Christian Extremism

Christian extremism is a poorly understood and often neglected phenomenon. Although we are constantly hearing about Muslim extremists, America is plagued with a Christian extremist movement which we ignore at our peril. Christian extremism includes the components of Christian fundamentalism (i.e., biblical inerrancy, evangelism, premillenialism, separatism/sense of persecution, and biblical literalism with regard to creation) and adds some additional components (e.g., exclusivity, anti-intellectualism, social conservatism/anti-liberalism, intolerance, theocratic strivings, and militant opposition to modernism).

Write an Article

Join

RSS

Media Won't Discuss Huckabee's Christian Extremism

Written by vjack on

From: atheistrevolution.blogspot.com

He won Iowa, and he's here to "take this nation back for Christ." He's Mike Huckabee, and he could end up winning the Republican nominee for 2008 even though he remains an embarrassment to many Republicans. He appears to be a genuine Christian extremist, and there seems to be little place in Huckabee's America for nonbelievers, homosexuals, a woman's right to choose, and even science. It is not quite time to panic, but it is also no time for apathy.

This story from the Associated Press caught my eye because it reports that Huckabee stands by this statement he made 10 years ago: "I hope we answer the alarm clock and take this nation back for Christ."

He gave the speech the same year he endorsed the Baptist convention's statement of beliefs on marriage that "a wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ." Huckabee and his wife, Janet, signed a full-page ad in USA Today in support of the statement with 129 other evangelical leaders.

I find it telling that Huckabee has made his fundamentalist Christian faith the centerpiece of his current campaign. According to the same AP article, "Campaign ads emphasize faith and call him a Christian leader."

Much as the mainstream media was unwilling to question George W. Bush's march to war in Iraq, they are now reluctant to use the Christian extremist label when discussing Huckabee. I have no such reluctance and will continue to do so. In fact, if it looks like he might actually win the Republican nomination, I will call on every atheist blogger to write posts in which "Huckabee" and "Christian extremist" appear in the title. While such a call seems premature at this point, I cannot resist venting a bit.

When Huckabee tries to reassure atheists that he's not interested in theocracy, he says we should simply look at his record in Arkansas.

"I didn't ever propose a bill that we would remove the Capitol dome of Arkansas and replace it with a steeple," he said. "You know, we didn't do tent revivals on the grounds of the Capitol."

I don't know about you, but I'm not convinced. The concept of taking America back for Christ certainly sounds familiar, and I do not find it particularly palatable.

Tags: Mike Huckabee, Huckabee, politics, election 2008, 2008 election, Christian extremism, religion, faith, atheist, Iowa, science, media, Arkansas

	California Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage Gay and lesbian Californians rejoice! You can now marry.
	Vatican and the Muslim world still at odds Politics inserted into religious rhetoric is a deadly mistake.
	Racist Child Molester, Warren Jeffs Found Guilty Forcing young girls to marry old grungy men. Yuck!