Christian Rightcast: Recent Episodes
Christian Rightcast
Kristin Rawls and Jeff Eaton unpack the history of Christian Fundamentalism in America. Learn how it shaped pop music and politics, how its culture came to be, and how its ideas contributed to America’s emerging authoritarian crisis.
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In a disheartening but long-anticipated 6-3 decision, the Supreme court struck down 1973’s Roe vs. Wade decision, eliminating constitutional protection for abortion. In this first episode after a 2021 hiatus, the hosts examine several threads in the anti-abortion movement’s generations-long trajectory:
The origins of the modern anti-abortion movement, and Francis Schaeffer’s role in bringing the “Catholic Issue” to a relatively indifferent Evangelical world in the late 70s
The movement’s strategic shift in the early 80s from totalizing “fetus-centered” to “woman-centered” and “conscience-centered” arguments against abortion and incrementalist legislative goals
The rise of deceptive “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” and their legally-fraught history of deceiving patients seeking abortions; Kristin discusses her experiences with the young fundamentalist women who keeping them running, and the danger of assuming the movement is primarily a male one
The tension between the anti-abortion movement’s “anything is justified to stop murder” rhetoric, and its opposition to sex education and contraceptives; Jeff discusses his own history as a committed anti-abortion ideologue in the 90s, and the role that tension had in convincing him to leave — and eventually support abortion rights.
Articles and essays in this episode include:
The Changing Strategies of the Anti-Abortion Movement, 2021, by Daniela Mansbach and Alisa Von Hagel, Political Research Associates
Foot Soldier of the Patriarchy, June 2022, Kristin Rawls, Revue
On Murder and The Other, June 2009, Jeff Eaton, Growing Up Goddy
Books mentioned or cited in this episode include:
Women against Abortion: Inside the Largest Moral Reform Movement of the Twentieth Century, 2017, Karissa Haugeberg
After Roe: The Lost History of the Abortion Debate, 2015, Mary Ziegler
Abortion and the Law in America: Roe v. Wade to the Present, 2020, Mary Ziegler
Handbook for a Post-Roe America, 2019, Robin Marty
Whatever Happened To the Human Race? 1979, Francis Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop
Crazy for God, 2008, Frank Schaeffer
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Kristin and Jeff consider the end of Roe vs. Wade, and the history of the anti-abortion movement's strategic evolution.
Tracking the rise of Neo-Charismatic musician/activist Sean Feucht, and figuring out why Christian romance novels keep doing a war crime
Despite a history of eye-popping apologia for slavery, Doug Wilson Wilson has become a key crossover figure for Reconstructionism. In this episode, Jeff and Kristin examine his latest material as well as his son's secular YA novels.
Jeff and Kristin unpack Evangelical Purity Culture to discuss American Fundamentalism's potent mix of of patriarchy, sex panic, culture war, and fear.
How Bill Gothard and his Institute in Basic Life Principles built a culture of obedience, silence, and sexual confusion that protects predators and puts children at risk.
From slavery-defending white supremacists to Libertarian Y2K preppers , reconstructionism’s influence stretches far beyond the handful of groups that explicitly claim the label.
How R. J. Rushdoony shaped fundamentalist politics, the world of homeschooling, the trajectory of American politics, and the obsessions of anti-tax militias forever.
We wrap up the Apocalypse series with Hal Lindsey's 1970 "Biblical Prophecy" bestseller — and it's a doosie.
It's the movie that put Rapture Horror on the pop culture map: 1972’s A Thief In The Night. It’s short but packed with B-movie flourishes, Evangelical cultural ephemera, and fundamentalist political paranoia.
How did The End Times go from a theological obsession to a multi-million dollar business? Jeff and Kristin explore the rise of Rapture media and its impact on the Evangelical public.
Jeff and Kristin dive deep into the origins, evolution, and modern renaissance of Apocalyptic Narratives and their importance to modern fundamentalism.
Kristin and Jeff discuss the Christian Right’s presence at January 6th's attempted coup, focusing Quiverfull homeschoolers, anti-abortion activists, and Charismatic evangelicals.
Kristin and Jeff reflect on community connections to a recently outed Proud Boy, then wrap up the series on Norman Vincent Peale with highlights from The Power Of Positive Thinking.
Part two of Kristin’s look at “God’s Salesman” examines Norman Vincent Peale’s melding faith with psychiatry, his bestselling book, and his role in shaping Trump’s worldview.
Kristin dives into the life of “God’s Salesman” — pastor Norman Vincent Peale. How did a Methodist preacher’s kid become a right wing icon… and pastor to the Trump family?
A tour of the different groups that make up the Christian Right, and a brief look at how they united to form today’s movement.
In the inaugural episode, Kristin and Jeff discuss the Christian Right in America, their respective histories with the movement, and why it matters.