[Osx-nutters] American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America

[Jeffrey Hergan]

On Feb 9, 2007, at 5:15 PM, Kevin Callahan wrote:

>
> On Feb 9, 2007, at 2:07 PM, Jeffrey Hergan wrote:
>
>>
>> On Feb 9, 2007, at 3:35 PM, Kevin Callahan wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> <http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/09/american-fascists-the- 
>>> christian-right-and-the-war-on-america/>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>
>> I've had my share of dealing with the 'Christian Right'  in  
>> professional settings--in Philosophy conferences, students in my  
>> classes, colleagues in departments I've worked in or visited.  And  
>> without knowing anything at all about what this book says, all I  
>> can ask is:  Tell me please, why is it you think free Americans  
>> should not have the right to bear arms?   [1]
>>
>> Jeff
>
> i'll be seeing "Jesus Camp" tonight ..
> should be interesting
>
> people should have the right to bear arms to fend off the nutzies

I'm not going to say that all of the 'Christian right' is nuts.  But  
it's hard not to.  I always think back to my job application at  
Wheaton.  No smoking on campus.  No drinking for profs, on or off  
campus.  No dancing in public for profs.  Ever, anywhere.  And no  
profs who are not Evangelical.  Profs are _obligated_ to be  
evangelical on and off campus, i.e., they are obligated to preach the  
Gospel and 'recruit'.

Now, it's entirely up to a private institution to decide their own  
rules.  But it really is hard to ignore the absolutism, the sense of  
'being called' and 'being chosen' and 'being right' that exists in  
the evangelical community.  If you are not evangelical, if you are  
not born again, you _are_ going to hell.  And any god-fearing  
evangelical will tell you that.  It reminds me an awful lot of  
Barbara Walters interviewing some ignorant Muslim extremist who was  
quite convinced that all infidels are going to hell.  (Of course, I  
understand that ordinary Muslims and Muslim theologians hold no such  
view.  My comparison is between the radical nutcase Muslim   
extremists and Evangelicals--and I think it is informative.)

Now, if I'm being offensive to anyone here, I can't apologize,  
because if you do take offense, then it's only because _you_ believe  
what I've outlined.  And if you _don't, then you're not a true  
believer and you are picking and choosing pieces of Evangelical belief.

Anyway, yeah.  I can see a huge segment of the US population that  
believes ardently and perhaps to the death that they are saved, and  
only they and the rest of us are damned sinners.  That is, sinners  
who are damned and not saved.  Since they are 'right' they believe  
they should rule.  They should vote their beliefs into law (re: Roe v  
Wade, for example).[1]  Think "Footloose" town, except enlarge the  
town to include the entire US.  And then the world?

I don't think I'd have a hard time seeing the parallels the book  
mentioned is trying to draw.

Jeff

[1] And maybe I'll get slammed for saying this, but I think Roe v  
Wade should be stricken too.