A paradigm shift in American politics

A new wave of Christian fundamentalism is on the rise in American politics. The principle of America’s founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison, condoning a secularist state is under intense attack. In the twentieth century, when America was a rising and expanding imperial power, it believed in secular and liberal values. This is clearly evidenced by the famous John F Kennedy speech at a convention of Baptist ministers in Houston: “I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish – where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials.”

With the advent of 21st century, we witness a paradigm shift in American politics. On September 18, 2000, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman challenged the secular foundations of the Constitution, insisting that the First Amendment guaranteed freedom “of religion” not freedom “from religion”.During the 2008 elections, President Barack Obama – a secular liberal – had to defend his Christian heritage and his religious belief to justify his presidential candidacy.

Today, American politics are increasingly entrenched in religiosity. The ongoing GOP presidential debate is centered on which sect of Christianity would serve the declining empire and what imperial attitude was needed to keep the failing empire intact. In a recent interview on ABC news, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum rejected Kennedy’s belief in “separation of church and state”.
Read the rest here