Political Esperanto: Rhetorical Resources and Limitations of The Christian Right in the United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

Publication Title

Sociology of Religion

Volume

66

Issue

3

First page number:

303

Last page number:

321

Abstract

This study analyzes a paradox in the rhetorical strategies of the Christian Right in the United States: How can doctrinally conservative political activists justify "legislating morality" in a culture in which individual autonomy is a central value? This essay is based on the assumption that, although there exist competing values and religious frameworks in the United States, the language of liberal individualism is the lingua franca for distinctively public discourse. Such activists attempt to advance a socially conservative agenda in an individualist culture by emphasizing the existence of competing rights, invoking the special status of children, utilizing the language of the natural sciences, and identifying powerful alien forces.

Keywords

Autonomy; Autonomy and independence movements; Christianity; Conservatism; Political activists; Religion

Disciplines

American Politics | Christianity | Political Science | Religion | Sociology

Language

English

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