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New Book Examines Christian Nationalism
Fresh Air from WHYY
May 11, 2006
Journalist Michelle Goldberg, a senior writer for the online magazine Salon, and covers the Christian Right. In her new book, Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, she writes that Christian nationalists believe the Bible is literally true — and they want to see the nation governed by that truth.
3 comments
1 |
freetoken Sun, Jan 16, 2011 7:58:39pm |
Michelle Goldberg’s book certainly got a lot of attention, both praise and hate, when she came out with it.
I’ve not read the book so won’t comment on the content, but I would note that Ms. Goldberg was quite young when she wrote it - not a bad thing (to be young), but her depth in knowledge of religion probably wasn’t enough to flesh out all the corners of the path this movement has gone down.
It’s important to remember that these ideas have always been around, but came into more prominence in American Christian circles with the rise of “fundamentalism” in the early part of the 20th century. The Fundamentalists were a reaction against the critiques of the Bible that had accumulated through textual (and historical and scientific) analysis of the Bible’s content.
| 2 |
Gus Sun, Jan 16, 2011 8:26:04pm |
re: #1 freetoken
Michelle Goldberg’s book certainly got a lot of attention, both praise and hate, when she came out with it.
I’ve not read the book so won’t comment on the content, but I would note that Ms. Goldberg was quite young when she wrote it - not a bad thing (to be young), but her depth in knowledge of religion probably wasn’t enough to flesh out all the corners of the path this movement has gone down.
It’s important to remember that these ideas have always been around, but came into more prominence in American Christian circles with the rise of “fundamentalism” in the early part of the 20th century. The Fundamentalists were a reaction against the critiques of the Bible that had accumulated through textual (and historical and scientific) analysis of the Bible’s content.
The interview provides a very good outline of the religious right today and features many of the same figure we see today such as Barton, Lahay, Rushdoony, North and even mention of the John Birch Society. I would read it or seek it not as much for religious information (such as Dominionism) but the political aspect and context of the associated movements and personalities.
| 3 |
CuriousLurker Mon, Jan 17, 2011 11:05:56am |
re: #2 Gus 802
The interview provides a very good outline of the religious right today and features many of the same figure we see today such as Barton, Lahay, Rushdoony, North and even mention of the John Birch Society. I would read it or seek it not as much for religious information (such as Dominionism) but the political aspect and context of the associated movements and personalities.
Yep, same here. I’m about halfway through Republican Gomorrah and have found the history of the various organizations & people very enlightening.
Blumenthal’s armchair psychoanalysis aside, it’s been quite an eye-opener to read about how the Christian dominionists have infiltrated all branches of our government and been able to successfully control the narrative of various events, even when that narrative had little or no connection to reality.
Their ability to politicize (and dramatize) things by portraying them as moral/religious choices is both clever and intentionally subversive, not to mention extremely cynical and “worldly”. The religiosity was and still IS a cloak that conceals their naked lust for political power & cultural domination. It’s precisely the same thing they accuse the secular Left, Islamists, etc. of doing.
As I continue reading—slower than I’d like to due to time constraints—I find myself simultaneously fascinated & appalled by the level of success they’ve had to date. And you’re right, historically there has been a specific cast of characters & organizations involved in the movement. This is documented fact, not wild conspiracy theory.
They failed to win the control they wanted last time around, so now it appears that they’re trying to increase their populist appeal by pandering to increasingly far-right fringe groups and playing on the fears & resentments others.
Their intent is dead serious, very well financed, and they have (and continue to build) the networks necessary to achieve their goals. IMO, to mockingly disregard them as atavistic, ignorant, impotent fools would be the height of folly as significant inroads have already been made.
I believe theocracy could happen here. Not because I don’t believe in a degree of American exceptionalism or popular commitment to the secular nature of our society and Constitution, but rather because Americans—like humans the world over—are prone to complacency & short-sightedness in situations where a threat is generally perceived as non-imminent (for example AGW, the real estate bubble that contributed to our most recent financial crisis, etc.)
I suspect the far-right is counting on that myopia as they continue their machinations.
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