1960's Religion | Communism and the Churches

Continued Suspicions.

Although the anti-Communist hysteria of the McCarthy period had weakened by the beginning of the 1960s, charges of Communist influence and infiltration of the society in general and Protestant churches in particular continued. These charges found support from ultraright religious leaders, who in turn gained support from the military.

Military Charges.

In 1960 the U.S. Air Force released a training manual that charged there was "overwhelming evidence" that Communist fellow travelers had infiltrated churches and educational institutions. Further, the manual charged, thirty of the ninety-five people who translated the Revised Standard Version of the Bible were "affiliated with pro-Communist fronts, projects, and publications."

More Controversy.

In the face of sharp protests the training manual was withdrawn, but public debate continued when it was revealed that Fred C. Schwarz,...