FBC Sburg, Tony Beam and Breitbart News/Steve Bannon

[Stephen Fox]

http://pastarticles.christianethicstoda ... ArtID=1747

I've had a few conversations recently with Tony Beam of "Christian Talk Radio" of North Greenville College which has a politically incestuous relationship with FBC Spartanburg SC through the Truth for a New Generation conferences. In fact it was quite likely Beam who asked Bob Inglis a question about climate change that propelled Trey Gowdy to US Congress as reported in the Nov 7 2016 Rolling Stone.

Gowdy is a member of FBC Sburg as is Billy Graham, a man Al Mohler has boasted as being key in the fundamentalist takeover of the SBC.

I talked to Beam earlier in the week about the similar views of Breitbart News, Donald Trump's new co chief of staff Steve Bannon on minimizing slavery as a cause of the Civil War, to that of David Barton. Barton has been promoted by Beam and the Truth conferences at SBurg and those views, the ideology of NGU is shared with Nelson Price and Shorter College; Price like Beam an apologist for the Trump Presidency.

The second most popular piece at the NY Times Nov 15 was "Bring on the Hate" about Bannon, and NPR FResh Air this week had a program on Bannon.

Sandy will point out the link above does not mention Barton on the Civil War. But it does mention Julie Ingersoll's Book Building God's Kingdom which has ten pages on Barton many devoted to his views on race, the Constituition and the Civil War.

Barton is a cornerstone of the "Biblical" worldview of Rick and Bubba Radio in Alabama--see my resolution on R and B at my blog--and Yellow hammer news and Crawford Broadcasting's Scott Beason of FBC Gardendeale. Steve Gaines, the former pastor was Adrian Rogers successor at Bellevue in Memphis.

So as Clarkson points out, the Recon Dominionists saturate Baptist life, and have much in common with the most Deplorable in the incoming Trump administration.

[Jim]

[Stephen Fox]

Like David Barton, Metaxas, an outspoken Trump supporter has been featured at the TFNG Conferences at FBC Spartanburg SC

http://religionandpolitics.org/2016/10/ ... delusions/

[Stephen Fox]

http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk ... l_facebook

[Stephen Fox]

[Sandy]

The Republicans and Trump administration can look for conspiracy theories within the FBI, and anywhere else that touches the Russia investigation until the cows come home. All they're going to wind up doing is underlining the credibility of the Russia investigation and whatever shenanigans went on with the porn star coverup scandal. Gowdy, who has the dubious distinction of having chaired an investigating committee that wound up exonerating Hillary Clinton in the Benghazi investigation, isn't running for re-election, which sort of tells you how enthused he is about this particular investigation and line of questioning. So far, every attempt to discredit the FBI and claim political bias has struck out without landing a hit, or even a foul ball, to use the baseball analogy, it's all been empty swings.

I think, though, that continuing to attempt to connect all of this to some kind of agenda involving the First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, SC is misleading. I've been a member of a church where a couple of FBI agents, two IRS auditors and a US Congressman were all members, and I don't think that the fact that they go to church there pulls the congregation into the mix when conspiracy theories are being batted around.

[Stephen Fox]

see my latest blog post

Laura Bush, Eric Motley and Parker Palmer have been in this series.

Samford in other lecture series has hosted Randall Balmer three times over the last 20 years and Taylor Branch as well. Paul Pressler and David Montoya were once on panel with Wayne Dorsett and Wilmer C Fields son Randy. About a thousand folks showed up for that many BSSB folks driving down from Nashville in the fall of 1990

[Stephen Fox]

Click on my blog

[David Montoya]

Goodness Steve, you have a memory. That debate was useless. The damage had been done and many in Baptist life are still paying for it.

[Stephen Fox]

Good to hear from you as well.

Email me at smfoxbama@hotmail.com

And click on some of my recent blogs especially the recent ones about Furman and Upstate SC politics, and Mark Meadows who now represent the WNC district in which George Truett was born, where I was baptized.

I disagree with you about our illustrious forum of two decades ago. It set a timeline for helping fundies distinguish themselves, define themselves on the fundy spectrum including Rick Gaines, then at FBC Gardendale and tight with panelist Dorsett; Gaines now Adrian Rogers successor and recent SBC President.

And just three years after that, March 93 Gaines was part of an Inquisition of Samford President Corts--interesting story about Corts and Mr Baugh and Baylor that will come out eventually--orchestrated by Albert Lee Smith and the Eagle Forum which is now in the penumbra of a great new history of America by Jill Lepore, These Truths.

Check the Chapter Battle Lines.

Do email me....I see Ed Babinski every year or so when I visit Furman. He's been on Furman library staff about 30 years now since "Leaving the Fold"!

[Stephen Fox]

Another score for me even with all Thornton and friends, second thoughts, and Monday morning quarterbacking.

https://www.vox.com/mischiefs-of-factio ... licals-gop