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Meet the Christian Reconstructionists Behind the Latest Birther Theory

By Sarah Posner

…urports “reconnect Americans to the history of the American Republic.” The republic, the IOTC maintains, is comprised of “Sovereign States with a central government of purposely limited powers based on Biblical principles.” Titus spoke to an audience of about 200 people at the Heritage Community Church in Severn, Maryland. During the question and answer session of Titus’ lecture on what he claims is the true meaning of the First Amendment, several…

The Roots of the American Right’s Muslim Brotherhood Panic

By Sarah Posner

…non-Muslims) in the United States. The star of the film, Zuhdi Jasser, is reportedly on Rep. Peter King’s list of witnesses he will call for his hearings on “radical Islam.” Gaffney, who after being shunned by next week’s Conservative Political Action Conference, claimed it was infiltrated by the Brotherhood, serves on the Clarion Fund board. The document is also used in support the claims of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, which makes m…

The Pastoral is the Political: Let’s Stop Hyde-ing

By Harry F. Knox

…te this victory for freedom, many have fought against this liberty. Former Republican Rep. Henry Hyde was one such opponent. Three years after Roe, Hyde proposed an amendment that would prevent Medicaid—our nation’s insurance for low-income people—from covering for abortion care. The Hyde amendment is a temporary rider to the budget that must be passed every year. We will mark the amendment’s 39th anniversary later this month. Hyde could not attac…

Louisiana Panel Votes in Favor of Science Textbooks

By Lauri Lebo

…creationism and intelligent design, sit on the panel. Sen. Ben Nevers and Rep. Frank Hoffman both voted against recommendation. The Louisiana Family Forum, which calls itself a champion of “traditional values” and is affiliated with Focus on the Family, is behind the attack on the textbooks. Most of the complaints seem to have come from its membership. Louisiana Coalition for Science and philosophy professor Barbara Forrest wrote a post about it…

Rand Paul: The Next Ronald Reagan?

By Sarah Posner

…o emerge (mirroring the talk at this time in 2007), Michael suggested that Rep. Ron Paul is polling pretty well — despite his views, as Julie has documented here, being at odds with the Republican Party establishment. Michael compared a possible Paul candidacy to Barry Goldwater’s in 1964, adding that out of Goldwater’s ashes rose Ronald Reagan. Who would be the Ronald Reagan, in this scenario? Michael posits Rand Paul. We also discussed anti-choi…

A Palin Pastor Primer

By Esther Kaplan

…ly been picked up, so far, in the local press: Last winter, when the state rep from Wasilla was convicted of bribery and extortion, Palin appointed an elder from Wasilla Bible Church to replace him. That man, Wes Keller, has since sponsored a bill to make performing late-term abortions a felony and introduced legislation lobbied for by the Alaska Family Council, a Focus on the Family affiliate, requiring public libraries to install filters to prot…

Christian Nationalist Bestseller Rooted in Volk, Homeland, and Patriarchy is ‘Blood Relation’ of a Certain 20th Century German Manifesto

By Bradley Onishi

…es Poll found that Christian nationalism is becoming a bigger factor among Republican voters, with 61% of Republican respondents saying they supported declaring the United States a Christian nation. Christian nationalism is having a moment. Scholars and journalists are signaling its dangers in articles, op-eds, and books. Preachers and politicians are encouraging their flocks to take on the identity proudly as a way to blend their faith and politi…

The Link Between Texas’ Law Requiring ‘In God We Trust’ Signs in Schools and the January 6 Insurrection

By Andrew L. Seidel

…hristian Nationalism played in the attempt to overthrow our democracy. The report included contributions by leading experts like Katherine Stewart, Anthea Butler, Andrew Whitehead, Sam Perry, Amanda Tyler, Jemar Tisby, and myself. Though there were other factors, as the report states, “Christian Nationalism was the driving force” behind the attack—but it’s also the driving force behind these In God We Trust displays. The January 6th insurrectionis…

Where Joe the Plumber and Allen West’s Gun Control Conspiracy Theory Comes From

By Sarah Posner

…use Is Filled With Communists) peddled the same conspiracy theory in 2010. Reporters seem surprised, but this is actually a very old conspiracy on the right. As I reported last summer, at a Ron Paul campaign stop in Des Moines: Larry Pratt, president of the GOA, was on hand to bestow a “Defender of the Second Amendment” award on Paul. Pratt, who was fired from his co-chairmanship of Pat Buchanan’s 1996 presidential campaign over his ties to militi…

On Women’s Equality Day, Going Back to the Sacred Texts of Feminism

By Betty M. Bayer

…in Hanna’s words, to “move time backward” when it comes to women’s rights, reproductive rights and freedoms, race, and sexual equality. This history and these events bring the place of churches in civil rights history into sharp relief. Both the Wesleyan Chapel’s and the First Presbyterian Church’s histories were built on struggles for rights and freedoms; indeed, the First Presbyterian Church proudly announces itself as the site where Alice Paul…