The book looks like an important and worthwhile read. I also recommend Tim Alberta’s “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory” for a deep dive into modern religious right political extremism.
As someone whose formative years were the 60’s and 70’s, I witnessed a close connection between segregation and the religious right. Segregationists hid behind faith and distorted God’s word.
An example: in 1960, Bob Jones, Sr. defended racial separation based on Acts 17:26 (“[God] hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation”). Focusing on “bounds of their habitation,” his statement included:
“Wherever we have the races mixed up in large numbers, we have trouble.”
“If you are against segregation and against racial separation, then you are against God Almighty because He made racial separation in order to preserve the race through whom He could send the Messiah and through whom He could send the Bible. God is the author of segregation.”
“No nation has ever prospered or been blessed like the colored people in the South.”
Modern fundamentalist religious and right-wing extremism evolved from there.
Alberta's book was great, though it scared the crap out of me! I'll be interviewing Randall tomorrow for Crackers and Grape Juice. Anything you want me to ask him?
If he has any thoughts on why many evangelicals remain so enamored with Donald Trump, even as he seems to be downplaying abortion in this election, that would be interesting.
The book looks like an important and worthwhile read. I also recommend Tim Alberta’s “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory” for a deep dive into modern religious right political extremism.
As someone whose formative years were the 60’s and 70’s, I witnessed a close connection between segregation and the religious right. Segregationists hid behind faith and distorted God’s word.
An example: in 1960, Bob Jones, Sr. defended racial separation based on Acts 17:26 (“[God] hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation”). Focusing on “bounds of their habitation,” his statement included:
“Wherever we have the races mixed up in large numbers, we have trouble.”
“If you are against segregation and against racial separation, then you are against God Almighty because He made racial separation in order to preserve the race through whom He could send the Messiah and through whom He could send the Bible. God is the author of segregation.”
“No nation has ever prospered or been blessed like the colored people in the South.”
Modern fundamentalist religious and right-wing extremism evolved from there.
Alberta's book was great, though it scared the crap out of me! I'll be interviewing Randall tomorrow for Crackers and Grape Juice. Anything you want me to ask him?
If he has any thoughts on why many evangelicals remain so enamored with Donald Trump, even as he seems to be downplaying abortion in this election, that would be interesting.
That sounds like an interesting book!