Fingerprints

At this point in the project, I am about half way towards delivering the expanded version of American Autumn (Conspirators, Confederates, and Cronies) to the world. This work is background information as to how the USA got to this point in its history. It is offered in the spirit of Open Source. It is my hope it will add to the collective understanding of the world's makeup. 

Some Christians may be a little uncomfortable with the work. Some people may think it is too sectarian. The information contained herein is additional to Philips' work of 2005, and partially explains the effects of Nixon's Southern Strategy. 

During Occupy, we chanted "We are the 99%! You are the 99%" as if all that mattered was social economic status. And, while true, there are many people who are 99% who do not see themselves as such due to the misuse of religion. They align themselves philosophically with the 1% who are controlling the world. This work was, and is, and attempt to explain that.

Cliff Potts
June 28, 2014

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It is not the purpose of this small work to dig extensively into the theological beliefs of the Christian community. The majority of people in the United States today have had some exposure to the Christian religion. For the sake of this discussion, I am focusing only on the people who have had a direct bearing on the neo-conservative Right political movement.

Many within Christianity bristle at the description of Christianity being called a religion. They insist that religion is man-made, but what they have comes from God and therefore transcends man-made religion. Religion can be defined as a system of beliefs and the socially approved actions within that system. Christianity, within its institutional form, is a religion. It has, over time, had many men defining both its beliefs and its approved actions. All of these men said God directed them.

Paul of Tarsus

Saint Paul of Tarsus, the author of much of the New Testament was one such man. He taught of Jesus Christ, but never knew him. He converted to “The Way”[1] in the early days after the execution of Jesus. Through his own studies of the Old Testament, Paul concluded who Jesus was and what the Christian religion was to become.[2] Paul even opposed the understanding of Christianity as taught by Peter who had followed Jesus.[3] It is from Paul’s letters to various churches in the Roman-controlled Mediterranean region that protestant Christianity draws its authority. Whatever the faithful wish to uphold as their uniqueness as a religion, it is from this one man that the majority of the Christian theosophy is derived.

Constantine I

Christianity has been the official religion in the west for approximately 1,690 years. Legend has it that Constantine I (Gaius Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus) adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire on October 28, 312.[4] He had a vision on his way to the Battle of Milvan Bridge. That vision was of a cross overlaid on the disk of the sun. He adopted this as his banner for all later battles. It was Constantine I who convoked the First Council of Nicaea in 355 to define the beliefs of the Christian Church.[5] It is from Constantine that the Church fathers of the Catholic Church draw their authority. Catholicism is a religion of conclaves and congresses that define for the faithful what is acceptable in their beliefs and what is not.

John Calvin

In order to narrow the discussion on the main personalities of the neo-conservative Right, we have to jump ahead in time to 1536. It cannot be understated that Martin Luther is the prominent figure in the Reformation. However, John Calvin’s work had a greater impact on what later became Protestant Christianity. The name Protestant comes from the act of protesting the traditions of the Catholic Church.

John Calvin was born on July 10, 1509 in France. He was eight years old when the Reformation began with Luther. He was sent to the University of Paris at age 14. At age 23, he earned his Doctorate of Law Orleans. In 1536, he settled in Geneva.[6]

His teachings collectively are referred to as Calvinism. According to Wikipedia:[7]

this term also refers to the doctrines and practices of the Reformed churches, of which Calvin was an early leader, and the system is perhaps best known for its doctrines of predestination and election.[8]

Election, or Unconditional Election, holds: 

that God, in eternity, chose out of all mankind those whom He would save by means of Christ's death and the work of the Holy Spirit, for no other reason than His own wise, just, and gracious purpose.[9]

Predestination is:

discussion of…the extent to which salvation and damnation are the issue of God's decisions before time, and the extent to which these are matters decided by men and angels for themselves. The more immediate application of the doctrine of predestination concerns the extent to which people and nations are confined by God to particular roles, compared to how much they are makers of their own destiny.[10]

Christian Reconstructionism is derived from Calvinism. Much smaller, more radical, and theocratic than Calvinism, Christian Reconstructionism is believed to be widely influential in the American family and political life.

Reconstructionism is a distinct revision of Kuyper's approach, which sharply departs from that root influence through the complete rejection of pluralism, and by formulating suggested applications of the sanctions of biblical law for modern civil governments. These distinctions are the least influential aspects of the movement. Its intellectual founder, the late Rousas J. Rushdoony, based much of his understanding on the apologetical insights of Cornelius Van Til, professor at Westminster Theological Seminary. It has some influence in the conservative Reformed churches in which it was born, and in Calvinistic Baptist and Charismatic churches mostly in the United States, Canada, and to a lesser extent in the U.K.

Reconstructionism aims toward the complete rebuilding of the structures of society on Christian and Biblical presuppositions. Not in terms of "top down" structural changes, according to its promoters, but through the steady advance of the Gospel of Christ. As men and women are converted, they live out their obedience to God in the areas for which they are responsible. In keeping with the Theonomic Principle, Reconstructionism seeks to establish laws and structures that will best instantiate the ethical principles of the Bible, including the Old Testament, as expounded in the case laws and summarized in the Decalogue.

Not a political movement, strictly speaking, Reconstructionism has nonetheless been influential in the development of the Christian Right and what some critics have called “Dominionism.”[11] Dominionism, is defined as:

a trend in Protestant Christian evangelicalism and fundamentalism, primarily, though not exclusively, in the United States, that seeks to establish specific political policies based on religious beliefs.[12]

It is interesting to note that the term is often used as a pejorative.

While many may disagree with the conclusion of John Calvin, one has to give him credit for pure theological genius and strong will. The man was very ill most of his life. He suffered from painful ailments, which would have driven other men to drugs or hard liquor. It is said that on many occasions he had to be carried to the pulpit to give the sermon. He was obviously dedicated to his vision of God, and for that alone, he should be given respect.

The use of Calvin’s teachings gave us the Anabaptist and “Baptist” traditions. The New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia describes the Anabaptist as,

A violent and extremely radical body of ecclesiastic-civil reformers which first made its appearance in 1521 at Zwickau, in the present kingdom of Saxony, and still exists in milder forms.[13]

The Baptists are defined as:

A Protestant denomination which exists chiefly in English speaking countries and owes its name to its characteristic doctrine and practice regarding baptism.

In all fairness to both traditions, it must be noted that they began with as rough a start as the neo-conservative Right under George W. Bush. The New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia records the following:

As early as 1535 ten Anabaptists were put to death and the persecution continued throughout that century. The victims seem to have been mostly Dutch and German refugees. What influence they exerted in spreading their views is not known; but, as a necessary result, Baptist principles became, through them, less of an unacceptable novelty in the eyes of Englishmen. The first Baptist congregations were organized in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Almost at the very start, the denomination was divided into "Arminian", or "General" Baptists, so named because of their belief in the universal character of Christ's redemption, and "Calvinistic" or "Particular" Baptists, who maintained that Christ's redemption was intended for the elect alone. The origin of the General Baptists is connected with the name of John Smyth (d. 1612), pastor of a church at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, which had separated from the Church of England.

About 1606, pastor and flock, to escape persecution, immigrated to Amsterdam, where they formed the second English congregation. In 1609, Smyth, owing possibly in some measure to Mennonite influence, rejected infant baptism, although he retained affusion.[14]

In this he was supported by his church. Some members of the congregation returned to England (1611 or 1612) under the leadership of Helwys (c. 1550-1616) and formed in London the nucleus of the first Baptist community. Persecution had abated, and they do not seem to have been molested. By 1626 there were in different parts of England five General Baptist churches; by 1644, they had increased, it is said, to forty-seven; and by 1660 the membership of the body had reached about 20,000. It was between 1640 and 1660 that the General Baptists began to claim that immersion was the only valid mode of baptism. They were persecuted by Charles II (1660-85); but the Act of Toleration (1689) brought relief and recognized the Baptists as the third dissenting denomination (Presbyterians, Independents, and Baptists). In the eighteenth century, Anti-Trinitarian ideas spread among the General Baptists, and by 1750, many, perhaps the majority of them, had become Unitarians. As a result of the great Wesleyan revival of the second half of the eighteenth century, new religious activity manifested itself among the General Baptists.[15]

Margaret Macdonald

Margaret Macdonald[16] is a minor character in the Christian story. She, however, has had a major impact on the Christian religion today. At age 15, in 1830, Ms. Macdonald had a vision of the pre-tribulation (pre-trib) Rapture (the collecting and pulling away of all Christians just before God judges the world). Some attribute the pre-trib rapture to Ephraem of Nisibis, of the Greek-speaking Roman Empire around the third century.[17] It is, however, from Ms. Macdonald’s vision and subsequent writings that the populist version of this doctrine comes to us today. From Ms. Macdonald there is a direct line to Hal Lindsey, and Tim LayHaye/Jerry B. Jenkins and the fictionalized events in the widely popular Left Behind[18] series.

It needs to be noted that Pat Robertson is a dissenter to the pre-trib rapture view, and he holds that this dogma (or ordinance of faith) is a fabrication of imagination.[19]

William Bullein Johnson

Mr. Johnson is another small but key player in the drive towards the rise of the neo-conservative Right. Born in John’s Island on June 13, 1782,[20] he was the first president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC, as it popularly is referred to, divided from the main congregation of the Baptist Convention due to the suspicion that the northern members of the convention were abolitionist; it needs to be noted that officially the Baptist Convention (or Triennial Convention) was neutral on the issue.[21] This split occurred on May 8-12, 1845. This was 16 years before the Civil War.

“Pat” Robertson

Again we take a forward leap in time. Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson (born March 22, 1930) is the influential religious broadcaster of both the Baptist and the Charismatic traditions.[22] He became a born-again Christian in 1956. He ran as a candidate for president as a Republican in 1988. Mr. Robertson is a shrewd businessman, religious leader, and politician. For this, he deserves respect.

However, he is lacking judgment in what he says on the air. I can give a speculative opinion that such statements are part of the show to see who is paying attention.

According to the WorldNetDaily,[23] Robertson said, “If I could just get a nuclear device inside Foggy Bottom, I think that's the answer…” (Foggy Bottom is the location of the headquarters of the State Department).

As recently as August 22, 2005, Mr. Robertson created a tempest when he said:

You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if [Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war.[24]

Pat Robertson, among his more controversial statements, has described feminism as a:

socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians.[25]

Many of Robertson's views mirror those of the evangelical activist Jerry Falwell, who has made frequent appearances on The 700 Club. Robertson agreed with Falwell that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were caused by "pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU and the People for the American Way.”[26]

Pat Robertson says he speaks for the majority of Christian Churches, which do not have a national spokesperson. While he is a Charismatic[27] and a Baptist, in my opinion, he may also be a Christian Reconstructionist. I base this suspicion on his discrediting of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture dogma and his constant intervention in the American political landscape. He truly does take after Calvin.

As to his colorful statements,[28] I would be remiss if I were to hold myself up as a bastion of venture when it comes to public communications; I, too, have been known to say some pretty inane things in my day. We will be covering one such stupid statement later in this book.

Jerry Falwell

The megachurch, Thomas Roads Baptist Church, and Liberty University are both the successful creations of Jerry Falwell. Rev. Falwell, too, has been in the political limelight for some time.

Born on August 11, 1933, Rev. Falwell became a Christian in college, and decided to convert his hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia to his brand of Christianity. After attending Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, he started Thomas Roads Baptist Church with a small congregation of 35 adults. Today it has a membership in excess of 24,000 people.[29]

Rev. Falwell was the founder of the Moral Majority, a political action group consisting of a conservative religious membership. Having helped the elections of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, the Moral Majority disbanded in 1989.[30]

Falwell has again become active with the new Moral Majority Coalition. The organization’s very professional front page explains:

Following the sweeping re-election of President Bush and a new generation of conservative lawmakers nationwide, a new organization, The Moral Majority Coalition, has been launched.[31]

It is interesting to note that Mr. Bush won the election by 50.7% of the vote.

Rev. Falwell, like Rev. Robertson, has been known to say unpopular things. Some of what he has said is commented on later in this text.[32]

So, Here We Are

It is May of 2006. Paul has long since gone to be with his God. The return of Jesus has, by some reckoning, yet to occur. We see in history the fingerprints of the people who have had great impact on what is defined as Christianity in the U.S. today. It is from this core that the neo-conservative Right has grown. I wish them well, but as we shall see, there is trouble on the horizon.

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[1] Tradition holds that the original name for Christianity was called “The Way” and that Christians (named Little Christ in Antioch) were referred to as “Followers of The Way.” See Acts 11:26.

[2] Galatians 2:1

[3] Galatians 1:8-9, Galatians 2:11

[4] Wikipedia: Constantine 1, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_I_of_the_Roman_

Empire#Constantine_and_Christianity; It is interesting to note that the God of love’s first official act within the post Jesus, extra-biblical, historical record was to commission a new symbol under which men would go to war.

[5] Wikipedia: First Council of Nicaea, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea

[6] Wikipedia: John Calvin, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin#Biography

[7] Wikipedia is not an authority; it is used for the sake of ease of access and will allow the reader a place to start further research.

[8] Wikipedia: Calvinism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism#Historical_background

[9] Wikipedia: Unconditional Election, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconditional_election

[10] Wikipedia: Predestination, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination#Predestination_in_Christianity

[11] Wikipedia: Calvinism; Christian Reconstruction http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism#Christian_Reconstructionism

[12] Wikipedia: Dominionism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism

[13] New Advent Encyclopedia: Anabaptist, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01445b.htm

[14] Wikipedia: Affusion, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affusion; Affusion is a method of Christian baptism where water is poured on the head of the person being baptized. The word "affusion" is rooted in the Latin word affusio meaning "to pour on" [1]. Affusion is typically contrasted with baptism by total immersion and baptism by sprinkling (aspersion). Christians who baptize by affusion do not deny the legitimacy

of baptizing by immersion or aspersion. Rather, they hold the more modest view that affusion is a legitimate, if not preferable, method of baptism.

[15] New Advent Encyclopedia: Baptist,http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02278a.htm

[16] Wikipedia: Margret Macdonald, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Macdonald_%28Prop

hecy%29

[17] Wikipedia: Rapture, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture#History

[18] Left Behind is a series of fictional works which have been described as Christian Comic Books. They follow people who are left on Earth after Jesus removes the Christians. This is a literary version of the series of films known as Thief in the Night series. The four films include A Thief in the Night (1972), A Distant Thunder (1977), Image of the Beast (1981), The Prodigal Planet (1983), and The Battle of Armageddon (Planned).

[19] I first heard of Margret Macdonald from Mr. Robertson in the late 70s or early 80s on his flagship program The 700 Club.His disagreement with the pre-tribulation rapture is the subject matter of his book The End of the Age. I found that work of fiction enjoyable as Christian oriented Science Fiction. I found

it to be a good read.

[20] Baptist Cameos: William Johnson, http://www.reformedreader.org/johnson.htm

[21] Wikipedia: Southern Baptist Convention, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptist_Convention

[22] Wikipedia: Pat Robertson, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson

[23] WorldNetDaily, Pat Robertson: Nuke State Department: Colin Powell expresses outrage over evangelist's televised remark, October 10, 2003, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_I

D=35036

[24] Media Matters for America, Monday, Aug 22, 2005, Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuela's president, http://mediamatters.org/items/200508220006

[25] Wikipedia: Pat Robertson, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Robertson#Political_activism

[26] TruthOrFiction.com, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson say immorality and anti-Christian groups should share in the blame for the Terrorist Attacks on America-Truth!, http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/f/falwell-robertsonwtc.htm

[27] “Charismatic is an umbrella term used to describe those Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as healing, miracles and glossolalia (speaking in tongues), are available to contemporary Christians and ought to be experienced and practiced today.” Wikipedia: Charismatic Movement, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismatic_Movement

[28] I cannot take these statements as seriously as others do; I have heard such from the Talk Jocks of KLIF, and from the infamous Howard Stern, and Kidd Kraddick (106.1 KISS FM Dallas). If it were not for Mr. Robertson’s politic affiliations and his religious affiliations, he would not be getting as much publicity, or heat as he has. Much of what he says strikes me as showmanship, but that is just my opinion.

[29] Wikipedia: Jerry Falwell, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Falwell

[30] The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition; Moral Majority, http://www.bartleby.com/65/e-/E-MoralMajo.html

[31] Moral Majority Coalition, http://www.moralmajority.us/

[32] While the Rev. Falwell passed away on May 15, 2007, we are still feeling the effects of his teachings within the United States today.

Kevin Phillips in his recently published American Theocracy, states, “We can begin by describing the role of religion in American Politics with two words: Widely underestimated.” Religion and politics are incredibly intertwined in the U.S., as they were in Europe before the foundation of the U.S.; and, that influence has been overlooked by the Establishment. Yet, George Gallop, the famous pollster, said, “religious affiliation remains one of the most accurate and least-appreciated political indicators available.” (Potts, Clifford A. Radicals, Religion, and Revelation. 1st ed. Dallas: WordTechs Press, 2008. 5-6. CD-ROM).

Tyranny’s Echo

One of the internet’s many hit-and-run-artists decided to ask a question on one of my web logs a few months ago. The question was “Why do you think you have all the answers?”

The question is nonsense, plain and simple. The internet is filled with people who use the anonymity of the web to be excessively rude and argumentative. If the person had bothered to read anything I had posted, she would have figured out that I don’t think I have all the answers. I am, like many, groping in the descending darkness, trying to define a line of tactical response to the events of our day. I am not trying to exalt or glorify myself as being some kind of cosmically defined leader. I am but one soul who, with the aid of history, sees a nation descending into troubled times. What history, you may ask? Read the words of Adolph Hitler below:[1]

The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests. It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality.

Today Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit. We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theatre, and in the press -- in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of LIBERAL excess during the past years.[2]

I believe today that I am acting in the sense of the Almighty Creator... I am fighting for the Lord's Work.[3]

The [National Government] regards Christianity as the foundation of our national morality, and the family as the basis of national life.[4]

***

Secular schools can never be tolerated because such a school has no religious instruction and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith.... We need believing people.[5]

I hope to live to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't give any public schools. The churches will have taken over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be![6]

The first quote above is from Adolph Hitler; the second quote is from Jerry Falwell. Not only do Falwell’s words almost exactly match what Hitler said in 1933, but also his beliefs are the foundation of a theocratic state. Manifest Destiny came out of such theocratic institutions. Ask Native Americans how they feel about such teachings. There is more evidence of the disdain with which the neo-conservative community holds the rule of law in the United States.

The Supreme Court of the Unites States of America is an institution damned by God Almighty.[7]

That statement matches much of the rhetoric in the pre-Civil War days of the late 1850s.

I believe this notion of the separation of Church and State was the figment of some infidel's imagination.[8]

It is interesting to note the past tense used in the statement and the date; the statement was made well over 20 years ago.

The majority of our leaders are pro-abortion. Therefore, you don't say, "I'm an advocate against abortion." No, you say:

I'm interested in housing, or development, or sanitation. And you keep your personal views to yourself until the Christian community is ready to rise up, and then, Wow! They're going to be devastated![9]

I want to be invisible. I do guerrilla warfare. I paint my face and travel at night. You don't know it's over until you're in a body bag.[10]

In January of 1994, Vice-President Dan Quayle spoke at a training conference of religious-right activists in Fort Lauderdale. The conference’s theme was Reclaiming America, and before the event began Quayle stood at attention as the crowd of more than two thousand rose, faced the flag with a cross on it, and with hands on hearts, recited in unison, "I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag, and to our savior, crucified, risen, and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe.”[11]

The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.[12]

When I said during my presidential bid that I would only bring Christians and Jews into the government, I hit a firestorm. ‘What do you mean?’ the media challenged me. ‘You're not going to bring atheists into the government? How dare you maintain that those who believe in the Judeo-Christian values are better qualified to govern America than Hindus and Muslims?' My simple answer is, `Yes, they are.[13]

The Spanish Inquisition, first imposed in Spain in 1478 and expanded by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V to the Netherlands in 1521, promoted the questioning and burning of "heretics" under government auspices. Speaking as a heretic (a Gnostic), I would not take kindly to be questioned or burned due to my particular belief system.

With the apathy that exists today, a small, well-organized minority can influence the selection of candidates to an astonishing degree.[14]

This Republican Party of Lincoln has become a party of theocracy.[15]

It is accepted that we do ignore the lessons of History. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

George Wilhelm Hegel said, “What experience and history teach is this - that people and governments never have learned anything from history, or acted on principles.”

George Bernard Shaw believed, “We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.”

All of this points to a cataclysmic confrontation with destiny that has not been seen since World War II.

Do I have any answers, let alone all the answers? I have one answer. We do not have to repeat past mistakes; if we choose to talk, listen, and learn from one another and from our collective past we can avert the judgment of history. Barring that, we will once again go down the road of chaos and horror. At some point in the future, the sun of reason, intelligence, and wisdom will break through the clouds of darkness, fear, hate, cynicism, and judgment.

It is up to you to define the answers of our collective future. Even our friend, who did not take the time to find out the answer to her question, has the future in her hands…if she has the intelligence to manifest it in wisdom for the good of all.

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[1] I can no longer recall the source of all the quotes from Hitler. In due diligence, I have searched for the source of the quotes to no avail.

[2] Adolph Hitler; Taken from The Speeches of Adolph Hitler, 1922-1939, Vol. 1, Michael Hakeem, Ph.D. (London, Oxford University Press, 1942), pp. 871-872. The Book Your Church Doesn’t …, Leedom, p.265

[3] Adolph Hitler in 1938, The Book Your Church Doesn’t …, Leedom, p. 292

[4] Hitler

[5] Adolf Hitler, April 26, 1933

[6] Rev. Jerry Falwell, 1979

[7] Rev. Jimmy Swaggart, 1986

[8] Rev. W.A. Criswell, Dallas, TX, 1984

[9] Antonio Rivera, Christian Coalition, NYC, 1992

[10] Ralph Reed, Christian Coalition, 1991

[11] Sidney Blumenthal, New Yorker, July 18, 1994

[12] Rev. Jerry Falwell

[13] Pat Robertson, The New World Order, page 218

[14] Pat Robertson, The Millennium, 1990

[15] U.S. Representative Christopher Shays, R-CT. I would suggest that you visit the site Theocracy Watch

(http://www.theocracywatch.org/) for more information on the threat posed by the Neo-Conservative Right

Kevin Phillips in his recently published American Theocracy, states, “We can begin by describing the role of religion in American Politics with two words: Widely underestimated.” Religion and politics are incredibly intertwined in the U.S., as they were in Europe before the foundation of the U.S.; and, that influence has been overlooked by the Establishment. Yet, George Gallop, the famous pollster, said, “religious affiliation remains one of the most accurate and least-appreciated political indicators available.” (Potts, Clifford A. Radicals, Religion, and Revelation. 1st ed. Dallas: WordTechs Press, 2008. 5-6. CD-ROM).