Have you ever wondered how we got to the present moment in American politics and society? The Christian Right has played an enormous, and unappreciated, role. Explore the history, causes, and impact of the religious right in the U.S., as shared by students at Lehigh University.
This podcast is a project of "The Christian Right in America," a Lehigh University seminar. Learn more at go.lehigh.edu/soc375
The Christian Right have very strong opinions regarding the LGBTQ community and denounce their lifestyle in a public fashion. But has it been effective in the past? In this episode, I describe various anti-gay activists and how their activism didn't exactly provide them with the results they wanted.
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How far has the Christian Right come on the topic of Sex Education? What started the controversy? How did this topic become a topic of discussion? What about the shifts, or potential shifts, in today’s time on the topic of sex education and the Christian Right?
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We discuss the Christian Rights hypocritical tendencies and see how they have managed to succeed up to this point in time
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According to one study, from 1920-1960 about 70% of high schools omitted evolution from their textbooks. While ultimately unsuccessful, Christian Fundamentalists of the early 20th century led the crusade against evolution, and after public disgrace and a name change, the evangelicals in America have leveraged their influence to change the course of our country and the world. In this episode we track the Christian Right’s impact on education policy and norms in America.
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Is Trump the second coming of Reagan? What are the similarities between Reagan and Trump? What are the differences? In order to attempt to answer this question we will look into the policies, support, reputation, communication styles amongst these two presidents.
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To most, QAnon is a mostly absurd and unreasonable conspiracy theory. But to those who subscribe to it, it represents a battle between good and evil. Especially for many in the Christian Right.
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The Christian Right is largely built with the goal to restore fundamental, traditional values into what once was a Christian nation. By strapping on their armor and preparing their weapons, the Christian Right has fought, and is still fighting, to reclaim America for Christ and win the culture war.
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This episode discovers the different ways community has played a role in the formation and maintaining of the Christian Right. Humans have a natural desire to feel like they are a part of something bigger, and members of the Christian Right are no different.
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Many Christians hold strong beliefs around the sanctity of marriage, the wrongfulness of theft, and the dignity of the human life. So, how can almost 80% of Evangelical Christians so enthusiastically support President Trump? Plagued by curiosity unresolved by academic literature on the subject, I decided to find out for myself.
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Research drawn from:
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The Christian Right is a powerful political force that for decades had but two focuses: marriage protection and abortion. I take a bit of time to explore what happened to the marriage protection movement and if it bears any similarities to the other large-scale, failed Christian movement of the 20th century—prohibition.
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This podcast is a description on how the two most powerful sectors of the christian right interact and further promote the influence of christiaity i america, through large corp, politics, entertainment, and education. It also describes the way these two sectors interact to create an efficient movement structure.
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This episode marks the culmination of my semester's work as I take what I have learned to a conversation with a member of the Christian Right after a run in with a high school friend.
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The culture of the Christian Right typically places men in positions of leadership. However, this podcast examines the influential and significant role of women in shaping the Christian Right from the 1960s to modern day.
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Here we explore the various reasons why students from the LGBT community attend Christian colleges, even colleges that are openly discriminatory towards their lifestyle.
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In today’s episode, host Devin Yeatter discusses the Joe Biden Presidential Campaign’s efforts to win over White Evangelical support from President Trump. How effective has VP Biden been? And does it even matter?
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Evangelical Christians donate more to charity than most other groups. Yet, white evangelicals predominately vote for candidates who do not want to increase welfare spending. In this episode we explore the attitude of the Christian Right towards welfare.
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Members of the Christian Right have been known to deny human-involvement in Climate Change. But how can they rationalize a lack of effort to make a change when they personally suffer from it’s effects?
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It’s no question that the left-right political spectrum has grown increasingly divided over time. Have you ever wondered what exactly differentiates you and the person next to you? For example, what are the distinctions between a Trump supporter and a non-supporter? Hochschild’s concept of “empathy walls” allows us to explore our own limitations when it comes to understanding the beliefs and actions of another individual. When we actively do our part in “breaking down” these walls, there is room for growth and understanding.
Show Notes/Resources
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Discussing how the Christian Right is moving in today's political atmosphere and analyzing how the Christian Right and Donald Trump's presidency can be connected.
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With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are on the edge of our seat, nervously awaiting uncertain family dinner conversations about the (finally) concluded election season and the state of American politics. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of digging your heels in and resisting ideologically aloof relatives’ influence. But in this podcast, I propose an alternative approach to navigating a politically diverse family, one that offers everyone from the Christian Right to democratic socialists a deeper level of understanding.
Show Notes: Research drawn from One Nation Under God (Kruse, 2015), Strangers in Their Own Land (Hothschild, 2016), Suburban Warriors (McGirr, 2015); Excerpts fromArlie Hothschild, Ph.D. on Empathy Walls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvKW7Ul71LY&) , Bill Maher on Evangelicals (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=191kow6kLUM&t), Christianity Will Have Power, read by Sarah McCusker and Devon Kolumber (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/us/evangelicals-trump-christianity.html), Dwight Eisenhower’s Inaugural Prayer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRkMsts3io8&t), Jesus Camp (http://www.documentarymania.com/player.php?title=Jesus%20Camp)
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This episode delves into the concept of empathy walls, especially with how they relate to LGBTQ+ rights. This topic is highly debated in the United States today, and emotions run high when discussing it. How can empathy walls help us bridge the gap of understanding between the two sides?
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Donald Trump is a vulgar, hardcore businessman who speaks his mind, no matter who will get offended. Keeping that in mind, how did he manage to gain the support of the Christian Right. This episode dives deeper into the methods he used to secure his place as President of the United States.
Show Notes:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/christian-right-worships-donald-trump-915381/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/09/us/evangelicals-trump-christianity.htmlHochschild, Arlie Russell. 2016. Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right. New York: The New Press.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTACH1eVIaA&ab_channel=CNN
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In this episode, we explore the role media echo chambers have to validate political identities and defining freedom.
Show Notes:
Strangers in Their Own Land - Arnie Hochschild
This Sort Of Debate Shouldn't Happen in America - Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
"It's Got to Be Donald Trump" - Rush Limbaugh
"One Last Ride on the Pollercoaster" - Pod Save America
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Today we will take a look at the John Birch Society. This Christian Right organizing group has played a role in politics from its genesis in 1958 and slowly declined in its later years. Now with the Trump presidency it has gained a second wind. Lets look at its beginnings to understand their relevance in today's politics.
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This podcast tells a historical description of Christian Right platform in politics and the extreme systematic opposition to differing beliefs from their own. From the scopes trial in 1924 to Falwell's moral majority of '74 the constant information silo that is the Christian Right.
Show Notes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqE6WnIc8Rw
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Ever wonder how our modern Pledge of Allegiance came to be? How the rise of the Soviet Union played into our current Pledge of Allegiance? Even learn about how our original gestures matched that of Nazi Germany. Listen in to find out.
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Reverend Billy Graham's influence on American society is well-documented. On today's episode of Transforming America, our host Devin Yeatter introduces us to a contemporary of Rev. Graham's whose impact has largely been forgotten.
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In this quick piece, we explore the life of Jerry Falwell and how he got three presidents elected, built a name for himself, and helped shape the Christian Right. Falwell is a controversial figure in American politics, but knowing his story is the key to understanding conservative politics over the last 70 years.
References:
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Hello listener's this is Chris.T and in episode one of my podcast series we start to take a glimpse at the start of the Christian Right movement in America. We analyze where its origins are in history and how it was able to grow to the extent in which we see it in today's politics and in society.
Show Notes:
Song; Alexander Hamilton by Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
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Have you ever wondered if there is a connection between the Christian right and the election of Donald Trump? What are some factors that make this man so appealing, you may ask? In this podcast, we highlight some of the answers as to what caused the Christian Right support in Trump's candidacy and confirm the statistical voter representation of the members within the Christian right.
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The Christian Right movement came to be through a number of different factors, one being political upheaval and major social change. This podcast will focus on the political climate of the year of 1964, specifically in regards to the presidential race between Lyndon B. Johnson and Barry Goldwater. During this time period, students at the University of California, Berkeley launched the Free Speech Movement of 1964, spurring a nation-wide movement of student activism.
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The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has brought abortion back into the national spotlight. It’s just the opportunity evangelicals have been looking for.
CITATIONS:
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Abortion, Planned Parenthood, and Gay Marriage are the apparent holy trinity of the Christian Right in America. In this podcast, I posit that the cross Evangelicals have historically been willing to die on has very little to do with these three issues. Social and political changes in the education curriculum and the financial structure of religious educational institutions were extremely formative in the creation of today's Christian right. I explore the historical examples of this impact on and from education and how evangelical politics came to be what we recognize it as today.
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Anti-communism was not only a foreign policy strategy, but a cultural movement within the United States. This episode follows the role of the Cold War in the rise of a uniquely Christian and conservative group of people, who would go on to nominate a candidate that would change the course of the Republican Party.
Show Notes:
-- McGirr, Lisa. Suburban Warriors: the Origins of the New American Right. Princeton University Press, 2015.
-- Barry Goldwater Endorses Extremism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOtvO_L_XoM).
--Goldwater Spot: People Ask About Communism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjHQxV4HBzk).
--Ronald Reagan, "Evil Empire" Speech (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=do0x-Egc6oA)
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The issue of abortion in America is more complex than many people may think. Between the real reasons for the grander introduction of abortion into politics, as well as the way politicians address abortion, there is a lot to learn. Tune in to shine a new light on today’s America.
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Long lauded as the father of animated film, Walt Disney is a household name throughout the United States. Seldom does an American family evade Disney's legacy today, thanks to the 1,000+ movies that he produced and wildly popular resorts that he built over his 33-year career. But many Americans nonetheless remain unaware of the religious motivations behind Disney's career, as well as Disney's vital role in amplifying the then-fledgling Christian Right that continues to influence political life today.
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Featuring excerpts of...
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Transforming America is a shiny new podcast about the Christian Right, its origins, people, and ideas. Most of all, Transforming America is about how we've all arrived at the present moment in our political and social lives. Each short episode is produced by Lehigh University students working together to understand the Christian Right and share its stories with you. You can learn more about the Lehigh seminar of students at go.lehigh.edu/soc375
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