"The Family" - Fundamentalism, Friends In High Places (Fresh Air - NPR) 3/3

Recorded from NPR's Fresh Air from WHYY, July 1, 2009 · In the book "The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power", author Jeff Sharlet examines the power wielded by a secretive Christian group known as the Family, or the Fellowship.

Founded in 1935 in opposition to FDR's New Deal, the evangelical group's views on religion and politics are so singular that some other Christian-right organizations consider them heretical

The group also has a connection to a house in Washington, D.C., known as C Street. Owned by a foundation affiliated with the Family, C Street is officially registered as a church; in practice, it serves as a meeting place and residence for politicians like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Nevada Sen. John Ensign and Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn.

The Family, Sharlet writes, is responsible for founding the annual National Prayer Breakfast, a supposedly ecumenical — but implicitly Christian — event attended by the president, members of Congress and dignitaries from around the world. These foreign delegations are often led by top defense personnel, who use it as an opportunity to lobby the most influential people in Washington — and who repay the Family with access to their governments.

The group's approach to religion, Sharlet says, is based on "a sort of trickle-down fundamentalism," which holds that the wealthy and powerful, if they "can get their hearts right with God ... will dispense blessings to those underneath them."

Members of the group ardently support free markets, in which, they believe, God's will operates directly through Adam Smith's "invisible hand."

The Family was founded in 1935 by a minister named Abraham Vereide after, he claimed, he had a vision in which God came to him in the person of the head of the United States Steel Corporation.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• The Family
• Fellowship
• Christian
• fundamentalist
• C Street
• Jeff
• Sharlet
• secret
• fundamentalism
• heart
• American
• power

[NatureLegalized]

Expose these dangerous nutwanks to the max! :)

[im4wur2]

I've got a playlist with the same title as this video, where I try to collect the best of what I can find on these sociopaths. - As far as I can tell Rachel Maddow seems to be the most willing to shine a light on this dangerous aspect of our government.

I think you're right. We need to continue shining halogens on these pathological lunatics.

[NatureLegalized]

Great! :)

The Family's Ties - this also promises to spread more about these nutty jagoffs too, and soon (they say the story's just beginning) - watch?v=HHCIhuEg-xY

[im4wur2]

Thanks! - btw, I just found the video of Jeff Sharlet on Thom Hartman: "Jeff Sharlet - Is there a secret society of Christian crazies and is Mark Sanford a member?" - ( watch?v=hUdg1TS-leE ) by looking at your channel.

Excellent! ...and filled with info I was unaware of (a new addition to my playlist. - lol) Thanks again!

[ar4216]

All these evil religious freaks who are running our nation into the ground believe morality only applies to the little people- THEY are chosen by God and can do whatever they want. Assholes.

[witchwild]

C-Street is a hidey-hole for the nurturing & development of world corruption!

[grandpadewey]

By any other name. The Reichstag.

[TheCentralTubenizer]

Interesting story. At least from my perspective, it seems as though too many good people on this world are being hustled generationally and openly. It's what the elite would call "transparent".

[grandpadewey]

One of the names of these sociopaths is the "Foundation". Isaac Asmov must be spinning in his grave. Bottom line is Jesus is a mythical figure. Read 3001 by Arthur C. Clarke and you may get a better perspective on religion in general.

[NatureLegalized]

I'm glad! :)

"The real rulers in Washington are invisible and exercise power from behind the scenes."

~ Felix Frankfurter U.S. Supreme Court Justice

[goldgrif]

so perhaps another religious person kills one, then they would pursue murder, but would have to support them for god allowed it

[witchwild]

You are absolutely right, ar4216! This is a true case of double-standards! One law for them, another law for the rest of us. Selective law-making!

Hypocritical sickos!