American politics have always to some degree been influenced by religion. As a nation whose long history of religious tolerance includes milestones like Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statue of Religious Freedom and a rigid separation of church and state laid out in its constitution, the United States to this day has retained a blossoming and diverse religious culture. Government was neither ever to interfere with the religious affairs of its citizens, nor was it to establish any kind of regulation thereof, making religion in the U.S. virtually free enterprise. As a result, the spheres of public and political discourse have from time to time been swept by waves of assertions by the pious claiming their place in the governing of the nation. During the 20th century, there have been several prominent examples of intrusion into politics by the Christian Right defined by Clyde Wilcox as “a social movement that seeks to mobilize and represent evangelical Christians in politics” (Laying up Treasures 23). This paper will focus on the New Christian Right of the 1980s that was shaped primarily by assertive spiritual leaders. For this purpose, an excerpt from a work by the fundamentalist preacher and leading figure of evangelical political activism, the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, will be examined.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Rise of Protestant Fundamentalist Political Movements
- The Turning Point: The IRS and Christian Schools
- The Emergence of the New Christian Right
- Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the rise of the New Christian Right in 1980s America, focusing on the role of Jerry Falwell and his Moral Majority. It analyzes an excerpt from Falwell's "Listen America!" to understand the movement's key objectives and strategies.
- The influence of religion on American politics
- The evolution of Protestant fundamentalist political activism
- The strategies and tactics employed by the New Christian Right
- Jerry Falwell's role in shaping the New Christian Right
- The key issues addressed by Falwell and the Moral Majority
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage by outlining the long-standing interplay between religion and American politics, acknowledging the nation's history of religious tolerance alongside instances of religiously-motivated political engagement. It introduces the concept of the Christian Right as a social movement representing evangelical Christians in politics and focuses on the New Christian Right of the 1980s, particularly the contributions of Jerry Falwell. The paper's central aim is to analyze an excerpt from Falwell's work, "Listen America!", to understand his political views and the broader movement's rise to prominence.
The Rise of Protestant Fundamentalist Political Movements: This section explores earlier 20th-century waves of Protestant fundamentalist political involvement. It examines the anti-evolution movement culminating in the Scopes Trial, highlighting its eventual decline after facing public ridicule. The chapter then shifts to religiously-motivated anti-communist campaigns of the late 1950s and early 1960s, noting their influence, albeit less significant than the later New Christian Right, and their ability to attract support from secular right-wing sympathizers due to their focus on the worldly threat of communism. The section concludes by emphasizing the relative inactivity of evangelical fundamentalism in the political sphere after the defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964.
The Turning Point: The IRS and Christian Schools: This section identifies a pivotal moment in the resurgence of the Christian Right: the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) attempt to revoke the tax-exempt status of private Christian schools under the Carter administration. This action, interpreted as an intrusion into the private lives of many evangelicals, is posited as a catalyst for their renewed political engagement. The chapter analyzes the IRS's argument about the increase of children in private schools potentially being linked to public school desegregation, contrasting it with the perspective of evangelicals who were dissatisfied with secular values taught in public schools. While the validity of the IRS's claims remains debated, the chapter establishes the event's significance in galvanizing evangelical participation in politics.
The Emergence of the New Christian Right: This chapter details the rise of the New Christian Right in the late 1970s, highlighting the strategic efforts of key figures like Paul Weyrich, Howard Phillips, and Richard Viguerie to mobilize the substantial base of evangelical Christians. It describes how these strategists connected with media-savvy evangelists including Pat Robertson, James Robison, and Jerry Falwell, leveraging their existing television and radio platforms ("televangelism") to broaden the movement's reach and influence.
Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority: This section focuses on Jerry Falwell's prominent role, particularly through his organization, the Moral Majority. It details Falwell's achievements in establishing the Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty Baptist College, showcasing his success in building a large and influential religious following. The chapter highlights the Moral Majority's platform, aligning with core Republican values such as family, morality, patriotism, and opposition to abortion and secularism. It also briefly mentions a legal dispute involving Liberty Baptist College and the teaching of creationism to prospective public school teachers, further demonstrating Falwell's engagement with political and educational issues.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
New Christian Right, Jerry Falwell, Moral Majority, evangelical Christians, American politics, religious influence, political activism, fundamentalism, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, humanism, family values, 1980s America, televangelism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of the New Christian Right
What is the main topic of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the rise of the New Christian Right in 1980s America, focusing on the role of Jerry Falwell and his Moral Majority. It analyzes the movement's objectives, strategies, and key figures, using an excerpt from Jerry Falwell's "Listen America!" as a primary source.
What are the key themes explored in this document?
The key themes include the influence of religion on American politics, the evolution of Protestant fundamentalist political activism, the strategies and tactics employed by the New Christian Right, Jerry Falwell's role in shaping the movement, and the key issues addressed by Falwell and the Moral Majority (such as abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and secularism).
What is the significance of Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority?
Jerry Falwell and his organization, the Moral Majority, played a pivotal role in the rise of the New Christian Right. Falwell's existing large religious following and media savvy, through televangelism, allowed for the effective mobilization of evangelical Christians into political action. The Moral Majority's platform aligned with core Republican values, focusing on family, morality, patriotism, and opposition to issues such as abortion and secular humanism.
What events are considered turning points in the rise of the New Christian Right?
A key turning point was the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) attempt to revoke the tax-exempt status of private Christian schools under the Carter administration. This action galvanized evangelical Christians and fueled their renewed political engagement. The earlier waves of Protestant fundamentalist involvement, such as the anti-evolution movement and anti-communist campaigns, are also discussed, but the IRS action is presented as a particularly significant catalyst.
What are the chapter summaries included in this document?
The document includes chapter summaries covering an introduction outlining the historical context of religion and politics in America; a chapter on the rise of Protestant fundamentalist political movements in the 20th century; a chapter focusing on the IRS and Christian schools as a turning point; a chapter on the emergence of the New Christian Right with its key figures and strategies; and a final chapter dedicated to Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority.
What are the key words associated with this topic?
Key words include: New Christian Right, Jerry Falwell, Moral Majority, evangelical Christians, American politics, religious influence, political activism, fundamentalism, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, humanism, family values, 1980s America, and televangelism.
What is the overall objective of this document?
The overall objective is to provide a structured and professional analysis of the rise of the New Christian Right in 1980s America, using the context of Jerry Falwell's work and the Moral Majority to understand the movement's objectives and strategies. It aims to examine the interplay between religion and politics within a specific historical and social context.
What type of source material is used in this document?
The analysis is based on an excerpt from Jerry Falwell's "Listen America!" and incorporates historical context from broader scholarly literature on the subject.
Who is the intended audience for this document?
The intended audience is primarily academic, focusing on researchers and students interested in the study of American politics, religious studies, and social movements.
Where can I find more information on this topic?
Further research can be conducted by searching for scholarly articles and books on the New Christian Right, Jerry Falwell, the Moral Majority, and the intersection of religion and politics in the United States during the 1980s.
- Quote paper
- Moritz Mücke (Author), 2011, Jerry Falwell and the Rise of the New Christian Right in America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/179603