M.A.P rough draft

For the last 10-15 years the majority of evangelical Christians and other Christian denominations have openly aligned themselves with the Republican party. Through this alignment, the Republican party has developed a reputation for being the “Christian” party and the Democratic party has been accused of being amoral and anti-family. In the late 70s the Republican party found that if they integrated just few key issues into their political platform they could almost guarantee the support from an enormous portion of the population: Christians. This partnership drastically changed politics and the use of rhetoric concerning religion and politics. Since then, the GOP has successfully crafted rhetoric that has maintained the bond between their party and religious conservatives. They have used rhetoric to create an “us versus them” mentality between the Republican party and the Democratic party by clearly defining how the parties differ, especially concerning social issues. The Democrats on the other hand have not been as successful at creating rhetoric that highlights the similarities between their values and Christian values.

Up until the 60s and 70s the majority of Christian groups stayed out of politics, but some ministers, most notably Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., became involved in the civil rights movement. But evangelical Christians had not yet taken the stage in politics, prioritizing winning souls above all else.

“If as much effort could be put into winning people to Jesus across the land as is being exerted in the present civil rights movement, America would be turned upside down for God,” stated Rev. Jerry Falwell in 1964.

Falwell had a change of heart when Roe v. Wade passed in 1973. Full of conviction, Falwell was determined not to let the U.S. continue down, what he believed, was an immoral path. Using his platform as a popular preacher, he fervently began encouraging his congregation and Christians to voice their political views. Despite the fact that many Christian denominations and other religious groups could not agree on specific Christian principles, Falwell realized that just a few key issues could unite them politically.

“The movement, he said, had a simple agenda — pro-life, pro-traditional family, pro-moral, and pro-American — precisely the kind of broad agenda to unite conservatives of different faiths and backgrounds,” wrote New York Times' Peter Applebome for Falwell's obituary in 2007.

Powered by this philosophy, Falwell formed the evangelical political group the Moral Majority. Promising millions of votes to which ever party would support their interests, the Moral Majority became an extremely powerful influence in politics and cemented a relationship with the Republican party.

Falwell began his campaign from his pulpit. Standing on stage before a congregation, a pulpit and Bible in front of him, without speaking a word Falwell establishes unspoken authority and power. Even before he was involved in his politics, he recognized his influence.

“Television made me a kind of instant celebrity,” he wrote. “People were fascinated that they could see and hear me preach that same night in person,” (Applebome).