For a Christian America: A History of the Religious Right

By Ruth Murray Brown

Book Overview

Based on more than twenty-five years of research, this objective, balanced, informative, and, above all, interesting social history traces the growth of the religious right in America from its humble grassroots beginnings in the early 1970s to its present status as a powerful cultural and political force. Perhaps the most interesting finding uncovered by sociologist Ruth Murray Brown is that the impetus for the upsurge in Christian right activism of the last three decades was originally the Equal Rights Amendment of the 1970s, which Christian conservatives found so objectionable that a new coalition was mobilized against it. After the defeat of the proposed Amendment, this coalition went on to champion other conservative causes and to become a complex and sophisticated lobbying effort with greater visibility and political influence.Brown describes the formation, and in some cases the decline, of such organizations as STOP-ERA, the Moral Majority, Concerned Women for America, Focus on the Family, and the Christian Coalition. She profiles key players, like Phyllis Schlafly, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Tim and Beverly LaHaye, and James Dobson, but also tells what ordinary citizens did in their own local areas. Separate chapters are devoted to an analysis of four important issues motivating the Christian right: their view of ideal family relationships, opposition to "secular humanism," America's "Christian heritage," and values in public schools. She concludes with an overview of what the Christian right has accomplished and what it may be like in the future.Both sides of the political spectrum will find this in-depth but very readable social history to be full of insights into an important cultural movement.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1573929735
• ISBN13: 9781573929738
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 318 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Objective, but could be better organized ..

This book does an objective review of origin and growth of various religious right socio-political movements such as Anti-ERA, Pro-life, Focus on Family, Family Research Council, Moral Majority, Chiristian Coalition etc. without taking sides on controversial issues such as abortion, gay rights, same sex marriage, separation of church and state, prayer in school, teaching creationism/ evolution in public schools, school vouchers etc. over the last 3 decades. Though informative, the organization and presentation could be improved upon. Not a good book to explore detailed arguments on both sides of any particular issue and hardly convincing to get people to switch their positions or change minds.As a moderate who is not very religious, I valued this book for its objectivity. After reading this book, I am a little less scared of the religious right, but a little more impressed with the political clout it wields and its ability to set the national agenda. I would find the arguments from the religious right more acceptable if it was not based on the bible or any such set dogma. Also, the anger of religious right against "humanism" in any form does not seem to be justified or open-minded.