Politically Conservative Christian Women

1. Politically Conservative Christian Women Mariela Gonzalez Concordia University Nebraska

2. Who? • Political: Active in politics on the local and national level. They attend PTA and school board meetings, or they are involved in their Home School or Christian School Associations. They are registered to vote. They may donate to campaigns. They follow politicians. They are interested in political news and try to stay informed. • Conservative: Their politics is right-wing. Right-wing meaning Tea Party or Reagan style republican. They want small government in terms of business, but they believe in government action in moral issues. They are conservative both politically and in their Christianity.

3. Who? (continued) • Christian: Their brand of Christianity is Evangelical. They believe the Bible is truly the Word of God. They believe in salvation through Jesus alone. They believe they have a duty to share the message of Jesus. They have a practice of faith. They are involved in their churches. They encourage Christian spirituality in their families. • Women: The focus is here is on cisgenderfemales. These are straight women who generally accept a traditional female gender role. They may view the man (husband and father) as head of the household. Many are married with children. Their families are a huge priority of their political activism.

4. When? • What is the background of the movement? • Evolution • Integration • Abortion • Reagan • Bush • When did it become a culture? • Media • Marketing • Mega churches

5. Evolution • When Darwin’s originally published his theory it did not cause a huge uproar in the Christian community. • In 1873 The New York Times published an editorial warning about social and religious implications of buying into evolutionary theory. • Evolution is widely taught in public high schools. Catholics choose to send their children to their own private schools. (We see the trend of private Christian schools among conservative Christians continuing today)

6. Evolution (continued) • It is in Southern universities that anti-evolution sentiments take off among Protestants. • The famous Scopes Monkey trial occurs in 1925. • Tennessee schools refrain from including evolution teaching until the 1960s. • Follow the link below to see a short video abou the trial. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/08/2/l_082_01.html • The South, with its anti-evolutionary leanings, is the home of conservative Christian leaders that influence the movement this culture is part of.

7. Integration • Christian schools with discriminatory, segregation practices could have their tax-exempt status rescinded. • Religious conservatives did not want government interference in their schools’ policies. • A fear of the government enforcing its ideas for moral policy still pervades the culture today. Then it was about segregation policies. Now Christians business owners may be disturbed by their obligation to provide health insurance that includes birth control. Or they fear lawsuits for not hiring or serving LGBTQ persons. • A pastor makes an interesting argument “against” gay rights. Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8JsRx2lois

8. Abortion • 1970s just past the Roe v. Wade verdict, Catholics lead in anti-abortion sentiments • Conservative evangelicals need Catholic support for their political agenda • Segregation is not a popular issue for the movement. • The anti-abortion stance can be re-worked as pro-life. Conservatives use pro-life to convey that they are protecting the unborn when they advance anti-abortion policies.

9. Reagan • Darwin theory is misapplied to create social Darwinism. • This encourages a laissez-faire approach to the poor. • The Reagan administration promoted social Darwinism with its economic policies. These policies and attitudes permeate the Republican party to this day. The myth of the welfare queen was popularized. Now, some argue that employees of retail and fast food are stigmatized as the new ‘welfare queens.’ • The priorities of the Religious Right and Religious Left are different. Perhaps driven even further apart in Reagan and post-Reagan eras.

10. Bush • George W Bush is self-described as born again. • Under the Bush administration, faith-based initiatives are expanded • The conservative evangelical home in the Republican party is strengthened. • Conservatives help Bush gain re-election in 2004.

11. Media • Christian Television Networks • Christian Magazines • Christian Radio • Online • Publications • Blogs • Videos • Social Networking • Televangelists • FOX news

12. Marketing • Businesses with Christian theme • Products may mimic secular items • Contemporary Christian music finds an audience • Business approached from a Christian perspective • Chikfil A President claims to support “traditional marriage.” Many Christians flocked to the restaurant to show their support of the company leader’s stance • Hobby Lobby owner protests the healthcare law requiring insurance for his employees that includes birth control. • Schools • From Pre-K to University it is possible for a student to stay in a Christian education system.

13. Mega churches • Churches follow corporate model. • Technology is embraced. • Popularity measures success. • Pastors have book deals. • Tours • Convention Appearances • Consultant Jobs

14. Communication Issues • Among the Right and Left… • Different value systems can lead to misunderstanding Let’s examine the issue of abortion among politically conservative Christian women and politically liberal (Christian or non-Christian) women. The conservative thinks of a fetus as a person. She wants to prevent a pregnancy from being terminated. A does not think of the fetus as a person. The person that concerns her is the woman who is making a choice about at least the next nine months of her life. Both conservatives and liberals care about the health concerns surrounding pregnancy with women. Unfortunately, different value system causes accusations, fear, and strife between us. How can we find our common values and keep laws in the land that have the greatest benefit for all of us? Is it possible?

15. Communication Issues • Nonverbal communication reveals values Among conservative Christian women an important thing to portray is modesty. Modesty is usually communicated nonverbally. Clothing is meant to not expose a woman as a sexual creature. In some religious circles silence is an important skill for a woman to take a submissive place. If a man is present to lead or teach, a woman defers to him. (Though this does not happen within all Evangelical groups) In artwork, women often are pictured with a tilt of the head and downcast eyes. (Notice icons of Mary.) Expressions of modesty may be counter to the main culture. Conservative culture may judge the seemingly immodesty of liberal culture harshly. If someone wants to assimilate into the conservative Christian group, learning modest behavior and dress seem to be early requirements.

16. Human Service Issues • What is the role of politics in providing human services? • Setting policy, particularly related to funding. • Steering the conversation. What are the important issues? What is the philosophy behind how we decide what is important? • There is a Religious Right and a Religious Left, both politically astute and active. Where is the common ground? • Different histories, i.e. Religious Right connection to segregation and the Religious Left connection to African American Churches. • Both respect Biblical authority. • Can groups with different political views work together to serve their community? • Disagree on government’s involvement, but agree on finding solutions to real problems of people we see daily.

17. Human Service Issues • Is evangelism integral in faith-based organizations providing human services? • Politically Conservative Christian Women have faith as an integral part of all of life. Evangelism is a priority in social services. However, in personal life concern for family trumps faith. Relationships with needy families could change how they prioritize in human service philosophy. • Religious organizations have a long history of being the backbone of providing social services. • Not concerned with separation of Church and State. • If the government is less involved, the private sector can meet needs. Two phrases revealing their sentiments: “God will provide.” and “If you don’t work, you won’t eat.”

18. Cultural Concepts • Masculinity or Femininity • Blend masculinity and femininity. Assertiveness and competition stand out in economic political philosophy. Interpersonal relationships and concern for the weak are also values. Note how they approach evangelism and the importance of family life. • Individualism or Collectivism • Favor individualism. First think of personal sphere of influence. Prefer local programs to large national solutions. Personal is a key word. i.e. Personal choice. Personal responsibility. Personal relationship with Jesus. • Uncertainty Avoidance • Belief in a central, true authority are characteristics of Christian conservatives. The government is not the authority. Fear of the government trying to overcome Christian authority. Strong uncertainty avoidance. Dogmatic about their way of life

19. Cultural Concepts (continued) • Power distance • Republican policies contribute to higher power distance. This group is somewhat comfortable with high power distance, believing the “haves” deserve their share and do not want to bridge the gap with the “have not’s.” • Keeping an authority structure is important, like, Christ over the church, husbands over wives, parents over children. Power distance is maintained. • Long-term or Short-term orientation • Oriented toward the short-term. They want quick results focused locally. Use resources now and “let tomorrow worry about itself.”

20. A Glimpse of the Culture Articles in a Christian women’s magazine show some of what is important in the culture. Notice personal issues, like struggling with forgiveness, faith, daily stress. Her key role is her place in her family. There are expected behaviors for a Christian woman, especially regarding her sexuality. • http://christianwomanmag.com/ • http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/ For fun watch Kari Jobe sing the Christian worship song, Healer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWcryqvZcRM Notice her mannerisms, gestures, clothing, tone of voice. What do the lyrics and her speech reveal about Christian thought and practice?

21. Activity and Reflection http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/new-american-center-1113 • At this link there is a quiz about where one falls on the political spectrum. The webpage also includes statistics about the left, right, and center in American politics. • My results of the quiz are being one of the 10% in the far left. I am invested in the progressive agenda. I could have communication issues with Politically Conservative Christian Women because we have different value systems. • Effective communication is more possible on personal level. Trying to understand each other in the political arena is difficult, but I can develop friendships and find common ground with conservative friends.

22. Final Thoughts • Important issues for which we (the right, left, and center) have different value systems. • Abortion • Education • Gender roles • Relationship between Church and State • Focus on politics can be divisive. Focus on the personal to find common ground for communication.