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Is the Religious Right Finished? Yawn. Not Hardly
Considering the ages of some other leaders of the religious right, some of whom as one might expect, have had some serious health issues, the period of transition in the leadership of the relgious right is well underway. Some of these, will no doubt continue to be politically active and effective for a long time; others probably not.
Paul Weyrich, 65 Free Congress Foundation Kennedy, although always part of the religious right, did not get operationally involved in politics until his first Reclaiming America for Christ in 1994. The huge political conference was a first for Kennedy, and replaced his annual fundraising cruise to the Caribbean that he called "The Bible Boat." Kennedy brought his constituency on a slower path to political mobilization, than had Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, although Kennedy was part of the Moral Majority and other early organization and other movements of the religious right. I think that a better way to look at it is that the conferences (which may continue) and the activities of the center are likely to be felt for a long time, and politically activated individuals will find no shortage of outlets for their activism; and no shortage of opportunities to exercise the skills they have acquired through years of political involvements and training. Cal Thomas quotes a professor who makes a good point however, Corwin Smidt, executive director of the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., told the Herald that evangelical groups that are built around a single charismatic leader often struggle when the leader is gone. "These televangelists are able to generate a fair amount of money," he said, "but in terms of their institutional longevity, it's really at risk." Of course, any organization that loses its founder, may very well go through a difficult transition period. Some organizations, and not just those founded by televangelists, or even of the religious right, that are built entirely around the personality and work of the founder, often struggle when the founder dies or retires. Some do not survive. While there are many dynamic up-and-coming younger religious right leaders, it is clear that the political landscape will be shifting as the founding generation gradually departs from public life. Whether the religious right gets stronger or weaker; more divided or more unified during the transition, entirely remains to be seen.
Is the Religious Right Finished? Yawn. Not Hardly | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Is the Religious Right Finished? Yawn. Not Hardly | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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