The Public Eye, Winter 2019

Home , Carl Benjamin, Complementarianism, Milo Yiannopoulos, Pharyngula (blog), Phil Mason, PZ Myers

WINTER 2019 The Public Eye

In this issue: Losing their Religion: A Roundtable Discussion What’s the Matter with Secularism? How New Atheism Feeds the Right The Struggle for LGBTQ Inclusion at Christian Colleges and Universities Book Review: Pure by Linda Kay Klein editor’s letter

THE PUBLIC EYE QUARTERLY

As PRA Senior Research Analyst Frederick Clarkson has noted, U.S. conventional PUBLISHER wisdom has a cyclical tendency to prematurely declare the death of the Christian Right, Tarso Luís Ramos only to see it come roaring back to life. Or to underestimate its dynamism, just to watch EDITOR Kathryn Joyce in confusion as it adapts to new circumstances. The confounding evangelical embrace COVER ART of Donald Trump is only the latest example in the nearly 40 years since the founding of Winnie T. Frick the Moral Majority. And yet, while the Christian Right isn’t going away anytime soon, PRINTING recent years have witnessed the rise of a new, complicating force: the increasing defec- Red Sun Press tion of members of the movement, either as they come of age or confront aspects of ideology that force them to make a choice. The Public Eye is published by In “Losing their Religion” (pg. 3), PRA gathered four people from backgrounds Political Research Associates spanning the Christian and evangelical spectrum for a roundtable discussion about Tarso Luís Ramos leaving one’s faith community. Across different generations, locations, and - back Executive Director grounds, an evangelical church planter’s son, a Southern Baptist women’s leader, a Sarah Burzillo Quiverfull daughter, and the son of a multi-national Mormon regional authority de- Finance Manager scribe the fraught process of exiting their churches and beginning again. “Like radio- Frederick Clarkson Senior Research Analyst activity,” one writes, leaving “has a half life, and lots of layers.” Cloee Cooper Research Analyst Although the Christian Right may frequently seem to set the standard for regres- Steven Gardiner sive politics, it’s hardly alone. As Adam Lee writes in “What’s the Matter with Secu- Program Area Lead larism?” (pg. 9), between the strident Islamophobia and pseudoscientific racism of Heron Greenesmith brand name atheists like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, and the ambient misogyny Senior Research Analyst of the movement’s lesser YouTube stars, “New Atheism” has developed a troubling re- Amanda Hukanović Operations Manager lationship with the Alt Right. Lately, Lee writes, that tension has built to a contest over Gabriel Joffe the movement’s soul, reflecting a wide gulf between atheism’s most prominent and Editorial Manager provocative voices and its more broadly progressive core. Olivia Lawrence-Weilmann Program Coordinator Since the 1990s, as Christopher Stroop writes in “The Struggle for LGBTQ Inclu- Isabelle H. Leighton Development Director sion at Christian Colleges and Universities” (pg. 14), LGBTQ students at the nation’s evangelical and fundamentalist institutions of higher education have fought for Greeley O’Connor Communications Director their right to exist on some of the most hostile ground imaginable. In recent years, Aidan Orly this advocacy work has built to a critical mass of students, and some faculty, vocally Development Coordinator pressing for change. “But resistance to that change,” Stroop writes, “has built as well, Teddy Wilson drawing not just on conservative theology and ideology but also macro-economic cir- Research Analyst cumstances that affect all of higher education.” Fellows Marissa Brostoff • Ana Hernández In “Book Review: Pure” (pg. 20), Rev. Ashley Easter reviews Linda Kay Klein’s ac- Jessica Quiason • Spencer Sunshine Carl Williams claimed new memoir about the evangelical purity movement that arose in the ’80s and Interns ’90s. The movement, which transformed abiding religious teachings about abstinence Lena Gluck • Mira Guth • Vi Pham into a pop culture phenomenon and for-profit industry, also left in its wake a genera- Board of Directors tion of women whose internalized shame undermined the very marriages they were Jenny Levison, Chair supposed to save themselves for. Cathy Albisa • Saqib Bhatti • Ellen Gurzinsky Hamid Khan • Scot Nakagawa In between issues of The Public Eye, PRA publishes blog posts, features, reports, and Mohan Sikka • Zeke Spier Carla Wallace • Susan Wefald more every week, so be sure to visit us at politicalresearch.org.

Founder Kathryn Joyce Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D.

WINTER 2019 BY KATHRYN JOYCE THE PUBLIC EYE QUARTERLY

PUBLISHER Tarso Luís Ramos EDITOR Kathryn Joyce Losing their Religion COVER ART A Roundtable Discussion Winnie T. Frick PRINTING Red Sun Press

n the 1980s, the Moral Majority helped usher in an era of politicized Christianity in the United States. The breadth of The Public Eye is published by Christian Right activity since then, from the evangelical Right, to fundamentalist homeschooling, to cross-denominational Political Research Associates culture war collaborations, have been fixtures of PRA’s research and analysis. But 30 years later, in the early 2010s, a second Tarso Luís Ramos phenomenon has been taking place: a wave of people who grew up or lived their adult lives within conservative Christian Executive Director Isettings beginning to leave. On social media, many have come together in new and growing “exvangelical” communities. LGBTQ Sarah Burzillo people have formed support groups both within and outside their faiths. Abuse survivors have formed organizations and blogs Finance Manager critiquing the cultures that harmed them, some gathering around hashtags like #ChurchToo. PRA brought together four people Frederick Clarkson from backgrounds across the Christian or evangelical spectrum to discuss the landscape of leaving one’s faith community. Senior Research Analyst Cloee Cooper Research Analyst Steven Gardiner TELL US ABOUT YOURSELVES AND and lonely. One woman said her life Program Area Lead YOUR EXPERIENCE LEAVING A CON- would be better if we had a border wall Heron Greenesmith SERVATIVE FAITH. to keep out undesirables who were steal- Senior Research Analyst Akiko Ross: From 1969 until 2015, I ing all the good jobs. The others nodded Amanda Hukanović was active in the conservative South- along, saying things like, “Obama ru- Operations Manager ern Baptist Convention (SBC) as a ined the sanctity of marriage and life,” Gabriel Joffe Editorial Manager lay leader, a Sunday School teacher, and “Obama didn’t care about White Olivia Lawrence-Weilmann and through various committee and people losing jobs to ‘illegals.’” I realized Program Coordinator church positions. In 1998, I formally I wanted out. I disbanded the class and Isabelle H. Leighton resigned when the SBC elected Paige walked away. Development Director Patterson as its president. Patter- I saw the whole “Trumpvangelical” Greeley O’Connor son, part of the SBC’s fundamental- thing coming, but did not realize its size. Communications Director Aidan Orly ist wing, sought to remake the SBC As the lone Democrat in my churches, I Development Coordinator into his own image, pronouncing had ignored many earlier cues in an ef- Teddy Wilson that women must submit to their fort to survive the dichotomy of being a Research Analyst husbands, who would make all major Southern Baptist and a progressive. In Fellows decisions. Complementarianism had 2015, I cut all ties with organized reli- Marissa Brostoff • Ana Hernández come to the SBC, and although many gion, and after the election, I severed Jessica Quiason • Spencer Sunshine of us did not see scripture as Patterson ties with dozens of friends. It took until Carl Williams did, because we were mostly women, this election to know that my values— Interns Lena Gluck • Mira Guth • Vi Pham our interpretations didn’t count. equality and justice for all—were not When I renounced my member- their values. Board of Directors Jenny Levison, Chair ship, I could no longer be a “mes- I am still a Christ follower, and Prov- Cathy Albisa • Saqib Bhatti • Ellen Gurzinsky senger”—representing my church at erbs 31:8-9 still resonates with me to- Hamid Khan • Scot Nakagawa the SBC’s annual convention—and Church pew. Photo: Donald Joski/AdobeStock. day: be the voice for the voiceless, seek Mohan Sikka • Zeke Spier certain church positions were now justice for the marginalized. In other Carla Wallace • Susan Wefald closed to me. But I remained a Christian, bouncing around to words, just love your neighbor in the way that makes your

Founder different SBC and non-denominational churches every time I neighbor feel that love. Jean V. Hardisty, Ph.D. moved. I have worked in the legal field for about 30 years. After the Although I was successful at leading women, teen girls, and election, I went back to school for a B.S. in Public Policy. I’m 1310 Broadway, Suite 201 Somerville, MA 02144-1837 singles, I began to notice some disconcerting things. By 2015, currently a junior, and my goal is to work on public education Tel: 617.666.5300 during the election cycle, my nagging doubts reach a zenith. I policy. [email protected] © Political Research Associates, 2019 was leading a women’s group at the largest Baptist church in Heather Doney: I’m the eldest in a family of 10 children raised All rights reserved. ISN 0275-9322 Clearwater, Florida, where, except for me, all the members in the Quiverfull movement, a loosely organized set of funda- ISSUE 97 were White. The women in my group seemed lost, depressed, mentalist Christian beliefs similar to the lifestyle depicted on www.politicalresearch.org

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 3 the Duggar family reality TV show, “19 with some residual effects of my- up the ’80s and ’90s. My father held very Kids and Counting.” My father was a non- bringing, I would like to think it has also high positions in the Church from a denominational, part-time pastor and made me more understanding of the young age. He became a Bishop when I ran mission trips to Costa Rica and Haiti. many types of suffering people can face was around three years old, a Stake Presi- In the late 1980s, we later began “home due to abuse, trauma, or poverty. I am a dent when I was about five, a Mission churching”: gathering to worship in pri- content expert on homeschooling policy President when I was 17, and an Area vate homes. I was pseudo-homeschooled and child abuse, and have spearheaded Seventy (or regional authority) when I until 9th grade, until my grandparents groundbreaking advocacy work and re- was 21. He continues to hold this posi- intervened and I was sent to public high search on the topic. tion today, overseeing church operations school. I am joining this discussion out of con- in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, The beliefs I was raised with heavily cern that leaders who adhere to abusive and Bolivia. supported patriarchy and a fundamen- ideologies like the one I was raised in I served in a variety of church leader- talist reading of the Bible. When I was a now hold positions of significant politi- ship positions during my youth. I later attended Brigham Young University, I saw the whole “Trumpvangelical” thing coming, where I completed a degree in neurosci- ence. While there, I was called to serve as but did not realize its size. a Mormon missionary in San Francisco. As the eldest child of one of Guate- mala’s most well-known Mormon families, the expectations for me to continue in my family’s footsteps were high. But they also conflicted with my orientation as a gay man. While I came out to some friends in high school, I didn’t fully embrace myself until my mission to San Francisco, where I first met other- LG BTQ Mormons leading admirable lives. I’d previously accepted negative LGBTQ stereotypes, fearing that embracing my identity would bring condemnation from God. Seeing happy, exemplary LGBTQ Mormons allowed me to envision myself as deserving the same rights and love as other people. After my mission I became highly involved in LGBTQ activism, as president of BYU’s LGBTQ organization and a partici- pant in various conferences, podcasts, and other activities to promote LGBTQ tolerance within Mormonism. Sadly, this work took a heavy toll on my person- Donald Trump prays with pastors during a campaign visit in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 5, 2016. Photo: REUTERS/Mike Segar. al life. After realizing that my work was unappreciated and mocked, I retreated teenager, I decided that God was terrible cal power. But despite the high stakes, I from anything related to Mormonism. I for allowing women to be treated the way believe that instead of passing judgment now live as an atheist secular humanist they were in the Bible—particularly the on people taken in by authoritarian re- in New York City, where I recently com- gang rape and murder of the concubine ligious teachings, we must encourage pleted a master’s degree at the Mailman in the Book of Judges. I rebelled against them to face intergenerational trauma in School of Public Health at Columbia Uni- the wholly domestic role for women that their own lives to avoid passing it on. versity. I am currently interviewing for I’d been taught and left home at age 17 Samy Galvez: I was born into one of the different positions in public health- re to escape ongoing violence based largely most prominent Mormon families in search in New York City, am engaged to a on the Christian childrearing manual To Guatemala. Mormonism was introduced wonderful man, and am excited to travel Train Up a Child. to Guatemala in the late 1940s. My fa- the world. Today I live with my husband in Bos- ther’s family joined early, in 1971, and Chris Stroop: I grew up mostly in Indiana, ton, working in public policy for at-risk my mother’s would follow a decade later, attending various churches across the populations. Although I still struggle amid Latin America’s Mormon boom in Missionary, Baptist, and Wesleyan de-

4 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 nominations. When my dad became the (including here at PRA). Today, I’m a “separate family from politics.” My par- music minister at Traders Point Christian leader in the emerging “exvangelical” ents and I are in a pretty good place now, Church, we joined the Restoration Move- movement consisting of former evan- but there have been some very rough mo- ment, not that I understood that history gelicals who are reclaiming our stories ments. as a kid. What I did quickly learn was and speaking out against the abusive, au- Heather: Mine dragged out for a long that denominational distinctions didn’t thoritarian subculture in which we grew time, too. Like radioactivity, it has a matter as much as the demand that “real” up. I have created viral hashtags, includ- half life, and lots of layers. I started leav- Christians take the Bible literally and de- ing #EmptyThePews and #ChristianAlt- ing when I was still a minor and had few vote themselves to right-wing political Facts, that have helped “exvies” not only rights. I faced severe repercussions, in- goals like banning abortion and oppos- find each other and work toward healing cluding being shunned within the Chris- ing LGBTQ rights. but also expose the extent to which even tian homeschoolers group my family When my sister and I were old enough “mainstream” evangelicalism is abusive belonged to, which declared me a “bad to enter school, my mom became a teach- and anti-democratic. My blog, Not Your influence” for things like backtalking er at Indianapolis’s Heritage Christian Mission Field at CStroop.com, mostly and wearing bright nail polish. At home, School: an interdenominational school covers related topics and also hosts a re- my parents threatened to throw me out— with strong Baptist and Calvinist flavors. sources page for former fundamentalists a terrifying prospect to any teen, espe- The Christian nationalism there was and spiritual abuse survivors. cially one taught the world was full of rampant, from our mascot (the Eagles), spiritual warfare. Literature and journal- to daily pledges to the American and WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN LEAV- ing became a healthy form of escape, and Christian flags and to the Bible, to the ING YOUR CHURCH OR COMMUNITY? they set me on the path to furthering my wall painted with the words, “Blessed is Chris: My process of deconstruction education. the nation whose God is the LORD.” Our dragged out over a very long period, I also did what most girls from my elementary school talent shows ended beginning with doubts that became ir- background do and found a boyfriend with a sing-along to Lee Greenwood’s repressible when I read through the en- I thought would rescue me. Unpacking god-awful “God Bless the USA.” tire Bible for the first time at age 16. I the patriarchy part of Christian patriar- In 1993, my family moved to Colorado was afraid my doubts were temptations chy has been the longest and most pain- Springs, when my dad took a position from the devil, and also that leaving ful part of the process, because I’d been with a church plant under the umbrella of would mean breaking with my entire so- lied to about love, sex, and natural hu- the Missionary Church. Colorado Springs cial world. In my twenties, when I could man needs. I hope any young women Christian School, where my mom taught no longer accept inerrancy doctrine and reading this know that they need to res- and my sister and I went for two years, support right-wing politics, I dissimu- cue themselves! was even more fundamentalist than Heritage. We were taught that people We were taught that people of African descent are the of African descent are the descendants descendants of Noah’s cursed son Ham; that evolution of Noah’s cursed son Ham; that evolution was wrong; and that sexual “purity” was wrong; and that sexual “purity” was paramount. was paramount. At a seventh-grade class “retreat,” we were asked to sign purity lated with family, torturing myself about Time and living away have healed some pledges, which we did, fearing we might whether I was protecting them or myself. wounds. Today when I see my mom and be suspended or expelled if we didn’t. I voted for Bush in 2000, with serious she brings up religion, I joke with her On a mission trip in rural Russia after qualms; in 2004, I voted for Kerry, and about it, telling her the difference -be high school, I developed an interest in have not voted for a Republican since. tween “heathen” and “Heather” is just Russian culture, language, and history. My changing political beliefs puzzled one letter, and she’s the one that named I was already then in an intense crisis of my relatives. Later, when I vocally sup- me. She doesn’t find it particularly faith that ultimately led me, a few years ported universal healthcare and opposed funny, but cultivating a sense of humor after completing a Ph.D. in Russian his- California’s anti-gay Prop 8, or criticized about this stuff has helped save my san- tory at Stanford in 2012, to finally -be evangelicalism to my mother, I would ity. come comfortable with saying I am non- sometimes break down and recant. Only Although I’m not close to my parents, I religious. in 2015 did I start publishing strong cri- have love and pity for them, as their lives Because my unusual combination of tiques of evangelical subculture, making were ruined by this movement. They academic expertise and life experience it impossible to waver with my family. were sold lies and turned into middle gives me insights into the Christian Multiple relatives accused me of being management for their own lives and chil- Right, Putinist Russia, and the affini- “brainwashed” and “attacking everything dren. It is very sad and so unnecessary. ties and connections between them, I’ve we stand for.” One close relative became Samy: My family hasn’t really had time to been able to publish commentary and estranged from me for a few months after focus on my leaving the religion because policy research related to current events the 2016 election, saying I was unable to they’re still focused on my coming out as

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 5 gay. This is a much bigger deal in their By the mid-2000s, I’d left a church that ma and depression. The people I grew up minds, so their discussions and interac- told me to return to an abusive husband; with didn’t understand me, and neither tions with me regarding the changes that tried non-denominational churches that do people who haven’t lived religious fun- have transpired in my life have all fo- were basically SBC in disguise; and be- damentalism. I continued to be viscerally cused on that. Ultimately, we have come gan to see that the church fears divorced afraid of hell for more than a decade after to avoid certain topics and be cordial in women who speak up. The dam broke I stopped believing in it, and only recog- order to safeguard our relationships. during the election. Evangelicals asked nized that I am queer in my mid-30s. (I Most Mormons my age, including how I could call myself a Christian and am attracted to women, which was part cousins and siblings, are very under- be a Democrat, and tried to tell me that of the reason I didn’t recognize it earlier, standing and even supportive. There is Trump fulfilled prophecy. I had a year in although fundamentalist socialization always one extremist here and there but which I thought I had gone crazy. I was that rejects the possibility of queer ex- they are the exception rather than the alone. The invitations to parties, game istence is a key factor.) I feel like much rule. In general, millennials in Mormon- nights, baseball games, potlucks, and of my childhood and youth were sto- ism tend to be more understanding. weddings all ceased. I lost friends going len from me, and I still sometimes feel Akiko: I was raised cross-culturally by back 40 years. But I have gained a new “weird everywhere.” a non-religious father and a Buddhist community in the Exvans! Getting comprehensive sex education mother, and we moved frequently as an and access to a community of people who Air Force family. I didn’t feel I belonged WHAT OTHER CHALLENGES DID YOU have left fundamentalism could have anywhere until I went to Vacation Bible ENCOUNTER IN LEAVING THAT WORLD helped immensely. I agree that we need School the summer I was nine and was BEHIND? more resources for those who need to saved. Being Southern Baptist gave me Heather: My leaving was an escape. I escape from their families in a way that a sense of belonging. But even so, there went to public high school, moved in I didn’t, like safe spaces specifically for were cracks. I was so Republican in high with a cousin, then went to college and youth leaving fundamentalist environ- school that I served as a “hostess” for the lived in the dorms. I couldn’t wait to be ments. Ideally, I’d love to see an advocacy Party, wearing a slinky gown and intro- 18 and was glad to be out, but I was also organization that could oversee that, and griefstruck at provide scholarships to people deprived Evangelicals asked how I could call myself first because of a good education, due to homeschool- I missed my ing or Christian schooling, to go on to a Christian and be a Democrat, and tried to siblings, many college. Perhaps this organization could tell me that Trump fulfilled prophecy. of whom I had also provide remedial tutoring, and, in helped raise my dream version, it would also contain ducing male Republicans to each other at and who I wasn’t permitted to see for a a library and archive to facilitate research parties. Later, when a Republican leader time. I was also very afraid of spending on the Christian Right. I worked for sexually assaulted me, I was money; I feared that one mistake would Samy: Ultimately, the most difficult - as nearly undone by it: being raised in the land me out in the world alone. I ended pects of my faith transition, besides my church’s purity culture made me feel that up anemic a couple times because I was family, have been internal: constant I’d become dirty and unworthy. pinching pennies with regards to food. self-doubt over my choices and constant The cracks continued to grow when, I think better resources and policies reevaluation to affirm them. It’s hard as a lay leader in the SBC, I helped wom- for homeschooled students transferring to unpack Mormonism, which tends to en leave abusive relationships, which into public school are needed. Perhaps dominate every aspect of your life: who the church didn’t really support. I had a “buddy” system. And there needs to be you hang out with, what you do on a friends who were gay, atheists, divorced, options for college students who don’t weekly basis, what underwear you wear, or who had had abortions. My accep- have a place to go over breaks. Finding how you spend money, what you con- tance of them, and my refusal to evan- a place to live for a month was always sume. Given these restrictions, it’s hard gelize to them, did not make me popular stressful. For many who don’t go to col- to start from zero: you trust Mormonism in church leadership, but they couldn’t lege, or have parents who won’t let them to make choices for you, but now you deny that when I did Monday night visi- leave, domestic violence shelters should have to be somebody outside of Mormon- tations, people showed up the next Sun- do more to help. I’ve heard of people ism. It’s a long process, and one I’m still day. I wanted to give these friends a fam- getting turned away because they are a working through, but also one that’s re- ily that was supportive and encouraging. daughter and not a spouse, even though warding as I have built my own moral- So churches allowed me to continue my they’re dealing with the same issues at ity based on personal convictions rather work. However, I began to experience an home. than the dictations of a sect leader. undercurrent of hate—whispers and out- Chris: Being socialized in an evangelical I also find that, although Mormonism right accusations that I must be sleeping enclave and then rejecting its ideology is has been abusive to me, it entices me around because men were always asking psychologically damaging and socially back. I love talking about Mormonism, me out. isolating. I emerged with religious trau- but it’s ultimately unhealthy and harm-

6 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 ful for me to engage. Even this discussion Orleans, and though that church’s pas- and all kinds of other quaint throwback has taken some emotional energy to open tor helped lead my father into funda- stuff with an ease that impresses- hip up and be vulnerable. mentalism, I still think that experience sters. I don’t believe it was right to try to Akiko: When a community is also your has been meaningful to me as a White teach me how to make whole wheat muf- social life, losing one means losing both. woman. There were some really good fins in lieu of long division, but I respect I’ve found a new community, but I don’t things mixed in with the bad, such as an the idea of teaching both—to both girls fit in as well as I would like. Because I exposure to Black liberation theology. and boys. was evangelical for nearly 50 years, hav- For a lot of people, church is the closest Samy: There’s joy in being sure of my ing sex is still connected to marriage for thing they’ll get to therapy for trauma moral and ethical principles and in real- me, and I struggle with this every izing I am living a very fulfilling day, as well as with simple physi- life. I have come to be more critical affection, because part of me cal of oppressive structures and thinks I might cause someone to learn more about how to be em- “stumble.” pathetic toward others and their I have been self-supporting struggles. since I was 18, and raised three Akiko: Today, I find joy in know- children largely on my own. In ing I was an ethical Christian, evangelicalism, this was a prob- and now an ethical Christ fol- lem because evangelical men lower; in knowing that loving don’t appreciate self-sufficient your neighbor is the right thing women. Even though I am out to do, no matter what, and that of evangelicalism now, I find I calling out oppression wherever can’t date because this mindset you see it is just one way of ex- overshadows the rational part of pressing love. me that says there are men who embrace egalitarianism. DO ELEMENTS OF EACH What would have been help- OTHER’S EXPERIENCES SEEM ful to me is meeting other people FAMILIAR? with similar experiences and Chris: Definitely. It seems that talking about coping skills and for many of us, issues of gender how to move on. I’m a big be- equality matter a lot. For some liever in therapy, but it’s hard of us, queerness is a factor in our to find a therapist who really inability to stay with the “tradi- understands how purity culture tionalist” religion we grew up in. indoctrinates you, or that egali- Trauma and relationship issues tarianism is real and obtainable. are also, unsurprisingly, common themes. WERE THERE ASPECTS THAT Heather: I agree with Chris but WERE POSITIVE OR JOYFUL? think I grew up in what would be Chris: There is something posi- the tip of the iceberg and most of tive in the way I can now speak An LGBTQ pride flag in front of the Salt Lake City Mormon temple. the other participants grew up in Photo: Pastelitodepapa/Wikimedia Commons. out about the harm evangelical- the larger hidden part, so we have ism (and any religious fundamentalism) and stress; if they have an emergency, somewhat different experiences and does to people, which, as Heather men- churches can be an important support challenges. tioned above, has to do also with inter- in areas where government services are My family used to be hard core “fundy.” generational trauma. My shorthand psy- functionally nonexistent. I know how No holidays and birthdays; no makeup chological definition of fundamentalism much beauty churches can hold for or jewelry; no married women working is a misdirected response to trauma per- people, alongside the problematic or outside the home. They didn’t vote, so I petuated communally and generation- abusive teachings, and why disparaging don’t have that in common with the other ally. There have been moments of joy in them will get you promptly tuned out and participants. But it isn’t that they weren’t discovering the complexities of my gen- prayed for. political. They believed that Christians der and sexuality, but my sense of libera- I also find that a lot of the “homemaker” are meant to follow an anointed king tion is seriously tempered by the Trump- skills I learned in lieu of math and science who is part of the church and led by God. ist theocratic coup we’re undergoing. make for excellent party tricks. I cook It was full-on Dominionist Rushdoony Heather: My family’s first church was traditional Cajun recipes and crochet and stuff. I think the more “fundy-lite” side a predominantly Black church in New sew and make candles and excellent pies still moves us toward the same theocratic

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 7 ends, but there’s plausible deniability ment. You’re on survival mode when you of Christian therapists out there with about the intent, which can actually be first leave and often have to put self-dis- proper credentials who nevertheless harder to recognize and leave behind. covery on a backburner. You just want to misuse religion in their practice. Other Samy: There definitely are common- pass for normal and not be weird. That therapists simply don’t understand. This alities, especially in the difficulties that leaves parts of your life almost unspeak- is also why the exvangelical community arise from dealing with post-religious able, unknowable even to people you is critical. In coming together to promote trauma and recovery and conflict with want to be close to. exvangelical voices and stories, we are fi- family. You can get to a point where it needs to nally becoming visible enough to change Since I grew up in Guatemala, there be speakable, and then a point where it’s the media’s approach to evangelicals. are elements of my experience that arise only one part of your story, because you Samy: The single most important aspect from that culture, and not just religion. have built so many other things into your is to find a community that is fully sup- For example, while many Mormons in life. portive. Being or feeling alone can be the United States have changed their I wish so badly that we had a one-stop destructive. The sooner you find that views on LGBTQ issues in recent years, shop of resources for people who leave. community and protection within it, the these changes have not happened in Ex-Hasidic people have Footsteps, but better off you’ll be. Of course your com- other countries. My family is living in there’s nothing standard for us because munity cannot be the only protection a different version of Mormonism than we are spread all over the country. Most from the trauma, but it’s an essential as- U.S. Mormons, so there are more layers therapists will be shocked to hear some pect for full recovery. to my interactions with the church there, of the things being done under the Chris- Akiko: First, you definitely are not alone which perceives my sexual orientation as tian label, and it can be hard to have and your experiences are the experienc- a U.S. imposition on their culture. your therapist look shocked or be mis- es of many others. Second, you should Akiko: I see some commonalities: Samy’s informed. But good therapy can help identify what affected you most and why, cultural experiences colored his religious you out of the remnants of black-and- and be willing to share your experiences experiences, as mine did. Chris’s strug- white thinking and learned helpless- within a safe setting like a support group. gles with “traditional” religion and rela- ness. I’d also suggest that people raised Talking about it really does help. tionships, while not like mine in terms in environments that practiced guilting, Before I left evangelicalism, I went of partners, is similar to how I tried to shunning, and corporal punishment get with my boss for lunch, and she stopped fit into my religion’s acceptable relation- more thorough medical checkups, with first at an Al-Anon group. At first, I was ships. a special focus on the immune system. furious with her for taking me some- On the other hand, compared to the Way too many of us end up with autoim- where where people seemed weak and fundamentalism Heather describes, mune problems because of years having messed up. But as I listened to their sto- I was a typical SBC evangelical. SBC the body and mind on high alert, or not ries, it dawned on me that they were like churches celebrate the flag, the 4th of knowing how to live in moderation after my own. I realized I had no self-worth July, and every major holiday. We sang we leave. because in the eyes of the church, I was and danced, and drank wine away from Survivors have to learn to take loving less of a leader and teacher because I was church functions. I wasn’t so restricted care of our whole selves. It is a massive a woman. I went into therapy, and my from the worldly stuff, and Dominionist amount of work to change these baseline therapist said I didn’t have a fear of fail- theology was not part of my SBC church- settings, but totally worth it. ure, but a fear of success. He was right. es. However, I realized in the 1990s that Chris: I hope that they know that they’re I learned that I was born to speak up, to fundamentalists were taking over the not alone, and that there are people and lead, and to help others find themselves. SBC, and that they were enraptured with resources for them to find and connect That is what I want for everyone leaving the Dominionist stuff, even if that wasn’t with. I would advise them to trust their evangelicalism: find out who you are and the case where I was. own doubts, which goes against the live the life that fulfills you, even if at first grain of fundamentalist socialization. you’re doing it alone. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO They’re there to tell you something is PEOPLE LEAVING SIMILAR COMMUNI- wrong. Resist the gaslighting, much of Kathryn Joyce is an author and journalist TIES NOW? which you’ve probably internalized and based in New York City. She is author of The Child Catchers: Rescue, Trafficking Heather: People coming from high- will need to dismantle, and find your au- and the New Gospel of Adoption (Publi- demand religions can greatly benefit thentic voice. cAffairs, 2013) andQuiverfull: Inside the from therapy and journaling. Even if you Connecting with survivors is crucial Christian Patriarchy Movement (Beacon leave physically, the underlying frame- for many of us—not, ideally, as a re- Press, 2009). Her freelance writing has ap- work and unprocessed trauma needs to placement for therapy, but as another peared in The New York Times Magazine, be worked on sooner or later. For me, it part of our healing. Some people are un- Highline, Pacific Standard, The New Re- was being diagnosed with delayed-onset able to afford therapy; others struggle to public, Mother Jones, The Nation, and PTSD that started me unpacking what find therapists who can effectively help many other publications. had really been done to me in this move- with religious trauma, as there are a lot

8 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 BY ADAM LEE

What’s the Matter with Secularism? How New Atheism Feeds the Right

The most prominent New Atheists, ironically dubbed the Four Horsemen. From left to right: Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett. Illustration: Gabriel Joffe/PRA. Photos: Wikimedia Commons.

n April 2017, the influential athe- a “fake, defamatory controversy,”3 and ing Global Atheist Convention, AFA’s ist author Sam Harris interviewed sniffing that he would no longer bother Facebook page was flooded with rape and Charles Murray on his popular pod- trying to reach “the far left.”4 death threats from commenters angry cast, “Waking Up.” Murray is infa- Later that same year, an atheist confer- that an outspoken feminist would be giv- Imous for The Bell Curve, the 1994 book ence called Mythcon, run by the organi- en a prominent platform. It was a “foun- that argues Black people are genetically zation Mythicist Milwaukee, invited You- tain of vileness,” someone affiliated with predetermined to be less intelligent. But Tube personality Carl Benjamin to be their AFA recalled, “horrible beyond words. Harris didn’t invite Murray to challenge star guest. Benjamin, who writes and And all from fellow atheists.”7 him. On the contrary, it was a friendly, speaks online under the name “Sargon of Over the last few years, incidents like softball interview in which Harris treated Akkad” (a reference to the empire-build- these have created a deep rift that’s split Murray’s thesis as uncontroversial truth ing Sumerian king), is known for his rac- the atheist community. Famous atheists and dismissed critics of his work as mo- ist, misogynistic, and anti-social-justice regularly become nexuses of controversy tivated by dishonesty or anti-intellectual views. Most notoriously, in May 2016, over remarks widely denounced as big- political correctness. he tweeted “I wouldn’t even rape you” at oted. Longtime activists have quit the Vox’s Ezra Klein responded with an a female British MP who helped lead an movement in disgust. Others, particu- article challenging Harris’s kid-glove anti-internet-harassment campaign.5 larly women, LGBTQ people, and people treatment of Murray,1 pointing out that On stage at the Milwaukee conference, of color, have been driven out by violent a simplistic measure like IQ scores can’t when criticized by the moderator for this harassment. At the root of these battles is separate genetics from America’s long remark, Benjamin proudly affirmed it, a question of identity: should the atheist history of racism and unequal treatment, whereupon his fans in the audience burst movement strive to be part of a progres- and suggesting that Harris’s views were out into whoops and cheers.6 sive coalition and uphold a broad spec- influenced by tribal sympathy for conser- Last but not least, in June 2017, after trum of liberal causes, or should atheists vative White intellectuals. Harris lashed the Atheist Foundation of Australia an- care only about secularism and welcome out furiously, denouncing Klein’s article nounced that feminist author Clemen- anyone who’s on board with that, regard- as “a disingenuous hit piece”2 that incited tine Ford would headline their upcom- less of whether they’re liberal, conser-

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 9 vative, libertarian or even Alt Right and of atheism with his book God Is Not Great, events like the 2012 Reason Rally on the White supremacist? nonbelievers hailed him for his intellect, National Mall in Washington, D.C. erudition and caustic wit. Fewer seemed Based on demographic data, atheism ATHEISM’S PARADOX to notice or care about his coarse sexism, has a bright future in the United States. The atheist community would seem embodied in articles like his 2007 “Why Although many people cling to the idea like unlikely soil for right-wing ideas to Women Aren’t Funny,”13 or his entwined of it being a “Christian nation,” the U.S. take root. Polls consistently show that racism and homophobia, such as when nonreligious demographic is growing the nonreligious are among the most he dismissed the comedian Wanda Sykes with startling speed. (Not all unaffili- progressive demographics in the United as “the black d**e.”14 At an atheist con- ated or nonreligious people self-identify States. Taken as a whole, they’re peace- ference in 2007, Hitchens advocated war as atheists or agnostics, but many fall ful: the most anti-war, the most anti- on the Middle East so ferociously that he into those categories based on stated torture, the most anti-corporal-punish- drew boos and walkouts, but even this beliefs.19) Upon coming of age, Millen- ment.8 They’re far and away the most seemed to have no lasting impact on his nials became the least religious genera- pro-choice.9 They’re strong supporters of popularity.15 tion in all of American history20—until LGBTQ rights and immigration.10 And of There’s also the firebrand activist David their younger siblings, sometimes called course, separation of church and state is Silverman, who in 2014, as then-presi- Generation Z, took the title from them.21 a classic liberal issue. dent of American Atheists, applied for A quarter of Americans under 50, and a third under 30, now profess no religious In spite of its liberal leanings, organized atheism has affiliation.22 Nonreligious Americans outnumber every Christian denomina- acquired a reputation as friendly to conservatives and, tion and, if current trends continue, by in recent years, the White nationalist Alt Right. around 2050 they’ll outnumber all U.S. Protestants combined.23 Paradoxically, in spite of its liberal his group to table at the Conservative Po- Despite the early involvement of wom- leanings, organized atheism has ac- litical Action Conference (CPAC), the pre- en leaders like Madalyn Murray O’Hair or quired a reputation as friendly to conser- eminent annual gathering of the grass- Anne Nicol Gaylor, atheist activism has vatives and, in recent years, the White roots Right. Silverman was enthusiastic predominantly been a White male preoc- nationalist Alt Right. As the above in- about the idea, describing it as “a serious cupation. There are several, not mutual- cidents show, the reputation isn’t un- outreach” and “the first step of many,”16 ly exclusive explanations for this. One is earned. Some of the most prominent and since, as he told a reporter, “the Demo- that White men can leverage a position of popular atheists have proven themselves crats are too liberal for me.”17 He was so greater power in society to challenge so- openly hostile to feminism, racial diver- determined to make inroads among con- cial norms, whereas women and people sity, and social justice. servative activists that, when CPAC de- of color who breach conventions tend to There’s no more blatant example of nied American Atheists’ request, Silver- face more severe opprobrium and harass- atheism’s potential for racism and anti- man attended as an individual to preach ment. feminism than Richard Dawkins, the the godless cause. The next year, when Another is that many well-known fig- most renowned name in the modern American Atheists tried again, CPAC ures in the atheist community come atheist movement. Although he claims granted their request.18 from academia, which has its own long- to be a “passionate feminist,” he ap- standing race and gender biases govern- pears to believe that he, and not wom- A MOVEMENT MORE DIVERSE THAN ITS ing who gets admitted, who gets hired, en, should decide what does or doesn’t LEADERSHIP who gets research funding, who is invit- count as a feminist issue. That was the Atheists have formally organized for ed to conferences, and who gets offered point of Dawkins’ infamous 2011 “Dear decades, but the modern atheist move- prestigious tenured positions.24 Similar Muslima” letter,11 which argued that ment (sometimes called “New Atheism”) dynamics have been cited in the publi- because women in Islamic theocracies coalesced after 9/11 as a backlash against cation industry: White men tend to be suffer worse oppression, like genital mu- both Islamist terrorism and the cultural taken more seriously as deep thinkers on tilation, Western feminists should “stop overreach of the Christian Right. Its ad- philosophy and world affairs, and men whining” about comparatively minor is- vocates are zealous supporters of state- who write books on these traditionally sues like workplace sexual harassment church separation: opposing Ten Com- “masculine” topics are more likely to get (which Dawkins derisively characterized mandments monuments in courthouses, reviews and attention.25 as “being inappropriately touched by the prayer in legislative meetings and cre- Despite the homogenous origins of the water cooler”)12 or creepy, aggressive ationism in public schools. They’ve atheist community, there are signs that come-ons. waged a public-relations battle against nonbelievers as a whole are becoming Another atheist equal in stature to religion, with bestselling books like The more diverse. The Barna Group, a Chris- Dawkins is the late Christopher Hitch- End of Faith by Sam Harris and The God tian research firm, issued a 2015 “State ens. When Hitchens joined the vanguard Delusion by Richard Dawkins, and public of Atheism in America” report26 that

10 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 noted “the entry of millions of women increasingly identify as nonbelievers, ing of schools in majority-minority into the skeptic ranks” and the fact that there’s been a call for the atheist move- neighborhoods. As Debbie Goddard, cur- “skepticism has become more racially ment to refocus its energy on issues cru- rent vice president of American Atheists, and ethnically inclusive.” (“Skepticism” cial to a diverse community. And, also as writes: is Barna’s umbrella term for atheists and in broader society, this call has given rise I am frustrated that we-the-movement agnostics.) to a conservative backlash from the old only seem to get involved with public But what hasn’t changed is that the guard who thinks the atheist movement education when a teacher puts Bible most prominent New Atheists—the ones is just fine the way it is. quotes on the walls of her classroom, who are treated as de facto representatives Despite their self-reported progres- when a football coach leads his high of all atheists; the ones who are sought sive leanings, the inherent narrowness school team in prayer, when a science out for media quotes, headline coverage of a White-male-only thought leader- teacher spends time promoting intel- and keynote addresses at conferences— ship means the atheist movement suf- ligent design, when an administra- remain almost exclusively White men. fers from limitations, especially when it tion prevents a student from starting This legacy effect has resulted in a move- comes to diversity and inclusion. For ex- an atheist club, or when a high school ment that’s more diverse than its leader- ample, atheists have long treated LGBTQ graduation is scheduled to take place ship. rights as a natural extension of their ac- in a church. Then we swoop in with The most visible example of this dis- tivism. Yet many of those same atheists our science advocates and Wall of connect is the group of White male athe- treat feminism as outside their sphere of Separation to make everything right... ists ironically dubbed the Four Horse- concern,33 despite the similar way reli- but don’t seem to worry about the fact men: Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens and gion has historically been used to justify that the high school’s graduation rate Daniel Dennett, a philosophy professor unequal treatment in both cases. might be less than 50% and the shared from Tufts University. These men re- In 2014, Sam Harris responded to a science textbooks are older than the ceived the lion’s share of early media cov- question about the underrepresentation students.37 erage of New Atheism,27 laying the foun- of women in movement atheism by sug- Along the same lines, when atheists dation for a trend that continues to this gesting that the “critical posture” is “to write about the importance of being day. They’ve starred in magazine “special some degree intrinsically male” and that inclusive and welcoming to people of editions”28 and have been depicted with atheism lacks an “estrogen vibe.”34 In color, they can reliably expect sneering bizarre reverence on T-shirts29 and in other words, Harris was arguing, women comments denouncing inclusion as “a comics30 as crusading warriors for sci- avoided movement atheism because they complete non-issue” only noticed by “the ence and reason. Even encyclopedia en- lacked the critical chops to get it, rather most ardent proponents of identity poli- tries on the New Atheist movement often than because of alienating incidents like tics.”38 Worse, they often get scorn from name the four of them and no one else.31 Dawkins’ “Dear Muslima” letter or Har- top-tier atheists like Richard Dawkins The lack of diversity at upper levels of ris’ own pronouncement that, “If I could dismissing them as “social justice war- the movement filters down to the way wave a magic wand and get rid of either riors.”39 the public perceives who atheists are. rape or religion, I would not hesitate to Of course, by any reasonable definition For example, the larger atheist Face- get rid of religion.”35 of the term, the atheist movement is it- book groups are notorious for having Misogyny in this movement manifests self a kind of identity politics seeking to banner images that consist of a lineup as leering, sexist comments directed at organize and to act on the basis of shared of White male faces,32 perhaps with one female atheists, or violent antipathy to- identity as atheists, just as Jewish, Mus- token women or person of color shoved ward feminists and feminism, as in the lim, or Christian groups organize on the in somewhere. (Ironically, the one non- case of Clementine Ford. Outspoken basis of their religious identity. White person who appears most often in secular women get so many obscene, Similarly, the quest to protect non- these images is Neil deGrasse Tyson, who harassing and violent messages that, in believers from discrimination and op- personally is agnostic but has publicly 2014, members of the feminist/athe- pression, and to stop members of the stated he doesn’t desire to be involved ist site Skepchick created an art exhibit majority religion from claiming special with the atheist movement.) Atheist that literally wallpapered a room with privileges for themselves, is nothing if publications display the same bias: The printouts of abuse they’d received. They not social justice. Yet many prominent Portable Atheist, a 2007 anthology edited called the exhibit “an immersive experi- atheist leaders persist in seeing them- by Hitchens, includes just four women- ence of the daily harassment women face selves as neutral and ideology-free, and authored essays out of 47. online.”36 their concerns as arising from dispas- Similarly, although atheists have bat- sionate reason and nothing else, while THE LIMITATIONS OF THE WHITE MALE tled against creationism and other intru- other people are polluting the cause with VIEWPOINT sions of religion into public schools, the their personal bias. Like any large group of people, the atheist movement seems less concerned Some of the most glaring examples atheist community mirrors broader about other vital education issues, such of atheist leaders’ selective attention re- trends. As women and people of color as segregation and chronic underfund- volve around Islam. For example, take

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 11 the case of Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year- the Alt Right figurehead Milo Yiannopou- ism and misogyny in addition to criticiz- old Texas freshman who brought a los48 and uncritically accepted the Alt ing religion. homemade clock to school to show his Right concept of “cultural Marxism”— Besides Sargon of Akkad, another teachers, and was arrested when the the idea that a secret liberal conspiracy YouTube character is TJ Kirk, a.k.a. “The school administrators had an over-the- is plotting to undermine Western culture Amazing Atheist,” whose videos display top panic reaction because he was brown from within. In December of 2017, Skep- a similar mixture of toxic ignorance and and Muslim.40 Instead of encouraging tic also gave the psychologist Carol Tavris casual cruelty. His worldview is steeped and defending this young inventor, Rich- a column to denounce the #MeToo move- in misogyny. He is indignant about the ard Dawkins, who for over a decade was ment, which she compared to Satanic term “rape survivor” (because “Rape isn’t Oxford’s Professor of the Public Under- ritual abuse hysteria and predicted that it fatal”) and told an actual rape survivor “I standing of Science, took to Twitter to would lead to a “Mike Pence world where think we should give the guy who raped denounce and insult Mohamed: calling [women] cannot have a business dinner you a medal.” He also sneers at Black cul- him “Hoax Boy,”41 bizarrely accusing or go to a party without a chaperone.”49 ture as “a victim cult.”53 him of lying about building the clock, Skeptic also hosted an attempted James There’s also Phil Mason, a.k.a.– spinning conspiracy theories about how O’Keefe–style50 hoax on the field of gen- “Thunderf00t,” another YouTube per- he must have wanted to get arrested,42 der studies, written by conservative-lean- sonality who started out with videos and for the topper, comparing him to an ing skeptics Peter Boghossian and James aimed at countering creationism, but ISIS child soldier.43 Lindsay, who assert that “gender studies subsequently began to argue that sexual- Like Dawkins, Sam Harris appears to is crippled academically by an overrid- harassment policies at atheist conferences are a waste of time since, he argued, “talking Just as atheist leaders argue that religious moderates give cover about sexual harassment to toxic fundamentalism, the regressive views of these “thought can sometimes be a bigger leaders” give license to even more extreme anti-feminist and problem than sexual harassment.”54 Lately, his antipa- White supremacist ideologies in the atheist community. thy to feminism has grown, and he’s branched out into have a particular bias against Muslims. ing almost-religious belief that maleness videos with titles like “Why ‘Feminism’ He’s argued that airport security should is the root of all evil.” To prove this, the is poisoning Atheism” and rants against profile anyone who “looks like”44 they two wrote an intentionally ridiculous the media critic Anita Sarkeesian. Ma- could be Muslim (prompting many to article and sought to get it published in son, like Sargon, was a strong supporter ask: what does a Muslim look like?) and a reputable gender-studies journal. As of the “Gamergate” movement55 that has advocated harshly restricting immi- it happened, their hoax article was re- arose as a backlash to feminist criticism gration from majority-Muslim countries, jected by the first legitimate journal they like Sarkeesian’s and that is recognized as arguing: “You can’t have too many Mus- submitted it to, and only published in a a contributor to the rise of the Alt Right. lims in your culture if you want it to re- low-quality pay-to-play journal. Never- Despite the bigoted and incendiary main enlightened.”45 theless, Boghossian and Lindsay wasted views they espouse, all of these figures no time in taking a victory lap—publish- have attracted sizable and enthusiastic OTHER ATHEIST FRIENDS OF THE ALT ing a column51 in which they boasted that followings. Mason and Carl Benjamin RIGHT their paid publication proved the entire each have over 800,000 subscribers on In addition to the “Horsemen,” there gender-studies field to be a sham—with YouTube, and Kirk over 1 million. are lesser-known but still prominent White male atheist leaders lining up to atheists who’ve been friendly to Alt congratulate them.52 WHY DO ATHEISTS FEEL KINSHIP WITH Right ideas. One is Michael Shermer, Just as atheists like Sam Harris argue THE ALT RIGHT? publisher of Skeptic magazine, who’s as- that religious moderates give cover and The racist ideology that the Alt Right serted that the underrepresentation of respectability to toxic fundamentalism, has rebranded is experiencing a resur- women is because skepticism is “more of the regressive views of these so-called gence in general, and it’s unsurprising a guy thing.”46 When criticized for this, thought leaders give license to even that atheism, like other spheres of soci- Shermer took it upon himself to speak more extreme anti-feminist and White ety, is affected by it. But there are points for women and people of color and to say supremacist ideologies in the atheist of attraction between the two communi- that they’re not worried about racism or community. The cross-pollination be- ties that make this pairing more likely sexism: “[W]omen & blacks don’t want tween atheists and the Alt Right is most than others. prostrate pity of white males... Drop the evident on YouTube, where some of the First and foremost is a shared an- race/sex obsession.”47 most prominent atheist videobloggers, tipathy toward Islam. The New Atheist Under Shermer’s leadership, Skeptic boasting tens or hundreds of thousands movement arose in response to 9/11, gave a sympathetic review in July 2017 to of subscribers, openly disseminate rac- and many atheists still assign collective

12 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 blame to all Muslims for the attacks. This this way, evo-psych resembles a modern Too many atheists have applied the same bias is most evident in views such as Sam version of the old “great chain of being” approach they use against such dogmatic Harris’, who has implied that Islam is an fallacy that placed White men of Europe- believers, assuming that everyone they inherently more alien or more dangerous an descent above all other races and gen- disagree with must hold the same mind- religion than others. Richard Dawkins ders. And of course, that’s exactly how set. has also joined in with musings on how Alt Rightists and White nationalists have Christian cathedral bells sound “so much used it, leading some unwary atheists to THE IDEOLOGICAL DEAD END nicer” than the “aggressive-sounding”56 conclude that White male superiority is It can’t be denied that many prominent Muslim call to prayer. scientifically proven. atheists, as well as some of the louder and Another is that the atheist movement One proponent of these views is Satoshi most vehement voices in the community, has frequently employed taboo-breaking Kanazawa, an evolutionary psychologist have supported Alt Right ideology and and intentionally provocative rhetoric. who argues that atheists are more intel- White male supremacy. However, many When wielded against irrational and ligent;59 that Black women are “objec- of the larger atheist and secular groups harmful religious dogmas, these tactics tively” less attractive than other races; have gone in the opposite direction and have their place. Ex-believers will tes- that money and power make men happy are quietly engaged in serious work on tify that, to overcome the programming whereas having children makes women social-justice and intersectional issues. of religious indoctrination, deliberately happy; and that an appropriate response Organizations like the American Human- breaking a taboo—eating forbidden to 9/11 would have been to drop nuclear ist Association, the Freedom from Reli- foods, reading forbidden books, wear- bombs throughout the Middle East. gion Foundation, and the atheist charity ing forbidden clothes, having forbidden kinds of sex—can be a powerfully liber- ating act.57 And the subversive power of The New Atheist movement arose in response to 9/11, ridicule is an effective way to puncture and many atheists still assign collective blame to all the pretensions of religious authorities who claim that faith occupies a sacred Muslims for the attacks. place and ought to be exempt from criticism. There’s one more fallacy specific to Foundation Beyond Belief have a solid However, too many atheists have over- atheists that has made the atheist com- record of supporting women’s equality generalized from this lesson to conclude munity uniquely resistant to changing and reproductive justice, promoting the that every widely held belief ought to course. This mistaken idea could best be voices of people of color, and supporting be transgressed in the same way: using summarized as, “Because I am rational, non-church-based charitable programs provocation as an end in itself, rather my opponents must be irrational, oth- in underserved communities worldwide. than a means to an end. Taken to an ex- erwise they’d believe the same things as These groups and others like them treme, this can veer into mean-spirited- me.” Many atheists assume that, because have recognized that society is diversify- ness or can reinforce discriminatory at- they so often defend scientific skepticism ing, and so must the atheist movement. titudes against minority religions. And against outside attacks, that makes them To remain narrowly focused on the issues because provocation for its own sake is the supreme advocates of reason and of greatest concern to White men, and also a tactic of the Alt Right,58 when they gives them the right to speak with the no others, would lead the secular com- come across conservatives or White na- authority of science on whatever topic munity into an ideological dead end. To tionalists who claim they’re only resist- they address, regardless of how much or actively scorn the concerns of women ing “political correctness,” these atheists how little familiarity they have with it.60 and people of color isn’t just morally ab- mistakenly believe that they’ve found Worst of all, it lures them into believing horrent, but self-eradicating. As for athe- kindred spirits. that they can’t possibly be susceptible to ists, there are strong currents pulling the A third avenue that’s led atheists astray unconscious bias and other common er- movement in both directions. Which one is evolutionary psychology, the field of rors of thinking. will win out, and how that victory will re- study that posits that human preferences This perception hasn’t been helped by shape the movement’s priorities, are very and values are shaped by our evolution- the fact that many of the New Atheists’ much open questions. ary past. Again, this isn’t an inherently original adversaries really do treat their illegitimate subject for research. Evo- own faith-based worldview as immune Adam Lee is a writer and activist living in lutionary psychology can be wielded to evidence. (For example, the Christian New York City who’s written for Patheos, AlterNet, Salon, Guardian, Free Inquiry fruitfully to explain some human traits. apologist William Lane Craig has said and Freethought Today. He’s the author However, it becomes a pseudoscience that if a conflict arises between “the fun- of Daylight Atheism and (with Andrew when it’s misused to claim that our cur- damental truth of the Christian faith and Murtagh) Meta: On God, the Big Ques- rent wealth distribution, gender roles, beliefs based on argument and evidence, tions, and the Just City. Follow him on or racial hierarchies are “natural” and then it is the former which must take pre- Twitter at @DaylightAtheism. therefore immutable. When distorted in cedence over the latter, not vice versa.”61)

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 13 BY CHRISTOPHER STROOP

The Struggle for LGBTQ Inclusion at Christian Colleges and Universities

Images from Soulforce’s Equality Rides, 2006-2007. Credit: Soulforce/Wikimedia Commons.

hen Gary Campbell en- driving. A few years later—now sober, nually. (Overall, the schools are largely rolled in Baptist Bible Col- open about his sexuality, and agnostic— White.) The group’s influence is substan- lege (now Clarks Summit Campbell sought to reenroll in Clarks tial. A study it commissioned estimates University [CSU]) in Lack- Summit, intending to complete his de- that its member institutions alone make Wawanna County, Pennsylvania, in 2001, gree online and pursue a counseling ca- a collective economic impact on the he knew he was gay. He was among those reer helping others overcome substance United States of more than $60 billion students who, in an effort to repress their use disorders. In early May 2018, he was annually.3 In 2015, after two Mennonite sexual orientation, choose the restric- accepted for the fall semester. But in late schools, Eastern Mennonite University tive environment of Christian colleges: August, Campbell received a call from and Goshen College, moved to allow the schools where students, faculty, and the dean of men, telling him that his hiring of faculty and staff in same-sex staff are required to sign theologically “homosexual lifestyle” was a violation of marriages, they were essentially forced conservative statements of faith and life- CSU’s code of conduct, and his admission out of the organization, which has now style agreements, some of which bar not was therefore revoked.1 Such discrimina- specified that it will sanction any mem- only extramarital sex and drinking but tion is routine—and largely legally pro- ber institutions that break with “the his- also dancing and most R-rated movies, in tected—at evangelical and fundamental- toric Christian view of marriage.”4 addition to enforcing curfews and man- ist Christian colleges. And yet, the fact that CCCU was con- dating chapel attendance. There are hundreds of conservative fronted with the issue at all speaks to the After he was caught kissing another Christian colleges in the United States. impact of advocacy efforts for LGBTQ in- male student and was placed on proba- Among that number are more than 140 clusion at Christian colleges—work often tion, Campbell withdrew from the school evangelical schools represented by the led by alumni and, where safe, students, in 2003, just six credits shy of graduat- Council of Christian Colleges & Universi- and involving quiet support from some ing. In 2012, he joined the Navy, but ties (CCCU),2 which accounts for 445,000 faculty. he was discharged in 2015 for drunk students and 72,000 faculty and staff an- In recent years, this advocacy work has

14 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 come to represent a critical mass (though conservative Christian bubble, public im- environment, on some evangelical cam- not a majority) of students on many evan- age is a concern—and for advocates, an puses in the 1990s, a conversation on gelical campuses who are vocally press- opportunity. sexuality began to take place. At some ing for change. But resistance to that colleges and universities, it was even change has built as well, drawing not just A SHORT HISTORY OF LGBTQ CHRIS- permissible to discuss the possibility of on conservative theology and ideology TIAN COLLEGE ADVOCACY LGBTQ acceptance.13 That is, in evan- but also macro-economic circumstances After CSU refused to reconsider Gary gelical parlance, “Side A” theology: an that affect all of higher education. As Campbell’s enrollment, Lackawanna Col- LGBTQ-affirming stance that works- to smaller private colleges struggle to stay lege, a local private school, accepted him ward equality. (“Side B” of that debate, afloat, many Christian institutions have and worked out a plan to transfer most of by contrast, refers to people who recog- doubled down on orthodoxy, in accor- his credits—no small matter, given that nize that sexual orientation is generally dance with the demands of students’ tu- credits from fundamentalist Bible col- immutable but insist that those who ex- ition-paying parents.5 Influential school leges are rarely honored at other schools. perience same-sex attraction are called donors expect Christian colleges to con- When Campbell was then faced with to celibacy. Some evangelicals also use tinue incubating the next generation higher tuition than he had planned for, “Side X” to refer to the insistence that LG- of right-wing culture warriors, feeding an advocacy group called HeartStrong of- BTQ people should look to God to change graduates into organizations such as the fered him a $3,000 grant to help make up their orientation, and thus advocate the American Legislative Exchange Council the difference. now thoroughly discredited practice of (ALEC) and Alliance Defending “reparative” or “ex-gay” therapy.14) Freedom (ADF). As Haven Her- These conversations continued, rin, executive director of the LG- “You can’t trust very many, if any, but the impact was uneven and, at BTQ advocacy group Soulforce, of your friends.” most schools, minimal. It would cautions, “Don’t underestimate take the activism of Soulforce— the influence of the nexus of whose members sometimes got business, non-profit interests, and major When HeartStrong was founded in arrested for trespassing while participat- right-wing philanthropy in this sector of 1996, it was the first organization in the ing in “Equality Ride” tours of Christian higher education that has at least some country dedicated to helping LGBTQ col- colleges and universities between 2005 of its roots in White supremacy.”6 lege students at religious (not just evan- and 2016—and the rise of social media But while placating parents and donors gelical and fundamentalist) institutions to allow for the proliferation of locally at the expense of student and alumni ac- of higher education. Two years later, it focused alumni and student advocacy tivists may seem like a survival strategy was joined by Soulforce, which focused groups exerting pressure on particular for now, over the longer term, it is like- on direct nonviolent activism on behalf institutions.15 ly to contribute to the growing exodus of such students. (In recent years, Soul- But many groups were formed, even of young people from evangelicalism.7 force has worked more on training and at Bob Jones University, where the in- Over the last eight years, Herrin said, the supporting local student groups.) Start- formant culture still prevails and outed wave of advocacy among students and ing with the fundamentalist Oral Roberts LGBTQ students are still suspended, and alumni—the visibility of which is only University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2000, barred from graduation unless, after un- possible thanks to social media—has led LGBTQ alumni groups for individual dergoing unprofessional “biblical coun- many observers to wonder whether con- schools began to emerge as well.10 seling” that attempts to “correct” their servative Christian colleges have turned In the 1990s and through the turn of sexuality, they can convince the school a corner: “Does a school kick the person the century, many fundamentalist and that they’ve become straight. (Hoffman out like they used to? Can they still get evangelical schools had a sort of “infor- said he’s unaware of any students ever ac- away with that?”8 mant culture,” where LGBTQ students tually passing this test and being readmit- Since the news broke in January 2019 lived in fear of being outed to school au- ted.) In 2012, Hoffman and other alumni that Second Lady Karen Pence is teach- thorities. As Carina Hilbert, who gradu- founded BJUnity, a New York–based ing art at a K-8 Christian school that bans ated from Mount Vernon Nazarene Uni- nonprofit that operates primarily online not only LGBTQ faculty, students, and versity in 1997, noted on Twitter, it was to support the school’s LGBTQ students. parents, but even support for LGBTQ an atmosphere in which “You can’t trust By 2015, BJUnity managed, through people, this issue has been in the public very many, if any, of your friends.”11 At a Change.org petition, to compel Bob eye. But evangelical elementary and sec- schools like the “fundamentalist flag- Jones III to issue a halfhearted apology ondary schools are unlikely to change ship” Bob Jones University, former for the tone of violent anti-LGBTQ rheto- any time soon, despite the public outcry student Jeffrey Hoffman recalled, “the ric he’d set for the school. (Notably, Jones over Pence.9 Neither will fundamentalist prevailing message” from then BJU Presi- didn’t apologize for statements made Bible colleges like CSU. But for evangeli- dent, Bob Jones III, was “that gay people at BJU, but rather his public comments cal colleges and universities with preten- should be put to death immediately.”12 during a 1980 visit to the White House,16 sions to greater respectability outside the And yet, despite the generally hostile when he said, “It would not be a bad idea

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 15 to bring the swift justice today that was was banned in 2015 from visiting classes ments under Title IX and Title IV, which brought in Israel’s day against murder to give presentations, even if they were regulates colleges whose students are and rape and homosexuality. I guaran- only related to his academic expertise.21 able to receive federal financial aid.26 tee it would solve the problem post-haste And some students, he claimed, were Meanwhile, faculty and students at if homosexuals were stoned, if murder- even essentially pushed into withdraw- evangelical colleges and universities who ers were immediately killed as the Bible ing from the school. These days, Olsen would like to see their schools move to- commands.”17 And in his apology, Jones continues to communicate with a hand- ward LGBTQ inclusion are largely pow- said he never advocated the stoning of ful of students from the school, but says erless to effect significant change. Many LGBTQ people—a clear lie.) that Cedarville Out’s focus has become Christian colleges do not offer tenure, BJUnity probably represents the most “less about institutional change [than] and even when they do, pretexts may influential LGBTQ advocacy effort target- saving lives,”22 since social ostraciza- be found to remove tenured faculty who ing fundamentalist schools, but thanks tion and forced repression are drivers of rock the boat. And purged faculty may be to the internet, it’s able to provide a cru- LGBTQ youth’s disproportionate rates of silenced by non-disclosure agreements cial lifeline to LGBTQ students that the self-harm and suicide.23 tied to severance packages.27 school’s administration, which refuses to Often, though, as Soulforce noted in There are several reasons why Chris- communicate with BJUnity’s leadership, a 2016 article, repression at evangelical tian college administrations and boards cannot quash.18 At some evangelical schools has become “much more nu- of trustees go to such lengths to sup- schools, even greater strides were made. anced and deceptive.” Instead of stu- press support for LGBTQ students. Chief In 2007, Cedarville University alumnus dents being expelled explicitly on the among them is fear—the same fear that David Olsen, now the Communication basis of their sexuality or gender iden- has led White evangelicals, concerned Studies chair at California State Univer- tity, LGBTQ students “are often shown about their slipping demographic status sity, Los Angeles, founded in the U.S., to embrace Christian Cedarville Out to support LG- nationalism, and with it, Donald BTQ students at his alma ma- Many evangelical colleges find that Trump.28 Like evangelical Trump- ter. According to Olsen, be- defending right-wing orthodoxy ism, the anti-LGBTQ crackdowns tween 2007 and 2013, it was taking place at evangelical col- getting safer at the school makes for good marketing. leges and universities are an ex- to be out as LGBTQ without pression of right-wing backlash getting kicked out (though still not safe no mercy when failing classes (often due against civil rights gains—particularly to be “practicing”).19 The school’s Vice to mental health issues), caught break- the Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell v. President for Student Life at the time, ing codes of conduct that others would Hodges decision, which legalized same- Carl Ruby, was open to meeting LGBTQ generally be given a slap on the wrist or sex marriage—as well as against the leg- students off campus, and his support alone page essay assignment for, and often acy of America’s first Black president. In lowed some faculty to feel safe participat- intimidated to drop out.”24 this cultural context, it’s easy to see why ing in dialogue with LGBTQ students as Other aspects of the fight continue on evangelical colleges, facing the same well. different grounds. Since 2014, -numer economic challenges as other small pri- But even at comparatively much more ous Christian schools have applied for vate colleges, often find that defending open schools, administrative crack- and received exemptions from some of right-wing orthodoxy makes for good downs remain a possibility, threatening the non-discrimination requirements of marketing. Real budget squeezes can to push student and alumni groups un- Title IX,25 the federal law that requires also provide convenient cover for target- derground. In early 2013, in what ap- schools that receive federal funds to for- ed faculty purges. pears to have been a purge carried out by bid discrimination on the basis of sex— Thus, despite a shift toward acceptance newly hired Cedarville President Thomas including, after Obama administration of same-sex marriage among evangelical White and the university’s board of trust- guidance issued in 2016, discrimination youth—according to data from the Public ees, Ruby abruptly and unexpectedly on the basis of gender identity. Although Religion Research Institute, 53 percent of resigned. (At the same time, a number the Trump administration rescinded that White evangelicals aged 18–29 support of women professors who taught Bible guidance soon after taking office, revers- same-sex marriage—evangelical power- classes also resigned, and the school’s ing protections for transgender students, brokers seem determined to die on the philosophy major was eliminated.)20 administrators at evangelical schools re- hill of opposing LGBTQ rights.29 But the With Ruby gone, faculty would no lon- main concerned that as their anti-LGBTQ extent to which some individual schools ger show up to Cedarville Out meetings, beliefs become increasingly out of step may move toward accommodation of and students quickly came to understand with American public opinion, their ac- their LGBTQ students has yet to be de- that it was unsafe for them to attend even cess to federal funding could be at risk. termined. Two ongoing battles, at Azusa off-campus LGBTQ events without facul- Some fundamentalist and evangelical Pacific University and Grove City College, ty backing. Olsen, who had frequently re- colleges have never taken federal fund- illustrate the dynamics in play. turned to the campus as a guest lecturer, ing precisely in order to evade require-

16 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 her final meeting, again involving Wallace, she dis- covered that “my opinion on gay people was clearly just as much or more of an issue than my opinions on evangelical theological orthodoxy, and it was clearly a make or break issue.” In 2016, Azusa Pacific also joined a number of Chris- tian universities in Califor- nia to form the Association of Faith-Based Institutions, which spent $350,000 suc- cessfully lobbying against a California state bill that would have required schools to clearly disclose their exemptions from non- discrimination laws.33 In August 2018, APU was hailed for moderating its official stance on same- sex relationships when the A professor offers a prayer during a rally by the LGBTQ Christian community at Azusa Pacific University to show support after the school’s student handbook school reinstated a ban on same-sex relationships, October 1, 2018. Photo: Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images. dropped language express- THE EVANGELICAL ESTABLISHMENT students who bailed on evangelicalism ly forbidding “romanticized same-sex STRIKES BACK: THE CASE OF AZUSA and/or turned liberal,” she went through relationships.” The school also made a PACIFIC UNIVERSITY three interviews, including one with APU handful of changes to its human sexuali- Azusa Pacific University (APU) is a President Jon Wallace. As she explains it, ty statement, including the removal of an CCCU-affiliated, non-denominational “I suppose they felt the need to give me explicit reference to “sin.” The statement evangelical school rooted in the Wesleyan extra vetting.” One interview included a continued to affirm that sexual activity is holiness tradition, with particularly question about whether she’d feel com- only acceptable within marriage, which close ties to the Free Methodist denomi- fortable telling a hypothetical student must be between a man and a woman, nation. Located in Los Angeles County, that Muslims she met through the pro- and the school clarified that, “A change California, APU attempts to cultivate a gram were “going to hell.” She observes, in policy does not change practice.” But reputation for moderation—willing to “we spent a lot of time on my opinions still, the changes were widely interpreted hire women for leadership roles even about gay people—or rather I heard a lot as creating space for romantic, albeit cel- in its theology and philosophy depart- about their opinions about gay people. … ibate, same-sex relationships.34 ment, which is unusual for an evangeli- They tried to put a kinder, gentler face on These language changes might seem cal school. However, in 2013, when the it… but [Wallace] very clearly said, that if insignificant to people outside evangeli- chair of theology became public about a student decided they were gay and that cal communities, but the advocates who his identity as a transgender man, the being gay was okay, he would tell them worked with the administration—in- school, which does not offer tenure, dis- that another school would be a better fit cluding APU students associated with missed him.30 for them.”32 the local underground LGBTQ support For some time, Christian colleges and Later, when Lambertson applied to group, Haven, and Erin Green from the universities have been quietly using job teach a sociology class for a professor national advocacy organization, Brave applicants’ stance on marriage as a litmus who was going on sabbatical, she was Commons—saw them as a positive step. test in hiring.31 Azusa Pacific is no excep- confronted with the school’s statement In a September 2018 email Green sent to tion according to Christy Lambertson, a of faith, which she hadn’t had to sign as school faculty and officials whom she had freelance grant writer who worked there staff. By then, she no longer considered negotiated with, she praised their deci- from 2003–06. When she applied to be herself evangelical and admitted she sion and urged them to stay the course.35 Los Angeles term coordinator for a so- couldn’t affirm the statement’s -theol But prominent evangelical leaders, in- ciology and global studies program that ogy. After several rounds of what she cluding Albert Mohler, President of the “had a bit of a reputation for turning out describes as polite interviews, during Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 17 immediately condemned APU’s move.36 school of straying from evangelical or- as Allies) and The Table, both of which Private and local pressure was quickly ap- thodoxy in its initial move to soften its are allowed to meet on campus. GCC is a plied as well. APU Associate Professor of human sexuality statement. This sug- place where students outed as LGBTQ are Communication Studies Ryan Montague gests that, despite the current setback, at risk of losing university employment wrote APU’s Board of Trustees in mid- the fight at APU is not over. According or opportunities to participate in cer- September, lamenting the school’s osten- to Green, the board remains divided in tain programs, but at the same time one sible “mission drift” away from its motto, its vision for the future.42 With President where student activists are free to distrib- “God first.” He estimated that about 50 Wallace resigning at the end of this year, ute rainbow stickers on National Coming percent of APU graduates lose their faith it is not entirely clear where the school Out Day without facing disciplinary ac- and accused APU of “compromise after will go from here, though should it move tion. GCC’s newspaper, The Collegian, has compromise with culture and fearing in a more inclusive direction, its CCCU also been able to cover events like these backlash from students or public.”37 membership will be threatened. APU did without facing the type of censorship Montague forwarded his message not respond to email and phone requests that has plagued other Christian college to Chris Lewis, lead pastor of Foothill for comment regarding its hiring prac- papers.45 Church, a non-denominational church tices and the reversal of its decision to “They’ve asked us to tone it down be- attended by many APU community soften its approach to same-sex relation- fore, but they can’t really make us leave,” members. On September 18, Lewis in ships among students. noted queer senior psychology major turn forwarded the email to some of his Maddie Myers.46 congregants, urging them to write their IS PROGRESS POSSIBLE? THE CASE OF Even so, attempts by LGBTQ student own letters to the board, though not, he GROVE CITY COLLEGE support groups to gain official status cautioned, “as a staff member/elder/at- Might other evangelical schools chart a have thus far been unsuccessful. GCC Di- tender” of Foothill Church, but rather different course from that of Azusa Pacif- rector of Student Activities and Programs as alumni, faculty, or former faculty of ic? The case of Grove City College (GCC), Scott Gordon wrote to a student activist APU.38 Soon thereafter, the school re- an evangelical school of about 2,400 in January 2018, praising Allies for par- versed course, announcing in late Sep- undergraduate students located in the ticipating in “informative, congenial and tember that the language changes hadn’t small town of Grove City, Pennsylvania, constructive” dialogue on sexuality, and been approved by the Board of Trustees.39 suggests that a different outcome is not acknowledging that the group “worked Green called APU’s reversal “incredibly out of the question. GCC is not a mem- diligently and sincerely to craft a pro- disappointing,” noting, “We feel com- ber of the CCCU, and so isn’t subject to posal that would give Allies a chance at pletely exploited by APU.”40 pressure from that body. However, since becoming an official campus group.” GCC is among those Nevertheless, he wrote, there was no ap- “They’ve asked us to tone it down before, schools that forego proval forthcoming. “At this time the Col- federal funding in lege is remaining consistent with its’ [sic] but they can’t really make us leave.” order to avoid anti- independent and Scripturally consistent discrimination reg- view of same-sex attraction, marriage, Donors almost certainly represent one ulation, it will also never have to worry and gender which precludes any official of the key factors holding Azusa Pacific about Title IX compliance. While the recognition of a formal group supporting back from positive change. APU’s annual school is officially non-denominational, same-sex attraction.”47 reports indicate that the school receives it has been and continues to be shaped Myers, who was homeschooled in a grants from right-wing organizations by conservative Presbyterianism. Grove conservative Christian environment be- such as the Charles Koch Foundation and City President Paul J. McNulty has a long- fore enrolling at GCC, and who did not re- the National Christian Foundation, the standing relationship with Vice Presi- alize she was queer until her sophomore latter of which, according to Inside Phi- dent Mike Pence, who was GCC’s contro- year, describes the school as “very non- lanthropy, “is probably the single biggest versial choice for 2017 commencement affirming.” And certainly in many ways source of money fueling the pro-life and speaker.43 The college’s character as a it is. Upon returning from a mission trip anti-LGBT movements over the past 15 staunchly conservative institution seems for which she had received funds from years.”41 unshakeable. a GCC program, Myers, now the presi- APU trustees themselves have a pat- Still, GCC is home to Associate Profes- dent of Allies, was told by the program’s tern of deep involvement in far-right or- sor of Psychology Warren Throckmor- leadership that if she had been very vo- ganizations. Steven L. Perry is one of the ton, a prominent evangelical author and cal about her sexuality prior to applying, founders of National Christian Founda- blogger who once supported “ex-gay” she likely wouldn’t have been accepted. tion, California. Raleigh Washington is therapy but has since repudiated it.44 Mack Griffith, a transgender man and a leader of the evangelical men’s group And Grove’s administration is engaged in president of The Table, mentioned being Promise Keepers, although he, along dialogue with two unofficial LGBTQ sup- exposed to “ex-gay” teachings in a group with Dave Dias, resigned from APU’s port groups: Allies for Gender and Sexu- that has since been dissolved, and which board in December 2018, accusing the ality Inclusion (often referred to simply was led by a former Campus Ministries

18 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 Assistant Director.48 When Myers orga- firm our “full support for the purpose, vative than most of his peers in GCC’s nized a 2018 panel discussion on “LG- mission, identity, goals and objectives LGBTQ community, “Grove City is very BTQ and Politics” through GCC’s College of the College, including its religious much redeemable.” Griffith is still- re Democrats chapter, the school dragged values and moral standards.” Adher- quired to live in women’s housing at GCC, its feet approving the event and forbade ence to this condition is an issue of but his resident assistant and resident di- the speakers from discussing theology.49 personal integrity. If you find yourself rector recognize and use Griffith’s correct Myers also says that College Democrats’ out of alignment with the College’s vi- pronouns.55 posters are often defaced and torn down, sion, mission and values, it is impor- While there appear to be limits beyond and GCC’s invitation to Vice President tant to earnestly and honestly consider which the current administration of GCC Pence to be its 2017 commencement whether Grove City College is where will not go, that it has gone as far as it speaker struck Griffith as “a slap in the you can serve in good conscience.53 has is likely a result of several factors: face.”50 the school’s independence from And yet, unlike at other fun- CCCU regulations; the presence damentalist and evangelical A committee was formed to create of faculty, like Throckmorton, schools, when leaders of The a generic “Grove City Cares” sticker who are committed to authentic Table requested a meeting with to replace the rainbow stickers. scholarship even if it challenges school President McNulty to ex- conservative evangelical ortho- plain why the choice of Pence doxy; the willingness of the ad- was harmful, they were granted ministration to retain such facul- one, and, according to comments ty and to engage in dialogue with posted to a closed Facebook concerned students. group, the conversation “was If we want to see more evan- overall cordial and friendly.”51 gelical colleges eventually follow Pence still spoke; a small number in the footsteps of GCC, and to of graduating student advocates see schools like GCC go further, refused to shake his hand when we need to keep the concerns of walking across the stage. But LGBTQ students and alumni in this was still a level of dialogue the public eye. It won’t be easy that doesn’t happen at similar for LGBTQ and allied students, schools.52 And unlike fundamen- alumni, and faculty to overcome talist schools that use unprofes- the immense pressure exerted sional Christian counseling as a by hardline conservative donors, disciplinary mechanism, LGBTQ the nexus between evangelical GCC students confirmed that the schools and right-wing institu- school affords them access to le- tions, pressure from conservative gitimate professional counseling. parents, and, in many cases, the As with other conservative CCCU. But the more that their Christian schools, there are a number Despite this memorandum, current concerns are heard and acknowledged, of faculty who are ahead of the admin- students report that a few professors con- and the more the press and the public istration in their willingness to support tinue to display rainbow stickers. shine a light on schools invested in hav- LGBTQ students. For LGBTQ students in Senior Director of Communications ing a humane and respectable reputa- these environments, finding such faculty Jacquelyn Muller responded to some tion, the better chance there may be for can be vital. At GCC, allied faculty had questions about GCC via email, writing, positive change down the line. in recent years begun to display rainbow “Grove City College is committed to do- stickers on their office doors—an act of ing its very best to address any concerns Christopher Stroop (@C_Stroop) earned solidarity that McNulty strongly discour- that may conflict with” its Christian mis- a Ph.D. in Russian history and Interdis- ciplinary Studies in the Humanities from aged by forming a committee to create sion, adding, “student leaders who are Stanford University in 2012. Stroop is a a generic “Grove City Cares” sticker to aligned with LGBTQ interests have rec- senior research associate with the Post- replace the rainbow stickers. In a Janu- ognized this commitment and expressed secular Conflicts Project (Kristina Stoeckl, ary 2018 memorandum on the issue to appreciation for the caring environment Principal Investigator), University of Inns- faculty and staff, McNulty implied that which exists to educate all students and bruck, Austria, as well as a freelance writ- 54 those who wished to continue displaying encourage civil discourse.” er, public speaker, activist and advocate rainbow stickers may need to consider Many of the GCC students and alumni who currently resides near Indianapolis, leaving: I spoke to by and large agree with that Indiana. Stroop’s blog Not Your Mission All of us, administrators and faculty, claim. “For all its flaws,” said Griffith, Field can be found at CStroop.com. sign one-year contracts in which we af- who remains more theologically conser-

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 19 BY REV. ASHLEY EASTER

Book Review: Pure by Linda Kay Klein

Purity Ring. Photo: Rlmabie/Wikimedia Commons. vangelical “purity” culture, years, in the U.S. in the late 1980s and had access to the largest Protestant de- roughly defined, is the belief early ’90s, it became a movement, a the- nomination in the U.S.2 (The SBC’s com- that Christianity requires sexual ology, and soon after, a for-profit evan- mercialization of purity culture closely abstinence before (heterosexual) gelical industry that exists to this day. coincides with the conservative takeover Emarriage, especially for girls and women, Even the government got involved, fund- of the denomination in the ’80s and ’90s, and promises sexual fulfillment to those ing purity-related sex education initia- which sharply curtailed the rights and who save sex until marriage. It’s a belief tives, such as the Christian abstinence- role of Southern Baptist women.) At True system often accompanied by messages only group Silver Ring Thing, which Love Waits events, young people were of shame for those who fail to remain received $1.4 million from the federal encouraged by the thousands to pledge virgins until their wedding day—who are government until a 2005 lawsuit demon- their virginity to both God and fam- not only said to be breaking God’s law but strated that it was illegally evangelizing ily. Formal “Purity Balls” for fathers and risking lifelong consequences for their with taxpayer funds.1 daughters,3 complete with post-dance sexual “sins.” A tidal wave of purity-pushing books “Purity Certificates,” drew families from Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement and Bible study materials were written further outside the mainstream confer- That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and marketed to teens, parents, and pas- ence circuit.4 And celebrities like Nick and How I Broke Free, by Linda Kay Klein, tors of teens, chief among them Elisa- Jonas and Miley Cyrus donned “purity was unlike anything I’ve ever read and beth Elliot’s Passion and Purity, and Josh rings,” helping usher in a wave of related yet, as a millennial who grew up during Harris’ cult classic I Kissed Dating Good- merchandise, from purity themed T- the height of purity culture, each page bye. Church youth groups began send- shirts to bumper stickers to coffee mugs felt like a part of my own story. ing their teens to conferences like True and more.5 While the idea of abstaining from sex Love Waits, an event started in 1993 by When Klein read Elliot’s Passion and until marriage has existed in various re- LifeWay, which, as the product-selling Purity, she was left with such overwhelm- ligious communities for thousands of arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, ing guilt for having kissed her boyfriend

20 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 that she felt God was directing her The same shame used to break up with him. At school, a sex ed lesson consisted of a teach- to keep women from er passing an Oreo cookie around violating purity rules the class, and, after it had been touched by each person, dropped followed them into on the ground, and spat upon, their marriages. warning students that if they let themselves be treated like the otherwise healthy relationships. cookie, “no one will want you.”6 The shame and fear was com- Klein’s experiences were echoed pounded for those in the LGBTQ by dozens of women she inter- community, since purity cul- viewed, who were variously ture held that being “pure” also taught that purity meant: waiting meant being heterosexual, as it until their wedding ceremony, was when purity culture collided or at least their engagement, for with sexual assault, since purity their first kiss; trying to avoid all teachings rarely differentiated feelings of sexual desire prior to between assault and consensual marriage; dressing modestly; or premarital sex.8 In some cases, a sliding scale of rules: only kiss- purity teachings were even used as ing in public places or only while tools for sexual predators. Klein’s standing up, kissing and touch- own youth pastor was convicted ing while lying down but never of child enticement with the in- achieving orgasm, or, on the far tent to have sexual contact after he end, engaging in “everything but” groomed a 12-year-old girl in the vaginal intercourse, up to and in- same youth group where Klein was cluding oral and anal sex. taught to be pure. Throughout the The only universals, it seemed, book, Klein addresses major sexu- were a heavy dose of guilt and al abuse scandals within churches shame, ladled on in the name of Pure: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation that heralded purity culture, such God, and the distinct lack of any of Young Women and How I Broke Free by Linda Kay Klein (New York: as Joshua Harris’s former Mary- actual sexual education. And the Touchstone, 2018). land megachurch, Covenant Life repercussions of the latter is a re- Church, which became the cen- curring theme in the book, leaving the of anatomy. Women raised in evangeli- ter of a child sexual abuse and cover-up women Klein spoke to filled with confu- cal purity culture also found that the fai- scandal in 2014.9 sion, fear, and shame. Some told Klein rytale honeymoons they were promised While some purity culture preach- of not understanding even the basic me- were in reality marred by panic attacks, ers purposefully may scheme to use the chanics of sexual intercourse until their long-lasting shame, and physical pain, teachings for abusive agendas, many senior year of college or their honey- all of which haunted (and in some cases others clearly believed they were helping moons. As one woman in her mid-twen- destroyed) their relationships and mar- a generation of young people understand ties explained: riages. Many faced a double bind: having their version of God’s plan for sexuality. our “sex talks” were all generic meta- long been expected to shut down their But Klein’s book makes a strong argu- phors and warnings about what would sexuality, upon marriage they were ex- ment that, irrespective of intentions, this happen to us if we crossed a line, pected to be “tigresses” in bed. movement leaves too many young people which was defined differently by so It didn’t work. The same shame used to scarred for life. many people that we were left guess- keep women from violating purity rules ing all the same. Meanwhile, we knew followed them into their marriages, leav- Rev. Ashley Easter is a Christian feminist, we would be shamed if we asked sex- ing many unable to experience orgasm or writer, speaker, TV producer, news pun- dit, and trained abuse-victim advocate ual questions; shamed if we discussed relax during lovemaking. Many experi- who educates churches and secular com- sexual decisions; shamed if we shared enced painful sex, or found themselves munities on abuse. She is founder of The our confusing sexual feelings and unable to actually have penetrative sex Courage Conference, for survivors of abuse thoughts; and shamed worst of all if for weeks after their honeymoon—which and those who love them, and author of we admitted we had already done any- in turn brought more guilt and shame. The Courage Coach and Cults Hidden in 7 thing sexual. For some, these symptoms lasted years, Plain Sight. But it wasn’t just awkward first kisses at leading to depression, self-harm, medi- the altar, or an embarrassing ignorance cal complications, and withdrawal from

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 21 endnotes

What’s the Matter with Secularism?, web.archive.org/web/20181116014459/ pedia of Philosophy, https://www.iep.utm. blogs.com/pharyngula/2012/12/12/thats- p. 9 http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2009/05/ edu/n-atheis/. not-a-response-michael-its-a-denial/. 1. Ezra Klein, “Sam Harris, Charles Mur- the_unseen_moments_of_the_whca.html. 32. PZ Myers, “I’m sensing a theme here,” 47. Michael Shermer (@michaelsherm- ray, and the allure of race science,” Vox, 15. Pharyngula, “FFRF recap: heroes of the Free Thought Blogs, March 3, 2018, er), “PZ: women & blacks don’t want March 27, 2018, https://www.vox.com/ revolution, Hitchens screws the pooch, and https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyn- prostrate pity of white males; they just policy-and-politics/2018/3/27/15695060/ the unbearable stodginess of atheists,” Sci- gula/2018/03/03/im-sensing-a-theme- want to be thought of as people. Period. sam-harris-charles-murray-race-iq-forbid- enceBlogs, October 14, 2007, https://sci- here/. Drop the race/sex obsession,” Twitter, den-knowledge-podcast-bell-curve. enceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/10/14/ 33. Michael Luciano, “Atheists Don’t Owe December 12, 2012, 3:00 p.m., https:// 2. Sam Harris, “Ezra Klein: Editor-At- ffrf-recap. Your Social Justice Agenda a Damn Thing,” twitter.com/michaelshermer/sta- Large,” SamHarris.org, March 27, 2018, 16. Dan Merica, “Atheists plan conservative The Daily Banter, October 9, 2014, https:// tus/278952542568841216 https://samharris.org/ezra-klein-editor- outreach with booth at CPAC,” CNN Belief thedailybanter.com/issues/2014/10/09/ 48. George Michael, “Provocateur: A Re- chief/. Blog, February 25, 2014, http://religion. atheists-dont-owe-your-social-justice- view of Milo Yiannopoulos’s new book 3. Sam Harris (@SamHarrisOrg), “My blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/25/atheists- agenda-a-damn-thing/. Dangerous,” Skeptic, https://www.skeptic. response to the fake, defamatory contro- plan-conservative-outreach-with-booth-at- 34. Michelle Boorstein, “Can atheist Sam com/reading_room/george-michael-re- versy engineered by @ezraklein. Dear @ cpac/. Harris become a spiritual figure?,” The views-dangerous-by-milo-yiannopoulos/. voxdotcom, meet your editor-in-chief,” 17. Roy Edroso, “David Silverman: CPAC is Washington Post, September 12, 2014, 49. Carol Tavris, “I, Too, Am Thinking Twitter, March 27, 2018, 6:50 p.m., crawling with closet atheists,” RawStory, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ About Me, Too,” Skeptic, December 2017, https://twitter.com/SamHarrisOrg/sta- March 7, 2014, https://www.rawstory. local/wp/2014/09/12/can-atheist-sam- https://www.skeptic.com/reading_room/ tus/978766308643778560. com/2014/03/david-silverman-cpac-is- harris-become-a-spiritual-figure. me-too-cognitive-dissonance/. 4. Sam Harris, “Waking Up with Sam crawling-with-closet-atheists/. 35. Bethany Saltman, “The Temple of Rea- 50. Kim LaCapria, “Project Veritas’ Elec- Harris #124 - In Search of Reality (with 18. Kimberly Winston, “In a first, son,” The Sun, September 2006, https:// tion 2016 ‘Rigging’ Videos,” Snopes, Oc- Sean Carroll),” YouTube Video, April atheist activist addresses conserva- www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/369/ tober 18, 2016, https://www.snopes.com/ 23, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/ tive conference,” The Washington Post, the-temple-of-reason. news/2016/10/18/project-veritas-elec- watch?v=7s7OMC2mi0g. February 26, 2015, https://www.wash- 36. Amy Roth, “A Woman’s Room Online,” tion-videos/. 5. James Moore, “Birmingham MP in Epi- ingtonpost.com/national/religion/in-a- Skepchick, September 4, 2014, http:// 51. Peter Boghossian and James Lindsay, centre of Twitter Abuse Storm,” Redbrick first-atheist-activist-addresses-conserva- skepchick.org/2014/09/a-womans-room- “The Conceptual Penis as a Social Con- News, June 2, 2016, https://www.redbrick. tive-conference/2015/02/26/8c5447e0- online/. struct: A Sokal-Style Hoax on Gender me/birmingham-mp-epicentre-twitter- bdfd-11e4-9dfb-03366e719af8_story. 37. DebGod, “Impact Through Educa- Studies,” Skeptic, May 2017, https://www. abuse-storm/. html. tion: Yes, the Atheist Movement Should skeptic.com/reading_room/conceptual- 6. Habeas Humor Podcast (@HabeasHu- 19. Adam Lee, “The 2008 ARIS: Atheist Care About Poverty,” Skepchick, February penis-social-contruct-sokal-style-hoax-on- mor), “How @YouTube star #sargono- State of the Nation,” Patheos, March 13, 5, 2013, http://skepchick.org/2013/02/ gender-studies/. fakkad and his followers act when chal- 2009, https://www.patheos.com/blogs/ impact-through-education-yes-the-atheist- 52. Ketan Joshi, “The engine of irratio- lenged about their online #harassment daylightatheism/2009/03/aris-2008/. movement-should-care-about-poverty/. nality inside the rationalists,” Ketan of #rape victims. I hope he loses fans,” 20. “Religion Among the Millennials,” 38. Adam Lee, “Repost: Making Non-White Joshi, May 20, 2017, https://ketanjoshi. Twitter, October 3, 2017, 2:05 a.m., Pew Research Center, February 17, 2010, Atheists Feel Welcome,” Patheos, July 24, co/2017/05/20/the-engine-of-irrationali- https://twitter.com/HabeasHumor/sta- http://www.pewforum.org/2010/02/17/ 2014, http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ ty-inside-the-rationalists/. tus/915095408623456256. religion-among-the-millennials/. daylightatheism/2014/07/repost-making- 53. Martin Hughes, “Stop Being A Victim 7. DanDare, June 22, 2017, 9:37 p.m., 21. “Atheism Doubles Among Generation non-white-atheists-feel-welcome/. Cult: A Guide For Black Culture, By The comment on PZ Myers, “The destructive nar- Z,” Barna, January 24, 2018, https://www. 39. Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins), Amazing Atheist (And Friends),” Patheos, rowing of internet atheism,” Free Thought barna.com/research/atheism-doubles- “Learned a useful new phrase this week: July 3, 2016, https://www.patheos.com/ Blogs, June 22, 2017, https://freethought- among-generation-z/. Social Justice Warrior. SJWs can’t forgive blogs/barrierbreaker/how-not-to-be-a-vic- blogs.com/pharyngula/2017/06/22/ 22. “‘Nones’ on the Rise,” Pew Research Shakespeare for having the temerity to be tim-cult-advice-to-black-culture-from-the- the-destructive-narrowing-of-internet- Center, October 9, 2012, http://www. white and male,” Twitter, June 28, 2014, amazing-atheist-and-friends/. atheism/#comment-1080831. pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the- 3:04 a.m., https://twitter.com/richard- 54. Thunderf00t, “MISOGYNIST!!!,” Free 8. Adam Lee, “If peace on earth is our rise/. dawkins/status/482781472961859584. Thought Blogs, June 25, 2012, https:// goal, atheism might be the means to that 23. Robert P. Jones, “The Eclipse of White 40. Ashley Fantz, Steve Almasy, and An- web.archive.org/web/20120717110834/ end,” The Guardian, January 6, 2015, Christian America,” The Atlantic, July 12, neClaire Stapleton, “Muslim teen Ahmed http://freethoughtblogs.com:80/thun- https://www.theguardian.com/commen- 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/poli- Mohamed creates clock, shows teachers, derf00t/2012/06/25/misogynist. tisfree/2015/jan/06/peace-on-earth-athe- tics/archive/2016/07/the-eclipse-of-white- gets arrested,” CNN, September 16, 2015, 55. Thunderf00t, “#Gamergate: when ism. christian-america/490724/. https://www.cnn.com/2015/09/16/us/ ‘Feminists’ and Gamers collide!,” YouTube 9. Lydia Saad, “In U.S., Nonreligious, 24. Elizabeth Gibney, “Sex and Race Dis- texas-student-ahmed-muslim-clock-bomb/ Video, November 1, 2014, https://www. Postgrads Are Highly ‘Pro-Choice,’” Gallup, crimination in Academia Starts Even Be- index.html. youtube.com/watch?v=GXZY6D2hFdo. May 29, 2012, https://news.gallup.com/ fore Grad School,” Scientific American, 41. Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins), 56. Samuel Osborne, “Richard Dawkins poll/154946/Non-Christians-Postgrads- April 27, 2014, https://www.scientificam- “Don’t call him ‘clock boy’ since he never accused of Islamophobia after comparing Highly-Pro-Choice.aspx. erican.com/article/sex-and-race-discrim- made a clock. Hoax Boy, having hoaxed his ‘lovely church bells’ to ‘aggressive-sound- 10. Hannah Hartig, “Republicans turn ination-in-academia-starts-even-before- way into the White House, now wants $15M ing Allahu Akhbar’,” Independent, July 17, more negative toward refugees as num- grad-school/. in addition!” Twitter, November 24, 2015, 2018, https://www.independent.co.uk/ ber admitted to U.S. plummets,” Pew Re- 25. Jane C. Hu, “The Overwhelming Gender 5:22 a.m., https://twitter.com/Richard- news/uk/home-news/richard-dawkins- search Center, May 24, 2018, http://www. Bias in ‘New York Times’ Book Reviews,” Dawkins/status/669098728662409216. allahu-akhbar-church-bells-criticism-reli- pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/24/ Pacific Standard, August 28, 2017, https:// 42. Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins), gion-a8451141.html. republicans-turn-more-negative-toward- psmag.com/social-justice/gender-bias-in- “@HarryStopes I don’t know. Possi- 57. Penn Jillette, God, No!: Signs You May refugees-as-number-admitted-to-u-s- book-reviews. bly wanted to be arrested? Police played Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical plummets/. See also: https://news.gallup. 26. “2015 State of Atheism in America,” into his hands? Anyway, now invited to Tales (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012). com/poll/154529/Half-Americans-Sup- Barna, March 24, 2015, https://www.bar- White House, crowdfunded etc,” Twit- 58. Andrew O’Hehir, “Birth of a ‘Troll Na- port-Legal-Gay-Marriage.aspx; https:// na.com/research/2015-state-of-atheism- ter, September 20, 2015, 7:11 a.m., tion’: Amanda Marcotte on how and why www.prri.org/research/poll-immigration- in-america/. https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins/sta- conservatives embraced the dark side,” reform-views-on-immigrants/. 27. Simon Hooper, “The rise of the ‘New tus/645555802636464129. Salon, May 9, 2018, https://www.salon. 11. PZ Myers, “Dawkins and ‘Dear Mus- Atheists,’” CNN, November 9, 2006, 43. Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins), com/2018/05/09/birth-of-a-troll-nation- lima,’” Free Thought Blogs, June 28, 2018, http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/eu- “‘But he’s only a kid.’ Yes, a ‘kid’ old amanda-marcotte-on-how-and-why-con- https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyn- rope/11/08/atheism.feature/index.html. enough to sue for $15M those whom he servatives-embraced-the-dark-side/. gula/2018/06/28/dawkins-and-dear-mus- 28. Alice Gribbin, “Preview: The Four hoaxed. And how old is this ‘kid’?” Twit- 59. Satoshi Kanazawa, “Why Atheists Are lima/. Horsemen of New Atheism reunited,” New ter, November 24, 2015, 9:27 a.m., More Intelligent Than the Religious,” Psy- 12. Kimberly Winston, “Richard Dawkins Statesman America, December 22, 2011, https://twitter.com/RichardDawkins/sta- chology Today, April 12, 2010, https:// stands by remarks on sexism, pedophilia, https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/ tus/669160536320421888. www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ Down syndrome,” Religious News Service, the-staggers/2011/12/richard-dawkins- 44. Sam Harris, “In Defense of Profiling,” the-scientific-fundamentalist/201004/ November 18, 2014, https://religionnews. issue-hitchens. Sam Harris, April 28, 2012, https://sam- why-atheists-are-more-intelligent-the- com/2014/11/18/richard-dawkins-stands- 29. taizteez, The Four Horsemen: New harris.org/in-defense-of-profiling/. religious. remarks-sexism-pedophilia-syndrome/. Atheists (T-Shirt), Spreadshirt, https:// 45. Ben Norton, “Echoing fascists, Sam 60. Examples of this include: Sam Har- 13. Christopher Hitchens, “Why Women www.spreadshirt.com/the+four+horseme Harris wants to ‘keep the number of Mus- ris’ uncritical support of The Bell Curve; Aren’t Funny,” Vanity Fair, January 1, n+new+atheists+men-s+premium+t-shirt- lims down in any society,’ to keep culture Michael Shermer taking it upon himself 2007, https://www.vanityfair.com/cul- D11541778?view=D1. ‘enlightened’,” Ben Norton, July 11, 2017, to speak for women and people of color; ture/2007/01/hitchens200701. 30. Winston Rowntree, “Behold the Mind- https://bennorton.com/sam-harris-maa- Richard Dawkins tweeted that certain types 14. Jada Yuan and Chris Rovzar, “Cruise, Rending Horror of…The Atheist Apoca- jid-nawaz-muslims-refugees-podcast/. of rape are more traumatic than others: Demi, and Portman at the WHCA Dinner,” lypse!,” Subnormality #66, http://www. 46. PZ Myers, “That’s not a ‘response’, Mi- https://twitter.com/richarddawkins/sta- New York Magazine, May 11, 2009, https:// viruscomix.com/page433.html. chael, it’s a ‘denial’,” Free Thought Blogs, tus/494012678432894976. 31. “The New Atheists,” Internet Encyclo- December 12, 2012, https://freethought- 61. William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith:

22 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019 endnotes

Christian Truth and Apologetics (Wheaton, html. Waivers to Law that Protects Transgen- Some that Grove City is Too Aligned with Ill: Crossway Books, 2008), p.48. 13. Christopher Stroop, “Special Report: der Students.” The New York Times, De- GOP,” Trib Live, April 13, 2017, https:// The Struggle for LGBTQ Inclusion, Have Evangelical Colleges Succumbed cember 10, 2015, https://www.nytimes. triblive.com/politics/politicalhead- p. 14 to ‘Theological Paranoia’?” Religion com/2015/12/11/us/religious-colleges- lines/12191297-74/pence-visit-worries- Dispatches, January 19, 2016, http:// obtain-waivers-to-anti-discrimination- some-that-grove-city-college-is-too- 1. Gary Campbell, emails to author, De- religiondispatches.org/special-report- law.html. aligned-with. cember 29, 2018, and January 8, 15, 2019. have-evangelical-colleges-succumbed-to- 26. Ibby Caputo and Jon Marcus, “The Con- 44. Warren Throckmorton, “Revoice and After learning of Gary Campbell’s situation theological-paranoia/. troversial Reason Some Religious Colleges Again I Say Revoice,” June 3, 2018, https:// in September 2018, I created the Twitter 14. The language of “Side A,” “Side B,” and Forgo Federal Funding,” The Atlantic, July www.wthrockmorton.com/category/ex- hashtag #LetGaryGraduate with the goal of “Side X” is associated with Justin Lee and 7, 2016, https://www.theatlantic.com/ gay/. pressuring CSU to reverse its decision. Gay Christian Network, which Lee founded education/archive/2016/07/the-contro- 45. Molly Wicker, “Rise of the Rainbow.” 2. “Our Institutions,” CCCU,https://www. in 2001, and which in 2018 was renamed versial-reason-some-religious-colleges- The Collegian, October 14, 2016, https://is- cccu.org/institutions/. Q Christian Fellowship. Prioritizing church forgo-federal-funding/490253/. suu.com/grovecitycollege/docs/2016-10- 3. “Economic Impact of Christian High- unity over LGBTQ acceptance, Q Christian 27. Stroop, “Special Report”; Christo- 14. On student newspaper censorship at er Education.” CCCU, March 26, 2018, Fellowship remains committed to includ- pher Stroop, “Want to Know the Future of other Christian colleges, see Stroop, “Spe- https://www.cccu.org/news-updates/new- ing advocates of “Side B.” Human Rights ‘Trumpvangelicals’ in America? Look at cial Report” and Charissa Crotts, Elizabeth study-reveals-economic-impact-christian- Campaign has compiled a list of state- Their Colleges,” Playboy, September 25, Rieth, and Isaiah Johnson, “Papered Over.” higher-ed/. ments from relevant professional bodies 2018, https://www.playboy.com/read/ World Magazine, August 16, 2018, https:// 4. Scott Jaschik, “To Avoid Split on condemning the practice of “conversion,” want-to-know-the-future-of-trumpvangeli- world.wng.org/2018/08/papered_over. Gay Marriage, 2 Colleges Quit Christian “reparative,” or “ex-gay” therapy: https:// cals-in-america-look-at-their-colleges. 46. Maddie Myers, interview with author, Group.” Inside Higher Ed, September 22, www.hrc.org/resources/policy-and-posi- 28. Frederick Clarkson, “Christian Nation- September 16, 2018. Myers and other GCC 2015, https://www.insidehighered.com/ tion-statements-on-conversion-therapy. alism and Donald Trump,” Political Re- students quoted in this article are repre- news/2015/09/22/2-colleges-leave-chris- 15. Haven Herrin, email to author, Janu- search Associates, April 6, 2018, https:// senting only their own views, not those of tian-college-group-avoid-split-over-gay- ary 10, 2019. On the arrests of Soulforce www.politicalresearch.org/2018/04/06/ the college nor those of the student groups, marriage. activists for trespassing, see for example christian-nationalism-and-donald-trump/. recognized and unrecognized, with which 5. Haven Herrin, email to author, January Claire St. Amant and Melissa Limmer, 29. Alex Vandermaas-Peeler, et al. “Emerg- they are affiliated. 10, 2019. “Baylor Student Arrested with Soulforce.” ing Consensus on LGBT Issues: Findings 47. Scott T. Gordon, January 26, 2018 6. Haven Herrin, interview with author, The Lariat, March 22, 2007, https:// From the 2017 American Values Atlas.” email, shared by student activist. September 25, 2018. On evangelicalism’s www.baylor.edu/lariatarchives/news. PRRI, May 1, 2018, https://www.prri.org/ 48. Maddie Myers, interview with author, connections to White supremacism, see php?action=story&story=44728. See also research/emerging-consensus-on-lgbt- September 16, 2018. Mack Griffith, inter- Cole Parke, “The New Southern Strategy: Scott Travis, “Six Arrested at College on issues-findings-from-the-2017-american- view with author, September 18, 2018. On How Christian Persecution Became White Trespassing Charges.” South Florida Sun values-atlas/. Red Box Missions, see also: http://www. Supremacy’s Newest Disguise.” The Public Sentinel, October 14, 2008, https://www. 30. “H. Adam Ackley, Transgender Theol- gcc.edu/Home/Faith-Purpose/Campus- Eye, Fall 2018, http://feature.politicalre- sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2008-10- ogy Professor, Asked to Leave California’s Ministries/Mission-Service-Trips. search.org/the-new-southern-strategy. 14-0810130471-story.html. Azusa Pacific University,” HuffPost, Sep- 49. Maddie Myers, interview with author, 7. On White evangelicals losing youth, 16. Jeffrey Hoffman, interview with- au tember 23, 2013, https://www.huffing- September 16, 2018. see Nina Burleigh, “Evangelical Christians thor, September 17, 2018. tonpost.com/2013/09/23/transgender- 50. Mack Griffith, interview with author, Helped Elect Donald Trump, But Their Time 17. “Bob Jones III Apologizes for Anti- professor-azusa-pacific-_n_3977109.html. September 18, 2018. as a Political Force is Coming to an End.” Gay Comments from 1980,” Greenville 31. Stroop, “Special Report.” 51. Jason Dauer, Facebook post in the Newsweek, December 13, 2018, https:// News, March 23, 2015, https://www. 32. Christy Lambertson, written statement group “GCC Advocates for Inclusion and www.newsweek.com/2018/12/21/ greenvilleonline.com/story/news/lo- provided to author, September 21, 2018. Acceptance,” April 12, 2017. evangelicals-republicans-trump-milleni- cal/2015/03/21/bob-jones-iii-apologizes- 33. “How Christian Schools Should Have 52. Jason Dauer can be seen refusing to als-1255745.html. anti-gay-comments/25141469/. Spent $350k,” Soulforce, September 1, shake Mike Pence’s hand in the video em- 8. Haven Herrin, email to author, January 18. Jeffrey Hoffman, interview with- au 2016, https://www.soulforce.org/single- bedded here: https://www.wpxi.com/ 10, 2019. thor, September 17, 2018. post/2016/09/01/Reacting-to-Christian- news/top-stories/vice-president-pence-de- 9. Rebecca Klein, “Karen Pence is Work- 19. David Olsen, interview with author, Schools-that-Spent-350K-on-Anti-LGBTQI- livers-keynote-speech-at-grove-city-coming at A School That Bans LGBTQ Em- September 19, 2018. See also https://www. Legislation. mencement/524786377. ployees and Kids.” HuffPost, January 16, cedarvilleout.org/. 34. Morgan Lee, “Azusa Pacific Okays Gay 53. Memorandum of Paul J. McNulty to 2019, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/ 20. Chris Stroop, “Special Report.” Libby Romance (But Not Sex and Marriage).” Grove City College Faculty and Staff. Janu- entry/karen-pence-immanuel-christian- A. Nelson, “A Campus in Turmoil,” Inside Christianity Today, September 25, 2018, ary 19, 2018. See also Stroop, “Want to school_us_5c3e62c2e4b0922a21d99f58. Higher Ed, January 22, 2013, https://www. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ Know the Future of ‘Trumpvangelicals’ in Author’s note: I have been a visible critic of insidehighered.com/news/2013/01/22/ news/2018/september/azusa-pacific-uni- America? Look at Their Colleges.” Pence, creating the hashtag #ExposeChris- several-controversies-converge-ohio-bap- versity-lgbt-sexuality-statement-apu.html. 54. Jacquelyn Muller, email to author, Oc- tianSchools for Christian school alumni to tist-college. Sarah Pulliam Bailey, “Lead- 35. Erin Green, email to author, September tober 8, 2018. share our own stories. On the criticism of ership Changes at Cedarville University 28, 2018. Erin Green, email to Jon Wallace 55. Mack Griffith, interview with author, Karen Pence and the ongoing controversy, Point to Conservative Direction,” Religion and other APU administrators, September September 18, 2018. see also David Crary, “Hashtag Stirs Debate News Service, December 13, 2013, https:// 27, 2018. Book Review: Pure, p. 20 over Role of Christian Schools in U.S.” As- religionnews.com/2013/12/13/reports- 36. Quoted in Morgan Lee, “Azusa Pacific sociated Press, February 2, 2019, https:// conservative-shakeup-ohio-christian- Okays Gay Romance.” 1. Linda Kay Klein, Pure: Inside the Evan- www.apnews.com/4202bedd44b54572a7 university-hits-women/. Melissa Steffan, 37. Ryan Montague, email to Azusa Pacific gelical Movement That Shamed a Generation 4dc152dbb65b72. “Administrators’ Resignations Fuel Fears at Board of Trustees, September 18, 2018. of Young Women and How I Broke Free (New 10. The website of the Oral Roberts group, Cedarville University,” Christianity Today, 38. Chris Lewis, email to Foothill Church York: Simon & Schuster, 2018), 24. ORU Out, can still be viewed using the In- January 23, 2013, https://www.christiani- members, September 18, 2018. 2. “Help Students Understand Sexual Pu- ternet Archive’s Wayback Machine: https:// tytoday.com/ct/2013/january-web-only/ 39. Morgan Lee, “Azusa Pacific Reverses rity,” LifeWay, https://www.lifeway.com/ web.archive.org/web/20000925224748/ resignations-of-top-administrators-fuel- Approval for Gay Student Couples,” Chris- en/product-family/true-love-waits. http://www.oru-out.com:80/index.html. fears-at-cedarville.html. tianity Today, October 1, 2018. 3. “Daddy/Daughter Purity Ball,” Purity 11. Carina Hilbert (@CarinaHilbert), 21. Thomas White, email to Cedarville 40. Erin Green, email to author, September Rings Online, https://purityringsonline. “As a Christian college survivor (MVNU, deans, department chairs, and vice presi- 29, 2018. com/purity-ball. 1997), the author doesn’t explain why dents, April 15, 2015. 41. APU’s annual reports may be down- 4. “Free Printable Purity Certificates,” students aren’t speaking out. It’s due to 22. David Olsen, interview with author, loaded here: https://www.apu.edu/annu- Purity Rings Online, https://purityringson- draconian, authoritarian discipline codes September 19, 2018. See also https://www. alreport/. Philip Rojc, “Big Money, Quiet line.com/purity-certificate. and an informant culture. You can’t trust cedarvilleout.org/. Power: A Look at the National Christian 5. “9 Celebrities Who’ve Worn Purity very many, if any, of your friends,” Twit- 23. Some relevant statistics with citations Foundation,” Inside Philanthropy, August Rings,” HuffPost, July 2, 2013, https:// ter, September 29, 2018, 2:36 p.m., to the individual studies from which they 21, 2017. The Ahmanson Foundation, ac- www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/02/ https://twitter.com/CarinaHilbert/sta- come can be found on the website of The cording to its website, funds a number of celebrities-purity-rings_n_3535439.html. tus/1046106398675914759. Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorpro- private colleges and schools in southern 6. Klein, 9. 12. Jeffrey Hoffman, interview with- au ject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/ California, including Protestant, Catholic, 7. Klein, 77. thor, September 17, 2018. For more in- facts-about-suicide/#sm.00012rmd12wqa Jewish, and non-sectarian institutions. 8. Klein, 199-215. formation, see https://www.bjunity.org. cnyyf3135f3vd485. 42. Christopher Yee, “Azusa Pacific Univer- 9. Tiffany Stanley, “The Sex-Abuse Also, Kevin Eckstrom, “Bob Jones III apol- 24. “How Christian Schools Should Have sity Board Members Resign Amid LGBTQ Scandal That Devastated a Suburban ogizes for stone-the-gays remarks.” The Spent $350K,” Soulforce, September 1, Policy Turmoil,” San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Megachurch,” Washingtonian, February Washington Post, March 23, 2015, https:// 2016, https://www.Soulforce.org/single- December 10, 2018, https://www.sgvtri- 14, 2016, https://www.washingtonian. www.washingtonpost.com/national/repost/2016/09/01/Reacting-to-Christian- bune.com/2018/12/10/azusa-pacific-uni- com/2016/02/14/the-sex-abuse-scandal- ligion/bob-jones-iii-apologizes-for-stone- Schools-that-Spent-350K-on-Anti-LGBTQI- versity-board-members-resign-amid-lgbtq- that-devastated-a-suburban-megachurch- the-gays-remarks/2015/03/23/c2c0cfb8- Legislation. policy-turmoil/. sovereign-grace-ministries/. d191-11e4-8b1e-274d670aa9c9_story. 25. Liam Stack, “Religious Colleges Obtain 43. Tom Fontaine, “Pence Visit Worries

WINTER 2019 Political Research Associates • 23 NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID POLITICAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES BOSTON, MA 1310 BROADWAY, SUITE 201 PERMIT NO. 54584 SOMERVILLE, MA 02144

BlitzWatch: Tracking Christian Nationalism

Last spring, PRA Senior Research Analyst Frederick “a Christian nationalist view of history and a long-term Clarkson uncovered a coordinated effort to promote Dominionist political vision that’s profoundly at odds Christian nationalism in public life. Project Blitz, devel- with what most would consider a reasonable approach to oped by the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, the religious freedom.” National Legal Foundation, and WallBuilders’ ProFam- These bills are intended to escalate. By starting with “In ily Legislators Confer- God We Trust” license ence, packages a wide- plates (which Project ranging slate of model Blitz calls “moving bills intended to “pro- billboards”), before ad- tect the free exercise vancing resolutions on of traditional Judeo- prayer in schools, het- Christian religious val- erosexual marriage, ues and beliefs in the or so-called “biblical public square.” values” on gender and At least 70 Project adoption, the state- Blitz-related bills—in- level prayer caucuses cluding measures that hope to build momen- attack LGBTQ people, tum with easy victories undermine access to “In God We Trust” license plates are already available in 20 states and in some the phrase will then move on to more reproductive health- appear on every license plate. Photo: Eli Christman/Flickr. dangerous bills under- care, and insert reli- mining equality. gion into public schools—were introduced in state legis- In response, PRA is helping anchor the monitoring latures in 2018. project BlitzWatch, along with a coalition of national or- According to Clarkson, the group’s 2019 planning man- ganizations committed to protecting equality and human ual, Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures rights. Impacting Prayer and Faith in America, clearly promotes Visit www.blitzwatch.org to learn more.

Political Research Associates (PRA) is a think tank devoted to challenging the Right and advancing social justice. Visit our website, www.politicalresearch.org, to access past issues of The Public Eye, connect with us through social media, and donate. You’ll also find in-depth reports, web-only features, and our Eyes Right blog. Need to renew or purchase a subscription? Go to politicalresearch.org/subscribe. Call 617.666.5300 or email us at [email protected] for more information.

Your support makes The Public Eye possible. Subscribe and donate today! 24 • The Public Eye WINTER 2019