Schnug; Religion as Political Motivation - Analyzing the Rhetoric of the Religious Right Through Three Case Studies.pdf - Filozofia religii - vyvyan

Religion as Political Motivation:

Analyzing the Rhetoric of the Religious Right Through Three Case Studies

A thesis submitted to the Miami University

Honors Program in partial fulfillment of the

requirements for University Honors

Meredith Ann Schnug

May 2003

Oxford, OH

Religion as Political Motivation:

Analyzing the Rhetoric of the Religious Right Through Three Case Studies

by Meredith Ann Schnug

Approved by:

________________________, Advisor

Dr. Ben Voth

________________________, Reader

Dr. Susan Kay

________________________, Reader

Bond Benton

ccepted by:

_________________________, Director,

University Honors Program

Introduction and Acknowledgments

When I was a senior in high school, I got my first taste of church-state politics in my

home state of Kansas. A parent from one of the high schools in my school district complained to

the school board that the film version of Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet should be banned

from English classes. The parent, who was also a local minister, voiced strong religious

objections to the nudity and implied sexual relations in the film. Students, parents, and faculty

immediately became engaged in the debate, and for the first time, I realized that the political

controversy over the separation of church and state directly influenced me. I wrote a letter to the

district school board arguing that one man’s religion, even if it was the belief system of the

majority, should not be allowed to dictate the curriculum of public schools. The board

eventually decided that teachers could continue to use the film in class.

Ever since then, I have closely followed the debate over the propoer role of religion and

government. Of particular interest to me is the Religious Right— a movement central to most

church-state skirmishes. My involvement with political action committees that support church-

state separation has given me multiple opportunities to watch the Religious Right in action.

Although I strongly oppose its positions, I have developed a respect for the Religious Right as a

well-organized political movement and a group of highly dedicated activists. The well-

coordinated campaign efforts of the Religious Right made me want to formally study the

movement’s political rhetoric, in hopes of gaining more insight on organizations I often work to

oppose.

In the following chapters, I have tried to present a fair and accurate depiction of the

Religious Right using its own words. However, I acknowledge my bias as an outsider of the

movement. The first chapter of this work provides an overview of the Religious Right,

addressing the movement’s history, religious beliefs, and political involvement.

In the next three chapters, I have used a modified case study format to analyze the

rhetoric of the Religious Right. Similar to regular case studies, I have traced the chronologies of

three different political issues, including the details of the policy making process, people and

organizations involved, and the outcomes. Given the focus of my study, though, I have paid

disproportionate attention to the arguments raised by the Religious Right. Also, rather than

merely providing examples of Religious Right rhetoric, I have analyzed the purpose and

motivation behind the communication employed by this movement.

Chapter Two traces the debate and policy decision making surrounding President Bush’s

faith-based initiative. The Religious Right was a key player in this issue because Bush was

counting on support from conservative Christians, but several organizations actually came out

and criticized the president’s plan. Important to note in this chapter is the Religious Right’s

strategic use of rhetoric to maintain political clout with Bush and, at the same time, ensure that

its wishes were granted.

Chapter Three examines the Religious Right’s role in an issue on the state level,

specifically, the Kansas State Board of Education’s decision to remove evolution from the state

science standards. The Kansas case is significant because it illustrates the Religious Right’s shift

in rhetoric in the evolution-creationism debate. Rather than raising arguments in support of the

biblical account of creation, the Religious Right focused on scientific objections to evolution and

proposed a new alternative theory called “intelligent design.”

Chapter Four is documents a case that occurred in a Florida county school district. As

part of a national campaign initiated by a Religious Right organization, the school board was

asked to post the national motto “In God We Trust” in every classroom. This case again

illustrates the Religious Right’s tendency to shift rhetorical tactics depending on the audience,

and it also provides a complete picture of the several levels on which this movement operates.

Finally, in Chapter Five, I have attempted to synthesize the rhetorical tactics used by the

Religious Right in these three cases and to develop a rhetorical method that forms the foundation

of the movement’s political communication.

There are several individuals who must share in the credit for this work. First, I owe

many thanks to Caroline McKnight of MAINstream Coalition in Kansas. With her enthusiastic

guidance (and several barbecue lunches provided by husband Rob!) , I learned much about

campaigning and grassroots politics. I must extend my thanks to all the individuals I met and

worked with at MAINstream; what an inspirational group of community activists!

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has also been influential in this

study. I am grateful to this organization for steadfastly protecting the First Amendment for so

many years. I would also like to thank Rena Levin for her help with my research and for always

volunteering to serve as a resource.

Many thanks also to Dr. Susan Kay for serving as one of my thesis readers and providing

insight from the political science perspective.

My interest in rhetorical criticism can be attributed entirely to two mentors, Dr. Ben Voth

and Bond Benton. Dr. Voth shares my interest in church-state studies, though he approaches the

topic from a decidedly different angle. Despite our political differences, working with Dr. Voth

has made me a better student and rhetorical critic. I will always admire his committment to

forensics, teaching, and most of all, family. Bond Benton is, by all accounts, brilliant in this

field. I truly value all of the coaching he has provided me and his constant encouragement and

belief in my abilities.

Schnug; Religion as Political Motivation - Analyzing the Rhetoric of the Religious Right Through Three Case Studies.pdf

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