Religious Right

The Religious Right is a phrase used to describe the factions of the right wing of US Politics, typically in the Republican Party, which use Christianity as the basis for their political beliefs. There is a strong focus on social issues in as opposed to economic or global issues.

The Religious Right is not simply a collection of church going political fanatics, it is a well organised political machine containing a number of organisations all committed to the cause. A number of these include Christian Voice USA, Christian Coalition of America, and the Family Research Council.

Policy Platform

Education

With regards to education, those who belong to the religious right are likely to favour to teaching of creationism over evolution. They also advocate the remove of sexual education in schools, or the insistence that abstinence until marriage is reinforced. Those who are more extreme will also advocate the teaching of modesty and chastity.

Home schooling is popular among those on the religious right, as under this method of education the beliefs such as creationism and abstinence can be taught without federal interference.

Groups as part of the religious right will also seek to introduce school prayer in America, however many of the attempts to do so have been struck down as unconstitutional, as to do so would violate the first amendment.

Social Issues

The religious right condemn the practice of abortion and see it is murder. As this is a policy platform, many groups have actively sort to overturn Roe v Wade 1973 and seeking to defund Planned Parenthood and many other service which provide abortions.

Contraception is also another social issues which is condemned by the religious right, and as with apportion they will seek to campaign against programmes which include contraception such as some policies available under Obamacare.

Homosexuality is another area of deep seated opposition in the religious right. Many on the religious right see themselves as the ‘self-appointed conscience of American society’. Some of the more extreme groups within the religious right such as the New Christian Right, campaign to have homosexuality criminalised.