A thoughtful conversation between Sarah Posner and Anthea Butler concerning the various movements that influence politicians like Rick Perry. Both caution against careless dismissal or over-exaggerating.
Frank Schaeffer on Michele Bachmann’s “anti-feminism.
Greg Metzger offers a roadmap to the media discussion of the religious right in recent weeks here and here.
Ryan Lizza’s in-depth examination in The New Yorker. He talks about evangelical guru Francis Schaeffer, whose book and later video series “How should we then live” chronicled the decline of Christianity from the Renaissance on, and was wildly popular among a certain subset of Evangelicals in the late 70s (I remember trying to read the book at the insistence of a classmate in 79 or 80 and being finding it offensive and occasionally humorous). He also discusses the faculty of the law school at Oral Roberts University. Lizza begins, however, with this statement:
Bachmann belongs to a generation of Christian conservatives whose views have been shaped by institutions, tracts, and leaders not commonly known to secular Americans, or even to most Christians.
In this case, I’m not sure who’s nuttier, the politician or the author of the article.
Exihibit A. An article entitled “Michele Bachmann’s Church says the Pope is the Antichrist,” citing this from the Wisconsin Synod Lutheran doctrinal statement:
Since Scripture teaches that the Antichrist would be revealed and gives the marks by which the Antichrist is to be recognized, and since this prophecy has been clearly fulfilled in the history and development of the Roman Papacy, it is Scripture which reveals that the Papacy is the Antichrist.
Somewhat less inflammatory, the article points out that Martin Luther was convinced the Pope was the Antichrist, and that such statements are enshrined in sixteenth-century doctrinal formulations.
Perhaps the headline writer didn’t read far enough into the article to notice that:
Hochmuth also revealed that Bachmann is no longer a member of the WELS congregation. “I do know that she has requested a release of her membership,” he said, adding that she took the unusual step of formally requesting that release in writing. “She has not been an active member of our fellowship during the last year.”
Exhibit B. An article describing the links between the Religion of the Lost Cause, Christian Reconstructionism, and neo-Confederate groups like the League of the South. Texas Governor Rick Perry is implicated because his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor was endorsed by the League of the South, he once advocated Texas’ secession from the Union, and this:
Perry is hosting a prayer rally because “a historic crisis facing our nation and threatening our future demands a historic response from the church.” Does he see himself as a general of sorts in the neo-Confederate theological war?
More on the links between Perry and neo-confederates here. I don’t think a photo op of a Southern governor with members of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans constitutes a smoking gun.
Preaching Grace on the Square 