Christian Rightcast
Christian Rightcast
Episode 11: The Father of Christian Reconstructionism
2
0:00
-1:39:58

Episode 11: The Father of Christian Reconstructionism

How R. J. Rushdoony shaped fundamentalist politics, the world of homeschooling, the trajectory of American politics, and the obsessions of anti-tax militias forever
2

If you’ve ever discussed “school choice,” wondered why some Christians , or puzzled over a “Taxation Is Theft” sign, you’ve encountered the legacy of Rousas John Rushdoony — one of the most influential but least-known fundamentalists of the 20th century. Rushdoony founded and shaped the Christian Reconstructionism movement for decades, articulating its principles and goals in innumerable sermons, essays, and a 900 page magnum opus he titled The Institutes of Biblical Law. In this episode, Kristin kicks off our series on Reconstructionism and its influence on American culture with a look at Rushdoony’s early history, the ideas he baked into Reconstructionism, and the breadth of its influence on other movements like education and tax policy.

Sources and Reference Material

2 Comments
Christian Rightcast
Christian Rightcast
Kristin Rawls and Jeff Eaton unpack the history of Christian Fundamentalism in America. Learn how it shaped pop music and politics, how its culture came to be, and how its ideas contributed to America’s emerging authoritarian crisis.