“I am perfectly willing to mislead and tell lies if it will help win…the war”
Franklin D Roosevelt
One must begin this inquiry by pointing out historian Matthew Sutton’ polemic critical theory inspired book, American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism, creates a narrative that dismisses the legitimate criticisms of Franklin D Roosevelt and his questionable New Deal policies because Fundamentalist employed the language of Premillennialism in their arguments. That is akin to saying Henry Hazlitt’s well-reasoned disagreements against the New Deal programs can be dismissed because he was applying the language of the free market.
Perhaps what is missing from this discussion surrounding the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy is the use of language in regard to the elements of Liberalism and Socialism within the debate. With these points in mind lets examine a few instances where Franklin D Roosevelt’s allies within the press employed Modernist-Socialist religious language of the social gospel to support his political agenda. The articles posted below are just a few that give us insights into what the press wanted Americans to think about how the common man viewed FDR and what image of the president they desired to promote.
Naturally, Fundamentalists would employ their frame of reference to view the occurrences within the world around them. In so doing, does the religiosity of the language of their opposition to the New Deal discredit their argument? Sutton’s narrative is suggesting that one should. But such a narrative clearly goes against his purported statements within is his University of Washington introductory video where he espouses empty statements about critical thinking. Perhaps, his book implies that Christians are incapable of such lofty modes of academic thought.
F.A. Hayek in the Road to Serfdom reminds us that socialists use language to camouflage their true intent from those of feeble mind and willing hearts, which is a classic tactic from the Fabian handbook. Thus, Modernism within this religious debate is not allied with liberalism rather the movement is making ties to the socialist developments that emerged in the aftermath of the War Between the States.
Newspaper Articles:
Evening star. [volume], March 13, 1937, Page A-6, Image 6
The Indianapolis times. [volume], August 07, 1934, Home Edition, Second Section, Image 11
The times-news. [volume], October 11, 1934, Image 2
Evening star. [volume], July 13, 1938, Page A-4, Image 4
Bibliography
Folsom, Burton W. New Deal or Raw Deal?: How FDR’s Economic Legacy Has Damaged America . New York, NY: Threshold Editions, 2008.
Folsom, Burton W., and Anita Folsom. FDR Goes to War: How Expanded Executive Power, Spiraling National Debt, and Restricted Civil Liberties Shaped Wartime America. New York, NY: Threshold Editions, 2011.
Goldberg, Jonah. Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning. New York, NY: Doubleday, 2007.
Gregor, A. James. Giovanni Gentile: Philosopher of Fascism. Abingdon, UK: Routledge, 2017.
Hayek, Friedrich A. von. The Road to Serfdom: Text and Documents. Edited by Bruce Caldwell. The Definitive Edition ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2007.
Hoover, Herbert, and George H. Nash. Freedom Betrayed: Herbert Hoovers Secret History of the Second World War and Its Aftermath. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University, 2011.
Powell, Jim. FDR’s Folly: How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression. New York, NY: Random House, 2005.
Sutton, Matthew Avery. American Apocalypse: A History of Modern Evangelicalism. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2017.
Wicker, Christine. The Simple Faith of Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Religion’s Role in the FDR Presidency. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 2017.
Tempestuous Seas of Liberty 