Fundamentalist History

Last year I posted about the Wallbuilders and their Christian theocentric understanding of US history. It was particularly salient for me at the time because I had several students who had been homeschooled in this sort of fundamentalist history. I haven't thought about it much lately, but Dragon Management reminds me of its widespread appeal among a non-trivial portion of the population by pointing me to this recent Harper's article on the theocentric Christian right's aggressive revision/correction of US history.

"'Those who control the present,'" Federer continued his quotation of 1984, "'control the past.'" He paused and stared at me to make sure I understood the equation. "Orson Welles wrote that," he said.

...

"'And when you go to war in your land'"— Rusty recited from the Book of Numbers—"and make no mistake about it, we are in a war—"

"Amen!" hollered Reverend Flip.

"'And when you go to war in your land,'" continued Rusty, "'against an adversary who oppresses you'"—and here he interrupted himself. "How many besides me are vexed by what is happening in the United States of America today?"

The crowd, shedding jackets and coats beneath a wan but warm spring sun, murmured amens.

"Your soul is vexed," Rusty moaned. Then he cried out: "We are under oppression!"

"AMEN!" responded the crowd, rising up to match Rusty's increased volume.