Radical/Religious Right
Dateline: February 03, 1999
Part 4: Morals & Conspiracies
Absolutes I've never seen any groups on the radical/religious right not claim to be the keepers of absolute truth - particularly when it comes to moral issues. Using their bibles and twisted interpretations of the Constitution, they advance incredible ideas about the nature of society and humanity which are inflexible and intolerant. Genuine democratic dialogue cannot possibly take place in such an atmosphere."This [opposition to gay rights, abortion and feminism] is really the most significant battle of the age-old conflict between good and evil, between the forces of God and the forces against God." -Paul Weyrich, founder of the Heritage Foundation and the Free Congress Foundation
"We were here first. You don't take our shared common values and say they are biased and bigoted...We are the keepers of what is right and what is wrong." -Lou Sheldon, founder Traditional Values Coalition
"Many of those people involved with Adolf Hitler were Satanists, many of them were homosexuals - the two things seem to go together." -Pat Robertson
"Christians founded this nation. Christians built this nation. And for three hundred years they governed this nation. And we can do it again. And that's why I founded the Christian Coalition." -Pat Robertson
Anti-government Although Christianity is frequently linked with
pro-American patriotism, we nevertheless see a great deal of hostility towards the
government in radical/religious right groups. This is perhaps due the influence of
extremist groups and the militia movement. Thus the foreign enemy - traditionally
communist Russia - has been replaced with an "enemy within," the U.S. government.
The reasons for contempt can vary, from gun control legislation to welfare, but in
the end, it amounts to an opposition to governmental intrusion into their own lives
and pursuits instead of intrusion into the lives of others. A person will complain
about federal regulations about their own private land use and then turn around and
demand that the federal government institute legislation prohibiting other peoples'
same-sex marriages.
"Something is just going on that is just very unwholesome in this nation and you look for an explanation of this craziness in Oklahoma City and a lot of it goes back to what happened with the Branch Davidians, Randy Weaver...This is a shocking abuse of federal power. It's reminiscent of the Nazis, and something has got to be done." -Pat Robertson
"We don't see any difference between Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich. Anybody with entrenched power is suspect." -Charles Duke, Colorado State Senator
"Go up and look legislators in the face, because someday you may have to blow it off." -Samuel Sherwood, United States Militia Association
"We're not here to get into politics. We're here to turn the clock back to 1954 in this country. And once we've done it, we're gonna clear out of this stinking town [Washington D.C.]." -Paul Weyrich
Conspiracies A continuing favorite theme running through much of
the rhetoric of radical/religious right groups appears to be a firm conviction in
the existence of massive conspiracies leveled against them. Conspiracies appear everywhere,
throughout society and throughout world history. Many groups and leaders are quite
literally paranoid of not simply the U.S. government, but also the United Nations
and international bankers (the modern term for the traditional scapegoat, "Jewish
bankers"). Often we will hear about the "New World Order," an attempt
to create a single world government and persecute Christians. Frequently the conspiracies
will be given definite Satanic overtones, as many conspiracies appear to be run by
the Evil One himself (which means he must be very, very busy).
"Indeed it may well be that men of goodwill like Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and George Bush...are in reality unknowingly and unwittingly carrying out the mission and mouthing the phrases of a tightly knit cabal whose goal is nothing less than a new order for the human race under the domination of Lucifer and his followers." -Pat Robertson, The New World Order
"The UN Charter in full operation would mean: The end of the United States as a nation, making it a mere province in a New World Order, with one vote among 186, mostly hostile, nations. States and counties merged into regions, with UN appointed officials enforcing UN orders while practicing extortion on us helpless serfs." -Jack McLamb, founder Police Against the New World Order
"Six thousand people in Sweden have already been implanted with transponder chips in the backs of their hands. It's unbelievably biblical." -Bob Fletcher, spokesman Militia of Montana
So, there we have an overview of the ideologies behind America's radical/religious
right - and in their own words, to boot. Hopefully this will give people a broader
idea of what they are up against when they oppose such groups. It's difficult to
counteract radical agendas when you are not familiar with just what those agendas
entail.
All of these issues are exceedingly complex - much more complex than I have been able to express here in this short space. Over time, I do hope to have the chance to cover them all much more thoroughly - but I'd rather concentrate first on those issues which interest my readers most. Currently, I intend to examine the ways in which families and abortion are used by the radical/religious right in their effort to gain dominion over society. However, if enough people would rather read about a different issue, I'd be happy to alter my plans. Just let me know!
Don't miss the other sections:
Part 1: Christian Victimhood?
Part 2: Redefining Families & Society
Part 3: Policy Issues: Education, Media & Censorship
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