Book Reviews: Religious Right, Christian Right & Christian America
The Religious Right has become a powerful force in American politics and society over the past 30 years. It has influenced presidential elections, sponsored constitutional amendments, and worked towards re-creating the United States along a more evangelical, fundamentalist Christian vision. Reviewed here are some recently published books about the movement and various groups and people involved.
End of the Republican Era, by Theodore J. Lowi
The takeover of the Republican Party by conservative evangelical Christians is one of the most important political developments of the 20th century. The culmination of this takeover will play out through at least he first half of the 21st century and probably beyond, but will it have positive or negative consequences for American democracy? Most critics insist that the long-term consequences will only be negative - both for Republicans and for the republic overall.
The takeover of the Republican Party by conservative evangelical Christians is one of the most important political developments of the 20th century. The culmination of this takeover will play out through at least he first half of the 21st century and probably beyond, but will it have positive or negative consequences for American democracy? Most critics insist that the long-term consequences will only be negative - both for Republicans and for the republic overall.
Religion, Politics, and the Christian Right
The power and influence of America's Christian Right is undeniable, so of course there have been innumerable books seeking to explain how the movement developed and what it means for American politics. Most such books focus on religion and religious explanations, yet we must remember that this is an American movement - there isn't anything quite like it elsewhere.
The power and influence of America's Christian Right is undeniable, so of course there have been innumerable books seeking to explain how the movement developed and what it means for American politics. Most such books focus on religion and religious explanations, yet we must remember that this is an American movement - there isn't anything quite like it elsewhere.
God And Power: Counter-Apocalyptic Journeys
Religions are totalizing belief systems; because of this, it's inevitable that they also address questions about social power and values. Religions can serve to legitimize or undermine political systems, agendas, and policies. In America, some of the most influential voices on behalf of religious power are also voices on behalf of messianic imperialism...
Religions are totalizing belief systems; because of this, it's inevitable that they also address questions about social power and values. Religions can serve to legitimize or undermine political systems, agendas, and policies. In America, some of the most influential voices on behalf of religious power are also voices on behalf of messianic imperialism...
Rapture Culture: Left Behind in Evangelical America
Conservative evangelical Christians are an important part of American culture, yet they are a part of culture which the rest of society often doesn't pay much attention to; this forms a basis for their complaints that despite their power and numbers, they are a persecuted minority. The one thing they can point to positively, however, are the Left Behind series of books.
Conservative evangelical Christians are an important part of American culture, yet they are a part of culture which the rest of society often doesn't pay much attention to; this forms a basis for their complaints that despite their power and numbers, they are a persecuted minority. The one thing they can point to positively, however, are the Left Behind series of books.
Ungodly Women: Gender and the First Wave of American Fundamentalism
Most people realize that one of the central features of modern American fundamentalism and conservative evangelicalism is a distinctive vision of gender roles both in society at large and in the family in particular. When fundamentalists are criticized, it is often on the basis of their perceived reactionary ideas about women, sex, and gender.
Most people realize that one of the central features of modern American fundamentalism and conservative evangelicalism is a distinctive vision of gender roles both in society at large and in the family in particular. When fundamentalists are criticized, it is often on the basis of their perceived reactionary ideas about women, sex, and gender.
One Nation Under God, by Vincent M. Wales
The Christian Right in America has a deliberate agenda that involves remaking the nation into a far more religious society. They would like to transform culture, government, and family life on a fundamental level which would not be entirely consistent with democratic standards. What might be the consequences if they were actually successful?
The Christian Right in America has a deliberate agenda that involves remaking the nation into a far more religious society. They would like to transform culture, government, and family life on a fundamental level which would not be entirely consistent with democratic standards. What might be the consequences if they were actually successful?
The Fundamentals of Extremism
The Christian Right has become a powerful influence on American politics, even though their influence on the wider American culture has not proceeded as far or as quickly. The political goals of the Christian Right are horrifying to many, both atheists and theists, but not everyone is completely aware of just what the Christian Right claims or what their specific agenda is.
The Christian Right has become a powerful influence on American politics, even though their influence on the wider American culture has not proceeded as far or as quickly. The political goals of the Christian Right are horrifying to many, both atheists and theists, but not everyone is completely aware of just what the Christian Right claims or what their specific agenda is.
Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race
Both religion and race have played important - and sometimes deeply interconnected - roles in American history. Religion was used to justify both slavery and abolition; likewise it was used to justify both segregation and desegregation. Today even conservative Christians support equality between the races, but that doesn’t mean that everything is settled or peaceful...
Both religion and race have played important - and sometimes deeply interconnected - roles in American history. Religion was used to justify both slavery and abolition; likewise it was used to justify both segregation and desegregation. Today even conservative Christians support equality between the races, but that doesn’t mean that everything is settled or peaceful...
Perfect Enemies: Religious Right vs. the Gay Movement
The debate over gay rights generally and gay marriage specifically is one of the most important cultural conflicts of our era - one that might potentially out-do abortion in its intensity and implications. Although it affects everyone, it involves two groups of highly committed and very angry activists for whom this issue seems to be the very essence of their existence.
The debate over gay rights generally and gay marriage specifically is one of the most important cultural conflicts of our era - one that might potentially out-do abortion in its intensity and implications. Although it affects everyone, it involves two groups of highly committed and very angry activists for whom this issue seems to be the very essence of their existence.
Preacher: Billy Sunday and Big-Time American Evangelism
When televangelists came upon the American scene in the 1980s, they had an enormous impact upon not only American culture, but also upon the wider public perception of Christianity. This was not, however, the fist time religion appeared on television, but it was the beginning of evangelistic revivalism broadcast across the nation and around the world.
When televangelists came upon the American scene in the 1980s, they had an enormous impact upon not only American culture, but also upon the wider public perception of Christianity. This was not, however, the fist time religion appeared on television, but it was the beginning of evangelistic revivalism broadcast across the nation and around the world.
The Christian Right in American Politics
The Christian Right has evolved into a powerful force in American politics during the past thirty years, moving from a purely outsider movement to the ultimate insiders. How did they achieve their gains - and, in fact, what sort of real gains have they actually managed to reach?
The Christian Right has evolved into a powerful force in American politics during the past thirty years, moving from a purely outsider movement to the ultimate insiders. How did they achieve their gains - and, in fact, what sort of real gains have they actually managed to reach?
Southern Cross: The Beginnings of the Bible Belt
What is the "Bible Belt" and how did it originate? Why is it that the location of the most conservative strains of Christianity moved from New England down to the South? Much has been written about Southern evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity in America, some of it positive and some of it negative.
What is the "Bible Belt" and how did it originate? Why is it that the location of the most conservative strains of Christianity moved from New England down to the South? Much has been written about Southern evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity in America, some of it positive and some of it negative.
For a Christian America: A History of the Religious Right
Nowadays Christian fundamentalists play an important role in American politics, yet that hasn't always been the case - for decades they isolated themselves from the political scene. All of that changed, in the 1970s, but why did it change, and how did fundamentalism itself change because of it?
Nowadays Christian fundamentalists play an important role in American politics, yet that hasn't always been the case - for decades they isolated themselves from the political scene. All of that changed, in the 1970s, but why did it change, and how did fundamentalism itself change because of it?
Why the Religious Right is Wrong
Is the separation of church and state really just a myth, something the founders never actually intended? Was the United States founded as a "Christian Nation," thus meaning that the current trend towards secularism represents an unacceptable break with our own history? According to the Religious Right, the answers to these questions are an unqualified "Yes."
Is the separation of church and state really just a myth, something the founders never actually intended? Was the United States founded as a "Christian Nation," thus meaning that the current trend towards secularism represents an unacceptable break with our own history? According to the Religious Right, the answers to these questions are an unqualified "Yes."
Fundamentalism: The Search for Meaning
During the Cold War most international conflicts were framed in the context of the United States vs. the Soviet Union. Today most conflicts seem to involve religion - specifically, religious fundamentalism. Although conflicts also involve economic or territorial issues, there is little doubt that without the driving force of fundamentalism, the problems wouldn't be as heated or violent.
During the Cold War most international conflicts were framed in the context of the United States vs. the Soviet Union. Today most conflicts seem to involve religion - specifically, religious fundamentalism. Although conflicts also involve economic or territorial issues, there is little doubt that without the driving force of fundamentalism, the problems wouldn't be as heated or violent.