Conservative Christians have widely been criticized for their deal with the Devil. Many have suggested that the alliance is fueled by a desire for power (or protection from secular culture). Others recognize that they have simply decided that the abortion issue outweighs all other issues.
Although this strategy does not seem to have alienated the aged (26% of those over 65 identify as white evangelical Protestants), it does appear to have turned off younger Americans. As Michael Gerson wrote in the Washington Post on Friday, the comparable figure for those between 18 and 29 is 8%. Gerson quotes Notre Dame’s David Campbell for the conclusion that a significant reason for the disparity is an “’allergic reaction to the religious right.’”
When conservative Christians ally themselves with a moral leper instead of exhibiting moral leadership, it is not surprising that their religious appeal is diminished.
Comments