The Christian Right in the United States

In this chapter, we summarise the theological, political and ideological views associated with Christian conservatism. We trace the evolution of the movement’s agenda through successive waves of political mobilisation. We trace the ideologisation of religious beliefs and discuss the movement’s worldview in the context of the main research orientations in ideology studies. After placing the Christian Right within the tradition of American conservatism, we then offer suggestions for further research. Though the Christian Right seems to rise and fall with the times, its organisational, political and ideological forms typically reflect a multiplicity of voices and a hybridised set of beliefs and values.