Results: Christian Fundamentalist Chokehold on America, part one

Colonies were often ruled by strict religious observance prior to the Declaration of Independence. In fact, it could be said, the reason our country implemented the separation of church and state was because of the conflict and dissention caused by the rigorous and divisive theology within the colonies. In New England for example, "the civil government dealt harshly with religious dissenters…whipping Baptists or cropping the ears of Quakers for their determined efforts to proselytize." A religious revival came through the colonies between the 1730s and 1740s, called the Great Awakening. This movement "challenged the clerical elite and colonial establishment" by appealing to the poor and uneducated. It focused more on an emotional relationship with God than one based in reasoning. The Great Awakening was the basis for what would become the current fundamentalist, evangelical Christian faith. Are you familiar with this aspect of American history?

As American civilization progressed in scientific discoveries, modernists seamlessly wove their understanding of God and their holy texts together. Fundamentalists, on the other hand, found their beliefs contentiously out of step with rationalism and modernization. Until the 1970s, religious fundamentalists primarily stayed away from politics, believing politics distracted them from their calling to bring people to Christ and deliver the message of salvation. But through the charismatic leadership of people like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson, and savvy political strategists like Paul Weyrich, Christian fundamentalist extremism found a new platform in American politics, unlike any time in history. Do you think it is appropriate to mix politics with religion?

Most of the popular Republican candidates in the 2016 presidential election claimed God told them to run for president. What they share in common is a brand of Christianity, which is historically racist, homophobic, xenophobic, dangerously nationalistic, and exclusive. It is a form of Christian Sharia law, which forces those who believe differently into strict adherence to their version of "religious freedom." Do you agree with this brand of Christianity?

Fundamentalist Christian "religious freedom" laws allow for sweeping discrimination and removal of federal protections for people who believe differently. For example, Mississippi passed the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act" in 2016, which said public businesses, social workers, and even public employees who believe that sex should only be reserved between married people in opposite sex relationships cannot be punished for denying services to people who believe differently. Many Americans find these "religious freedom" laws to be rooted in bigotry. Do you also?