Religious Right

According to Pastor John Hagee, the U.S. military is no longer able to win wars because of Satan worship and increasing “paganism” in America. Hagee, who is an official endorser of Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s The Response prayer rally and a prominent Religious Right leader, delivered the remarks in a speech to last year’s Word Explosion Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Perry has said that The Response is needed to solve problems that are “spiritual in nature,” adding that to create his policy platform he will simply “hand it over to God.” Many of the pastors and activists working with Perry to organize The Response already have “spiritual answers” to issues regarding the economy, corruption, marriage, the size of government, national security and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Now we can add to the list foreign policy. Hagee claims that God is no longer showing favor to America because of environmentalism (which he labels paganism), religious freedom and Satan worship:

America right now has its fist in the face of God and in the name of pluralism we are honoring paganism coast to coast in this nation.

…

You want to know what drives environmentalism in America? Paganism, paganism, this is exactly what Paul spoke about in Romans. And Paul said, when a generation does this I will give them over to a reprobate mind, they will believe a lie and they as a generation will be damned. Let me say this to you very clearly and those of you watching over the internet: There is one God in this book, it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Allah is not God, Buddha is not God, Mary is not God, Mary Baker Eddy is not God, birds, animals and bugs are not God, Jehovah God is the God of all Gods. He is a jealous God, and He demands that He be the Lord of all or not at all!

…

We have allowed the worship of Satanism in the U.S. military, most Americans are not aware of that, and we wonder why it takes us ten years to defeat our weak enemies as Moses said in Deuteronomy 28. How is it that in World War II we whipped the world in four years and now we’re bogged down in one lingering war after another that does nothing but rape our economy and kill our young men? Why? Maybe the God of Heaven is not with us. He says when you accept another God, I leave. I’m either the only Lord, or you’re on your own. That means stop voting for pagans and putting them in public office

Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan is one of the most rabidly anti-gay Religious Right activists operating today.  Just the other day he and Linda Harvey were ranting about how the "severe medical consequences" of being gay make gays an "employment risk."

So, of course, he is contemplating running for the US Senate:

Gary Glenn is exploring a possible jump into the U.S. Senate race as a Republican challenger to incumbent Debbie Stabenow.

Glenn, 53, of Midland served as GOP Michigan delegate for a decade, is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves and has a pro-life stance. He has spoken at a dozen Tea Party events, including the 2009 Midland County Tea Party rally, and has served as the president of the American Family Association.

Although several people have been mentioned in political circles as a GOP challenger to Stabenow, a Democrat, only Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John P. McCulloch has officially declared his candidacy.

Glenn, in an e-mail released this morning, said the country's founding values are under assault.

"Our nation's economy, security, liberties, moral foundation and founding principles — all that's made America and Americans exceptional in the history of the world — are under attack from within," Glenn said.

• Andy Birkey @ Minnesota Independent: Religious right rushes to Bachmann’s defense following ‘ex-gay’ reports.
• Justin Elliott @ Salon: Rick Perry's Confederate past.
• Sarah Posner @ Religion Dispatches: Neo-Confederates and the Revival of “Theological War” for the “Christian Nation.”
• Warren Throckmorton: The strange bedfellows involved in Rick Perry’s prayer meeting.
• Towleroad: Mitt Romney Rejects Conservative Iowa Group's 'Marriage Vow', Calls It 'Undignified and Inappropriate.'
• Igor Volsky @ Think Progress LGBT: Pawlenty Won’t Sign FAMiLY LEADER’s Pledge After Courting Group’s Endorsement.

We are starting to get the impression that Gov. Rick Perry and those organizing his massive public prayer event have not really put much thought into how it might look.

Response spokesperson Eric Bearse actually admitted that no one is vetting the endorsers of the event, to which we can only reply "well, no duh!"

And now Perry and organizers are trying to defend the event by insisting that it is entirely non-political:

Perry spoke to pastors from around the country in a conference call regarding The Response, a daylong prayer and fasting event planned for Aug 6 at Reliant Stadium.

"I know there are people, critics, that say this is just some political event," Perry said. "Well it's not that. This event is not about supporting some organization...It's going to be very simple...It's just a time to call out to god and that's it and lift Jesus’ name up on high."

Event organizers on the call stressed that the event is designed to be religious in nature. They said attendees will be encouraged not to wear political shirts or bring political signs to the event.

"This is not an issue of who's going to be our president...It absolutely has nothing to do with that at all. it's about making Jesus king...," said Jim Garlow, a California Pastor.

...

Garlow said Perry’s involvement in the event is key to its historic

"We have not seen historically a governor call other governors to a national prayer before that I'm aware of," Garlow said. "Even if only 1 or 2 other governors respond, at least this governor had the courage to ask other governors to respond. That's critical."

Perry conceded some assume there are "other motivations" behind the event. Perry is widely expected to announce whether he’s running for president soon after the event.

"I can't control that," Perry said. "We can't control that. We're just going to pray. We're just going to get on our knees and pray right there in Reliant Stadium."

Rick Perry is a sitting governor and likely presidential candidate who is partnering with an extremely powerful Religious Right political organization in order to organize a event that features a variety of Religious Right political activists, all for the purpose of seeking God's help in solving the nation's "economic, political, and military" problems.

But the event is entirely non-political.

Whatever.

And frankly, the political nature of Perry's event is really the least of his problems.

It has been reported that James Robison has been gathering Religious Right leaders and mobilizing them to defeat President Obama in 2012.  While some reports that have suggested that Robison is seeking to rally them behind Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Robison himself is making it clear that he is less interested in "who" the candidate is than he is in laying out "what" needs to be done to save America:

I am declaring to everyone with ears to hear: Now is the time to return to God. Stand up like a mighty army! Pierce the darkness, storm the gates of hell, set captives free, correct our course, reclaim the land, make God the “who” in our personal and national life, and point people to the “what.” We will never find the right “who” until we know the right “what.” When the population understands the “what to do,” we can find the “who” to help lead and insist that every “who” does the right “what.” 

To that end, Robison is laying out just "what" needs to be done so that Christians can decide on "who" will be the best candidate to support: 

• As the Pledge of Allegiance states, we are a nation under God; and as our currency proclaims, our trust is in God—not “gov.” If national leaders do not acknowledge what America’s founders understood concerning the importance of divine providence, there will be no recovery.
• All life must be protected and seen as precious with unlimited potential however unexpected or planned for. Remember, we can clearly learn from Nazi Germany that something can be legal but also very evil (i.e., the horrific extermination of the Jews and others considered less than perfect or unimportant).
• America must stand in the best interests of Israel against the evil forces calling for its destruction.
• Marriage is between a man and a woman and must be viewed as sacred. The strength of our nation depends on strong families, and national policy must protect marriage.
• There are moral absolutes. No person’s failure reduces or redefines the standards carved in stone by the finger of God and revealed in His Word. We must find a way to stop judges and courts from misinterpreting the Constitution and writing their own laws.
• Success and prosperity may be mishandled by some, but the potential for success that produces opportunity for all and prosperity at different levels is not the problem. Those we elect must keep the free market free, healthy and under the influence of people who understand the importance of personal responsibility.
• There are forces of good and evil, and they must be wisely and rightly defined, discerned and resisted. A strong national defense is critical. Radical Islam and terrorism are serious threats. Extreme environmental activism is, also.
• Depending on the federal government as our source is idolatry. We must control it, or it will control us. Stop the madness! Hitler believed that Germany needed a government over the people, not of the people. God deliver us from this kind of insanity.
• Out-of-control spending, mismanagement of the people’s money and excessive, intrusive regulation is as wrong and immoral as stealing. Spending must be brought under control now, at whatever sacrifice. This does not include foolishly giving the government more of the people’s money to waste or mismanage.
• “We the people” must be understood to mean that we all have a “dog in the show.” We are all responsible. We can’t just lay the load and responsibility on others, no matter how many twisted thinkers try to play the blame game. The opportunities and possibilities to succeed is not the problem. Don’t blame opportunity, begin inspiring and teaching responsibility. We must find a way for every citizen to help in some way shoulder the load. This can be accomplished without being unfair and riding on anyone’s back.
• Deal with excessive, foolish taxation and revamp the tax code along with the IRS so we can rejoice together because it will stimulate economic growth. This would create jobs and ultimately enable us to better assist the suffering, the weak, helpless and poor—not with just a handout, but with compassionate hands extended. The church can and must set the example.
• Let the people go. Turn them loose and behold the miracle made possible when people are truly free to be productive while assuming personal responsibility. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall in 52 days. Impossible? Not with God!
• The church must be delivered from the spirit of religion and filled with the Holy Spirit, leading us to the supernatural unity that produces holy harmony. National leaders must rise above partisanship and reason together, seeking effective solutions to serious challenges.

• FRC continues its crusade against NBC for dropping "under God" from the pledge with the help of members of Congress ... and so NBC has apologized again, which I am sure will still not satisfy FRC.
• Rep. Ron Paul will not seek re-election.
• I am sure that Laura Fotusky will soon embark upon her new career as a Religious Right hero.
• Of course, had Liberty Counsel not won this case, they could have just encouraged their client to kidnap her child and flee the country.
• This video is from last year, but it is still interesting watching David Barton explain to the skeptical host that while Glenn Beck considers himself to be a Mormon, Barton considers him to be a Christian.

A few months ago, a post appeared on the American Family Association's blog criticizing the Religious Right for aligning itself with "false prophets" like Cindy Jacobs, Rick Joyner and Lou Engle.

The post was, not surprisingly, immediatedly removed because the inclusion of these self-proclaimed prophets and apostles and the dominionist Seven Mountains theology they promote has largely become accepted and embraced within the movement to such an extent that leaders like David Barton are openly promoting it.

The same can now be said for the AFA itself, which featured Seven Mountains proponent Os Hillman on a recent broadcast of "Today's Issues," one of its flagship programs, where nearly the entire discussion was dedicated to the Seven Mountains concept. 

Hillman explained that success of the gay rights movement is a result of the fact that a small percentage of people control the media mountain and the arts and entertainment mountain and have systematically used them to promote acceptance on this issue.  Hillman went on to assert that this success is merely a "symptom of a greater problem" within the family mountain and that if Christians lose control of this mountain "we lose all the other ones": 

• Tony Perkins wants it known that, contrary to reports, he was not on the Religious Right's Rick Perry conference call.
• It is apparently unfair for Rep. Keith Ellison to point out that his opponent is an intolerant anti-Islam right wing activist.
• I never fails to amuse me when Religious Right groups best known for hating gays decide to speak out on foreign policy issues.
• It looks like Sally Kern will be promoting her new book on AFA Radio and with Concerned Women for America, so we have that to look forward to.
• Finally, Peter LaBarbera says "Christians and all defenders of sexual normalcy ... no other choice but to fight back against the emerging liberal homo-fascism."

Mission America’s Linda Harvey is back with new anti-gay rants, hitting both the Republican National Committee and the National Education Association for allegedly supporting “the promotion of homosexuality.” The RNC came under fire from Religious Right activists when a member of the Log Cabin Republicans joined their finance committee, and Harvey is now calling on listeners to withhold donations to the RNC “until the sodomy lobby is shown the door”:

Harvey: Here’s my suggestion: True conservatives who are sickened and rightfully concerned about the promotion of homosexuality at every level in our culture need to send a clear message to the GOP national headquarters. We need to say no to donations from the Republican National Committee, when they call we need to tell them why. Until the sodomy lobby is shown the door, don’t give the RNC itself one dime.

Harvey is also incensed the National Education Association endorsed anti-bullying initiatives that protect children from bullying based on sexual orientation. According to Harvey, Americans should sue the NEA to prevent the burgeoning “gaystapo” from enacting anti-bullying programs:

NEA’s anti-bullying campaign will include a strand on creating safe work environments to include: 1) support plans within the organization for members bullied, harassed, or exposed to hate language; 2) student discipline plans that stop bullying, harassment, and use of hate language; 3) contract language that secures safe work environments for all our members.

The "hate language" policy is bad enough. Will this result in even more "gay"stapo efforts to silence Christians and conservatives? Or to position students and fellow staff who dare to express traditional moral beliefs as speaking "hate language"?

But.... "Contract language"?? In other words, parents, get ready. Teachers are going to transform the local school into an even more ideological monolith as they negotiate away your rights to not have your child propagandized, in order that they, the teachers, feel "safe" from certain viewpoints. It's the control freak tendency of the tolerant left,once again.

Where are the anti-discrimination class action suits against the NEA when we need them?

Perhaps taxpayers can "contract" to have public sector unions become a relic of the past.