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The Moral Majority

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The Moral Majority
A once popular bumper sticker read, “The Moral Majority is Neither.” The fact that there was a bumper sticker criticizing the Moral Majority, measures how large of an impact they once had in politics in America. Led by Reverend Jerry Falwall, the Moral Majority was an ultra-conservative group that aimed to incorporate politics with strong conservative religious views. The mission itself was controversial which made their political agenda criticized even more. Falwell and the rest of the Moral Majority believed that American society was headed into the wrong direction, and viewed modern lifestyle as being immoral and independently pleasure seeking. With a strong financial backing from the start, the Moral Majority was able to make their voice heard throughout the nation, which made them extremely appealing to conservative Christians, as well as very conservative people in general. The group dissolved in 1989 after Jerry Falwell claimed that the group fulfilled its mission and completed all their goals. The Moral Majority may have fulfilled their mission, but Jerry Falwell had an agenda of his own that was ultimately not satisfied. Controversy surrounded Jerry Falwell well before the founding of the Moral Majority. The origins of the social group trace back to 1976. Prior to the official establishment of the Moral Majority, Jerry Falwell held a series of “I Love America” rallies across the nation in which Falwell raised awareness of social issues important to him. With a mix of religion and patriotism, Falwell believed that the lack of Christian morality in the nation was causing a decay in general morality in America. The “evils” that were producing this decay included the Equal Rights Amendment, homosexuality, pornography, women’s liberation, and abortion. The only way the country could be healed of these evils listed was through Christian morality. The “I Love America” rallies were extremely provocative because it was uncommon for religion and politics to be


Cited: Associated Press. "Moral Majority Being Disbanded." Herald-Journal [Spartanburg] 11 June 1989, Vol. 59 No. 162 ed.: A5. Print. "Exposed!: Unmasking the Agenda of the Radical Religious Right: Dismantling the Constitution of the United States of America."Rainbow 's End Portal. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Hale, Grace Elizabeth. A Nation of Outsiders: How the White Middle Class Fell in Love with Rebellion in Postwar America. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. Print. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson Blame 9/11 on Organizations Like People For the American Way [Video]. (2001) Retrieved November 16, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMkBgA9_oQ4 Phan, Katherine T. "Falwell Seeks to Enlist One Million Members for 'Moral Majority Coalition ', Christian News." Christian News, The Christian Post. 24 Nov. 2004. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Taylor, By Paul. "Rev. Falwell 's Moral Majority: Mission Accomplished?" Pew Research Center. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Wald, Kenneth D. Religion and Politics in the United States. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 1997. Print. Wilcox, Clyde. God 's Warriors: the Christian Right in Twentieth-century America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1992. Print.

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