Randall Balmer

Randall Balmer

Columbia University professor, author

Randall Balmer, an Episcopal priest, is professor of American religious history at Barnard College, Columbia University, and a visiting professor at Yale Divinity School. His most recent book is “God in the White House: A History: How Faith Shaped the Presidency from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush” (HarperOne). The “On Faith” panelist has written ten other books, including Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey into the Evangelical Subculture in America, which was made into a three-part documentary for PBS. Balmer was nominated for an Emmy for his script-writing on that series. His second documentary, Crusade: The Life of Billy Graham and a two-part examination of the creation-evolution debate, In the Beginning: The Creationist Controversy, also aired on PBS. Balmer has lectured at the Chautauqua Institution, the Commonwealth Club of California and the Smithsonian Associates and been a visiting professor at Rutgers, Yale, and Princeton. He has published widely in academic journals and his syndicated commentaries on religion in America have appeared in newspapers across the country. He is editor-at-large for Christianity Today. A spiritual memoir, Growing Pains: Learning to Love My Father's Faith (2001) was named spiritual "book of the year" by Christianity Today. He is currently at work on a history of religion in North America. Close.

Randall Balmer

Columbia University professor, author

Randall Balmer, an Episcopal priest, is professor of American religious history at Barnard College, Columbia University, and a visiting professor at Yale Divinity School. His most recent book is “God in the White House: A History: How Faith Shaped the Presidency from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush” (HarperOne). The “On Faith” panelist has written ten other books, including Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America and Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: A Journey into the Evangelical Subculture in America, which was made into a three-part documentary for PBS. Balmer was nominated for an Emmy for his script-writing on that series. more »

Main Page | Randall Balmer Archives | On Faith Archives


My Reponse to Richard Land
I must say, Richard, that I find your attempt to connect me with an “inside-the-beltway urban myth” rather amusing.

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All Comments (2)

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July 13, 2007 5:08 PM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on July 13, 2007 17:08

Miggsathon:

Randall --

I enjoy your work and, roughly speaking, tend to agree with your point of view. But I think you're doing Richard Land a disservice here.

Yes, he was wrong about it being under Carter, rather than Ford, that the IRS stripped Bob Jones of its tax exempt status. I suspect he'll admit to that error. But he suggested he didn't really oppose it anyway -- at least not actively -- so I don't think he was trying to "pin" anything on Carter.

Anyway, here's where I think you're being unfair. First, although you didn't outright claim that any individuals in the modern evangelical movement are racist, you did say that the movement was born out of an effort to defend segregation. Without clarification on your part, there's a link there that many readers would make. To deny that is kind of like the Bush administration denying that they said Saddam played a role in 9/11. (Smaller scale, of course!)

Moreover, you are ignoring the fact that you and Richard agree on something: the pro-life movement did not arise directly out of the Roe vs. Wade decision. He never said that, so you really should stop arguing as if he did. He said the movement was catalyzed by the million plus abortions that took place soon after Roe v. Wade. You can argue against that analysis of history, which would be fine. But don't attack a straw man.

As a result, I think your talk of Richard engaging in "character assassination" is a bit over the top. Let's keep things civil.

March 5, 2007 10:27 PM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on March 5, 2007 22:27

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