Why is the christian community in America such a powerful political force?

[rosscruz89]

As i understand it with the long-standing seperation of church and state and simply the size of the country and the differences between various christian sects there has been a limited history of major religious involvment in american politics.

If this is wrong, and it might well be please correct me.

And it is only within the last few decades that there has come into being a large christian constituency which has become politically significant both as a voting bloc (stereotypically republician although this might be a shallow perception - if wrong please add some depth) and as a lobbying power.

I have a simple question. Why is this?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

As i understand it with the long-standing seperation of church and state and simply the size of the country and the differences between various christian sects there has been a limited history of major religious involvment in american politics.

If this is wrong, and it might well be please correct me.

And it is only within the last few decades that there has come into being a large christian constituency which has become politically significant both as a voting bloc (stereotypically republician although this might be a shallow perception - if wrong please add some depth) and as a lobbying power.

I have a simple question. Why is this?

They are VERY well-organized and many of them driven by a profound belief that America is at it's heart a "Christian" nation.

 

[rosscruz89]

i suppose then that this organisation has come about recently. has new technology played a part?

and do you think that realising there was a base available religious leaders choose to politise them with similar messages- the emphasis on america as a christian nation for example?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

i suppose then that this organisation has come about recently. has new technology played a part?

and do you think that realising there was a base available religious leaders choose to politise them with similar messages- the emphasis on america as a christian nation for example?

Here is where you can read up very quickly on the core principles, leaders, and history of the Religious Right in the U.S.

 

[rosscruz89]

cheers

 

[eugenius]

I believe it's because political and industry leaders have figured out a way to manipulate this mass of people and use them in their favor. The religious leaders get certain rights as well as money, super churches etc and the political leaders come into power (See George Bush) and the industry leaders get tax breaks and bills in their favor.

It's quite simple.

The disturbing part is watching the religious leaders brainwash children and other followers. In Jesus Camp there was a scene where each child had to embrace, pray and kiss/hug a life-sized cardboard cutout of George Bush (conservative cristian). The same Bush who sunk America, wire tapped citizens, started a war, helped drain the economy etc etc.

Blind faith can be a fantastic and scary thing.

 

[Storm]

As i understand it with the long-standing seperation of church and state and simply the size of the country and the differences between various christian sects there has been a limited history of major religious involvment in american politics.

If this is wrong, and it might well be please correct me.

And it is only within the last few decades that there has come into being a large christian constituency which has become politically significant both as a voting bloc (stereotypically republician although this might be a shallow perception - if wrong please add some depth) and as a lobbying power.

I have a simple question. Why is this?

There are a lot of them, and they got organized. It's as simple as that.

 

[jrbogie]

As i understand it with the long-standing seperation of church and state and simply the size of the country and the differences between various christian sects there has been a limited history of major religious involvment in american politics.

If this is wrong, and it might well be please correct me.

And it is only within the last few decades that there has come into being a large christian constituency which has become politically significant both as a voting bloc (stereotypically republician although this might be a shallow perception - if wrong please add some depth) and as a lobbying power.

I have a simple question. Why is this?

not sure i understand what you're asking. if you're asking if it's wrong for a group to lobby it's a matter of law and the constitution. we wrote the constitution and laws because no two people can agree on what's right and what's wrong. we the people elect representatives to make those decisions. to lobby those we elected, congress or whatever, is not only correct it is our duty as citizens.

 

[Wandered Off]

There are a lot of them, and they got organized. It's as simple as that.

It really is. Their churches were an existing form of organization that someone figured out could be tapped into for political purposes. Organization at that level is an incredibly potent political force.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I have no idea what you're talking about. All I ever hear is how christianity is persecuted, attacked, and marginalized. They can't be that powerful.

 

[Wandered Off]

Well we did catch them off guard when we stole Christ from Christmas...

 

[J Bryson]

Well we did catch them off guard when we stole Christ from Christmas...

I brought the baby back to the nativity scene, and the church promised not to press charges. One would think they'd be over it by now.

 

[rosscruz89]

sorry i should have been more specific. what i was wondering was are there any characteristics that lead directly to the politisation of the christian right.

If you take Europe for example there is a massive catholic community (with large concentrations in some countries) but they are they not so politically active? at least as opposed to the christian right in america.

 

[Twilight Hue]

As i understand it with the long-standing seperation of church and state and simply the size of the country and the differences between various christian sects there has been a limited history of major religious involvment in american politics.

If this is wrong, and it might well be please correct me.

And it is only within the last few decades that there has come into being a large christian constituency which has become politically significant both as a voting bloc (stereotypically republician although this might be a shallow perception - if wrong please add some depth) and as a lobbying power.

I have a simple question. Why is this?

Seems to follow a parallel as to what Constantine did, and why, in regards toward his establishment of Christianity as an official religion. I see history in a sense re-playing itself to some extent in that you go where the votes are. -NM-

 

[idea]

Why is the christian community in America such a powerful political force?

14 The LORD shall fight for you
(Old Testament | Exodus14:14)

20... our God shall fight for us.
(Old Testament | Nehemiah4:20)

of coarse, when the majority of the people need to be disciplined, we are all pulled down in the undertow.

 

[J Bryson]

Why is the christian community in America such a powerful political force?

14 The LORD shall fight for you
(Old Testament | Exodus14:14)

20... our God shall fight for us.
(Old Testament | Nehemiah4:20)

of coarse, when the majority of the people need to be disciplined, we are all pulled down in the undertow.

It's nice that God will fight for you. I'm sure that Jerry Falwell's political acumen and Ralph Reed's mailing list didn't hurt, either.

And I'm sure that you didn't mean for it to come across this way, but the bit about the majority of people needing to be disciplined struck me as a bit creepy.

 

[Seven]

As i understand it with the long-standing seperation of church and state and simply the size of the country and the differences between various christian sects there has been a limited history of major religious involvment in american politics.

If this is wrong, and it might well be please correct me.

And it is only within the last few decades that there has come into being a large christian constituency which has become politically significant both as a voting bloc (stereotypically republician although this might be a shallow perception - if wrong please add some depth) and as a lobbying power.

I have a simple question. Why is this?

I'v always thought it's because they are so sure they're right and everyone else is wrong. As Bertrand Russel put it 'The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt.'

 

[Wandered Off]

If you take Europe for example there is a massive catholic community (with large concentrations in some countries) but they are they not so politically active? at least as opposed to the christian right in america.

The churches I grew up attending - seemingly typical of the Christian right - placed an inordinate emphasis on trying to make everyone else behave. That's where the politics come in IMO. If people don't attend your church and share your beliefs, you can use politics to impose them anyway, like telling folks whom they can't marry or that they can't buy certain types of products on Sunday... European Catholics seem to have let go of those ambitions as much.

 

[EverChanging]

They are well organized, there are lots of them, and they turn out in large numbers to vote. If more people were compelled to vote, I wonder what the United States would look like.

 

[*Paul*]

I would say simply because there are a lot of Christians who use their right to vote who also share the same moral convictions which are important to them. If you get a politician who sings to the sang hymn book they will feel that he represents them best and will have a positive effect on the country which in turn will receive God's blessing.