Where the Sun Never Shines: The Nexus of Religion & Politics

In May 2008, Wilson posted a 3 and 1/2 minute video widely credited in mainstream media with precipitating then-GOP presidential candidate John McCain’s decision to reject his long-sought political endorsement from influential Christian evangelist, Texas megachurch pastor and Christians United For Israel founder John Hagee. The video featured an audio excerpt from a late 2005 Hagee sermon (broadcast internationally on Christian networks) in which pastor Hagee claimed that God sent Hitler and the Nazis to force Europe’s Jews to Palestine. The audio excerpt from Wilson’ video was broadcast widely both by domestic US media and also foreign media. 

 

In Fall 2008, as part of a two-person research team, Wilson correctly identified the specific religious tendency which then-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is most closely associated with, the New Apostolic Reformation. Wilson’s effort was the first to publicize Palin’s association with Kenyan evangelist Thomas Muthee, a professed witch hunter, and also Palin’s personal friendship with Alaska evangelist Mary Glazier, who heads Sarah Palin’s personal prayer group and also claims, like Muthee, to have used prayer to fight a witch. Muthee and Glazier are top leaders in the New Apostolic Reformation movement, which purports to be the most radical change in Christianity since the Protestant Reformation. NAR leaders advocate forced wealth transfer and the the driving unbelievers from “the land.”

 

'Kony 2012' was my introduction to your work.  The film was widely praised - even by some on the Left who get on board any train heading toward simplistic solutions.  But the funding behind the organization, 'Invisible Children  is a radical right-wing religious wish come true.

The nexus of religion and politics in America , the separation between Church and State has always been  a minefield.  At this point in our social lifeline, that nexus  is being exploited in new and dangerous ways.