The Real Lesson Of Iran -- Beware America's Republican Mullahs

The Republicans are faulting President Obama for not taking a "strong enough stand" in support of the freedom marchers in Iran. Yet if the Republican/Religious Right/Neoconservative agenda had come to full fruition over the last 35 years the Republicans would have plunged America into our own version of the misbegotten theocracy destroying Iran today. I know. As a former Religious Right leader I worked to make America "safe" for "Christian values" and dangerous to everyone else. Thankfully I, and those like me, failed.

Had we succeeded America would be another version of Iran. Instead of people like James Dobson and Pat Robertson having become marginalized they'd be sitting in Washington advising whomever was the next Republican president. Instead of environmental protection and new mileage standards for cars there would be new anti-gay laws on the books.

What are the real lessons of Iran for the USA?

1) Don't mix religion and politics.

2) Thank God for the separation of church and state.

3) The Republicans are utter hypocrites.

Until I got out of the religious right (in the mid-1980s) I was both a leader of the so-called pro-life movement and a part of a Republican Party hate machine masquerading as the moral conscience of America.

If the far right of the Republican Party and we of the Religious Right had had our way by now there would be a constitutional amendment and/or laws forcing prayer in schools, disenfranchising gay men and women, banning all abortions under penalty of death, banning gay men and women from serving in the military, launching a neoconservative led and religious right backed holy war against Islam, fixing Israel's borders permanently to incorporate all the land taken in 1967 forever into a "Greater Israel" based on the "fact" that "God gave the Jews" the land "forever," capital punishment would be used routinely to punish a variety of crimes including being gay, civil rights for blacks, women, gays, unions would be in retreat, and -- other than enforcing "morality" - George W. Bush's style of "free market" non-governance would be permanent.

Think this is all far fetched? Then you never sat in secret meetings with Pat Robertson or the late Dr. Kennedy -- as I did when I was a religious right leader -- fomenting plans to "bring America back to God." If we'd won America would be a slicker more dangerous version of Iran.

Picture America if Sarah Palin was president, both houses of Congress had a deep Republican majority, and the last 30 years of appointments to the Supreme Court had all been far right choices. Picture Fox News as the only TV news with access to the government, and the editors of the New York Times in jail for "treason."

The Religious Right has been awash in anti-democratic (even anti-American) religious ideologues for the better part of 40 years. For instance I knew the founders of the so-called dominionist or "reconstruction" wing of our movement personally, people like the late Reverend Rousas John Rushdoony the father of "Christian Reconstructionism" and the modern Christian home school movement.

Rushdoony (who I met and talked with many times) believed that interracial marriage, which he referred to as "unequal yoking", should be made illegal. He also opposed "enforced integration", referred to Southern slavery as "benevolent", and said that "some people are by nature slaves". Rushdoony was also a Holocaust denier. And yet his home school materials are a mainstay of the evangelical home school movement to this day!

Rushdoony's 1973 opus, The Institutes of Biblical Law, says that fundamentalist Christians must "take control of governments and impose strict biblical law" on America and the world. That would mean the death penalty for "practicing homosexuals."

Many evangelical leaders deny holding Reconstructionist beliefs but Beverly and Tim LaHaye (of Concerned Women for Americaand the "Left Behind" novels that glorify religious violence), Donald Wildmon (American Family Association) and the late D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Ministries) -- served alongside Rushdoony on the secretive Coalition for Revival, a group formed in 1981 to "reclaim America for Christ." I went to the early meetings. I first met Tim LaHaye at one such meeting. And what Dobson, Falwell et al were pushing, and what the "tea parties" and Fox News are all about today, is one or another version of the Rushdoony/theocracy version of the Iranian mullahs American-style.

When there are tens of thousands of Americans sitting in evangelical churches every Sunday wherein President Obama is vilified as an "abortionist," a "Communist," a "secret Muslim," and even as "the Antichrist," when the former vice president accuses our President of what amounts to treason, all because President Obama won't allow the torture of prisoners in an American version of holy war, all because he has decided it is wise to build bridges of respect to Muslim countries, we've left recognizable political territory and entered the realm of violence-inciting hate and delusion of the kind Iran's "supreme leader" indulges in.

Picture the harshest Old Testament laws applied at home and the harshest neoconservative military policy abroad and that would be America if the Republicans had everything they wanted. We'd be in three wars now instead of two - Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. It would be open season on domestic surveillance. Torture would be legal. Habeas Corpus would be a thing of the past. Women would be in prison for having had abortions. Gay men and women would be hounded and if they were murdered there would be leaders saying they had it coming. The CIA and FBI would be operating inside the USA to crush dissent. Blackwater (and other companies like it) would be taking over more and more military duties and operating internationally as a mercenary death squad.

Look at Iran and give thanks that the Republican Party -- the tool of America's mullahs married to the Neocon war mongers -- is in decline and has been rejected by the American people. Work to keep America secular, free and democratic.

Stay vigilant. Having failed at the ballot box the Republicans and their far right hate-filled supporters are beginning to foment violence with their crazy anti-Obama talk and hysteria. As Bob Herbert said in his NY Times (June 20) column; "I hope I'm wrong, but I can't help feeling as if the murder at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington and the assassination of the abortion doctor in Wichita, Kan., and the slaying of three police officers in Pittsburgh -- all of them right-wing, hate-driven attacks -- were just the beginning and that worse is to come."

The battle between oppressive religion and freedom is not over yet-- not in Iran, nor here in America.

Frank Schaeffer is the author of Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back and the forthcoming Patience With God: Faith For People Who Don't Like Religion (Or Atheism)

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[Lindsay Scallan]

It seems that there are far more "Christians" (whatever that means today) and conservatives willing to pull the trigger to get their point across. I can't think of any recent progressive, liberal groups that use violence; I don't recall any liberal groups killing anti-choice leaders or hateful, fear-mongering Bill O'Reilly types during the Bush years. Fundamentalists, regardless of their religion, seem to think they are entitled to use violence against those they discriminate against. I applaud Frank Schaeffer for being a true critic of these people, especially since they are dangerous-- either believe they are above the law, are delusional, or both.

[MikeHermit]

Great post. There is stillmuch work to be done howeveris ridding ourselves of religious laws on the books. Seperation of Church and State still needs to be followed.

In my state alone (Utah) the DABC sends drafts of new alcohol laws it plans to impliment (the DABC board composed of LDS members to the LDS church for their aproval first, then implimenting it. Never sending it to the people.

My money still has God on it, along with that all-seeing eye (debatable, eye of God or Masonic symbol). The Pledge still has God in it. Many other violations can be found in just about every state.

[blueken]

Hindus believe that mankind is a dream of the Gods. Buddhists believe that God is a dream of man. The Puritans came to this country because they didn't want the English king to dictate their religion. Both sides of every war ever fought had God on their side. Someone was mistaken. If I die and float up to the clouds and meet St Peter at the pearly gates, I will apologize. More likely I will go in the other direction. That's were all the interesting people will be.

[Mikeatle]

It's more important to remember that there is no heavenly city or pearly gates. St. Pete isn't waiting to allow you in or send you to hell, because there is no St. Peter, heaven, or hell. It's all made up. Is there some form of existence after death? I do not know. But I do know that Christianity is a farce, as is Judaism, and Islam. All of the human-centered religions of the world are a farce. What exists beyond this plane is a mystery, Shakespeare's "undiscovered country form whose born no traveler returns."

Once we learn this important reality, then we will be free of the religionists. Of course, that just leaves the door open for the next bunch of wackos.

[powercosmic]

Look folks Frank Schaeffer knows what he is talking about, as a former "insider" he knows the mentality and the agenda of the Chris.tian Right.

But FREEDOM is winning and the Rage-Wing knows it, they've lost their grip. Nothing could be more enraging than a (democratic) black man beating them for the white house. This is why the violence is escalating, this was in the cards the whole time and we've always been on to their agenda.

But Americans have had enough of their bitter divisive culture-war ways, there are fewer and fewer Americans calling themselves Chris.tian­s as well as Republican. We have to step up the fight for FREEDOM and continue to challenge at every turn.

Lets be clear America is founded on FREEDOM and TRUTH not the Roman Hoax called Chris.tian­ity.

[JimPidcock]

What we are seeing now in Iran (and to some extent the U.S. and other countries around the world) is that the days of religious/­government zealots being able to control the minds of people through fear and seclusion is slowly fading into history. The people of the world in the year 2009 get their information from a broad range of sources, not just from controlled government tactics. This is what I believe the fore-fathers of our great country had in mind. Every day that a new person around the planet is introduced to a computer or a cell phone or an independent news source is a another day towards obscurity for governments who try to opress their citizens. It is another day for people to obtain their own free information and draw their own conclusions.

The bigger story right now is that North Korea and similar types of dictatorship countries are STILL able to control the minds of their citizens through censorship and fear. When everyone in the world is afforded the same information and availability of education, only then will we be able to live in a non-violent world as one species.

I hope I live long enough to see that day, or at least realize we are moving in that direction.

[powercosmic]

Frank is right!

There is an epic clash coming and it will be fought right here in America.

The clash will be between Religion and Freedom and the Rule-of-Law.

Who do YOU think will win that fight? I already know, FREEDOM always wins.

FREEDOM is the only purpose that Humans have that is worth fighting for, religion will be stamped out.

Unknown to the uneducated and purposely ignorant Americans in the Rage-Wing, Christianity was invented by the Roman Empire to transform Militant Messianic Judaism into a more manageable religion. So in effect Jesus is a hoax, but Americans bought the whole joke hook, line, and sinker.

FREEDOM will win, challenge religion at every turn, in every town, in every conversation.

Nature is on OUR SIDE because the dry old men of the Rage-Wing will eventually die out.

[cobobs]

Interesting as a theory, but do you have evidence of the following?

" Christianity was invented by the Roman Empire to transform Militant Messianic Judaism into a more manageable religion."

[powercosmic]

Yes, there is hard evidence for this, its the New Testament and the written histories of Josephus, in particular the "War of the Jews"

Josephus (aka Flavius Josephus after his adoption by Emperor Vespasian) was a Jewish Rebel who became a turncoat for the Romans after being captured at Gallilee.

First lets examine the facts: Christianity is nothing more than Judaism with a few twists, like instead of a Warrior-King Messiah, Christianity offers converted Jews a "Peaceful Messiah" who says things like "Give Unto Caesar What Is Caesars, And Unto God What Is Gods" he also advises a people who have at this point been at war with the Romans for 100 years to "Turn the other cheek" the list goes on.

But YOU have to seek the truth, read the history of first century judea and the Roman war with the Jews, get the story before you give your soul to this hoax.

[Harold Stone]

--Unknown to the uneducated and purposely ignorant Americans in the Rage-Wing, Christianity was invented by the Roman Empire to transform Militant Messianic Judaism into a more manageable religion.

This is unlikely. Israel was a small Roman colony, and Judaism and its variants weren't even visible in Rome circa 0, common era. Rome's response to militant Judaism was to send Titus in to crush Israel, burn the temple, and disperse the inhabitants.

--FREEDOM is the only purpose that Humans have that is worth fighting for, religion will be stamped out.
I agree with your point about freedom.

[powercosmic]

You clearly have zero clue what you are talking about, Judea was not a "small Roman colony" it was in fact a Roman Province among at least three others (Jordan, Egypt, and Syria) in the middle east.

Judea was extremely important because the middle east was "the" cross roads to asia and Roman europe because of the ancient city of Jerusalem, lots of mingling of sea born Roman subjects.

The Romans fought a brutal cat-and-mouse war against the Messianic Jews for over 100 years starting in 60 BC until about 73 AD. Christianity was created by Vespasian during the latter part of this war.

As early as 40 AD the Roman empire was going broke because of the war in Judea so the suppression of the Jewish rebellion was extremely important to the Romans. Christianity was created in the years leading up to the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD to keep the Province viable afterwards using "converted" Jews.

But YOU need to get the history books and do the research for yourself. Christianity is a ROMAN HOAX

[zakwouldhave]

Amazing how the ancients and mystics still hold sway over some people in this world. Their time is passing however and the fraud is being exposed...­...chip away and we will be free to live free right here and right now and for the future, not for those stuck in chains of the past.

[luziannagirl]

LOL at your conclusions, FS! True, true, true! You speak the truth, Brother Frank!

Anyone who thinks this column is nothing more than a paranoid rant, or that the zealot-fueled GOP has been discredited and vanquished once and for all , is falling into the same old self-deluded "gee but the Religious Right is unfathomably crazy and surely no one but crazies would buy what they're selling".

Just laugh away all you want at 'ol Frank, and the handful of the rest of us who know this wacked-out worldview from the inside out.

But don't again dismiss it as lunacy---p­lease---fo­r all our sakes!

[Lauralics]

Our naughty, naughty forefather's (the creators of our Constitution), how dare they be similar to Iran's mullahs! Utilizing "God" in the birth of our nation, spreading the word "God" across Washington and chiseling such a hateful word onto our Government Buildings! AHHHHH, AHHHHH, the religious conspiracy started at the founding of our Country, AHHHH, AHHHH. Run for your lives to Frank's house, he'll save you. LOL

[smartenoughforthisforum]

AHHHHH? Are you, like, getting OFF or something? BTW, they're taking roll in class now. Better get back.

[Lauralics]

Ahhhh, I'm screaming in horror, a grammar cop, ahhhhh! How about posting on the subject? Focusing on my grammar is trite.

[smartenoughforthisforum]

Forefather's? So you're taking English composition where? Bob Jones? Liberty "U"?

[Lauralics]

Grammar cops are very anal, better watch out, religious zealot's may put a cork in it.

[LaFlow]

The word "God" appears nowhere in Constitution or Bill of Rights, the governing documents of this country.

The phrase "Laws of Nature and Nature's God," which people like you might argue sounds like a namby-pamby PC euphemism, however, does appear in the Declaration of Independence in arguing that the American People hold equal station in existence to the King of England. I don't think many people would disagree with that.

[Harold Stone]

Putting "In God We Trust" on the money and endorsing either fundamentalist Christianity as the state religion of the U.S. are two very different things.

[Harold Stone]

Er,
"
Putting "In God We Trust" on the money and endorsing fundamentalist Christianity as the state religion of the U.S. are two very different things.
"

[LWCochrane]

Duh, it's not wrong to use God as a uniting force in our country, just wrong to use it force people into some Christian's interpretations of his word and their own extremists beliefs. That is why separation of Church & State is essential. We've learned here that telling other people what to believe and forcing them to believe it is for the ancient and uncivilized societies. Freedom of choice includes belief. And there is nothing wrong with religious art being on our buildings either I think it makes great art for future civilizations to look at. Like how we Oooo and ahhh over the Acropolis. ;)

[markytex]

organized religion is really the bureaucracy of faith that rewards conformity and suspects individuality. very un-american attrubutes. there is nothing wrong with worship. however, it is too bad humans mangled up the word to control the masses and distort freedom.

[Lauralics]

Paranoiaaaa, big destroyaaa. There are a lot of "what ifs" and "picture this" in this article, doesn't anyone consider this fear-mongering and projecting? After all, we have seen a lot of articles from the left making fun of Republicans for the War on Terror, you know, "what ifs and picture this" about Muslim extremists. So to see an article of fear-mongering about American Republicans (and it's acceptance by Democrats) is hypocritical in itself. Gee Democrat's and Libs don't want to hear it about jihadists but its A-ok to go after fellow Americans. Go ahead people, twist yourself into a pretzel to support this tactic used by the writer for one group, and then slam others for using the very same tactic. Ahhh, the Christians are coming! Ahhh, the Christians are coming! Sounds very similar too, Ahh the Jihadists are coming! Ahh the Jihadists are coming! Paranoiaaa big destroyaaa!

[Donnat]

He's the voice of experience, as he was there. You are the voice of pre-kindergarten GOP, still screaming bloody murder because the Dems thrashed you in 2008.

[smartenoughforthisforum]

Not much difference in jihadists and talibangelicals. Except that there are millions of the latter already inside the country.

[Artos]

You can call it paranoia if you wish but I think that there is a lot of truth to it. Right to lifers killing doctors is just the tip of the iceberg. The actions of the Right wing religious conservatives has spoken for itself these past many years and no one needs to make any of it up.

[Lauralics]

Any article based on "what ifs" and "picture this" is pure paranoia and basically trying to sell a book.

[POenophile]

Christian extremists are a much larger threat domestically than any Muslim ever thought about being. This article is spot-on.

Americans must stay vigilant against theocracy and those who would govern using the bible as their compass instead of the constitution. Government shouldn't CARE what the bible says...

[Lauralics]

Our Country was founded on a "belief of God", this is nothing new. I'm Catholic and have no desire for zealots leading the Country either. Do I think they are all going to trot out with chastity belt guns and round up those having unmarried sex? No. Do I think they are going to trot out with paddy wagons to round up gays? No. Do I think they have a right to voice their opinion (like you voice yours)? Yes.

[eleanor rykener]

Brilliant post. How the Religious Right can condemn harsh and oppressive theocracies around the world while they are trying so hard to implement one here is beyond me.

Here in Texas, the little injustices of religious extremism are alive and well. I was recently at my younger sister's high school graduation from a public school. Judging from the hugely diverse group of students and families in attendence, I have to assume that not everyone in that room was a practicing Christian. We were led in a specifically Christian, even more specifically, Protestant, prayer not once, but twice during the ceremony. The school board's defense, when my father wrote in to complain, was that as long as students lead the prayer, it is well within the law. As if these were just spontaneous expressions of our collective faith, rather than planned occurances that clearly alienated many people in the room.

[kindGSL]

Yeah but would he allow a pagan prayer also?

[eleanor rykener]

I should hope not; how does a pagan prayer differ in this sense from a Christian one? The point being that prayer is not allowed in public schools, and so shouldn't be allowed at public school functions, no matter who leads it, and no matter which religion it supports.

[white mende man]

Frank Schaeffer many of us saw what the Far Right's agenda and motives were a long time ago and due to their overly ambitious self-righteous goals of a one party Republican State/Country and not being inclusive they shot themselves in the foot, and all I can say is that it couldn't have happened to a better bunch of people.

[Decipherer]

Isn't it interesting what can happen when you travel on the road to Damascus?

[rextrek]

as an X-Catholic­..in my 48yrs - -- I've done lots of reading on societies over the centuries.­....Religi­on IS the POISON of Mankind,and the KILLER of Man's Imagination!

[white mende man]

Religion is not a poison, all religion speak of love, peace and respect for your fellow man, it's the people that debase and use religion to further their vile ambitions that is bad not Religion.

[rextrek]

Man is NOT mature enough intellectually to practice religion

[balrog221]

What is the penalty in the bible for adultery?
Using the lord's name in vain?

a hint... it is not love, peace and respect

[Crass Innuendo]

That's rubbish. Religion is about establishing identity of a group at the expense of all other groups. It has been and always will be a tribal practice to the ruin of our species. Ironically, the people misusing religion are the ones who think it teaches "love, peace and respect for your fellow man." I have the force of the entirety of human history as my defense.