Ex-Evangelical Frank Schaeffer Denounces Michele Bachmann & Calls Her Movement Anti-American

DemocracyNow.org - Democracy Now! interviews former evangelical Christian Frank Schaeffer, whose father's writings and work played a key role in the religious development of Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. Frank Schaeffer recently wrote an article titled, "Michele Bachmann Was Inspired By My Dad and His Christian Reconstructionist Friends — Here's Why That's Terrifying." Schaeffer's father was Francis Schaeffer, one of the nation's most influential evangelical Christian theologians and philosophers in the 1970s and 1980s. In a recent profile in The New Yorker magazine, Bachmann reveals she entered politics after watching Francis Schaeffer's film ,"How Should We Then Live." The film was directed by his son, Frank, our guest today. "[Bachmann] doesn't just come from the far-right of evangelical politics, she comes from a fringe even of the fringe, which is the reconstructionist Dominionist movement," Schaeffer says. "The religious right that I was a part of is fundamentally anti-American, they hate this country. They wrap themselves in the flag, but they hate America as it is."

For the complete transcript, to download the podcast, or for additional Democracy Now! reports about the 2012 election campaign, visit http://www.democracynow.org

FOLLOW DEMOCRACY NOW! ONLINE:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/democracynow
Twitter: @democracynow
Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/democracynow
Daily Email News Digest: http://www.democracynow.org/subscribe

Please consider supporting independent media by making a donation to Democracy Now!
today, visit http://www.democracynow.org/donate/YT

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• amy goodman
• democracy now
• dn
• news
• politics
• 2012 election
• Frank Schaeffer
• Michele Bachmann
• Christian Reconstructionist
• evangelical politics
• Francis Schaeffer
• republican debate

[publicatdamagnificen]

Jesus Himself said "My kingdom is NOT of this world'. These people quote a Bible that they don't even know!!

[willhum]

If America votes for these people then the rest of the Western world is fucked.

[Lrock79]

Word? I am no defender of Bachmann or the Religious Right in any respect, nor am I a Republican, with that said it sounds like to me that Frank went AWOL on Christianity because he was struggling with homosexuality and his father and those of his ilk taught him that practice was a sin, therefore Christianity is wrong, wrong, wrong. Of course I could be wrong, that's just the impression I get. Frank needs a hug.

[RATIONALMIND001]

This chap really tells it as it is. It's time for Rational Government, leave your religion at home.

[RATIONALMIND001]

Is Frank Schaeffer an atheist now?

[RATIONALMIND001]

It sounds like the Christian version of Islam! KEEP RELIGION OUT OF GOVERNMENT!

[x1y12239]

The approach the thinking people of America should take to our own home grown religious extremists should be the same as the approach we take to the radical fundamentalists of Iran or Saudi Arabia. We should be advocating moderation. Extreme religion is such a powerful force that it cannot be ignored, but these beliefs are very resistant, if not immune to criticism. The answer is to encourage and support moderation.

[TheStevenLawrence]

@armyveteran101st

Thanks for proving my point for me :) so predictable.

[armyveteran101st]

@TheStevenLawrence LOL I'm an atheistic agnostic, dude. By definition, I don't have a religion because I stand against all religions. Philosophy and religion are two very different things. You are all over the place and you don't seem to know up from down. Square yourself away.

[TheStevenLawrence]

@armyveteran101st

You are a product of public education under the control of the humanist religion.

Your philosophy is your religion :p You are a religious extremist.