Posted on 04/10/2009 11:32:24 PM PDT by Schnucki
Edited on 04/12/2009 11:03:20 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
America's religious Right has conceded that the election of US President Barack Obama has sealed its defeat in the cultural war with permissiveness and secularism.
Leading evangelicals have admitted that their association with George W. Bush has not only hurt the cause of social conservatives but contributed to the failure of the key objectives of their 30-year struggle.
James Dobson, 72, who resigned recently as head of Focus on the Family - one of the largest Christian groups in the country - and once denounced the Harry Potter books as witchcraft, acknowledged the dramatic reverse for the religious Right in a farewell speech to staff.
“We tried to defend the unborn child, the dignity of the family, but it was a holding action,” he said.
“We are awash in evil and the battle is still to be waged. We are right now in the most discouraging period of that long conflict. Humanly speaking, we can say we have lost all those battles.”
Despite changing the political agenda for a generation, and helping push the Republicans to the Right, evangelicals have won only minor victories in limiting the availability of abortion. Meanwhile the number of states permitting civil partnerships between homosexuals is rising, and the campaign to restore prayer to schools after 40 years - a decision that helped create the Moral Majority - has got nowhere.
Though the struggle will go on, the confession of Mr Dobson, who started his ministry from scratch in 1977, came amid growing concern that church attendance in the United States is heading the way of Britain, where no more than ten per cent worship every week.
Unease is rising that a nation founded - in the view of evangelicals - purely as a Christian country will soon, like northern Europe, become “post-Christian”.
Recent surveys
**************
Has Dobson Thrown In The Towel? Not Quite (FULL AUDIO)
Palin should avoid Romney like the plague. They are principled opposites. Palin says what’s on her mind and plows ahead, whatever the press might say, while Romney is your typical put-the-wet-finger-to-the-wind politician.
He is also the father of the bailout - offering billions to the car industry way back during the primary season while campaigning in Michigan.
Dittos
I disagree with this campaign. School is an atheism class, a Government-is-our-saviour class. The time for prayer is before stepping through the doors. The government owns the schools, the doctrine preached there, and will not tolerate a free market competition of ideas. This particular battle was lost the moment the schools took $ from Uncle Sam. Forty years of flogging a dead horse hasn't changed anything and has wasted a lot of time and resources.
You are so very right. I once saw a saying in of all places...a garden center. But it is very, very true.
All those seed packets hanging on a wall won’t grow unless you do something with the seeds. In fact, pray over them all you want and they still won’t grow....
I saw an act of Faith today, am man in a garden planting seeds.
Prayer and Faith are not the same thing. Faith is an action moving in the direction of your prayers.
Well, what do you expect from the Telegraph (UK)?
They gloat whenever there is evidence of loss of faith. Misery loves company.
“(BTW, The Puritans were a pretty whacked out crew, and fairly disliked by almost everyone they came into contact with)”
They never should have allowed the MSM to edit their interviews.
God gives to all in their lifetime; it just takes a lifetime of work and patience.
Early 60’s: Buckley starts conservative movement
1964-65 : Black/Civil Rights.
then: Women’s “lib” movement.
Conservatives just had their chance and pissed it away. Blacks (and allies) have their prayers vindicated Jan 20.
A woman will be the next President. I hope its a traditional one. :)
LLS
I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A RAT BASTARD LIKE mitt... and I am NOT alone... and as much as I love Palin... I would not vote for her if she was partnered with mitt... it would prove her decision making abilities were sub par. Get over it... mitt will NEVER be the Republican nominee. Mr 1% has nice har though.
LLS
Why do you think they call me "grey_whiskers"?
(Married for a considerable number of years to the same Mrs. Whiskers, whom I courted and married whilst sporting a beard.)
Happy Easter, early (countdown to Guinness and Chocolate continues.)
Cheers!
I’m glad the Catholic Church has the willpower to keep fighting against this culture of death, despite the attacks from the outside and within.
Amen!
Kalifornia probably threatened to take away Warrens’ church tax exemption if he didn’t stand with the gays.
I have kinda had my doubts about Rick Warren. Just an inkling but I can’t put a finger on why. I really know nothing about him. But if this is true, then my suspicions are right.
I would just hold Warren to a higher standard because he is a minister.
Even THEY are blaming president Bush. Absurdity has taken over!
“Sometimes I think a Palin / Romney ticket would be a wildfire which would reignite Reagan Democrats and Reagan Republicans to roll back all this “internationalist” bullcr*p.”
I’d support a ticket like that.
Romney was governor of Taxachuttes. He is there unworthy. If the folks up there liked him, he is bad,
I don’t think so. The ‘religious right’ is right after all.
Some folks don’t sing this part........
“O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land,
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just.
And this be our motto— “In God is our trust; “
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”
“I’m not saying that prayer isn’t enough, but pray and then take action.”
Well, you’re right in the main line of history’s best protagonists. James said show me your faith and I’ll show you my faith by my deeds. Faith without works is dead.
The founders of this country were believers in the Judeo-Christian God, and they took up arms and wrested this land from the British.
Yep. You’re mainstream.
Your tag line is a really great sermon!
Conservative Christians have failed to preach the gospel to their children. Day after day children from Christian families get on government school buses and spend the most important hours of their day awash in government school atheistic, Marxist, secular humanism. Once home from their atheistic government school, they children do secular humanist homework, spend their time being friends with other children who are indoctrinated in atheistic secular humanism, and swim in Marxist influenced media. The few minutes to hours that parents have in a day are unlikely to counter the overwhelming secular humanist influences in a child's life.
A Christian's **most** important mission field is his **own** children. His next most important mission field is the children of his congregation. Yet....Ministers throughout the nation allow their churches to be closed throughout the week. There are too many government teachers sitting in the pews and these ministers will not bite the hand that puts money in the collection plate!
Christians have **failed** to set up a system of schools throughout the nation that would offer tuition-free conservative Christian education to every child in this nation.
Ray Moore, president of Exodus Mandate, a South Carolina-based group which organises home-schooling for Christian children, said: “Political involvement by Christians is not wrong, but that’s all the big groups did for 25 years. They were more concerned with fund-raising and political power than they were with our children’s welfare.”
Our political action Christian groups were too concerned with raising money. Again, the fact that so many Christian government teachers sit in the pews may also be an influence with these organizations. These groups aren't about to call for massive removal from the government schools. Hey! They aren't about to bite the hand that write a check either!
and the campaign to restore prayer to schools after 40 years - a decision that helped create the Moral Majority - has got nowhere.
What? A puny nondenominational prayer in the morning. These STUPID STUPID Christian conservatives think that would help? These kids are **drowning** in a sea of government sponsored atheistic, Marxist, secular humanism! They are awash and set adrift on a sea of atheistic and Marxist influenced media! Why not use a water pistol to put out a raging forest fire!!!!
If our nation is a mess we must start blaming Christians for how carelessly they have educated their children! SHAME ON THEM!
Yes, I am shouting. I am exasperated.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.