I have long suspected that the persecution complex of the religious right is one of the things that keeps their community united and strong.  Sure, most of it is an overblown myth, easily debunked, but this siege mentality, however unwarranted, has resulted in them walling themselves off into their own schools, own communities where they can feel secure in their own insecurities.

Nothing like that happened in the UK when I was living there.  There was the abortion debate, and some squeamishness against gays, but none of that was enough to fire up the same level of persecution complex as has happened here in America.  As a result, Christians faith of all stripes has slowly eroded away without much fuss really.

That's why I see all this faux outrage from the religious right making a difference in the States.  It's much easier to target those militant atheists or those evil gays who want to steal their babies than it is to battle against apathy and disinterest.  

Monica Crowley was on O'Reilly again last night all shuddering at how close we supposedly are to America becoming a godless socialist paradise.  I have noticed that right-wingers of all stripes don't seem to be happy unless they have the thrill of fear running down their spine.   They've got to be scared of something, whether it's illegal immigrants, gays, Muslims, nuclear weapons, atheists, liberal, socialists, communists, etc. etc.   Fear makes them feel vital, spurs them into action, and they fear that without it they'll lose that edge that keeps their communities strong.

And I suspect they are right too.

by tacitus on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 02:54:11 PM EST

I can join with Tacitus in his observations and add that defining one's group by what your are against generates very powerful group cohesion and related identity.  The problem is losing one's self to what one is against instead of promoting what you stand for.

The other piece I have is that the cries of persecution (indeliby prominent in the meta-psychology of some in the belief system) seem to come in response to simply saying no to them (e.g. prayer in public school), denying their presumption of exclusive validity and their sense of entitlement/dominance in the culture.  

Oh those authoritarian rascals, aren't they just so...Christ like?
 

by DoubleCinco on Tue Dec 09, 2008 at 04:08:01 PM EST

to see this spelled out in black and white.

"What's happening is that fundamentalists of Wildmon's ilk constantly try to use the power of the government to promote their narrow faith or foist it onto others. When they are told to stop, they start screaming about persecution."

Only too true!!!

The jackleg preachers that come to our campus do just that.  They use "Freedom of Speech" as a reason to speak on campus- and yes, the administration doesn't do anything about them, even though they disrupt studies (and classes) and create problems.  

They call the young women whores and sluts to their faces, and then scream "PERSECUTION!!!" when people get mad at the offensive insults and start replying back.  

They say that they're just telling "God's Truth" when called out for their offensive words- and tell the offended people that they are rejecting God (compounding their error).

The same applies to their insults to Muslims and anyone who doesn't follow their narrow (and wrong) interpretation of "Deh Bible!!!"  

Yeah... we're "persecuting Christians" when we practice tolerance towards other faiths and belief systems.  Yeah, we're being anti-Christian when we treat others with kindness and prefer to speak gentle words...

I just wish that they would see the REAL result of their words and actions... people driven away from Jesus!!!

by ArchaeoBob on Wed Dec 10, 2008 at 10:54:11 AM EST

Moronic Mike Huckabee was on the Daily Show last night. Jon Stewart was saying that even if homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, they should still have rights. After all, religion is a lifestyle choice, and religious people have rights. Huckabee's wonderfully insane response was: religious people have rights, but there are limits on those rights. For instance, religious people can't burn people at the stake. Yes, he's actually comparing two people freely declaring their lifelong love for each other to someone being forcibly tied up, set on fire, and made to suffer unspeakable agony until dying an excruciating death. In other words, why should gays get special marriage rights when religious folks can't even commit murder? Now there's a persecution complex! If you can get inside this mindset, you can understand the Christian right. But you'll probably do irreparable brain damage in the process.

by Dave on Wed Dec 10, 2008 at 11:05:42 PM EST

The Christian 'Right' as they are charitably called are like the alligators and crocodiles swimming just at below the water's surface with just their eyes showing. Sometimes mistaken for logs or floating moss until they are activated to attack by the right stimulus. The Dominionist faction are still busy recruiting and positioning their forces haven't abated in the least. Obama seems to me, so far, is shaping up to be (just from his cabinet choices and pronouncements) in the 'mild' right wing Clinton mold) which means many of their cherished un-Constitutional laws and organizations while keeping their sights set on a corporate/military/theocracy they so want very much. Desecration of others beliefs is expected from such as they. Also the persecution game is common. If you read the German press in the 1930's you would think that the Jew was some all powerful evil force controlling everything. [Which in fact they along with homosexuals and anyone else against the Nazi regime were first disbarred from society, then incarcerated in camps then finally worked and murdered to an industrial beat.] The Bolshivecks were the same way. An enemy is always necessary for bad people to rally the good people to follow them. That needs to stop.

by Nightgaunt on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 04:38:14 PM EST