Randall Balmer is a scholar, professor, author, documentarian (Emmy nominee), and Episcopalian Priest. Ken and Dr. Balmer talk about his new book, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right. They discuss notable players in the movement like Senator Mark Hatfield, Harold O.J. Brown, W.A. Criswell, Paul Weyrich, Ralph Reed, and Richard Land. In the right's celebration of Ronald Reagan, the religious right movement did not, as many believe, begin as pro-Life but rather defending evangelical institutions against the IRS which required compliance with the Civil Rights law. The genesis of the Religious Right had nothing to do with abortion - it was racial segregation. The bridge to understanding the election of Donald Trump is Ronald Raegan - as evangelicals abandoned Jimmy Carter. Ronald Reagan launched his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi at the Neshoba County Fair, confirming "State's Rights." The church basement classic, Thief in the Night. was inspired by Dr. Balmer's pastor father's sermon series on Revelation preached in his home church in Iowa in 1974. It's the story of The Rapture and Larry Norman's popular song "I wish we'd all been ready." College and graduate school introduced Dr. Balmer to the life of the mind. They remember Billy Graham's crisis of faith. In 1994, Dr. Balmer's book 1989 Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory became a PBS Documentary and featured Tony Campolo, Dolphus Weary, Fred Price, Bill Hybels, the black church in Mississippi, Hispanic Pentecostals, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, and many others. Today, in addition to his academic profession, Dr. Balmer is an Episcopalian priest - he shares the journey that led him to his ordination in the church. Learn More at our SHOW NOTES
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