The Coming Fall of the Religious Right?

Archaeopteryx

Wanderer
Jul 1, 2007
22,229
2,608
✟70,740.00
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Private
Religion’s Retreat from Politics and Other Good News « Ockham's Beard

Putnam’s argument – also espoused in his new book, American Grace – was that the close relationship between religiosity and Republican partisanship that we see today only started in the early 1990s, and began as a wedge strategy intended to galvanise a conservative base against encroaching liberalism by appealing to the pervasive religiousness of most Americans, tapping in to socially conservative issues such as abortion as the hot buttons.

And it worked. Putnam showed evidence that around the early 1970s there was no correlation between religious attendance (as a proxy for religiosity) and partisan preference. In fact, in the late 1960s, if you were more highly devout, you were more likely to vote Democrat. But that had all changed by the 1980s, and particularly into the 1990s.

Makes sense. Old school Republicanism used to be represented by the north-eastern industrialists – hardly a religious bunch. Too distracted by money and cigars. Conversely, there were the ‘southern Democrats’ who, until the quakes of the civil rights movement rocked their foundations, were deeply religious but were working class and voted for labour and community issues.

But in the 1990s that changed. And it’s already beginning to backfire.​
 

Paulos23

Never tell me the odds!
Mar 23, 2005
8,169
4,434
Washington State
✟309,176.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Yes it does. I recommend the book American Theocracy. It plots that trend as well. As well as the growth of several Christian sects out of the South.

But, it will be a long time before the youth of today can make any headway against the Religious Right. In the mean time it looks like the Religious Right/Tea Partiers are willing to pull down everything in the process so that all you have to run to is them.

Thank goodness there are still some sane people in the Republican Party, but I don't know how long that will last.
 
Upvote 0

Harpuia

Oldie... very very oldie...
Nov 9, 2004
14,888
914
37
Undisclosed
✟27,603.00
Country
United States
Faith
Deist
Marital Status
Engaged
Politics
US-Others
Religion’s Retreat from Politics and Other Good News « Ockham's Beard

Putnam’s argument – also espoused in his new book, American Grace – was that the close relationship between religiosity and Republican partisanship that we see today only started in the early 1990s, and began as a wedge strategy intended to galvanise a conservative base against encroaching liberalism by appealing to the pervasive religiousness of most Americans, tapping in to socially conservative issues such as abortion as the hot buttons.

And it worked. Putnam showed evidence that around the early 1970s there was no correlation between religious attendance (as a proxy for religiosity) and partisan preference. In fact, in the late 1960s, if you were more highly devout, you were more likely to vote Democrat. But that had all changed by the 1980s, and particularly into the 1990s.

Makes sense. Old school Republicanism used to be represented by the north-eastern industrialists – hardly a religious bunch. Too distracted by money and cigars. Conversely, there were the ‘southern Democrats’ who, until the quakes of the civil rights movement rocked their foundations, were deeply religious but were working class and voted for labour and community issues.

But in the 1990s that changed. And it’s already beginning to backfire.​

I hope so. The Prosperity Gospel evangelicals of the 2000s and the Tea Partiers of the 2010s sprinkled with a bit of Predestinationists all throughout have been nothing but a nightmare. As someone who was raised on the former, I can tell you it's not a good place to be in. Really messes with your mind and gives you emotional scars, especially if you question anything.

So why do I remain moderate and not turn liberal from the incidents? Honestly, are the liberals really that much better? Maybe rationally, but they have their crazies too. And to me not every conservative idea is bad. Fundamentally, I like free market, capitalist ideas. They look great on paper, but in practice...
 
Upvote 0

allhart

Messianic believer
Feb 24, 2007
7,543
231
52
Turlock, CA
✟16,377.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
I have a thought..... What If liberalism ideology was like a cult? Following their ideology to the point of suicide..... In-like the Jim Jones following. Especially after all the special interest spending. The bible calls this bewitched. They lose all rational reasoning and are bewildered or infatuated. I realize there is a religious take but can anyone see the point.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

RealDealNeverstop

Is Prayer Your First or Last Action?
Sep 15, 2007
15,003
1,290
53
✟36,318.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
Im somewhat amazed the op argument is seen as anything other than "Duh!" So admittedly I didn't read the link yet but the core of the marriage was the neocon's foreign policy agenda to the religious right's eschatology.
 
Upvote 0

DieHappy

and I am A W E S O M E !!
Jul 31, 2005
5,682
1,229
53
✟26,607.00
Faith
Protestant
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican

And it worked. Putnam showed evidence that around the early 1970s there was no correlation between religious attendance (as a proxy for religiosity) and partisan preference. In fact, in the late 1960s, if you were more highly devout, you were more likely to vote Democrat. But that had all changed by the 1980s, and particularly into the 1990s.
It changed because the democrats made being pro-abortion a necessity for party inclusion and went further left economically trying to make the safety net a really great hammock to lay in the rest of your life and left the religious working class. It wasn't a religious right movement that swayed the people to leave the democrats. It was the democrats leaving the religious without representation.
 
Upvote 0

RealDealNeverstop

Is Prayer Your First or Last Action?
Sep 15, 2007
15,003
1,290
53
✟36,318.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
I have a thought..... What If liberalism ideology was like a cult? Following their ideology to the point of suicide..... In-like the Jim Jones following. Especially after all the special interest spending. The bible calls this bewitched. They lose all rational reasoning and are bewildered or infatuated. I realize there is a religious take but can anyone see the point.

The point is about as sharp as over cooked angel hair pasta.
 
Upvote 0

RealDealNeverstop

Is Prayer Your First or Last Action?
Sep 15, 2007
15,003
1,290
53
✟36,318.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
It changed because the democrats made being pro-abortion a necessity for party inclusion and went further left economically trying to make the safety net a really great hammock to lay in the rest of your life and left the religious working class. It wasn't a religious right movement that swayed the people to leave the democrats. It was the democrats leaving the religious without representation.

When did the Dem/abortion issue become the Party litmus test?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

citizenthom

I'm not sayin'. I'm just sayin'.
Nov 10, 2009
3,299
185
✟12,912.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
The "social justice" Christians of the 1950s and 1960s fought hard so all Americans could have an equal chance to get the same jobs as white males, so they could work for a better future for themselves and their families.

The same Christians, in their older age, now simply want people actually to get those jobs and do the work.
 
Upvote 0

allhart

Messianic believer
Feb 24, 2007
7,543
231
52
Turlock, CA
✟16,377.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Constitution
citizenthom said:
The "social justice" Christians of the 1950s and 1960s fought hard so all Americans could have an equal chance to get the same jobs as white males, so they could work for a better future for themselves and their families.

The same Christians, in their older age, now simply want people actually to get those jobs and do the work.

The new minority of today is the individual. I'm So sick of the racial garbage. Once a jerk always a jerk no matter the color of ur skin!
 
Upvote 0

chaz345

Well-Known Member
Dec 14, 2005
17,453
668
57
✟20,724.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Fundamentally, I like free market, capitalist ideas. They look great on paper, but in practice... __________________

Interestingly, the alternative, government controlled market socialist ideas look even better on paper and are several magnitudes of order worse in practice.
 
Upvote 0
A

Awesome_Frog

Guest
Interestingly, the alternative, government controlled market socialist ideas look even better on paper and are several magnitudes of order worse in practice.
Good thing there are more then just 2 choices then and that we are all mature and educated enough to discuss these issues instead of shoving words in each other's mouths.
:)
 
Upvote 0

Harpuia

Oldie... very very oldie...
Nov 9, 2004
14,888
914
37
Undisclosed
✟27,603.00
Country
United States
Faith
Deist
Marital Status
Engaged
Politics
US-Others
Interestingly, the alternative, government controlled market socialist ideas look even better on paper and are several magnitudes of order worse in practice.

If I had to choose my form of government, call me an idealist, I would take free-market capitalism. Unfortunately, we have way too many people who exploit it for the bad rather than exploit it for the good. :(

And I'm not really much a fan of Keynesian or controlled market ideas beyond regulation of fraud.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

tulc

loves "SO'S YER MOM!! posts!
May 18, 2002
49,401
18,801
68
✟271,570.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
It was for me and gay marriage too. One of the biggest reasons I moved my ticket was over immorality.

Interestingly it was the Republican Party claiming to be pro-life (but really just being anti-abortion) that was one of the main reasons I left the Republican Party. :wave:
tulc(interesting thread) :)
 
Upvote 0

RealDealNeverstop

Is Prayer Your First or Last Action?
Sep 15, 2007
15,003
1,290
53
✟36,318.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
The new minority of today is the individual. I'm So sick of the racial garbage. Once a jerk always a jerk no matter the color of ur skin!

It's usually not difficult to tell who does not experience the negative ends of racism.
 
Upvote 0

Grizzly

Enemy of Christmas
Supporter
Jul 6, 2002
13,036
1,674
57
Tallahassee
✟46,060.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Religion’s Retreat from Politics and Other Good News « Ockham's Beard

But in the 1990s that changed. And it’s already beginning to backfire.[/INDENT]

When a good portion of Christianity in America merged with the Republican Party, its possible that it damaged both of them in the long run. Right now, there are Christians in America who believe that Jesus is intensely interested in making sure people can keep and accumulate wealth and that Jesus get's upset whenever a government helps a poor person receive health care. Can you believe that? The Jesus of the Gospels frowns upon nations that want to feed their poor and tend to their sick?!? At the worst, he would be indifferent to what "Caesar" does with his money. So it doesn't surprise me if there is a growing portion of young people who see the disconnect between the Jesus of the Bible and this current form of Christianity.

Well, you know what happens when you mix religion and politics. You get politics.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Non sequitur

Wokest Bae Of The Forum
Jul 2, 2011
4,532
541
Oklahoma City, OK
✟38,280.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Constitution
If I had to choose my form of government, call me an idealist, I would take free-market capitalism. Unfortunately, we have way too many people who exploit it for the bad rather than exploit it for the good. :(

And I'm not really much a fan of Keynesian or controlled market ideas beyond regulation of fraud.

You think a free-market capitalistic form of government would work?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Harpuia

Oldie... very very oldie...
Nov 9, 2004
14,888
914
37
Undisclosed
✟27,603.00
Country
United States
Faith
Deist
Marital Status
Engaged
Politics
US-Others
You think a free-market capitalistic form of government would work?

I believe ANY form of government would work if we allow it. I just find pure capitalism my favorite. But such a thing working, as we now see, is sadly a pipe dream. :(
 
Upvote 0