The Fundamentals of Extremism: The Christian Right in America

by Edwin Kagin, Kimberly Blaker, Herb Silverman, et al.

Book Overview

The politics, educational policies, and social values perpetuated by Christian fundamentalists are exposed in this critical perspective on the religious right's role in American society. Statistics... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972549617
• ISBN13: 9780972549615
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Green Grove Press
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

An important message for America at just the right time

An important warning of the political forces organizing to turn America into a Christian theocracy at the earliest possible opportunity. A specialist in legal psychiatry, John M. Suarez,M.D outlines the increased number of attacks on the First Amendment in "The Path to Theocracy." He describes how the First Amendment has saved us from religious war so far and how the most militant forces call openly for war. The chapter "Inerrancy Turned Political" comes from Herb Silverman, Ph.D., a mathematician who forced the state of South Carolina to make him a notary public despite the fact that he refused to declare a belief in a Supreme Being. Silverman exposes tactics used by the religious right to gain political influence and the damage their victories bring to our public school system. He presents an alarming expose' of the Reconstructionist camp of Christian fundamentalists as he outlines the work of the moral Majority, Christian Coalition, and Catholic League, particularly their grip on the Republican Party. Edward M. Buckner, Ph.D., executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism, in his chapter, "Winning the Battle Royal," reminds us that "the United States established the first significant secular government designed to lead the first truly secular society in history," and argues that only such a society can offer true religious freedom. As he points out the similarities between Islamic and Christian fundamentalism, Buckner explains why fundamentalism is so dangerous and why we must maintain the secular nature of our Constitution and government.

Excellent expose

Ignore all the criticisms regarding the production value .. it is what is inside that is important! These essays are well researched and much of the information comes straight from the Religious Right themselves. I mean listen to one of the quotations that was in the book .. right from the horses mouth: "I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good ... if a Christian voted for Clinton, he sinned against God. It's that simple. Our goal is a Christian nation. We have a biblical duty, we are called by God to conquer this country..." RANDALL TERRY- FOunder of Operation Rescue and Terri Schaivo advocate How can anyone say that this book is a Left Wing Hate book when the Christian Right themselves are so hateful? I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting more information about this movement. Another excellent book that was recently produced by Edwin Kagin, one of the authors of book. BAUBLES OF BLASPHEMY

Everyone needs to understand the dangers of fundamentalism

This book is wonderful at revealing the evils of religious fundmentalists. It should be read by everyone including the religous. It is very dense in information; with 900 references, it reads almost like a college textbook and cannot be dismissed as simply a collection of anti-religious opinions. Be prepared to read a paragraph or a couple and have to put it down and think for a while.

On the mark.

This is an excelent read for anyone who would like to open their eyes to the real situation in American politics. People like Tom DeLay and James Dobson may appear moderate to some who have only heard there political statements, but both have an adgenda thats controlled by the fundamentalists in this country. They both would like to see evolution removed and prayer reintroduced into the classroom. As the book documents, thay have often esposed a vision of America as a theocratic Christian nation. One where family values means women don't have control of their bodies or their lives. Most of what this book says can be seen if one takes the time to look closer at these "Christian" politicians.

Learn about the Religious Right's REAL Political Agenda

The collected essays in The Fundamentals of Extremism offer a much-needed update of the revolutionary political agenda that is being promoted and heavily funded by the American religious right. Editors Blaker, et al use these extremists' own words to exemplify the extent to which right-wing Christian politicians, ministers, pundits, and social engineers will go to attract like-minded absolutists who are bent on controlling the hearts and minds of not only other Christians, but ALL Americans. While the previous 9 of 10 reviewers have adequately described and rated this book, I must point out that the latest review is an accurate illustration of the mindset explained by the authors of The Fundamentals of Extremism: reactionary, single-minded, and utterly unwilling to accept opposing viewpoints. If this book displays "extremism" of any type, it is the extreme fairness of Blaker's objective criticism, in which she and her co-contributors continually point out that not all fundamentalists are not extremists. The Fundamentals of Extremism does focus, however, on the true extremists of the Christian Right and their theocratic agenda, which is without a doubt, UN-American. But naturally, the reactionary types who write trashing reviews of books they haven't read would not know this.