*THINK* about it!1 The fundy b.s. started with US/ Jimmy CARTER!!1

[UTUSN]

When JFK was a candidate, he had to go through the mill and swear that he would NOT be a minion of the VATICAN.

So NOW we are entrhalled into funie-ism ---------WHY?!!

[NYC]

1. It started earlier.

There was talk of fundmentalist Christians during Nixon's time.

[mwb970]

3. But it was Carter *himself* who was so pious.

I hadn't really thought about it, but I do recall being a little uncomfortable with his preachiness and public piety (on one occasion in a Playboy interview!).

[valerief]

5. He got beaten up pretty badly when he said he lusted in his heart for other women. nt

[spoony]

13. At least he walked the walk.

[spoony]

14. They've been here since the Pilgrims

[NYC]

18. I read a book about American Puritans.

Yes, they certainly have been here since the pilgrims.

[valerief]

2. The word GOD slipped onto our currency and crept into our Pledge of Allegiance during EISENHOWER's

admin.

[hootinholler]

17. Along with the Presidential Prayer Breakfast.

However, it's Pat Robertson who has really pushed berserk fundamentalism into the body politic.

-Hoot

[daninthemoon]

4. Yeah, I kinda think he opened the door. But, there was also alot

of pressure at the time from fundamentalists, spearheaded by none other than now megamillionare "left behind" author Tim Lahey. They hated him for, and get this now: promoting women's rights. Still, Jimmy did speak as a man of faith. However, he didn't flaunt it like the hypocrites we see today, and he was also a man of science.

[Ian David]

6. But Jimmy Carter had lust in his heart! n/t

[stanwyck]

7. Do you really believe

Jimmy Carter is a fundamentalist? If so, you don't know anything about the man and have never read his books. Carter believes fundamentalism, all over the world, is horribly destructive and murderous. He has been an unrelenting voice against the encroaching power of religious fundamentalism in governments. Your statement that "fundy" b.s. started with Jimmy Carter is inane.

[spacelady]

9. Thank you. That is J.C.'s message.

Jimmy Carter has never been of that ilk.

[madrchsod]

8. no it did`t

jimmy was far from being a fundie. he is a christian and he leads his live like a true christian should ,he tries to lead his life so he will be remembered by his deeds not his words. so far he has done a a decent job of living up to those deeds.

the fundie shit started while reagan was sleeping one afternoon....

[TahitiNut]

10. Nonsense. Jimmy Carter is not and has never been a dispensationalist.

Dispensationalists comprise only 25-30% of 'evangelical' protestants.

[bridgit]

11. so...all the ills of America started with either Carter, or a guy on Carter's team; check

the contemporary fundie shit was ramped up in no small measure during the Reagan admin imo

[hfojvt]

12. who is enthralled? and how?

(see below)

[L. Coyote]

15. "I swear I am not a member of the Communist Party."

It does not matter if you believed in religion, just so long as you are not a threat to capitalism.

Some of us are old enough to have been required to make that oath many times. I had to take the oath as recently as the late 1980s to join a fraternal order.

Being on the left has been taboo in Amerikkka for a very long time, primarily because of the threat to capitalism, a sort-of fundamentalist state religion that will not allow a competing idea. Religious issues mask the primary ideology, capitalism. The McCarthy era witch hunting did not target atheists, albeit (godless) Communism was denigrated for its opposition to belief systems. The target was socialism, the enemy of capitalism.

[KharmaTrain]

16. Kennedy Wasn't The "Right" Christian

He didn't have to proof his faith...he had to prove the Vatican wasn't going to control him...many of his biggest primary battles were in southern states and why he had to play "neutral"...as was the custom of the time.

One thing that changed in the 70s was the "born again" movement...one I feel was the launching point of much of the right wing messes we have today. The "outreach" that started with pop culture and making religion (especially christianity) cool started benign but over the years took on more "messages" and a less "forgiving" tone.

The "Christian Right" has created a parallel universe. Just turn on a local christian radio station and you'll get a good taste of it. In the 60's, there were few of these stations...today they are everywhere...it's a media machine that has a very strong, loyal following that is willingfully played for cash and political power.