Colo. Springs Gazette: 'Evangelism may be losing its sway'

[Newsjock]

... Evangelicals got credit for helping put George W. Bush in the White House, but religious and political scholars say they won't have nearly as much influence in this year's presidential race. The reasons, they say, are varied:

- Christian influence in politics has historically gone up and down since the early 1800s; this is another movement whose time may be up for now.

- The Bush administration hurt the evangelical cause - such as with the war in Iraq, its response to Hurricane Katrina and its alleged human rights violations at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention center.

- Two of the movement's most important figures, D. James Kennedy and Jerry Falwell, are dead.

The biggest reason of all, though, may be the changing face of evangelicals themselves, experts say.

Evangelicals no longer seem to be the monolithic voting bloc they were a few years ago. A growing number don't think it's their place to politicize their faith, and many young believers are not interested in the traditional evangelical battlegrounds of abortion and gay rights; their focus is turning toward environmentalism and social justice.

... Randall Balmer, an American religious history professor at Barnard College in New York, calls the Bush presidency "the high point of political influence for the religious right."

The Christian right's credibility has suffered, though, as criticism of Bush's presidency increased.

"The religious right staked its credibility on the Bush administration, which has proven to be morally bankrupt," Balmer said. "And now the movement is collapsing under its own weight."

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/obama_37766___article.html/trying_say.html

[loveable liberal]

1. Good. nt

[saltpoint]

2. Fundie nutbags harranged Jefferson even as they later warned that John

Kennedy was a Catholic, and therefore dangerous, etc.

I hope the editorial in the GAZETTE (Dobson's hometown newspaper) is correct.

They'll still be a factor, but even the densest among them must surely realize at some level that McCain is an antiquated old crazy-ass undeserving of their votes.

[SpiralHawk]

3. And seeing a Christo-Republicon Senator (Vitter) cavorting in diapers with hookers...

also adds an unsavory, um, smell to the whole hypocritical she-bang, so to speak...suggesting, accurately, that republicon sancto-simonious politicians are freak-quently little more than BS artistes...

[jwirr]

4. As a liberal Christian I could not happier about this development.

[gratuitous]

5. Their fondest wishes came true

And the country went straight into the crapper. That might be part of it, too.

The encouraging thing is that something like this is being printed in Colorado Springs. Curious, too, is evangelicals' awareness that two "hot button" issues - abortion and gay rights - are going the way of the dodo as a new generation grows up into leadership. I hadn't thought they'd be that self aware.

But then I thought to check to see if Ted Haggard made an appearance in this story. He does not. And it took a while before someone in the comments noticed that rather glaring absence. But Pastor Ted's shenanigans surely haven't helped the cause of conservative evangelicals.

[salin]

6. interesting link in that article

about a backlash against Dobson's attacks against Obama - led by a "friend of the bush family" (kirbyjon caldwell? I don't know anything about him) in the form of a website: www.jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com

[Heidi]

7. Kirbyjon Caldwell is the pastor who recently married Jenna Bush and her new husband.

:hi:

[salin]

9. and he is supporting Obama... that is interesting

I really do think we are in a sea of change. :D

:hi:

[Heidi]

10. About dang time

for a sea of change, isn't it? :thumbsup:

[salin]

12. Even the repub political pundits in my redstate of Indiana...

are calling the presidential race a toss-up in Indiana. Here's to the sea!

[undeterred]

8. Its just too bad that these people couldn't see through

Bush from the start. When Bush executed born again Christian Karla Faye Tucker in 1998 (and mocked her as she begged for her life) I had my doubts about his "Christianity". No elected official should view the taking of a human life by the state so lightly. I pointed this out to several born agains at the time of the election but they were already brainwashed. Some people have to wait till the shit hits them in the face.

[Paladin]

11. Very Significant That This Comes From Colorado Springs

Ground Zero for far right-wing evangelism in this country....

[izquierdista]

13. There was a time when religion ruled Europe

They called it the Dark Ages.

Maybe it is a good thing that they got EVERYTHING they wanted. No obstacles to implementing every facet of their social program. Now it is plain for all to see that their prescription for wellness causes decay, sickness, and death.

[malaise]

14. their focus is turning toward environmentalism and social justice.

About time.

[lynettebro440]

15. I always thought the crazy christians

supporting bush was like putting your retarded, blind brother behind the wheel of the car and expecting everything to be ok. I think these folks should stick to insanity inside their own buildings and leave the government crap alone.