Book Essay# 1
Points will be awarded for clarity, thoroughness and good organization.
In his book, For God’s Sake: The Christian Right and US Foreign Policy, Lee Marsden argues that the Christian Right should be taken seriously as an interest group devoted to a particular foreign policy agenda.
By way of introduction to your essay, do you agree or disagree with the author’s assertion? Please, state your position clearly as well as your reasons. Based on class discussion, which category of foreign policy interest groups would you place the Christian Right? Give reasons for your choice.
In the second part of you essay, provide detailed discussion of the foreign policy agenda of the American Christian Right as discussed by Marsden. Thirdly, discuss in detail the methods used by the Christian Right to accomplish their agenda. Finally, with particular reference to their relationship with the Bush II administration, what do you see as the consequences of ignoring the Christian Right’s capacity to influence US foreign policy towards the Third World?
GRADING RUBRIC
Quality of Writing – 10%
Organization – 10%
Thoroughness (adequate coverage of relevant themes/issues) – 75%
Citation – 5%
NOTE: Citation is absolutely required
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For God’s Sake: The Christian Right and US Foreign Policy
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For God’s Sake: The Christian Right and US Foreign Policy
Introduction
Since the late nineteenth century, Christian rights movement have been a great force towards the united states politics, especially in opposing the equal rights amendments, issues on on abortion, sex before marriage, and advocating from prayers in schools(Salleh, 2020) . Today, Christian rights, such as the born-again Christian, religious right, conservative angelica, and dominionist, are interested in international issues, such as foreign policy issues, especially in decision making. I agree with the assertion in “for God’s” sake book that Christian rights have played an essential role in the united states’ foreign policies, especially on the war on terror.
Additionally, Christian rights have Helped in promoting democracy, promotion of human rights, and humanitarian Helpance, especially in decision making and policy development. Christian rights are successfully associated decision-making, especially in advocating for successive president and governance through policies, such as voter registration, lobbying, and fundraising (Salleh, 2020). During the Gorge Bush administration, Christian rights were first applied, such as in charity works, religious crusades, televangelism, missions, radio, and promotion of capitalism in the united states. During the Gorge Bush administration, the Christian rights promoted democracy, for instance, the development to the pro-democratic stance, which has been very helpful, especially in imposing free-market democracy and applying Christian rights in Gorge Bush governance in both domestic and foreign administration as well as democratization.
On the other hand, the Christian right has played an essential role in developing organizations and faith-based initiatives, which has attracted the government into funding and assigns persecuted Christians across the world (Salleh, 2020). Apart from Helping in policy and human rights promotion, Christian rights have played an essential role in promoting Christian values in America, morality, family values, and attitude, which has helped fight corruption, HIV/AIDS, and empower women, especially those from disadvantaged communities (Salleh, 2020) . Although Christian rights have been reported to undermine the rights of homosexuals and methods of women toward abortion, the movement has, however, helped address most foreign issues, including the impact of climate change, and in dealing with other environmental matters, which is inspired by genesis 1:26-29. On the other hand, dealing with climate change and other environmental issues has helped make foreign decisions to Help in dealing with poverty.
The Christian rights movement has also led to the development of the Christian Zionist movement, which has helped develop the middle east policy that addressed issues concerning terrorism and global wars, which affect the US foreign policies, especially trade. Another issue that has affected Christian rights involvement in US foreign includes the involvement in various movements towards Muslims, especially in dealing with global wars and terrors (Salleh, 2020). Although the movement of the Christian right uses the 9/11 tragedy to seek freedom and the rights towards the Muslims, and in use of the perception that the united states military group is a Christian army and created on a Christian basis.
Discussion
The foreign policy agenda of the American Christian rights are applied in the united states foreign policies to deal with issues, such as human trafficking, family planning, sexuality, global warming, prostitution, sexuality, and other business and moral issues (Salleh, 2020). Most church members, such as the Christian Baptist churches, Help in changing the foreign policies by taking care of the grass-root issues, such as food security issues and education issues. Some of the developed organizations to apply Christian rights include the FOF, IRD, and the FRC (Salleh, 2020). The American catholic has been the same impact on moral conservatism. Other foreign policies that have been developed include policies meant to address Christian prosecution and advocate for religious freedom, especially in North Korea and Sudan.
On the other hand, the IRD Helps in developing policies, such as the free market policy, which provides a solution to most international issues. The FRC, however, is concerned with dealing with actions that are not allowed all religious rights, such a those concerned with sexuality, gender equality, contraception, and many others. The organizations that are more concerned with international affairs in the united states INCLUDES THE FOF, FRC, and CWA (Salleh, 2020). However, Evangelicals have shown much interest in supporting the Israels, addressing global warming, promoting religious freedom, and other policies that have Helped in promoting democracy and collaboration with foreign countries.
Methods used by Christian rights to accomplish their agenda
The Christian rights movement applies several methods in spreading the word and applying Christian rights in a political movement, especially in promoting power and influence. Some of the methods used include conducting evangelistic outreach, which has been designed to promote Christianity and encourage people to convert to Christianity. Evangelistic outreaches are conducted by developing educational buildings, translating the bible, providing health care services, promoting converts, and supporting churches (Salleh, 2020) . Evangelism crusades teach about conservatism through a world view perspective, which views communism, secularism, and modernism as the foundation of evil in the society.
On the other hand, the proper Christian movement uses Christian broadcasting, which Helps in teaching, providing knowledge concerning Christianity, and providing opportunities for spreading God’s word. On the other hand, the Christian movement Helps the united states government in various international developments, such as USAID missions (Salleh, 2020). On the other hand, through broadcasting, the movement of the Christian right Helps the united states in actualizing the American dream by promoting biblical motivation. Some of the Christian channels used to promote Christianity include ABC, CBS, and NBC. Trinity broadcasting network(TBN) is one of the most extensive television networks that reach more than ninety million households in the united states.
The TBN helps teach about the Christian gospel and promote the united states business sales and sports. Additionally, the channels promote self-fulfillment, and personal responsibility, which is the first step to a developing nation (Salleh, 2020). Also, the Christian rights mission uses missions to distribute ideas and Help in developing international affairs through the use of the operating blessings International(OBI). The OBI has been the same impact, especially in addressing most issues such as the 2005 hurricanes and tsunamis. On the other hand, the proper Christian movement uses faith-based initiatives, including community initiatives that work with the USAID organizations. Some of the faith-based initiatives include the food for the hungry, partner worldwide, the voice of the martyrs, world vision, Samaritan purse, partner worldwide, and operation blessings (Salleh, 2020).
Consequences of ignoring the Christian rights capacity to influence US foreign policy towards the third world.
Ignoring the Christian rights capacity to influence the united states foreign policy towards the third world could have several impacts. Christian proper movement has access to the white house, Capitol Hill, and administration, which is the most influential, especially in foreign policy development. Ignoring the impact of Christian rights towards foreign policy would lead to various issues, such as the spread of HIV/AIDS, global warming, and other impacts of climate change, lack of religious freedom, and morals (Salleh, 2020).
Religious freedom promotes sustainability, Helps in dealing wot conflict, and solving some of the most common foreign policy issues, such as terror wars, and business issues, especially from select countries, such as the united states and China. On the other hand, ignoring the Christian rights movement’s capacity can be very detrimental to the health, socio-political, education, and economy of the third world, considering that the movement promotes medical education and influences the country politically (Salleh, 2020). Ignoring the Christian rights in the third world can affect the democracy of the nations, especially on issues dealing with religious freedom and democratic administration.
Reference
Salleh, M. A. (2020). The Christian Right & US Foreign Policy in the 21 st Century. Airlangga University Press.
