Christian right
The Christian right is a political movement that seeks to shape public policy around conservative Christian beliefs, especially in the United States.
Moral Majority: A U.S. political organization founded by Jerry Falwell in 1979 to mobilize conservative Christians. It became the movement’s most visible early national organization.
Evangelicalism: A diverse Protestant movement emphasizing biblical authority, conversion, evangelism, and the cross of Jesus. Evangelical churches and networks have supplied much of the movement’s constituency.
Religious lobbying: Efforts by religious organizations to influence legislation, regulation, or government decisions. Advocacy groups use lobbying to advance the movement’s policy priorities.
Christian left: A political current that draws on Christian beliefs to support progressive social and economic aims. It invokes Christian authority while reaching sharply different policy conclusions.
Jerry Falwell: An American evangelical pastor and political organizer who founded the Moral Majority. His organizing helped turn evangelical networks into a national political force.
Christian nationalism: An ideology that seeks to privilege Christianity in a nation’s identity, laws, or institutions. It is a distinct, more nation-centered current within parts of the movement.
United States Republican Party: One of the two major political parties in the United States, generally associated with conservative politics. The movement has built enduring alliances with Republican candidates and officeholders.
Christian democracy: A political tradition combining Christian social thought with democratic institutions and social-market policies. Its European party tradition differs from the U.S. movement’s evangelical-led coalition.
Religious right: A broad political movement seeking public influence for religiously grounded conservative positions. This wider label includes the Christian right and related religious constituencies.
Biblical inerrancy: The belief that the Bible, in its original writings, is free from error. This view underpins many activists’ claims about scripture and public morality.