Posted: 06/04/06

Good News from the Front Lines of the Culture War Part II

 "In the beginning, God created . . . " (Genesis 1:1)

Frederick Nietzsche, a 19th century German atheist philosopher, famously declared that God was dead and that the Christian faith was untenable. He predicted that his belief would spread across the world and eventually envelop all of Christendom. He was wrong – especially in America.

A recent poll shows that an overwhelming 94 percent of Americans believe that God exists. Significantly, of the six percent who don't believe that, only one percent was certain about its belief; but of the 94 percent who do believe in God, 80 percent were certain about their belief. In short, atheism in America is nearly non-existent while theism (a belief in God) is very strong.

Americans also strongly believe that God is the Creator. A recent Gallup poll found that only 12 percent of Americans believe that human life came into existence without God; 84 percent believe that God was involved (a Barna poll reported 87 percent); and 53 percent of Americans (61 percent in an ABC poll) believe the literal Biblical account. In another poll, when questioned about the "origins of human life on earth," 57 percent believe the Bible provided the answers while only 31 percent believe that Darwin did. These numbers are especially remarkable given the fact that for 38 years, the Supreme Court has allowed only evolution to be taught in public schools.

As a review of the Court's position on this issue, in Epperson v. Board of Education (1968), the Court first ruled against creation, holding that public schools must teach evolution. In Edwards v. Aguillard (1985), the Court reiterated its position, rejecting a state law requiring both sides to be taught (i.e., "balanced treatment").

Over subsequent years, states have sought to provide relief for students from this Court-mandated indoctrination. Such efforts are not surprising, for current polls show that from 64 to 68 percent of Americans want creation taught in the classroom; and strikingly, this high level of support was consistent among evangelicals, conservatives, and liberals.

As examples of such efforts, the Kansas State School Board determined that while students still must be taught evolution, they would not be tested on it in their exit exams; Georgia placed disclaimers in the front of its science textbooks stating that evolution was only a theory and not a scientifically-proven fact; and a Pennsylvania school district attempted to permit "Intelligent Design" in its science courses. Thus far, however, in every case that has reached a federal court, any attempt to lessen or weaken the teaching of evolution has been struck down.

In fact, in the recent ruling against Intelligent Design, federal judge John E. Jones III issued a 139-page diatribe against those who had attempted to introduce the teaching of creation into schools, even calling them "liars." Significantly, the only legal issue in that case had been whether students could read a single scientifically truthful sentence stating that "gaps in the [evolution] theory exist for which there is no evidence"; but Jones disallowed that statement, decrying what he called the "breathtaking inanity" of school board members for taking such a position.

But despite such judicial hostility, well over eighty percent of Americans remain convinced that God was involved in creation. They continue overwhelmingly to acknowledge the truth of Romans 1:20: "Since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made."

Public Religious Expressions

Aggressive legal attacks continue against public acknowledgments of God. Recent lawsuits have been filed against monuments and memorials with religious phrases, faith-based programs, Ten Commandments displays, "In God We Trust" on the currency, prayers at public meetings, "under God" in the Pledge, and the list goes on and on – and on and on.

Based on the number of cases filed, one could easily conclude that we live in a nation divided over the issue of public religious expressions; such a conclusion, however, would be incorrect. Recent polls continue to affirm massive support for public religious expressions.

For example, when a recent Fox News poll asked whether religion should be "excluded from public life," 81 percent said "no." And when questioned about specific issues, 90 percent support keeping "under God" in the Pledge; 76 percent support public displays of the Ten Commandments; 82 percent support voluntary school prayer; etc.

Americans are firmly supportive of public religious expressions; and with two new strict constructionist Justices recently added to the Supreme Court, the days of the Court's intense hostility toward religion are likely numbered. (Even though there are now only four constitutionalists on the Court, four is more than at any time in recent years – with the likelihood that one more will be nominated in the near future.)

America vs. The Courts and The Media

Probably the two most willing accomplices in the war against traditional moral and religious values have been an activist judiciary and the "mainstream" media. In fact, it seems that the greater the support for a traditional value, the more likely it is to be attacked both by the media (entertainment media as well as news media) and by the courts.

One issue strongly supported by the public is that of heterosexual relations and traditional marriage. A recent poll shows that 72 percent of Americans support marriage as a heterosexual union between one man and one woman; and every state that has voted on that issue has overwhelmingly reaffirmed that value.

So how does the media respond to such overwhelming support? NBC decided it needed to produce and premier a new series: "The Book of Daniel." (As explained by the American Family Association, "NBC touted the show as a serious drama about Christian people and the Christian faith. It featured Daniel Webster as a drug-addicted Episcopal priest, his alcoholic wife, . . . a 23-year-old homosexual Republican son, a 16-year-old drug dealing daughter, and a 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter. In the premier episode, Daniel's brother-in-law Charlie ran off with Jesse, his secretary. Later viewers found out that Jesse was also having a lesbian affair with Charlie's wife.") Hollywood also knew how to respond to America's support for traditional sexual values: it produced "Brokeback Mountain" (a "love story" involving homosexual cowboys) and even spent millions in lobbying to make sure that it received eight Oscar nominations and three academy awards.

Clearly, the mainstream media is against these traditional values, but what about the judiciary? Nebraska recently passed a marriage amendment with 70 percent support from the voters, but a federal judge struck it down; a California judge just dumped that state's marriage amendment; and a Maryland judge just threw out that state's law against homosexual marriage.

With the media and the judiciary at the vanguard of the attack on cherished American values, how are citizens responding to these two institutions? Not favorably – at least according to recent polls.

Regarding the media, only a meager 28 percent of Americans expressed a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in newspapers or television reports – a record low. Furthermore, between 1985 and 2002, those who thought the media to be "highly professional" declined from 72 percent to 49 percent. Americans now recognize that the "mainstream" media no longer reports the news but rather selectively edits it to promote an agenda which most Americans reject.

Americans also recognize the role of the judiciary in undermining their beliefs; and their response was accurately predicted two centuries ago by Founding Father Luther Martin – a framer of the Constitution – who forewarned:

It is necessary that the supreme Judiciary should have the confidence of the people. This will soon be lost if they are employed in the task of remonstrating against [opposing and striking down] popular measures of the Legislature.

The judiciary is indeed losing "the confidence of the people." A recent poll showed that 76 percent of Americans disapproved of the courts' activism, believing that "the courts have gone too far in taking religion out of public life"; 59 percent even felt that the judiciary was singling out Christians for attack.

This widespread citizen dissatisfaction with the judiciary has resulted in strong public support for efforts to curtail judicial activism and the appointment of strict constructionists to the federal bench. However, Senate votes on judicial nominees reveal that many Senators remain at odds with the people's wishes. Are these Senators therefore to be faulted for their opposition to the people? Not entirely. The voters who tolerate such Senators must shoulder much of the blame; for Congress does not reflect the values of all Americans but only the values of those who take time to vote (and in most federal elections, that means less than half the citizens). President James A. Garfield accurately observed:

Now, more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.

It is time for voters to demand legislators who will not only embrace but will vote to defend the traditional values of faith and family, and who also will also place on the courts the judges who respect those values.

Summary

Americans overwhelmingly support traditional Biblical values; however, those beliefs must be reflected in actions if the public policy side of the culture war is to be won. Therefore, communicate with your elected officials about your beliefs, and their votes; and if necessary, work to replace the officials that you feel do not represent your values.

I apprehend no danger to our country from a foreign foe. . . . Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter: from the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government – from their carelessness and negligence. Daniel Webster

No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly; I cannot believe it will ever come to pass. George Washington

I conjure you, by all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that ye pray but that ye act. John Hancock

By David Barton Click here for bio and archived articles