Truce - History of the Christian Church

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How do we interpret the Constitution? It seems like an easy question, right? It turns out, it's quite difficult. As we wrap up season 6 of Truce, we're exploring some of the things that conservative evangelicals got out of their partnership with the GOP. One of the things they got was constitutional originalism.

Constitutional originalism is a theory of interpretation that holds the Constitution should be understood according to its original public meaning at the time it was adopted. Originalists argue that this approach anchors constitutional law in objective historical meaning, rather than in the personal values or policy preferences of modern judges. By tying interpretation to the text as it was originally understood, originalism aims to preserve democratic legitimacy: changes in constitutional meaning should come from amendments passed by the people, not from judicial reinterpretation. Supporters also claim that originalism promotes stability and predictability in the law by constraining judicial discretion.

Critics of originalism counter that the Constitution was written in broad, open-ended language precisely to allow adaptation to changing social and technological conditions. They argue that strict adherence to historical meanings can freeze outdated norms into modern law and fail to address contemporary realities the framers could not have foreseen. In practice, critics also contend that historical evidence is often ambiguous, allowing judges to selectively invoke history to reach preferred outcomes. As a result, the debate over originalism reflects a deeper tension between constitutional stability and constitutional flexibility in a living society.

Our special guest is Austin Steelman, historian at Clemson University.

Sources:


These Truths by Jill LePore


Reagan by Bob Spitz

Griswold v. Conn. from Oyez.org


Article about Robert Bork

Robert Kennedy's speech about Bork on C-SPAN (about 27 minutes in)


Article about Gorsuch and originalism


Article about Kavanaugh


AP story about Barrett's philosophy

Discussion:

What is constitutional originalism?

Why might some people like it? Dislike it?

Are there questions in US law that are not addressed by the Constitution? What are some examples?

How should those be addressed in an originalist worldview? In a worldview that sees it as a living document?

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Kristin Kobes Du Mez is best known for her book Jesus and John Wayne, which looked at masculinity in American evangelicalism. Her new book, out now, does the same for femininity and positivity. Women today are often told to "live, laugh, love" and focus on the positive. They are to put mind over matter, even though that concept is not explicitly stated in the Bible. This attitude can make women susceptible to abusive relationships, scams, and multi-level marketing schemes.

The book covers a wide swath of history, from Love Comes Softly to The Total Woman and the Little House books. Kristin and I had a lot of fun geeking out over history. I'm excited for you to hear it!

Discussion Questions:

What are some of the messages that women get in your type of Christianity?

How do they differ from what men hear?

What is Keswick Holiness? How did it inform the Pentecostal movement?

What is New Thought?

How do these ideas push people toward free-market capitalism? What about multi-level marketing?

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Can you believe it? The Truce podcast has crossed the 200-episode mark! Actually, this is something like the 203rd episode... but we still need to celebrate!

In this special bonus episode, Nick Staron joins Chris to answer listener questions like:

What was the most difficult interview you've ever done?

How do you decide how long a season should be?

Which books have shaped your worldview?

Have you ever considered doing a season on liberal Protestantism?

and more!

Thank you SO MUCH for your help in making this show. I really appreciate your prayers and that you're sharing this project with your friends. God willing, there will be a new episode in two weeks.
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Richard Vigueries. What can be written about him? His nickname was "the founding father of the Religious Right". He founded RAVCO, which was a fundraising organization that raised money for... well, who didn't it raise money for?

In his book, Takeover, Viguerie laid out a detailed plan of how the far right could take over the Republican Party. It is a fascinating book, one that may not have had an overwhelming impact, but the idea within the book has.

In this special epsiode, Chris walks listeners through the book and the impact of the ideas inside.

Sources:


Takeover by Richard Viguerie


Reaganland and Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein


The Evangelicals by Frances Fitzgerald


God's Own Party by Daniel K Williams


Revive Us Again by Joel Carpenter


These Truths by Jill LePore


A Choice Not An Echo by Phyllis Schlafly

The Lord's Prayer

Discussion Questions:

Who was Richard Viguerie?

What are some of his grievances?

Why do you think he skipped the Republican presidents of the 1920s in his history?

What did he think of FDR? Of Robert Taft?

How do you see the conservative wound in this book?

What were some of Viguerie's prescribed tactics for taking over the GOP?

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Our season has spent a lot of time looking at how some evangelicals tied themselves to the GOP as the party became more conservative. But not every evangelical Republican was taken in by the conservative swing. In this episode, we're taking a look at Senator Mark Hatfield, an evangelical Republican who didn't follow the pack.

Senator Mark Hatfield had a long and influential career in public service spanning nearly five decades. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II and earning degrees from Willamette University and Stanford University, Hatfield began his political journey in the Oregon Legislature, winning election to the Oregon House of Representatives in 1950 and then to the Oregon State Senate in 1954. He went on to become Oregon’s youngest Secretary of State at age 34 and was elected Governor of Oregon in 1958, where he served two terms and oversaw the expansion of the state’s infrastructure and environmental programs. In 1966, Hatfield was elected to the U.S. Senate, beginning a 30-year tenure that made him the longest-serving senator in Oregon’s history at the time.

In the Senate, Hatfield was known as a moderate Republican who often put conscience ahead of party, particularly on issues of war and defense spending. Deeply shaped by his wartime experiences and Christian faith, he consistently opposed military authorization bills, including votes against the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, and co-sponsored efforts like a nuclear freeze resolution. Hatfield twice chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, using that position to direct federal funds to Oregon for health, transportation, and research projects, and to support biomedical research at institutions like the National Institutes of Health. His independent approach earned him respect across party lines, and although the GOP shifted rightward over time, he remained a distinctive figure in national politics until his retirement in 1997.

Sources:

IMDB and Amazon reviews of the movie Bringing up Bobby


Stand Alone or Go Home by Lon Fendall


Transcript of the Keynote Address by Gov. Hatfield at G.O.P. Convention,


NY Times, July 14, 1964 “CONVENTION ENDS; Extremism in Defense of
Liberty ‘No Vice,’ Arizonan Asserts” New York Times, July 17, 1964


Before the Storm by Rick Perlstein


With God on Our Side by William C Martin

FBI files on Mark Hatfield from archive.org


Conflict and Conscience by Mark O. Hatfield.


Between A Rock and A Hard Place by Mark O Hatfield


Nixonland by Rick Perlstein

“When a Candidate Conspired With a Foreign Power to Win An Election” by John A Farrell. Politico website, August 6, 2017.

H. R. 17123 “The Amendment to End the War”


Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ by John G Turner


One Nation Under God by Rus Walton

“Born Again Politics” New York Times by Gary Wills. August 1, 1976.

Congressional record, February 28, 1978.

Discussion Questions:

How would you describe Hatfield's faith?

How did Hatfield defy conservative Republican evangelicals?

Why did Hatfield oppose the Vietnam War?

Would you have the courage to do what Hatfield did?

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