Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Christian Coalition In Trouble

Well, word is out. The Christian Coalition, that monstrous remnant of what used to be called the Moral Majority, is in financial trouble. Over 2 million dollars in debt, and harrangued on all sides by lawsuits from creditors, it would appear that the largest religiously-motivated political action committee is finally dying. Ralph Reed, it's silver-tongued former advocate, has fled from it. State-run chapters are ceceeding, declaring themselves as independent organizations, as they once were, in many cases. And Pat Robertson, its founder, continues to make one political gaff after another, embarrassing both himself and the religion he still stubbornly tries to advocate. In short, the "Sleeping Giant" is dying in its sleep. And while it may not be respectful to rejoice at the downfall of any religious organization, much less this one, one can't help but wonder: Could the creationism it supports be going with it?

In all honesty, I think not quite yet. In the second Presidential term of Republican control of the Congress and the White House -- something which has brought unprecedented control over government affairs by the RRR ,the radical religious right -- fundamentalists are finally feeling their grip on society's coattails beginning to slip. Their Christian music industry has been taken over by mega-corporations, their young people are wising up, and their ranks are greying and dying off. While political conservatism remains strong -- as well it should for tax-cutting purposes -- fundamenalist conservatism is poised behind a leaky dyke. Eventually, common sense will help rural America grow up along with the cities which house the Universities. But, in the meantime, even if the dragon of the Christian Coalition succeeds in chewing its own head off, it will grow a new head like the mythical hydra, ready to stuff fundamentalism, and creationism, down America's throat once more.

The good news for us is that this newly regrown head will be smaller, with less teeth. And the one which follows that one will be smaller, and more toothless still. Eventually, creationism and its fundamentalist support will be a voodoo-like, toothless, shrunken head; an oddity on the shelf of American history. Until then, let's prepare ourselves for, "Christian Coalition II: The Sequel," and make sure it does not go as unchallenged as its predecessor.

Eric