Posted on 03/20/2006 6:59:05 PM PST by Unam Sanctam
My underlying thesis in American Theocracy is that these are the three major perils of the United States in the early 21st century. First, radical religion – this encompasses everything from the Pat Robertson-Jerry Falwell types to the attacks on medicine and science and the Left Behind books with their End Times and Armageddon scenarios. Second, oil dependence – oil was essential to 20th century U.S. hegemony, and its growing scarcity and cost could play havoc. And third, debt is becoming a national weakness – indeed, the “borrowing” industry in the U.S. has grown so rapidly that finance has displaced manufacturing as the leading U.S. sector.
After George W. Bush narrowly won a second term in 2004, which meant four more years of Religious Right power, over-dependence on oil and over-involvement in the Middle East and the fattening of the debt albatross, I decided to shift my focus from the biases, failings and deceits of the Bush family, going back four generations, which had been my focus during 2004 in my book American Dynasty. The new book would concentrate on the three perils to the U.S. – all of which, however, were closely related to the re-orientation of the Republican party that occurred under the two Bushes. Here readers should keep in mind that from 1980 to 2004. Only one presidential election (1996) did not have a Bush on the ticket as the presidential or vice presidential nominee. Between 1988 and 2006, the two Bush presidents put a particular stamp on the GOP’s regionalism, religious pandering and fealty to oil and finance.
Gary deMar is a leader in the Christian Reconstruction movement. One of Phillips's primary tragets in his book is the CR movement. You initiated a thread criticizing Phillips; now you say you are ignorant of much of what he wrote about. deMar was recently interviewed in fact, on the American Family Association radio netrwork, where the president of AFA called him one of the best writers out there in the Christian community and thinkers.
If you haven't a clue about what Phillips was writing about, why did you initiate a thread about his book? Have you read it?
First, radical religion – this encompasses everything from the Pat Robertson-Jerry Falwell types to the attacks on medicine and science and the Left Behind books with their End Times and Armageddon scenarios... After George W. Bush narrowly won a second term in 2004, which meant four more years of Religious Right power
The above language basically calls mainstream figures like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell as well as President Bush theocrats. That is simply a ridiculous charge and Mr. Phillips should be ashamed of himself, and you too if you are doing so.
You also did not address any of my other queries or responses.
You mean, the personal attack? I ignored it. Would you prefer I answered in kind?
No. Please tell me if you believe that the majority of traditional Christian believers wish to impose a theocratic government a la Iran or the Taliban. Please also tell me precisely when and where in our two hundred year history there was a theocratic government in the United States. Please be precise. If you cannot come with anything, then the claim that traditional Christian believers in general, merely by participating in politics are a danger, is completely baseless.
Please explain exactly how it is, that for two hundred years, a government run by traditional Christian believers with precisely the religious beliefs you find so threatening, did not overturn Constitutional liberties or establish a theocracy.
Attacks on medicine and science are not 'traditional Christian' in any sense I recognize, and I grew up in as conservative a Catholic family as you could find. I won't criticize Left Behind, because entertainment is entertainment; I enjoy the Flashman novels, but I'd hate it to be thought I endorse his philosophy of life. But a large part of the society believing in imminent Armageddon is scary.
First you'll have to define for me who and who isn't a 'traditional Christian believer'.
Please also tell me precisely when and where in our two hundred year history there was a theocratic government in the United States. Please be precise.
Utah territory, prior to statehood. They went so far as to massacre non-Mormon American citizens. Is that theocratic enough?
Let me know if you recommend it as a read; I have so many things waiting for my attention at the moment, I was hoping it would be enough that I saw his interview on C-SPAN this weekend (with Grover Norquist interviewing him!).
Bought the book yesterday and looking forward to it. I too had to laugh at the claims on this thread that he is a "leftist".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.