| dc.description.abstract | This thesis explores key events in the evangelical movement’s quest to reshape the nation to fit their image. The perceived decay of America’s values has evangelicals look for opportunities to restore the nation’s traditional family values. The evangelical movement have made clear statements on two key social issues: abortion and same-sex marriage. By equivalating abortion as murder and same-sex marriage as abnormal, they have made strides to get rid of access to them both.
By following the evangelical organizations Focus on the Family and Family Research Council, as well as its leader James Dobson, this thesis explores the evangelical movement’s maneuvering through the political landscape. The thesis sets its eyes on the time-period of 2003-2004, where two major events occurred: the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 and Goodridge v. Department of Public Health. These two events were important in shaping the abortion and same-sex marriage debate, and the 2004 election.
Through the lens of Resource Mobilization Theory, this thesis will analyze key actors, organizations, and events to examine if the evangelical movement as a social movement were able to mobilize resources to form collective action and transform it into change.
After the analysis, the discussion will be about how the abortion and same-sex marriage debate is today. With a deeper dive into the importance of the Supreme Court, the differences between Roe v. Wade & Obergefell v. Hodges, and the approval rating of abortion and same- sex marriage, this thesis aims to examine if the evangelical movement was successful in their goals, and what the future holds for the evangelical movement, abortion, same-sex marriage, and America. | |