What a bizarre spectacle the Religious Right’s leadership have made of themselves fawning over Carrie Prejean.

You will recall that 22-year-old Prejean is the reigning Miss California USA, who, when asked by Miss USA pageant judge, Perez Hilton (real name: Mario Lavandeira), whether every state should legalize same-sex marriage, gamely replied that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

But Prejean also replied, "I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other.”

That’s hardly a ringing endorsement against Adam and Steve saying “I do,” but never mind. Thanks to Hilton, an entertainment industry blogger and homosexual activist (who also made a spectacle of himself, mocking the beauty queen by posting her photo on his website with an inappropriate doodle, ridiculing her breast implants, and repeatedly calling her vulgar names), Prejean has become an instant cause celebre and right-wing celebrity, a la Sarah Palin.

Hilton’s unchivalrous, malicious behavior toward Prejean’s views (which included giving the contestant a low score for her pageant answer, which likely cost her the Miss USA tiara since she was first runner up), deserves all the condemnation it garnered. But as the battle between the beauty and the beast-of-a-blogger waged on, various leaders of the traditional family values movement, who have discovered that Prejean was a student at San Diego Christian College, have jumped on Prejean’s bandwagon. The goddess has been shrewdly marketed into a martyr.

Focus on the Family featured her on a two-part radio program interview conducted by Dr. James Dobson. The promo for the show noted that Prejean’s faith grew stronger “as a result of her public stand for traditional marriage at the pageant.” 

Miles McPherson, pastor of The Rock Church in San Diego which Prejean attends, appeared on the Fox News Channel saying, "She (Prejean) honored her God, and that strength is what’s keeping her going today, and she’s not going to back down." McPherson’s megachurch members gave the pageant contestant a standing ovation when she appeared at The Rock to discuss her much-discussed answer.

Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, the organization started by Beverly LaHaye, offered interested parties the opportunity to send an email to the courageous lass, via Wright’s organization, as a way of showing “appreciation for Carrie Prejean and her bold stand for marriage and God.”

Liberty University, a Bible-believing institution, not only invited Prejean to speak to the student body (where she received another ovation), but the school’s chancellor, Jerry Falwell, Jr., offered her a full scholarship to attend Liberty.

Who knew that the ability to sashay in a bikini and high heels in front of millions of people and offer the same view of marriage as many a liberal Democrat (never once mentioning God) could net thousands of dollars in free tuition at a school with a conservative dress and conduct code? Is espousing such a mainstream opinion in a flashy, flesh-peddling venue what it takes, these days, to curry the favor of these Christian leaders? What if Perez Hilton, who is the product of a Jesuit education and dubs himself “the queen of all media,” had called a press conference saying he agreed with Prejean’s stance? Would he also become the darling of the Religious Right?

Let me agree that, as Pat Buchanan would put it, we are in a cultural and religious war for the soul of our nation. It is indeed no small act, especially for a young person, to advocate for a certain type of morality on a national stage. But it’s one thing to talk the talk; it’s another to walk the walk.

Thus, those who are prematurely holding up Contestant Carrie as a spiritual profile in courage are doing her and women who are committed to teaching their daughters about how God looks at the heart not at the outward appearance, a disservice. Scripture mandates that believers model the traits of modesty and humility, and not be preoccupied with oozing sex appeal. If Prejean, who thinks of herself as a Christian, yet isn’t the least bit shy about self-referencing herself as “beautiful” or “pretty,” continues to allow herself to be photographed looking like a poster girl for Victoria’s Secret lingerie (as those racy images of her that surfaced revealed), and continues to associate herself with “it’s all about me” national pageants, it’s hard to take her too seriously. Right now, the jury is still out on what choices she’ll ultimately make about vanity, hubris, and virtue. One hopes – since she has youth and time on her side – that she will choose wisely.

As for the Religious Right leaders who increasingly use their platforms to serve the unholy trinity of patriotism, faith, and celebrity, they too will stand before the Judge (not Hilton this time), where “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."--Hebrews 4:13

Isabel Lyman holds a doctorate in social science and is the author of The Homeschooling Revolution (2000).
 

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William N. Grigg said:

	Amen, and amen! Dr. Lyman -- Well done! In a time when so many "Christian" leaders are blatting uncertainly on their trumpets, your voice is as clear and true as a Maynard Ferguson solo.
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May 20, 2009 | url
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Astounding., Lowly rated comment [Show]

archtoplee said:

	Unlikely that "highlyunlikely" will catch on to the bottom line in this culture war we are all in. highlyunlikely, my advise to you is to go soak your head.
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May 20, 2009
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MarkGlen said:

The great falling away is upon us Nothing surprises me anymore. It is predicted that just before the second coming of the Lord there will be a great falling away from the faith. It has happened right before our eyes. Here in our state there has been no discipline in the churches for the past 40 years or so. The only way you could get excluded from a church in this state is out of revenge. The churches are full of drunks, gamblers and pew warmers. There is most definitely a need for revival.

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May 20, 2009 | url
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Lal Wynstrom said:

Dr. Lyman is spot on We have seen this from the Religious/Neo-Con Right before, who is now so desperate for social acceptance and worldly adulation that they have become no good to the cause and advancement of the kingdom of God on earth. James Dobson of FotF has been particularly a disappointment in recent years- first by standing almost carte blanche behind the Bush years of constitutional betrayal and then by his lackadasical but compromising endorsement of John "pro-abort, Straight-up Lies" McCain. Dr. Dobson aside, however, the Religious Right's big hug of the goddess Carrie Prejean, their latest since the "governor babe" Sarah Palin- both of questionable Christian commitment at best- once again shows what some have believed for a long time: that the Religious Right in America today is a far cry from their "fire and brimstone" no-compromise-with-the-world (and certainly not with political opinions and leaders) predecessors, but has instead become a creature of the State that can (and will) be used whenever and wherever the propaganda of officialdom is needed to cow the populace into accepting its will.

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May 21, 2009
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Weed said:

throwing the first stone it's nice to see that all the judgmental and self-righteous folks at jbs are still alive and well. surely jesus will be proud of you for your ability to condemn and vilify in the twinkling of an eye. the only thing i know for sure about carrie prejean is that she was willing to speak what she believed was right, well-knowing that it could cost her dearly (i.e., losing the title). i have infinite respect for someone who is willing to do what's right, regardless of the consequences. in my book, that IS walking the walk. these are the people whose deeds have the power to change the world. and since i have not reached the degree of perfection in my life as those who have been so quick to negatively comment on ms. prejean's actions, i will stand and offer a rousing round of applause for her bravery.

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May 22, 2009
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Ronald Schaefer said:

	Carrie Prejean Saint Paul said to fight the battle is to stand your ground, God will do the rest! Carrie Prejean is a hero and worthy of respect. Ron
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May 22, 2009
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Stophel said:

	Be ye not conformed to this world Good article. And I thought I was the only one who thought that perhaps it wasn't such a good thing for someone to be hailed as the spokesperson for Christian morality while prancing around on a stage in a bikini, waving their fake breasts before an ogling audience.
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May 29, 2009
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