Tuesday, February 18

An Analysis Of “Blinded By Might: Can The Religious Right Save America”, Part 1

 One of the inevitable lessons of history is that political plans and agendas are seldom implemented as initially conceived irrespective of the nobility of intention or even piety motivating such aspirations. Evangelical conservatism, also commonly referred to as “The Religious Right”, would prove to be no different. In Blinded By Might: Can The Religious Right Save America, columnist Cal Thomas and pastor Ed Dobson examine what they believe to be the reasons resulting in the disparities between theory and practice in regards to this particular socio-political movement.

One would be hard-pressed to find thinkers more qualified to write a critique of political Evangelical conservatism than either Cal Thomas or Ed Dobson. Thomas came to be part of the Religious Right circuitously through his lifelong career in journalism. Thomas briefly conveys in Blinded By Might how after being fired from NBC news that he made a more explicit profession of faith in Christ and commitment to Bible study (12). In that phase of his life, Thomas considered himself a supporter of Jimmy Carter, having voted for the governor of Georgia as president on the basis of Carter's record as a sincere churchgoer and endearingly refreshing sense of integrity.

Yet as the Carter administration progressed, a trained observer of public events such as Thomas could not help but notice the dichotomy between the policies actually implemented and the convictions Thomas believed were expressed in Scripture particularly in regards to the issue of abortion. It was around this time that Thomas made the acquaintance of the Rev. Jerry Falwell at an event Thomas was covering in his capacity as a journalist at which Falwell spoke. Given the congruence of their thinking, Falwell contacted Thomas thereafter to offer Thomas a position as the vice president for communications for an organization that would come to be known as the Moral Majority.

If Cal Thomas granted the Moral Majority a degree of journalistic respectability and media professionalism, Ed Dobson brings to this analysis the perspective of a minister that served as part of Falwell's inner circle as the pastor's personal assistant. It was, in fact, Dobson along with Liberty Baptist College professor Ed Hindson that essentially ghostwrote Falwell's book that set down as a manifesto what would become the agenda of Moral Majority. In his role as Falwell's assistant, Dobson points out that he was not so much involved with the day to day operations of Moral Majority but rather sat on the organization's governing board and often represented Falwell in numerous media interviews when the pastor himself was not available.

Dobson admits that at the time he not only found the confrontation in forums such as “The Phil Donahue Show” invigorating but also the sincere work of the Lord. However, it was while waiting for a flight at the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina that Dobson began to question whether he had comprised the best to settle for the good ironically enough when he crossed paths there with fellow Falwell confidant Harold Wilmington. After the two exchanged pleasantries with Dobson going into enthusiastic detail about the Donahue debate regarding the expulsion of an atheist member from the Boy Scouts, Wilmington observed that his colleague might be casting his pearls before swine. By that, the theologian suggested that a pastor might actually be squandering his time and efforts in attempting to advocate for truth in a hostile arena never intending to embrace such rather than in a traditional teaching context where a careful exposition might find a more receptive audience (18-19). After nearly a year of reflection and prayer, Dobson accepted a call to the pastorate of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It seemed Dobson got out when the getting was good as Dobson recalls that the day that his new church voted to install him was the day Falwell took over as the head of PTL following Jim Bakker's adultery scandal.

It was in reflecting on this considerable expenditure of resources in terms of both time and finances with little actual cultural change that both Thomas and Dobson were forced to ask what was the point. In the chapter titled, “What Did We Really Win?”, Thomas writes, “...very little we set out to do has gotten done. In fact, the moral landscape of America has gotten worse (23).” As evidence for his claims, Thomas references statistics regarding the sorts of issues Moral Majority must be commended for taking a principled stand pertaining to such as abortion and media decency.

For example, in 1973, 63% of those polled agreed that it is against the will of God to destroy human life including that of the unborn. Yet 68% of those polled also agreed with the statement that, so long as a doctor was consulted, the decision should remain that of the woman in question. As of the publication of Blinded By Might in 1999, opinions remained relatively unchanged during that two decade span in which the Religious Right in the form of the Moral Majority and its successor the Christian Coalition was at the peak of its influence.

In regards to the homosexual agenda, Thomas admits that in 1997 Congress did enact the Defense of Marriage Act which defined state-recognized matrimony as between a man and a woman; but the columnist points out that states such as New Jersey were beginning to allow homosexual adoption. And flash forward to the writing of this analysis in 2021, gay marriage stands triumphant, recognized in all fifty states. Prominent political dynasties of both parties such as the Obama's, the Bush's and the Cheney's once extolling the Defense Of Marriage Act as a reasonable bulwark upholding the wisdom of several thousand years of human tradition now insist that they never really supported the legislation and those continuing to hold that once professed by the stalwarts of the establishment the deviants an affront to all human decency.

To understand how a movement so-well intended in terms of wanting to see righteousness upheld throughout the land stalled at best or lost its way at worst, it might be prudent to examine the background of the Moral Majority and what it was exactly that the organization stood for. Ed Dobson attempts to undertake such a task in the chapter titled “The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy”, a reference to a remark made by Hillary Clinton (at the time First Lady) describing the network of conservative operatives among whom Jerry Falwell ranked prominently that organized to oppose the profound shortcomings of her husband's presidential administration such as the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Though the Religious Right as embodied by Moral Majority would come to represent a spectrum of conservative theological traditions such as Pentecostals, Charismatics, and even a smattering of Roman Catholics as well, its most direct lineage was probably most accurately traced through the Fundamentalist movement of the early twentieth century.

To Be Continued...

By Frederick Meekins

Thursday, February 13

Apostate Pastrix Denies The Resurrection

Exorcist Allegedly Manifests Symptoms Of Demonization

Exorcist Allegedly Manifests Symptoms Of Demonization

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— Issachar Institute (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM

What If Residential Seminary Is Not The Gold Standard?

Commander Data: Man Or Machine?

William Lane Craig: 50 Years Studying God & Philosophy

You Should Start An Online Ministry

What Is The Association Of Free Lutheran Congregations?

Seven Things To Know Before Becoming Orthodox

Applying To Doctoral Programs In Religion

Vocation Discernment

Surviving A Doctorate In Biblical Studies

What's in a Biblical PhD? How to get one!

Neo-Calvinism vs. The Bible

Monday, February 10

Thomas Aquinas Speculative Visage

Saturday, February 8

Christainity Today Abets Evangelical Capitulation

In an article in the Sept/Oct 2024 issue of Christianity Today titled “The Soul Of MAGA: The Loves and Desires That Draw Evangelicals”, the publication's senior media director Mike Cooper writes, “I lament that rather than offering words of peace or patriotism, Trump expressed the most viseral sentiment of his movement: 'Fight, fight, fight.”

Mind you, just seconds before, the presidential candidate had endured what would have been if he had not turned his head a skull-shattering shot rather than a traumatic ear wound of debateable severity.

The rallying cry of “Fight, fight, fight” mght provide valuable insight into the psychology of Donald Trump.

However, the response to it on the part of the editorial staff of Christainity Today perhaps reveals even more about the sorry mental state of the propagandists going out of their way to publish nitpicky criticiisms of something articulated under considerable emotional distress.

For all Trump knew he was about to die.

Would these pecksniffs preferred him to blubber for his life or to impart a rallying cry for his supporters to carry on the cause in light of his looming demise?

Was Trump supposed to have urged his supporters to role over to allow what remains of our withering liberties to be trampled asunder?

Apparently the virtue signallers at Christianity Today are outraged that Trump's instincts when attacked were to retaliate rather than not only to enunciate a recantation of the deeds for which a disturbing number find the assailant's intended outcome fitting recompense but for failing to regret that this plot against him was not carried out to the desired fruition.

Yet throughout the summer of 2020 and henceforward, those on the Christianity Today/Russell Moore/Gospel Coaltion end of the Evangelical spectrum barely said a word of condemnation of the outright acts of vandalism, terrorism, and theft perpetrated by the likes of Black Lives Matter and that movement's Antifa street brawlers.

If anything, theologues of the Christianity Today/Gospel Coaltion ilk preened how those like them were rather at fault simply for being White.

These woketopian scolds condemned as the most pernicious and inscidious racists of all not those that rallied for Nazi and Klan marches but rather run of the mill conservative Caucasians that had never done anything malaicious to a Black person a day in their lives.

Even more akin to crocodile tears is the line in the Christianity Today article wishing that Trump had articulated some patrriotic grandiosity.

Had Trump utterered something along the lines of Nathan Hale's sentiment that he regrets that he has only the one life to give for his country, the Christianity Today article would have flown into a tizzy that such a statement was proof as to Trump's political idolatry and Christian nationalism.

For years, the Gospel Coalition/Christianity Today axis serrved as a nexus insisting that any displays of American pride such as U.S. flags in a church had to be removed out of concern that such might set off foreigners and minorities still permitted to retain the symbols of their own ethnicity despite the likes of Russell Moore and Jonathan Leeman repeatedly berating White Southerners for brandishing anything other than the detailess ensign signalling unconditional capitulation to the nation's enemies.

One can't very well wipe one's dirty rhetotical feet across Old Glory and then attempt to wrap its comforting embrace around you snuggly as you look down at those you hold in utter contempt.

By Frederick Meekins

Thursday, January 23

Marvin Olasky On Behalf Of Christianity Today Propagandizes Against Immigration Law Enforcement

Marvin Olasky On Behalf Of Christianity Today Propagandizes Against Immigration Law Enforcement

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— Issachar Institute (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) January 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM

Woketopian Methodist Bends Knee To Local Synagogue Rather Than Christ

Woketopian Methodist Bends Knee To Local Synagogue Rather Than Christ

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— Issachar Institute (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) January 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM

The Episcopal Church and Theology

What Is A Microchurch?

Daniel’s Prayerlife

Five Ways Your Church Can Reach Single Adults

What Is The Worldview Of The Bishop Who Lectured Trump?

Theological Problems with the Episcopalian Bishop That Lectured Trump & Her Twisting of Scripture

Thursday, January 16

Transhumanism As A False Religion

Transhumanism As A False Religion

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— Issachar Institute (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 2:56 PM

Southern Baptists Rehire Fanatic Plague Cultist To Spread Woketopian Propaganda

Southern Baptists Rehire Fanatic Plague Cultist To Spread Woketopian Propaganda

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— Issachar Institute (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 2:53 PM

Was Martin Luther King, Jr. A Christian?

What Is Spiritualized Gaslighting?

The Modern Church Hates Singles: Discussing The Singles Problems In The Church

So long as the singles aren’t fornicating, is it really organized religion’s business?

Particularly if they are scant few to pick from in the churches I’ve ever visited.

Too much typical man-blaming in this video.

Frankly, a number of men don’t ask because of a life of rejection as a perennial never good enough.

Interesting it was men scolded to lose weight and shave but not for women to enhance their appearance

UFO’s, Extraterrestrials, & Paranormal Experiences

Becoming Lutheran: Journey From Non-Denominational To LCMS

Covert Calvinism: A Wound In The Body Of Christ

Places We Go Not Intended To Remain

Why Be Lutheran?

Reframing Our Apologetic

Seven Dangerous Ideas Invading The Church

Saturday, December 28

Why Shouldn't Americans Care What Happens To America In The End?

An online meme depicts the outline of the United States on a circle of blue as if the other land masses of the Earth have been removed. The accompanying text reads, “How Christians In America View End Times Prophechies”.

The message being propagated through the image is that Americans apparently care primarily about themselves.

Most nations are primarily interested in themselves.

That is what being a nation is about.

Apparently Americans are to be condemned by multiculturalist woketopians for having an interest in personal well being.

Yet it seems so-called believers insisting no one nation is better than any other with the devout of the less-developed world exhibiting a more refreshing tendency towards spiritual self-deprication never themselves migrate to those lands of more humble circimstances seemingly so beneficial for everyone else but these virtue signalers of course.

It is only natural for America to have a greater number of Christians interested in the end times because this nation has a greater number of Christians at this time that hold to an interpretation of Christianity that actually cares about eschatology.

Institutional Catholicism does not and the population of Israel at the moment denies Christ pretty much altogether much less adhere to what most religious academics dismisss as esoteric Evangelical interperative hermeneutics.

It is actually the Reformed brands of End Times teaching such as covenant theology, Christian reconstructionism, and postmillennialism (not dispensationalism) that focus on a perfected America as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

The likes of Gary Demar and Rushdoony are more guilty of what this meme accuses than Tim LaHaye and Jerry Falwell.

By Frederick Meekins

Thursday, November 21

No New Deceptions To Emanate From Campolo’s Faulty Theological Reasoning

No New Deceptions To Emanate From Campolo’s Faulty Theological Reasoning

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— issacharinstitute.bsky.social (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) November 20, 2024 at 7:48 PM

In Light Of Trump Victory, Russell Moore Castigates Evangelicals As Insufficiently Woketopian

In Light Of Trump Victory, Russell Moore Castigates Evangelicals As Insufficiently Woketopian

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— issacharinstitute.bsky.social (@issacharinstitute.bsky.social) November 20, 2024 at 7:30 PM

Claims That Genitals Did Not Merge In Lawson Allegations Continue To Hold

The Impact Of Retirement On Spiritual Life

The Early Life Of Tom Horn

Is God An Alien?

Whether Theology Is A Science

Finding Your Spiritual Path In Retirement