All articles tagged with #conservative christianity
James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family and a key figure in conservative Christian politics and activism, has died at age 89. He was influential in shaping American evangelical conservative movements, advising presidents, and campaigning against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. His legacy includes a lasting impact on family values and Christian conservative politics in the U.S.
The Southern Baptist Convention voted to support efforts to overturn the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, inspired by their success in reversing Roe v. Wade, signaling a new push by conservative Christians to challenge LGBTQ+ rights.
A study published in the Sociology of Religion reveals that conservative Christian women often experience poor sexual satisfaction and higher rates of sexual pain disorders, linked to the religious ideals of sexual purity. Researchers found that beliefs in purity culture, which emphasize sex as a female obligation and male entitlement, contribute to these issues. The study highlights the negative impact of viewing sex as sinful, leading to trauma-like responses during intercourse. With abstinence-only education likely to persist, these patterns may continue among conservative Christian communities.
A pinup calendar featuring conservative influencers and aspiring politicians has sparked a heated debate within the Christian conservative community, highlighting a shift in public morality and cultural norms. The calendar, published by a "woke-free beer" company, has prompted discussions on the intersection of Christian and secular conservatism, as well as the influence of Donald Trump on evangelical mores. The embrace of vulgarity and raunchy behavior within conservative power circles reflects a changing landscape in evangelical America, challenging traditional norms against profanity and sexual exhibitionism.
Representative Mike Johnson, the new House speaker, has made his evangelical Christianity a central aspect of his political career and policy positions. He aligns himself with a newer cohort of conservative Christianity known as Christian nationalism, which emphasizes traditional family structures, authoritarian social control, and the rejection of democratic values. Johnson has been a vocal advocate for overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election and has expressed skepticism about the separation of church and state. He opposes abortion, same-sex marriage, and homosexuality, and has sponsored a bill to prohibit the use of federal funds for LGBTQ education. Johnson sees his political career as a divine mission to elevate religion in American policy and lawmaking, and he believes that the Christian viewpoint is often censored and silenced.
The Southern Baptist Convention's move to bar women from church leadership reflects growing anxieties among evangelicals about changing norms around gender and sexuality in America. The ultraconservative faction within the denomination is seizing power and making allegiances with theological and political allies outside the denomination. The crackdown on women is about biblical interpretation, but it also reveals the power of the insurgent right and its increasing intertwining with mainstream evangelicalism. The move to oust women will force a greater reshuffling of power within the denomination, which is already fracturing.
The Southern Baptist Convention has finalized the expulsion of two churches with female pastors, Saddleback Church in Southern California and Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, despite appeals from their leaders. The convention is also set to vote on a proposal to amend its constitution to more strictly ban women from leadership roles. The move is seen as part of an ultraconservative wing's efforts to reverse what it sees as a liberal drift in the denomination, and some critics warn that it could alienate women and have significant implications for the denomination itself.
Timothy Keller, an evangelical minister who founded Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and gained a national following, died at the age of 72. He was known for his conservative Christian beliefs that separated faith from party politics and his erudition that attracted young urban professionals. Keller's views on complementarianism, racial equality, and the separation of Christian faith from political allegiance often put him at odds with the binary world of contemporary politics. He was an outspoken critic of the politicization of faith and believed that no party should have a lock on the Christian vote.