My horrible right-wing past: Confessions of a one-time religious right icon

[xchrom]

http://www.salon.com/2014/12/24/my_horrible_right_wing_past_confessions_of_a_one_time_religious_right_icon/


Frank Schaeffer

I am a white, privileged, well-off, 61-year-old former Republican religious right-wing activist who changed his mind about religion and politics long ago. The New York Times profiled my change of heart saying that to my former friends I’m considered a “traitorous prince” since my religious-right family was once thought of as “evangelical royalty.”

You see, only in the Mafia, the British Royal family and big time American religion is a nepotistic rise to power seen as normal. And I was good at it. And I hated it while hypocritically profiting from it — until, that is, in the mid-1980s, I quit. These days I describe myself as an atheist who believes in God.

Ironically I helped my father become famous in the religion sector. In the 1970s I directed and produced two film series featuring Dad with book companions that became evangelical bestsellers: “How Should We Then Live?” and “Whatever Happened to the Human Race?” By the time Dad and I completed two nationwide seminar tours launching those projects, I was being invited to speak at the biggest religious gatherings, including the Southern Baptist Convention and the annual meeting of the National Religious Broadcasters.

The leaders of the new religious right were gleefully betting on American failure. If secular, democratic, diverse and pluralistic America survived, then wouldn’t that prove that we were wrong about God only wanting to bless “Christian America?” If, for instance, crime went down dramatically in New York City, for any other reason than a reformation and revival, wouldn’t that make the prophets of doom look silly? And if the economy was booming without anyone repenting, what did that mean?

[Faux pas]

1. I've seen Frank Schaeffer

on msnbc several times. I admire his willingness to speak out against the screwed up way he grew up. We need more people like him out there speaking the true truth.

[Enthusiast]

2. Kicked and recommended!

I applaud for his honesty.

[PeoViejo]

3. So many of the Religious Right are guilty of Willful Ignorance.

They know it's a racket, but unwilling to let go of the financial teat.

[hifiguy]

8. "It is easy with the bible to pretend

you are in show biz." Frank Zappa, 1981

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. Now the hard Right is fixated with White Supremecy and the Rapture.

[Orrex]

6. I wish that the Rapture would hurry up and happen already

Clear out the chapparal.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. What's funny is the ones who KNOW they'll be "left behind" and are arming up.

[Orrex]

10. LOL! Great point!

Maybe they're hoping to be second-round draft picks?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. They watch "The Walking Dead" for survival tips.

[JaneyVee]

5. NYC is now the safest big city in America and churches are closing down.

[hifiguy]

7. He is a man well worth listening to.

Though his list of organizations where nepotism rules is lacking the Bush Crime Family. They control an empire that would make any self-respecting wiseguy blush in shame.

K/R

[hughee99]

11. It's missing a lot more than that...

In big business, Hollywood, politics, music, and even in public service, nepotism still rules.

[hifiguy]

13. Yes indeed, see Luke Spudlet for one.

If it weren't for his last name he'd be the fill-in weekend sports guy on a five-thousand watt radio station in East Jesus, Idaho.

TPTB mean to have their hereditary aristocracy come hell or high water. It IS, of course, the proper form of societal organization. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Franklin are whirling dervishly in their graves.

[LuvNewcastle]

14. K&R! Great article!

This guy knows where the bodies are buried in the religious right and the GOP, which have become one and the same. I wish everybody in the country would read this. It's time to take away the power that the religious right has in our government already. If they get their way, they'll have a lot more. This guy is trying to warn everybody, and I hope people hear him.

[freshwest]

15. Thanks, xchrom, excellent piece by Schaffer.