06AR11-01
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Apologia Report 11:1
January 4, 2006
Subject: Mother Jones magazine's alarm over "the Christian Right"
In this issue:
CULT WATCHING - addressing the chronic conflict between social-science academics and mental-health professionals
EVANGELICALISM - Mother Jones attempts to profile Reconstructionism
ORIGINS - is much of evangelical higher education opposed to intelligent design and open to evolution?
POP SPIRITUALITY - defending non-traditional spirituality in America
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CULT WATCHING
"Cult Awareness Groups and NRM Scholars: Toward Depolarization of Key Issues" by Michael D. Langone, president of the International Cultic Studies Association -- the abstract reads: "Since the 1970s there has been a divide between [new religion] scholars and [mental health] professionals with sometimes widely differing views of cultic groups. Although the phrases 'anti-cultists' and 'pro-cultists' are commonly used to describe the two camps, this article refers to sympathizers and critics. The article discusses the history of the academic disputes, attempts over the years to encourage dialogue between the two camps, and changes in the population of help seekers. Dialogue in recent years has decreased the polarization and increased communication between the two camps." Although the field of Christian countercult ministry is not included in the discussion, the article is helpful for gaining a broad appreciation of the different approaches to understanding and responding to controversial belief systems. Cultic Studies Review, 4:2 -- 2005, pp146-168.
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EVANGELICALISM
The regular year-end Special Issue of left-leaning Mother Jones magazine (Dec '05) sports the cover theme: "God and Country: Where the Christian Right Is Leading Us." One of the related articles that it features, "Professing Faith" by Karen Houppert (pp36-41, 76-77), reviews the "bloody battle" over Intelligent Design at Baylor University which began in 1999 when its president, Robert Sloan, "circumvented the standard departmental peer-review process to appoint a professor named William Dembski as director of the new Polanyi Center."
In "A Nation Under God" (pp33-35, 78) John Sugg profiles the Christian Reconstruction movement. "In this worldview, the mandate for Christians is not just to live right or to help their neighbors: They are called upon to take over or eliminate the institutions of secular government." Significant time is spent introducing Roy Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court who was at the center of the controversy over displaying the Ten Commandments in public buildings. Sugg reports that Moore has since "gained a rock-star following on the Christian right." Moore also "stands a good chance of being the next governor of Alabama [and is] arguably the single most significant politician to owe his ascendancy to Christian Reconstruction. ...
"Moore has never declared himself a Reconstructionist. But he is a frequent orator at gatherings whose organizers are part of the movement. The primary theologians, activists, and websites of Reconstruction laud him as a hero. Moore's lawyer in the Ten Commandments fight, Herb Titus, is a Reconstructionist, as are many of his most vocal supporters, including Gary DeMar, ... head of American Vision, one of the most prolific publishers of the movement." Sugg also dwells at length on DeMar.
"Reconstruction has slowly absorbed, congregation by congregation, the conservative Presbyterian Church in America ... and has heavily influenced others, notably the Southern Baptists." Some may be surprised to read that other luminaries of the movement are said to be Marvin Olasky (editor-in-chief of World magazine), Foursquare Church leader Jack Hayford, and philanthropist Howard Ahmanson. Sugg describes the late Francis Schaeffer as "Reconstruction's John the Baptist" and says that the late "Rousas John Rushdoony was its pope."
Another "MoJo" theme feature is "A Higher Frequency" by Adam Piore (pp47-51, 80-81), which profiles the "radio empire" of Salem Communications. Piore explains that "More than 100 million Americans now listen to Christian stations at least once a month, 43 percent more than five years ago, and, according to NRB [National Religious Broadcasters] president Frank Wright, Salem has spearheaded the trend. 'Salem is far and away the fastest-growing Christian radio chain. Their growth has been meteoric,' says Wright." Piore claims his story of Salem's rise to power "reveals the evangelical master plan." <http://www.motherjones.com/toc/2005/12/index.html>
See also: "KKLA-FM's Evangelical Voice Has Grown Louder" by K. Connie Kang which profiles Salem's flagship station in Los Angeles. Kang notes that "Los Angeles and Orange counties are the world's largest radio market, taking in more than $1 billion in advertising revenue.... Though most people think New York is a bigger market, it hasn't hit the $1-billion mark yet...." What's more, the 50,000-watt station has done so well financially that the station is now worth at least $250 million, according to the Southern California Broadcasters Assn.
Based on Arbitron statistics on listener numbers, KKLA ranks "in the top 40% of all radio stations in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Compared with secular-oriented stations, KKLA is not a 'blockbuster' in ratings, but it is 'respectable' and 'doing quite well,'" according to one industry insider. "But Arbitron statistics show it is the largest Christian 'teaching and talk' station in the United States.
More than 250,000 listeners in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties tune in every week to KKLA's programs on the Bible, morality and public affairs, and to its many lucrative commercials, according to Arbitron, the national radio rating service. The Los Angeles metropolitan area has the nation's largest number of evangelicals - nearly 1 million adults - according to the Barna Research Group, a Ventura-based firm that tracks trends related to values, beliefs and attitudes.
Kang discloses that Salem "reported net broadcasting revenue of $187.5 million in 2004," according to its 2004 annual report.
"The company grew from 46 to 105 stations in the last five years, having 'created a national platform that has become the most efficient way for advertisers to reach the audience interested in Christian and family-theme programming on a national basis,' the report states.
"In 1986, there were 10 Christian stations in the Los Angeles area, broadcasting officials say. Today, there are only two: KKLA and KWVE-FM (107.9), licensed in Orange County and owned by Calvary Chapel, the movement founded by the Rev. Chuck Smith. KKLA, starting in 1995, was the first station in Los Angeles to do Internet streaming, so its programs are available worldwide.
"Its Frank Pastore show, billed as 'the intersection of faith and reason,' focuses on current events and controversial subjects....
"Pastore, who describes himself as a former agnostic-atheist, became a Christian after a 1984 elbow injury that took him out of baseball. He earned a master's degree from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and a second master's in political philosophy and American government at Claremont Graduate School.
"'Jesus taught me that life's true meaning is beyond the pursuit of pride, power and possessions,' said the 48-year-old broadcaster....' Real fulfillment begins with knowing God, and deepens as you walk with him daily.'"
(Interestingly, Salem acquired KKLA "after its previous owner, the Rev. Gene Scott, lost a seven-year court battle with the Federal Communications Commission, which did not renew his license because he refused to reveal financial records after the agency alleged that designated contributions were not spent as intended.") Los Angeles Times, Dec 27 '05, <http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-kkla 27dec27,1,6802994.story?ctrack=1&cset=true>
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ORIGINS
"Intelligent Design Might Be Meeting Its Maker" by Laurie Goodstein -- speculates that ID may be nearing its end. "While intelligent design has hit obstacles among scientists, it has also failed to find a warm embrace at many evangelical Christian colleges. Even at conservative schools, scholars and theologians who were initially excited about intelligent design say they have come to find its arguments unconvincing. They, too, have been greatly swayed by the scientists at their own institutions and elsewhere who have examined intelligent design and found it insufficiently substantiated in comparison to evolution. ...
"The only university where intelligent design has gained a major
institutional foothold is a seminary. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., created a Center for Science and Theology for William A. Dembski, a leading proponent of intelligent design, after he left Baylor, a Baptist university in Texas, amid protests by faculty members opposed to teaching it.
"...Baylor, like many evangelical universities, has many scholars who see no contradiction in believing in God and evolution." New York Times, Dec 4 '05, <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/weekinreview/04good.html>
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POP SPIRITUALITY
"Spirit Wars" (retitled "Spirituality in America" in the journal's online version) by Leigh E. Schmidt, professor of religion at Princeton University, and author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "from which this essay has been developed" -- a defense of "the other side to the American religious coin" in contrast to "the spectacular resurgence of evangelical Christianity." Schmidt claims that "Spiritual seekers, from New Age animists to sober U.S. senators [namely Barack Obama], have a long and honorable lineage in American life - and the potential to inspire a rebirth of liberal politics." She argues that "there's nothing 'soft-core,' 'softheaded,' or 'sponge-cake'" about non-traditional spirituality in America. Unconvincing, but nevertheless useful documentation. Wilson Quarterly, 24:4 -- 2005, pp42-48.
<http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=146855> Note: This web page ends with a response by Doug Groothuis which refers to a linked review that he wrote of Schmidt's book for the Rocky Mountain News.
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Sources, Monographs:
1 - Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality, by Leigh E. Schmidt (HarperSanFrancisco, 2005, hardcover, 352 pages)
<http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060545666/apologiareport>
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