In the 1970s and 80s I was a Far Right instigator, a leader of the (then new) anti-abortion movement. I describe why I left this movement in my book 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. My late father Francis Schaeffer has been called the father of the Religious Right. I -- following the Evangelical "holy tradition" of North Korea-style nepotism -- was for a time his sidekick. Together we helped set the table for the feast of reactionary hate America is about to dine on as the White Far Right/Neoconservative War Machine and the Religious non-reality-based anti-modern Permanent American Lynch Mob hits America in the mouth for daring to elect our first black president.
Make no mistake: the deep river of know-nothing sewage that flows just under the American surface is about to gush into view with the Far Right takeover of at least one part of our Congress.
Who is the Republican Far Right and what do they want? To understand our Republican future -- check out our recent Republican past. These are the "patriots" who gave us:
And should the Republicans take Congress you haven't seen anything yet.
To change the way things are we need to understand why at any given moment about a third of our population doesn't care about what is true -- or even fact-based -- but instead live life informed by self-reinforcing beliefs which are proudly non-fact-based and rooted in deep-seated resentment that can't be cured because what is resented never actually happened.
And if you'd like to know how THESE PEOPLE got to be this way and why resistance to facts in particular and loathing of education in general is proudly maintained within an impenetrable Right Wing Echo Chamber, take a look at my family and allow my biblically preoccupied childhood, youth and nepotistic evangelical career to become briefly yours.
But before you read another word by me or anyone else vote and get others to vote for any Democrat in any race.
Stop the flood of putrid moral failure that is about to engulf us.
Frank Schaeffer is a writer and 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
Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer
I can't imagine the hard-fought progress that will be lost in this angered-fueled election. We all know that anger only serves to cloud a mind and facilitate unwise decisions. I think what we've seen tonight reflects upon that anger and lends credence to American voters unwise choices for their newly elected officials.
You give a concise expose as to the madness that we are witnessing and I applaud you!
As a young seeker in the early 70's I met your parents at that majestic place in Suisse. A vivid picture remains in my mind of the beauty of that mountain range in the Alps. Now after a lifetime of experiencing my own awakening I totally relate to ALL that you have written here. And like you "lived to take it all back..."
I hope many, many who are confused as to what is going on will find this article and read it with an open heart and mind.
I agree 100%: "But before you read another word by me or anyone else vote and get others to vote for any Democrat in any race."
For anyone reading this who have family, friends, co-workers etc. who are on the fence I highly, highly recommend that you share this article. Oh, share it anyway whether they are on the fence or not! We are at a crossroads! Time is of the essence! Wake Up America!
Frank, I applaud your courage for "coming out". I was unaware of your "awakening" until I saw you on The Rachel Maddow Show and now I follow you on Huffington Post & Twitter.
THANK YOU!
Peace and Blessings!
Namaste!
I agree with the comments you made, with the exception on the issue of abortion. I am a progressive who is pro-life. It is too bad the those who are 'pro-life' are only partially so. I truly believe that some of these right wing people don't give a darn about black babies (or any minority), people with disabilities (like me) or those who are poor. Pro-life is more than just being against abortion. It is caring for people in all stages of life, from the time the cell splits into 2, until the oldest of old (scientifically proven oldest person, 120 years old). I am also against guns. How can those who say that they are pro-life be so much for guns that kill? Pro-life is protecting life at all stages and being against violence in all forms.
Xenia Grant