Evangelicals

While Rep. Michele Bachmann eventually backed off her infamous statement about “un-American views” she feared Barack Obama held, she’s standing by someone with sharper views. Next month, she’s headlining a fundraiser for Bradlee Dean’s Christian punk rock band and ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide. Here’s a rundown of his recent statements, including his belief that Obama is “not American” and “unpatriotic to the max.”

The New York Times noted on Monday that rightwing opposition to the Democrats’ health care reform plans contains plenty of references to Nazis. On Wednesday, a Minnesota-based, rightwing health care group offered a local example, announcing a former Hitler Youth who has compared Obama’s policies to the rise of Nazi Germany as its headliner at [...]

Civil liberties groups say that You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International — a ministry/punk band that brings its Christian message to public school kids — is causing schools to run afoul of the constitutional principle of separation of state and church. Rep. Michele Bachmann, who says such a separation is a “myth,” will be headlining a fundraiser for the group in November.

The Associated Press asks prominent evangelicals and leaders of the religious right if Jesus would condone torture. Some evangelicals say every life is sacred and torture is not peaceful and therefore incongruent with Christian teachings. But religious right leader Gary Bauer says that while Jesus wouldn’t torture, he would permit his followers to do so.

Considered by many to be the nation’s most influential evangelical leader, Focus on the Family’s James Dobson is stepping down after founding the organization more than 30 years ago. The Associated Press learned on Friday that Dobson would be relinquishing his spot as chairman of the evangelical Christian organization, based in Colorado Springs, Colo. Dobson [...]

A coalition of progressives and evangelicals are uniting to end the culture war. Organized by the think tank Third Way and called the “Come Let Us Reason Together” coalition, the group seeks common ground on issues like abortion, gay rights, immigration and torture in hopes of ending the bitter divisiveness that has characterized the culture war.

The religious right never goes down without a fight, and given the dwindling chance that their candidates, Sarah Palin and John McCain, can win the White House, they’re taking the fight to extreme new levels. Prominent figures are comparing supporters of Sen. Barack Obama to the Nazis, warning that God will condemn Americans if they don’t vote for McCain, accusing Obama’s family of witchcraft and foretelling a future when Christianity is criminalized by an Obama administration. Are you prepared for Obamageddon?

Results released by the Christian polling outfit, Barna Group, shows that Sen. John McCain has failed to hold on to a critical part of the Republican base: born-again evangelical Christians. Even with Gov. Sarah Palin on the ticket, support from the key constituency has floundered compared to Bush’s numbers in 2004.

Meanwhile, independent groups are hitting the airwaves on Christian talk radio with ads featuring Sen. Barack Obama talking about his faith and prominent “pro-lifers” explaining — and supporting — Obama’s position on abortion.

Evangelicals behind the Highway of Holiness, a prophecy movement that claims to find biblical proof that Interstate 35 holds spiritual significance to Christians, have come under criticism for a “purity siege” outside a Dallas, Texas,  gay bar. The group has held events along Interstate 35 in the Minnesota cities of Albert Lea, Minneapolis and Duluth.

James [...]