I posted the following as a comment in wildpaletz journal, but I wanted to post it in my own as well. Readers of bradhicks will find much of this familiar…
I have pondered much on the issue of “moral values™” and have been troubled by it. By “moral values™”, I mean “the selected moral questions which happen to strengthen the bond between religious conservatives and fiscal/social conservatives”. These are the “hot button” issues that Christian fundamentalists are passionate about, but that if they took a moment to think about what’s really important, which they would find are not pillars of their faith.
The marriage of “faith” and “right-wing politics” is a relatively recent thing (since the 1970s). Some Republican leaders have managed to convince some Christian leaders that their goals are compatible, starting with getting rid of communism, but that has been replaced by new “moral values™” that have taken center stage, mostly abortion and gay marriage.
The irony of this alliance, of course, is that Republican politics is the politics of greedy, rich white men. When you ask Christians about the core of their beliefs, they will probably agree that doing good works for others, and helping others in need, is a big part of it. But their 30-year alliance with Republicans has made them sort of forget that “faith, hope and charity, and the greatest of these is charity” bit.
So, probably one thing I would probably ask an anti-abortion activist is, “Have you given more to pro-life organizations than you have given to feed the hungry, care for the sick, etc?” To me that would indicate whether his faith is a way of walking, or just a way of talking.
If there is a positive note, it is that the alliance of Christians and Right-Wing politics is not guaranteed. The tide has also turned the other way… in the 50s and 60s it was civil rights that became a rallying cry to Christians to go and vote their conscience, and carry the fight to Washington.