If you cannot disprove the existence of God, or prove the existence of God

[AtheistCrusader]

190. Oh no. Much longer ago than that.

Evangelicals are what happened when the Republican Party went totally berserk at the end of the 50's, beginning of the 60's, culminating in the mass-shift after the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Before 1950, the republican party supported suffrage. Opposed slavery. Hell, going into the vote on the 1964 CRA, republicans voted for its passage in much higher numbers than democrats did. In the 50's, leading republicans like Goldwater publicly supported legislation that fought discrimination against people for their sexuality. All easily accessible historical record.


During that period, the Republican Party suffered an influx of evangelicals, seeking to gain political dominance. We're suffering the fallout from that today.


"Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.
.....
The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom.... I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are?... I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism." "

- Barry Goldwater, (1909–1998), five-term US Senator, Republican Party nominee for President in 1964*, Maj. Gen., US Air Force Reserves, author of The Conscience of a Conservative.

Goldwater lost. The CRA passed. The dixiecrats jumped to the republican party. All fucking hell broke loose.

And today, we suffer.

There used to be compromise. We used to have (what we call progressive today) progressive allies in the republican party. That party used to stand up for civil rights.



I do agree that currently the religious right is losing ground, but that is at risk, every single election. They can come back. They have managed to hold the House through craft and gerrymandering. I'm somewhat optimistic about the mid-terms and the next election, but nothing is guaranteed. Every single election remains an existential fight that we MUST win.

They haven't overturned RvW, but they've nibbled away at abortion just the same.
http://www.salon.com/2014/04/28/mississippis_lone_abortion_clinic_fights_to_stay_open_while_the_fate_of_legal_abortion_in_the_south_hangs_in_the_balance/


This fight is still on, and still desperate.