Where Were You In The ‘80’s?

Excellent definition of #ChristianNationalism within right-wing politics by @sarahposner, who has covered this movement for many years.

(When reporters less versed on the topic write about it, it shows)

They believe they're in a type of *holy war* 👉🏼 a dangerous mindset pic.twitter.com/ngR09iOVnz

— Susan Bordson (@susanbordson) April 12, 2024

Because then it was Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed and Grover Norquist (the latter two linked up early this century as Native American tribes were starting to make money again for the first time since the early 20th century. History doesn’t repeat itself because the tune never changes.) For nearly 30 years we expected Falwell and Pat Robertson and Jim and Tammye Faye and assorted evangelicals to take over the GOP and then the country. Everybody forgets Shrub considered himself an evangelical Christian.

From its top leaders and influencers down to the grassroots — politically mobilized white evangelicals, the foot soldiers of the Christian right — its proponents believe that God divinely ordained America to be a Christian nation; that this Christian nation has come under attack by liberals and secularists; and that patriotic Christians must engage in spiritual warfare to rid America of demonic forces, and in political action to restore its Christian heritage. That includes taking political steps — as a voter, as an elected official, as a lawyer, as a judge — to ensure that America is governed according to a “biblical worldview.”

Yeah, that’s sounds just like it . Same song, second ver; a little bit louder and a little bit worse. And here’s where I stop and point out Sarah Posner says she’s been writing about this topic for 20 years. This iteration has been going on for twice that time.

So is this a (finally) rising tide, or a blush on the cheek of a dying age? Then and now, the argument for was that it was indeed a dying age: church attendance was sliding after the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. Moral decay, again because of the previous two decades (and the fact Carter wasn’t a Republican), was the driving force. Again. It did boost church interest, and attendance, and TV viewership. But I think that’s done. Nobody’s going to that well a second time; at least not this quickly. Basically, the same excuses given now for the need (pro) or the rise (con) were given then; and 40 years later, here we are.

The dying age the TeeVee evangelists claimed as an excuse to evangelize a nation wasn’t; and it isn’t now. Not for the evangelicals, and not for the ones who fear their political power. Their avatar is Trump, and even they feel betrayed by his flip flops on abortion. But the rest of the country is paying attention to the criminal trials; oh, and Trump’s flip flops on abortion.

Even the tune hasn’t changed. It’s just become worn out by too much repetition. 44 years is long enough to hear it.