lechery.
Check the Musings from Maytown Blog and comments there.
TNR or MOther Jones may want to come down for the interview and among others talk to the grandson of Hugo Black, Stephen Black, now at U Bama
Far-right evangelicals don’t see America as just another country, but as a battleground and springboard for world conquest in the name of Christ.>
We'd love to see the quotes supporting this.
Quotes are always better than ad-hominen attacks.
How about John Hagee? "We should care about Israel.... Ahmadinejad has very clearly said that he intends to attack Israel. Therefore, Iran is the snake in the Middle East that`s attacking Israel. They have two terrorist armies, one on the north, one on the south, Hezbollah and Hamas, that are filled with weapons, bristling, waiting for a war to attack Israel.... Lightning flashes from east to west. It means the storm is over. I assure you, when Jesus comes to Earth again, the storm is going to be over! Hallelujah for the lamb of God!.... I would not give Jerusalem -- giving Jerusalem to the Palestinians would be like giving it to the Taliban.... I believe that every person must come to a saving knowledge of the lord, Jesus Christ, because the Bible and the lord, Jesus Christ, are the foundations of faith." (from a transcript of an interview with Glen Beck - it just gets better and better)
You would have to point out how what Hagee said, conflicts with scripture, which I don't think you can do.
To nuclear.kelly: Thanks for producing good quotes.
To OFT: You should change your name to OMG because that's what I say to myself when you post. If you think that Hagee's comments are consonant with Scripture then I think you should be introduced to the word "hermeneutics." You really have no clue -or- you are just playing around and trying to stir the pot. I hope it's the latter because really, your comments are scary. It's sort of like reading a living example of what Schaefer is decrying in the article.
DW - thanks. I should point out that OFT asked specifically for quotes which supported the view that far-right evangelicals saw the US as a springboard for the conquering of the world in Jesus' name, not for quotes which indicated those views were at all biblical. Those are two completely disparate requests!
Oh, dear... it would take too much. It's spouted out by Mormons especially. Mike Huckabee appeals to this frequently. But by and large, it is the "God and guns" conservatives who frequent the right-wing blogosphere, send viral emails, and attack anyone who dares to question their politics. It's in the water down in the South. You might take a look at Bob Smietana's recent article (August 1?) in the Tennessean, where he talks about the group of 600 who gathered at Cornerstone Church (Assemblies of God) to wave flags and attack Obama as a socialist.
Here are a few quotes for OFT.
From the Christian World View of Law
"We affirm that there is a distinctive and identifiable Christian world view that includes a distinctive and identifiable Christian view of law, and that at the heart of these Christian views stands the Almighty Sovereign God of the Universe, who reveals Himself most clearly and completely in
the Bible."
Some, not all Evangelical Christians are Reconstructionists. Many do not admit it.
According to Gary DeMar, a popular Reconstructionist author, the foundation of Reconstructionism is a unique combination of three Biblical doctrines:
One of which is
"Promoting of the world-wide Kingdom of God."
The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance describe Reconstructionists as
"...are attempting to peacefully convert the laws of United States so that they match those of the Hebrew Scriptures. They intend to achieve this by using the freedom of religion in the US to train a generation of children in private Christian religious schools. Later, their graduates will be charged with the responsibility of creating a new Bible-based political, religious and social order. One of the first tasks of this order will be to eliminate religious choice and freedom. Their eventual goal is to achieve the "Kingdom of God" in which much of the world is converted to Christianity."
One school that is a close match would be Patrick Henry College in Virginia.
Anyone who has watched the news knows the armed forces are experiencing Evangelical Christian military leaders who are using their position to intimidate.
According to Gary DeMar, a popular Reconstructionist author, the foundation of Reconstructionism is a unique combination of three Biblical doctrines:
One of which is
"Promoting of the world-wide Kingdom of God.">
The Gospel is what should be promoted.
One of the first tasks of this order will be to eliminate religious choice and freedom.>
You need a quote for this, because it's sounds absurd!
are attempting to peacefully convert the laws of United States so that they match those of the Hebrew Scriptures.>
I hate to burst your bubble, but this is a fact:
"Any human law that contradicts the Divine Law is null and void."
-General Alexander Hamilton
I'm sorry these quotes sound so absurd but they are what you asked for. You asked for some quotes to support a poster's belief that Far-right evangelicals wish to use their religion as a springboard for world conquest in the name of Christ. I'm not saying all Evangelical folks believe this but the agenda of Reconstructionists certainly is not a secret. There are many who believe it is their duty to see the world converted to THEIR form of Christianity or die resisting.
As for the quote, "One of the first tasks of this order will be to eliminate religious choice and freedom". You felt it needed a quote because it was so absurd. I agree, these people are absurd and they believe this. I was quoting The Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance on their definition of Reconstructionists. I've read enough Reconstructionits work to know this is a good description.
I'm not going to argue with you over man's law verses God's law, that's not what this is about. It is about a group of people who feel they have a DUTY to subject this country and the world to their form of religion. They're here and they are working toward that result - by any means necessary.
Only God knows when he will return to make everything right again. I'm typiclly not a malicious, or vindictive person, but I must say, I want to see Obama pay for insulance to God, Obamas' strins are being pulled by the devil. If anyone thinks otherwise, they are kidding themselves for the sake of..................what?? He is going to burn all of you supporters right along with the rest of us. You dance with the devil you're going to get burned. Whodat, I applaud you sir, Obama is the enemy of all free thinking Jesus lovers and God fearers. I pray for all of you who follow Obama so unquestionably. Eternity is a long time.....................Put REAL faith in God now before it's too late
Wow, way to prove the point of the article. "I'm typiclly not a malicious, or vindictive person, but...", that is all you needed to say. Are you even aware of the words coming out of your mouth? Like this, "...all free thinking Jesus lovers and God fearers", I mean, you're kidding, right? I wish I could say this was a Poe, but sadly, I don't think it is.
Blak, Are you aware that God is a righteous God and that He punishes? I think what that person meant was, is that they cannot wait until Jesus comes back and makes everything right.
Then thereby punishing the wicked, including thier leader, Obama
Did you forget to take your meds again?
If you wish to portray Obama as the "devil," keep in mind that George Bush placed end-of-life counseling into Medicare in 20003 (although neither president had evil intentions); Bush said that he would not allow government funding to pay for abortion, and, yet, continued federal funding, throughout his presidency, to provide abortion for Medicaid members. Could you list, exactly, those traits of Obama that you consider "devilish"?
whodat,
The would has its problems, but it does seem to be moving in a globally more peaceful direction than it was headed in recent years. Why do you think we might not make it to 2012?
There was a time a couple years ago when it seemed like the zionists might actually get a war started with Iran, at least some air strikes. The situation between Israel and the Muslims is still tense, but the world feels much safer with Obama as the head of the free world. The slide in the economy is hitting bottom and we will rebound. We should all pray Obama doesn't fail here. There is more to morality than just being against empathy. According to an article on huffingtonpost, in the Bush years the top .01 percent went from 3% of the nation's income to 6%. In the Obama years we need to reverse that trend, and I am hoping we will be able to spread some of the wealth.
It's interesting that you consider this time to be the worst. The US has been in significant economic straits before, as well as having faced ecological disasters, corruption, war, etc, etc. And every time, out trot the doom-sayers. And every time, it's not the last time. Things will improve, and are improving.
Can anyone tell me why doesn't Obama show a real, authentic birth certificate? I beleive it's called a vault copy.
Some of us accept the govenor's statement that he was born in Hawaii.
Far right evangelicals? What is it going to take for people to believe in the one true God. Or that God came down to earth in the flesh, as Jesus? And why is Christianity becoming a four letter word? Aren't we supposed to be on fire for God, and call a spade a spade? Sorry, I forgot about political correctness. I don't remember Jesus caring about political corectness.
At what point did we stop preaching on damnation, hellfire, and punishment, these things are real. Schaffer, please tell people that they're not going to get to heaven by just being good, or tolerant, and turning a blind eye to the obvious. It's what your dad would have wanted you to say.
Everyone, please stop tolerating everything and everyone, not everything and everyone is right. Get mad, Call people out on thier bullcrap, and pray that they become born again.
Are you saying born again Republicans who brought us Bush and accepted everything his administration did need to be born again?
whodat,
I appreciate you not voting Republican, but the reports were the evangalicals voted for Bush by about 79% the first time, and 80% the next time even after the torture revelations, and still voted about 78% for Palin in the next election. Personally, I think the overwhelming Christian support was the driving force behind putting him in office.
Think of it this way: why pray for people to become born again? Pray for yourself and your motives, your tolerance of others, and pray that you will spread love (not hate) around this Earth (just as Jesus did), and, just think, you could have so much more room in heaven without all those "dreadful sinners."
well said.
my comment about political correctness a few posts below was actually to you, sorry, i misplaced it.
This is the same Frank Schaeffer (he insisted on being called Frankie at the time, the mid-1980s) who railed against people like Wheaton College's Dr. Arthur Holmes (he was chairman of the philosophy department at the time) for not being suffienciently pro-life.
Frank(ie) Schaeffer betrayed the trust of every member of his family in his numerous books while playing on family connections to get published. (If his last name wasn't Schaeffer and if Francis was not his father, few would find anything he has to say very insightful or interesting.)
But there is a pattern in all of Frank(ie)'s work over the past 30 or so years; he has daddy issues. He has had to live in his father's shadow for his entire life, and he just resents the hell out of it. That's why you'll never see him arguing for anyting but always against things, usually in the most personal of terms. And in the end politics of his targets doesn't matter. Holmes was too "liberal." Dobson et al. are too "conservative." The common denominator, though, is all got more attention than he did, hence Frank(ie)'s need to shout and denigrate.
It would be terribly sad if he weren't so patently ridiculous.
We started a war in the hopes of getting control of other people's oil, and backed it up with torture. What happened? If you ask that question, there are no good answers, so in the name of consensus people want acceptance of the bad answers. If you don't accept the bad answers, people accuse you of never arguing for anyting but always against things. That is really all they can say.
GREAT points ;) !
i like the definition of
Political correctness as "an attempt to pick up a turd by the clean end"
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