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1 a Kingdom Divided: New Media, the Fragmentation of Evangelical A Kingdom Divided: New Media, the Fragmentation of Evangelical Cultural Values, and U.S. Politics Christopher W. Boerl A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Politics and International Relations) Royal Holloway College, University of London 2011 Supervisor: Professor Andrew Chadwick 1 I declare that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Christopher W. Boerl September 10, 2011 2 ABSTRACT OF THESIS A Kingdom Divided: New Media, the Fragmentation of Evangelical Cultural Values, and U.S. Politics Religious movements are a powerful force in politics, but there is no research that analyzes the relationship between new communication technologies and Christian political mobilization in the United States. In addressing this deficit, this thesis has three interrelated aims. First, beginning from an analysis of social capital, civic engagement and mobilization, it provides a historical overview of the U.S. evangelical community and its rise as a dominant cultural and political force. It argues that changing social norms provided the conditions for a strong reactionary religious movement to take root, while the social effects of broadcast media helped to concentrate evangelical energies on issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and school prayer. Second, this thesis develops an understanding of the impact of the Internet upon evangelical organizations based on original research and fieldwork. It demonstrates that in contrast to the effects of broadcast media, which served largely to unify evangelical cultural attitudes, the Internet is instead a source of significant theological fragmentation and political pluralization. By serving as a conduit through which dissident religious elements are better able to connect, organize, and mobilize, the Internet is revealed to be a powerful tool for movements such as ―creation care‖ and the ―emerging church,‖ which in years past have been unable to gather significant cultural strength due to the limitations of prevailing communication infrastructures. Collectively, these movements have emerged as a source of considerable unrest and internal religious division. Finally, this thesis discusses the political and electoral implications of a fragmented evangelical community and the ways in which the U.S. Democratic Party may capitalize on these developments. 3 For my mom and dad. Despite what the doctors and specialists said, you always saw me for the man I could be. For that I am eternally grateful. I love and miss you both. A great debt of gratitude is similarly owed to my supervisor, Professor Andrew Chadwick, who was forced to endure numerous drafts of poorly spelled words and improper grammar. Your patience throughout this process has helped me see this thesis to its completion and has been greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Dr. Chris Perkins, who has given tirelessly of himself throughout this endeavor and who is, hands down, one of the best damn academics I have ever met. To the greatest friend a friend could have, Mike Valanzola, I eagerly await the days when we will sit in the Corner Office, smoking our cigars, drinking our scotch, saying, ―This is my friend…‖ To my friends at The Crown: Ant, Matt, Massimo, Franco, Lord Sam, Big Tom, Eva, Ray, Andrew, Magic Dave and everyone else, thank you for making me apart of your community. To Courtney and Mike, thank you for all the crazy trips. They were often just the break I needed and provided me with a renewed spirit and a refreshing take on the challenges ahead. To Eric, thank you for your words of comfort and solace while in Connecticut. I will always remember our nights of Galactica. To Jill, thank you for taking me in when I had nowhere else to go and for being the kind of friend a guy is lucky to have. To Justin, you have always been a dear friend and were the first to call on that terrible day in 04‘. Thank you for everything. To James, always remember, you are not a statistic, you are a factor. But on a slightly more serious note, thank you for the fun, the advice and the support. To my dear friend, The Lovely Lavina, thank you for joining me on my English adventure. I will forever remember our time on that strange and exotic island, which was for four years, home. Finally, to my best friend, my great love, my beautiful wife, thank you for being that rock I so long ago lost. Your presence in my life is an abundant source of joy and an endless supply of strength. In you, this world has no equal. I love you today, I‘ll love you tomorrow, and I‘ll love everyday thereafter. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………..5 LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………….............10 CHAPTER ONE – IN THE BEGINNING……………………………………………………12 What is the New Media Environment?..........................................................................................20 What is an Evangelical?………………………………………………………………………….22 What is the Evangelical Community?............................................................................................24 What is the Christian Right?..........................................................................................................27 What is Creation Care?…………………………………………………………………………..30 What is the Emerging Church Movement?……………………………………………................39 Hypotheses……………………………………………………………………………………….44 Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………..47 Plan of Thesis…………………………………………………………………………………….60 CHAPTER TWO – A REVIEW OF LITERATURE EXAMINING THE EFFECT OF THE INTERNET ON SOCIAL CAPITAL, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND MOBILIZATION.…………………………………………………………………………...…63 Social Capital and Civic Engagement……………………………………………………………65 Changes in Civic Engagement and the Pluralized Nature of Contemporary Society……………80 Mobilization……………………………………………………………………………...............87 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….94 CHAPTER THREE – EVANGELICALS AND AMERICAN POLITICS: RELIGION, MEDIA AND CULTURE……………………………………………………………………...98 Eschatology and the Public Square……………………………………………………………..101 5 Monkeys, Satellites, and a Catholic President: How Societal Upheaval Brought Evangelicals to the Political Fold………………………………………………………………………………..104 Media and the Unification of American Evangelicals………………………………….............110 The Fall of the Religious Left…………………………………………………………………..118 Evangelicals and the Reagan Presidency……..………………………………………...............121 Why Democrats Lost the Catholic Vote and How It Further Empowered Evangelicals…………………………………………………………………………………….124 Evangelical Voters and the Election of George W. Bush………………………………………128 The 2004 Presidential Race………………………………………………………….................132 Is there a Changing Evangelical Landscape?…………………………………………………...140 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...............144 CHAPTER FOUR – FROM MONOLOGUE TO DIALOGUE PART I: HOW THE INTERNET IS EMPOWERING THE EVANGELICAL PERIPHERY………………….147 Broadcast Media, Mobilization and the Faithful…………………..…………………...............150 How Media are Changing the Church………………………………………………………….156 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...............173 CHAPTER FIVE – FROM MONOLGUE TO DIALOGUE PART II: THE ONLINE EVANGELISM OF THE CREATION CARE AND EMERGING CHURCH MOVEMENTS…...……………………………………………………………………………176 Informing……………………………………………………………………………………….178 Involving………………………………………………………………………………………..190 Connecting and Mobilizing……………………………………………………………………..202 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...............211 6 CHAPTER SIX – THE CHANGING BIBLICAL POLITICS OF THE MODERN AMERICAN EVANGELICAL TRADITION………………………………………………214 The Mechanical Forces that Shape Our Preferences…………………………………...............215 Group Polarization……………………………………………………………………………...221 Beyond the Sterile Polarities of the Christian Right?…………………………………………..229 Changing Political Attitudes……………………………………………………………………240 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...............260 CHAPTER SEVEN – THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF THE AMERICAN RELIGIOUS MARKETPLACE …………………………………………………………….264 Evangelism in Decline………………………………………………………………………….266 Christianity-Lite………………………………………………………………………...............273 No Faith but the Patriotized Faith………………………………………………………………282 A Return to Innovation and Niche-Oriented Religious Marketing……………………..............288 Conclusion: Religion and Politics in America‘s Near Future………………………….............294 CHAPTER EIGHT – EVANGELICAL ENVIRONMENTALISM AND THE POLITICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE……………………………………………….................................299 The Current State of Environmental Politics………………………………….…......................301 Understanding Evangelical Environmental Resistance………………………………...............305 The Historical Roots of Evangelical Environmental Activism………………………...……....307 Creation Care and Evangelical Tensions……………………………………………………….310 7 The Political Sophistication of Evangelical Environmentalism………………………………..314 From Evangelical Interest Groups to an Evangelical Interest………………………………….317 The Political Impacts of Evangelical Environmental Activism………………………...............325 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...............327 CHAPTER NINE – WHEN CONSTITUENCIES COLLIDE: ABORTION, FAITH OUTREACH AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY………………………………...............330 The Socially Conservative Candidate…………………………………………………………..333 Abortion Politics and the Democratic Base…………………………………………………….335 The Changing Dynamics of the Evangelical Vote……………………………………………...338 The “Pro-Life” Politics of Evangelical Environmentalism……………………...……………..344 Can There be an Abortion Compromise?………………………………………………………347
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