Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

I know about some, but certainly not all of the "faculty" who are teaching aspects of this "Biblical Worldview."

One of the regulars is David Barton, a propagandist for the notion that America was founded as a Christian nation -- that must be restored. He is also Vice-Chairman of the Texas Republican Party. Carlos wrote a bit about Barton at Talk to Action the other day. Barton is so popular that Worldview Weekend has a special section of their online bookstore devoted to Barton.

Another WW regular is Christian Reconstructionist Gary DeMar, who is featured in journalist John Sugg's article on Christian Reconstructionism in the current issue of Mother Jones magazine. Sugg stopped by Talk to Action for a chat on Tuesday. DeMar is also an advocate of the idea that America was founded as a Christian nation and that it must be restored. But what I his vision of the once and future Christian America?

I wrote a great deal about DeMar in Eternal Hostility:  The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy. Here is a brief section to give you a flavor of DeMar's role. In 1994, the commissioners in Cobb County, Georgia, passed a series of resolutions against homosexuality, defunded country arts programs and made it illegal for county funds to be spent on abortions. The point man in the effort, Gordon Wysong was honored at a banquet sponsored by Gary DeMar's activist think tank American Vision.

"In his banquet speech, commissioner Wysong blasted homosexuality, exclaiming, "We should blame them for every social failure in America." He received a standing ovation. American Vision president Gary DeMar called him a "statesman."

The keynote speaker was [American Vision] boardmember Dr. Steven Hotze, who has written that "to solve our nation's social and moral problems, our government must enforce biblical law. Hotze was, at the time, chairman of the Harris County (Houston) GOP, and remains prominent in Texas Republican politics.

In his speech, he called for destablization of the federal government.  "What we need in America today," Hotze declared, "is judges, we need mayors, we need governors who are willing to stand up to our Supreme Court, to our president and [apparently referring to abortion] say 'Not in our city.' Hotze continued, "I am convinced if men of courage in positions of leadership.... would stand, they would bring about a significant constitutional crisis." Hotze concluded, in the presence of a number of candidates for state, local and federal office, "We need to get men elected to do that."

Quite independently, former Southern Baptist Bruce Prescott, then of Houston, was also learning about Hotze. He discussed this history in his first post at Talk to Action last week.

There are now many folks who are busy comparing notes about what's been going on for the past few decades.  It's long over due, don't you think?  

Meanwhile, it is unlikely that such political histrionics as Hotze's will be on display at a Worldview Weekend. But given who some of the speakers are, it is fair to raise the question that if a Christian nation is the goal, what would it look like? If a dominionist political movement in the GOP or in the rival Constitution Party (the third largest party in the U.S.) is underway, then what is the agenda? Is Gary DeMar's idea of statesmanship where this movement is headed?  Is a Worldview Weekend seminar coming to your town?