In the 1950s there was an “emergence of neo-evangelicalism a movement of intellectual and culturally engaged Christians” (385). Carl Mclintire was a prominent radio broadcaster and fundamentalist Christian pastor who played a significant role in the formation of the Christian Right movement in the United States. Mclntire was granted a “one-year license, based on his assertion that the station would continue much as it had been under the old WXUR owners, featuring a general format of news, music, and talk shows. In addition, he stated that he would broadcast two daily one-hour religious programs and several religious programs on Sunday” (379). The radio was one way McIntire paved the way for the Christian new rights. A large amount of American people listened to the radio, and so he was able to spread his beliefs and views all over the country. Mclintire had very strong right-wing views. He believed communism was a threat to Christianity, making the United States fall to communism. This is why he encouraged his listeners to become politically active on his radio station to protect American values.
I do think there was a relation between Neo-evangelicalism and the conservative consensus. The neo-evangelicalism was important to the rise of the “conservative consensus” in U.S. politics because it provided a religious basis for political views. These religious views had and still do have a strong hold on political issues such as abortion, gay rights, and family values. These political issues did not align with their religious views, and so it caused many people to follow a more conservative consensus and to want to have political figures who also share their religious and political views.
Will Wright 