Political Hope: Contemporary Christian Criteria for Unlimited God to Supplant Limited Faith in America
Andrew P. Hogue’s book “Stumping God: Reagan, Carter, and the Invention of a Political Faith,” reveals the implementation of religion in the political arena. Hogue attributes evidence to prove that it was exclusively the rise of Ronald Reagan, the Moral Majority, and the New Religious Right (NRR) that led to its infusion into American politics. It was the culmination of these movements, notes Hogue, that encouraged conservatives to reflect and reference our national interests on Biblical principles. As the author notes, though this has been achieved in the past, yet its modern momentum was only attained through the condemnation of atheism marketed as Communism, producing evident human rights abuses unfounded to American foundational systems of belief.
Hogue defines the candidacies of Reagan, Carter, and Anderson, as the “centerpiece” of his study, functioning as the foundation of his thesis. Yet with this presupposition, he acknowledges efforts at its beginning existed as early back 1800, yet holds focus on America’s years subsequent to the 1940s. Hogue notes the attacks on the Christian religion experienced by Americans throughout the 1970s, building up to a crescendo of atrocities. This resulted in the reactivation of the Holy Spirit and a longing for Christian intervention and His grace in domestic legislation.
First Chapter
In his first chapter, Hogue discusses how Reagan was able to save the conservative movement in America from the inauspicious and unpalatable Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ). After the mysterious assassination of JFK, Barry Goldwater attempted to sustain the interests of the American people over the ruling class however was subdued by the Establishment in favor of a compromised political operative. Hogue notes that throughout American history, influential observers have long predicted the downfall of our self-ruling democracy. The author cites the famous Austrian economist Friedrich August von Hayek, who believed that American individual liberty was a contestable platform that would lead to a new form of slavery spurring from the socialistic tendencies woven into our Constitution. Hogue argues this was due to previous national economic planning by governments which had occurred in foreign nations, and resulted in totalitarian regimes.
In support of his thesis, the author quotes Historian Richard Weaver, who stated “Technology emancipates not only from memory but also from faith.” Andrew Hogue utilizes Weaver’s position on technology to support his thesis, many Christians today would argue technology has enabled their faith to a greater degree (Gen 50:20).
Second Chapter
Andrew P. Hogue’s Second Chapter, illustrates the special-interest groups of the 1970s alongside the formation of the New Religious Right (NRR). The author illuminates the truth behind the reactionary formation of the New Religion Right. This is similar to the founding roots of Southern-Baptist Protestantism, which was formed during the Reformation in response to the 1689 Baptist Declaration of Faith and the atrocities of the antichrist pope and the Roman Catholic Church. Detailing Rev. Jerry Falwell’s transformation, Hogue reveals that Falwell’s personal odyssey correlated to the same revelation which occurred in mainstream conservative American politics. Between 1965 and 1979, Jerry Falwell’s position on religious intervention in the political domain would shift, invoking a mirrored response in the Conservative party. While Falwell once spoke against Martin Luther King Jr. for merging political activism, he would soon take a similar path. Although the New Religious Right (NRR) and the Moral Majority ceased operations upon the election of Ronald Reagan, this didn’t mean that the movement's momentum followed suit. Instead, these seeds of principle have remained embedded in American politics, as have their persecution.
Third Chapter
The Third Chapter discusses the historic 1976 election. Following Nixon’s setup by the deep state Establishment, America had its first appointed President. As a horrifying wake-up call to the American people, our nation was heading in an ominous and terrifying direction. A true Christian author, Andrew Hogue gives the pliable political abomination Carter far more credit than he deserves. Jimmy Carter, despite his ignominious foreign policy, helped bring God back into the American political system following his electoral win in 1976. Despite his extreme liberal appeal, and failure to respond to his Christian constituents, America began to realize Carter would defend the traditional American values and conservative Christian principles which he was tasked to uphold. As Hogue reminds us Religious conservatives demanded legislative representation, while liberal constituents expected progression. This led to criticism on both sides, resulting in the withdrawal of support, in time for the 1980 election.
Fourth Chapter
Hogue’s Fourth Chapter recounts the division which occurred under Carter. What began as better-than-bureaucrat quickly devolved into the swift formation of an alliance of Christians who had decided that they had enough. Despite holding passionate interests in Christianity and Baptist principles, Carter failed to uphold a Biblical image in the legislation he contributed to, or avoided contributing altogether. Hogue cites abortion as the factor that contributed to the reinvigoration of religion and God into American politics during the Carter administration. Jimmy Carter’s failure to act Biblically when confronted with the concept of abortion led to the rise in a revolution. Unlike previous revolutions, this would seek the conservation of order and tradition. At this time it was the leaders of the New Religious Right, notes Hogue, that sought out Ronald Reagan as an ally to support Christian legislative interests, giving the people a voice in legal affairs of the state. Hogue notes that[1],
“it was partly out of self-defense that religious conservatives entered politics. But this entrée into politics was also out of fear of what else these secular humanists might do if they were allowed to retain control of the apparatuses of government.”
Fifth Chapter
Hogue’s Fifth Chapter represents the 1980 election which would change the course of American politics forever. This would be the apex of the New Religious Right (NRR) which sought to invoke Christian representation by affecting government policy. The 1980 election featured Carter, Ronald Reagan, and independent candidate John B. Anderson. The Independent party’s Anderson would be the only candidate who rejects tax cuts, leaving Reagan as the obvious choice. The New Religious Right would forever change the course of political history by using Christianity to successfully push its campaign. Hogue states that in 1980, Ronald Reagan would emerge successful, becoming elected to office, marking a new era in American politics.
“Only by godly leadership can America be put back on a divine course…We must have leadership in America to deliver God’s message,” proclaimed Jerry Falwell, the founder of Liberty University[2]. His words summarized the entire movement, and this Christian perspective still remains ubiquitous in contemporary U.S. politics. Ronald Reagan’s eight-year influence in politics evoked a response resembling the revolutionary patriotism which first shaped the principles of our sovereign nation. Reagan reminded us of a key concept lost in modern politics, and that is Union. For it is by unity, we can bring God’s Kingdom to earth to exist in His image. When all else fades away, the divine remains. Kingdoms must be built upon a rock in order to bring sustenance and generational prosperity (Matt. 7:24,25).
Reagan first noted this Communist invasion occurring in Hollywood, where he was called upon by God to extinguish the impending inferno and conserve American democracy. Hogue explains that Reagan quickly realized that conservation is contingent upon bringing Biblical doctrine into legislation, which became evident in his campaign. It was Reagan’s unwavering faith and the success of his presidency that ignited a religious revelation in the conservative movement. Yet, as Hogue describes the path to infuse religion with politics and legislation was not brief.
The residue of Carter can still be felt today, as Democratic liberal candidates seek to redefine Christian beliefs and dilute their abilities to effectively produce change. The enemy often uses figures of power who refute God to manipulate believers using their own doctrines. Democratic candidate Barack Obama, prior to unleashing a drone strike on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, deceptively claimed his allegiance to Jesus Christ, only to refute Biblical doctrine directly after securing power. The author reminds us that although the election of 1980 brought the Christian doctrine indefinitely into mainstream U.S. politics, it opened the opportunity for the enemy to influence those seeking to become gods to assume the disguise of a Christian to gain authority. As Christians, Hogue reminds us to remain loyal to the interests of God, not that of man.
Sixth Chapter
The Sixth Chapter functions as the book’s conclusion, where the author Andrew Hogue diligently reiterates his position. Reagan and Carter, despite their variance in policy and ambition, both paved the way for the revelation which would occur in American politics. Hogue writes[3],
“The 1980 presidential election cast a long shadow over the last three decades because, since that time, religion has remained a pronounced and prominent aspect of presidential politics.”
Although Carter stood for many of the same principles as Reagan, specifically that America was created by God with a purpose, he revealed himself as a demagogue, failing to act upon his own proclamations. It was Carter’s shortcomings that consolidated the Christian political movement to seek to eliminate representation without the defense of moral value and kinetic legislative action. Reagan’s ability to fulfill the duty that God tasked him for led to a sustained religious revelation in American politics. It was these novel efforts for a President to console God in the affairs of our nation, which allowed Ronald Reagan to prevail. However, institutional operatives continue to survey the pollical arena for populist demand. There, these sacred objective principles are weaponized against disciples, attempting to obtain more power over the decisions of the individual.
Conclusion
Andrew P Hogue notes in his final paragraph, that in order to eliminate the divide in social positions, by finding “common ground” in Christian principles. For civil politics, writes Hogue, must be principled in conviction but “aware of the limitations” which can be ascribed to modern American politics. His book leaves an unpleasant taste within an atmosphere of personal reflection, encouraging the reader to ask themselves if in fact, their own personal Christian doctrine should acclimate to the execrative pantheistic worship of our nation’s culture. Hogue chooses to leave the reader with a bit of resistance, encouraging further cognitive assessment of his Thesis. It is the writer’s opinion that Christians should not be limited by the confines of their culture, no matter the circumstances. America is a land of prosperity and revolution, which includes the right to self-ruling dissent under circumstances that do not infringe upon the rights of others. By this logic and the construct of our Constitution, Hogue’s final paragraph invokes a sense of rebellion at the mildness of his proclamation of self-censorship. Christians must not fear evangelizing their objective truths. While it is important to hold faith in our Creator, Hogue’s work reminds us that Christians must remember to be Reagans, not Carters, yet the book’s final sentence nearly defies the author’s own thesis. For the Holy Spirit cannot be contained beneath the veil of the temporal culture, therefore it is impossible to claim there exist limitations on the doctrine of American politics which occur in the Kingdom of God.
Bibliography
Hogue, Andrew P. Stumping God (Studies in Rhetoric & Religion) (p. 88). Baylor University Press. Kindle Edition.
[1] Hogue, Andrew P. Stumping God (Studies in Rhetoric & Religion) (p. 88). Baylor University Press. Kindle Edition.
[2] Hogue, Andrew P. Stumping God (Studies in Rhetoric & Religion) (p. 165). Baylor University Press. Kindle Edition.
[3] Hogue, Andrew P. Stumping God (Studies in Rhetoric & Religion) (p. 237). Baylor University Press. Kindle Edition.