Defending the Truth

I heard about this book on NPR and I haven't had a chance to read it yet, (I do however have it on order ), but it sounds like something some here on DTT might be interested in checking out, especially those of us who like to debate religion, especially as it relates to public policy.

The book is written by Chris Hedges, who is also the author of War is the Force that Gives Us Meaning and Losing Moses on the Freeway: The Ten Commandments in America.

Here's the review from Publishers Weekly
The f-word crops up in the most respectable quarters these days. Yet if the provocative title of this exposé by Hedges sounds an alarm, the former New York Times foreign correspondent takes care to employ his terms precisely and decisively. As a Harvard Divinity School graduate, his investigation of the Christian Right agenda is even more alarming given its lucidity. Citing the psychology and sociology of fascism and cults, including the work of German historian Fritz Stern, Hedges draws striking parallels between 20th-century totalitarian movements and the highly organized, well-funded "dominionist movement," an influential theocratic sect within the country's huge evangelical population. Rooted in a radical Calvinism, and wrapping its apocalyptic, vehemently militant, sexist and homophobic vision in patriotic and religious rhetoric, dominionism seeks absolute power in a Christian state. Hedges's reportage profiles both former members and true believers, evoking the particular characteristics of this American variant of fascism. His argument against what he sees as a democratic society's suicidal tolerance for intolerant movements has its own paradoxes. But this urgent book forcefully illuminates what many across the political spectrum will recognize as a serious and growing threat to the very concept and practice of an open society.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

I've been wanting to read this book, too, along with Letter to a Christian Nation and about half a dozen other books on how religious extremism is moving America back.The church has far too much power in this country, probably because we started out as a nation of fundamentalist who left Europe because they were so extreme and kept going through all these revivals (termed "awakenings," even though no significant insight developed). A this point, religion has come to rival the corporate sector as a force in politics.

Hmmmm, I'm thinking I may have to order this book as well. It seems to be very thought provoking and an interesting read just from the review itself.

Thanks for the heads up.

Although I really should get started on the one book I recently just bought...Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock...

The religious extremism in America is not coming from the christian right.

The churches in America have virtually NO clout with the government - both Democrats and Republicans are trying to USE the church to get votes. That's all.

And you are DEAD WRONG about the "christians" who left Europe and came to America. DEAD WRONG.

religious extremism is ABSOLUTELY coming from the CHristian right

the Christian right and their churches have a LOT of clout with the government - unless having the President of the United States espousing your goals woujld be considered a detriment

he is absolutely accurate about the reasons for the CHristians who left Europe and came to America.

WoW! Stark contrast to what the religious right itself is claiming about their influence.
After George Bush was elected, they cheerily proclaimed that he was going to give them three SCOTUS judges, remember?
And then we have all the people who claim that this is a "Christian" nation...

One thing that was made public out of the whole "Ted Haggard" thing was talk about how religious leaders talk at least weekly to the president. But I guess that's "NO clout", eh?

Were you joking with that statement of yours?

Sadly, no he wasn't. If you haven't noticed yet, Jeff enjoys playing the victim and wants to promote the image that as a Christian, he's prosecuted by the 'Leftists'...That includes ignoring the fact that the 'Christian Right' publically claims their control over the goverment or make claims that are contrary to Jeff's on victim mentality.

He's working really hard to pull Jesus off the cross so he can get up on it himself...

Are you joking, thinking that the original "Pilgrims" came to America because they were "Fundamentalists"? If you think so, you're as dumb as Antithesis. They came to ESCAPE that. They wanted religious FREEDOM.

Hmmmm... I'm wondering if we could have a good old Salem Witch Trial anytime soon?

Considering that not one person killed during those trials were witches...

Sorry Jeff. You many believe the hype of those times but I don't. And I think that anyone within the Pagan communities that try the 'Look we're prosecuted, all you have to do is look at the Salem trials' need a good swift kick in the bumm.

The Salem Witch Trials were started by girls trying to get attention. Then it mushroomed and anyone with a vindetta against another accussed that person of being a witch. Nothing but innocents were accused in those trials and I for one am thankful that their good names were cleared.