The Rapture of Politics: The Christian Right As the United States Approaches the Year 2000

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Steve Bruce, Peter Kivisto, William H. Swatos, Jr.
Transaction Publishers - Religion - 150 pages
Theologically conservative Protestants have entered the political arena with an agenda that is at once political and religious. Assessing the current impact of this New Christian Right (NCR) on American politics, the contributors to this new book present provocative and diverse perspectives on a phenomenon that has, despite its pervasiveness in American culture, been too little examined. While some contributors show a disdain for the NCR, others evince genuine sympathy for the movement.
Steve Bruce takes aim at sociologists of religion who, in his estimation, have exaggerated the strength of the NCR. Clyde Wilcox believes the NCR attracts only a limited electoral following, and will have little success at the state and national levels. Stephen Johnson reports on voting patterns of Catholics, mainline Protestants, and conservative Protestants in Muncie, Indiana. And Phillip Hammond and his associates observe that the main fault line between conservatives and liberals is now over "family values." John Simpson singles out debates over abortion and homosexuality as the most potent cultural divisions arising out of the 1980s. Lyman A. Kellstedt and colleagues mark the 1992 presidential election as a watershed event, beginning a dramatic new cleavage in the two-party system. James M. Penning and Matthew C. Moen address issues related to NCR organizations and their place in the political arena.
It is clear that the NCR will remain a part of the religious and political landscape for some time, though there is little consensus over where the NCR will be located in that landscape. The Rapture of Politics will be of interest to political scientists, theologians, sociologists, and scholars of American culture.

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Page 61 - There are always some people whose ideas are considered bad or dangerous by other people. For instance, somebody who is against all churches and religion. [Used by Stouffer and NORC] A If such a person wanted to make a speech in your community against churches and religion, should he be allowed to speak, or not?
Page 61 - There's been a lot of discussion about the way morals and attitudes about sex are changing in this country. If a man and a woman have sex relations before marriage, do you think it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?
Page 61 - We are faced with many problems in this country, none of which can be solved easily or inexpensively. I'm going to name some of these problems, and for each one I'd like you to tell me whether you think we're spending too much money on it, too little money, or about the right amount.
Page 61 - Please tell me whether or not you think it should be possible for a pregnant woman to obtain a legal abortion . . . If there is a strong chance of serious defect in the baby? If she is married and does not want any more children?
Page 45 - It Is much better for everyone involved If the man is the achiever outside the home and the woman takes care of the home and family d.
Page 75 - What about sexual relations between two adults of the same sex do you think it is always wrong, almost always wrong, wrong only sometimes, or not wrong at all?
Page 21 - People For the American Way and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have suggested that the Christian Coalition is a juggernaut that can be stopped now only with some difficulty.
Page 61 - Would you favor or oppose a law which would require a person to obtain a police permit before he or she could buy a gun?
Page 62 - Women should take care of running their homes and leave running the country up to men.

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