The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism
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- Author：Katherine Stewart
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Summary
For readers of Democracy in Chains and Dark Money， a revelatory investigation of the Religious Right's rise to political power。
For too long the Religious Right has masqueraded as a social movement preoccupied with a number of cultural issues， such as abortion and same-sex marriage。 In her deeply reported investigation， Katherine Stewart reveals a disturbing truth: this is a political movement that seeks to gain power and to impose its vision on all of society。 America's religious nationalists aren't just fighting a culture war， they are waging a political war on the norms and institutions of American democracy。
Stewart pulls back the curtain on the inner workings and leading personalities of a movement that has turned religion into a tool for domination。 She exposes a dense network of think tanks， advocacy groups， and pastoral organizations embedded in a rapidly expanding community of international alliances and united not by any central command but by a shared， anti-democratic vision and a common will to power。 She follows the money that fuels this movement， tracing much of it to a cadre of super-wealthy， ultraconservative donors and family foundations。 She shows that today's Christian nationalism is the fruit of a longstanding antidemocratic， reactionary strain of American thought that draws on some of the most troubling episodes in America's past。 It forms common cause with a globe-spanning movement that seeks to destroy liberal democracy and replace it with nationalist， theocratic and autocratic forms of government around the world。 Religious nationalism is far more organized and better funded than most people realize。 It seeks to control all aspects of government and society。 Its successes have been stunning， and its influence now extends to every aspect of American life， from the White House to state capitols， from our schools to our hospitals。
The Power Worshippers is a brilliantly reported book of warning and a wake-up call。 Stewart's probing examination demands that Christian nationalism be taken seriously as a significant threat to the American republic and our democratic freedoms。
For too long the Religious Right has masqueraded as a social movement preoccupied with a number of cultural issues， such as abortion and same-sex marriage。 In her deeply reported investigation， Katherine Stewart reveals a disturbing truth: this is a political movement that seeks to gain power and to impose its vision on all of society。 America's religious nationalists aren't just fighting a culture war， they are waging a political war on the norms and institutions of American democracy。
Stewart pulls back the curtain on the inner workings and leading personalities of a movement that has turned religion into a tool for domination。 She exposes a dense network of think tanks， advocacy groups， and pastoral organizations embedded in a rapidly expanding community of international alliances and united not by any central command but by a shared， anti-democratic vision and a common will to power。 She follows the money that fuels this movement， tracing much of it to a cadre of super-wealthy， ultraconservative donors and family foundations。 She shows that today's Christian nationalism is the fruit of a longstanding antidemocratic， reactionary strain of American thought that draws on some of the most troubling episodes in America's past。 It forms common cause with a globe-spanning movement that seeks to destroy liberal democracy and replace it with nationalist， theocratic and autocratic forms of government around the world。 Religious nationalism is far more organized and better funded than most people realize。 It seeks to control all aspects of government and society。 Its successes have been stunning， and its influence now extends to every aspect of American life， from the White House to state capitols， from our schools to our hospitals。
The Power Worshippers is a brilliantly reported book of warning and a wake-up call。 Stewart's probing examination demands that Christian nationalism be taken seriously as a significant threat to the American republic and our democratic freedoms。
Reviews
Michelle
，
I have long been interested in the ways in which Christian extremism shapes society。 Stewart's book builds on her previous reporting， and that of others， like Jeff Sharlet and Michelle Goldberg。 This book is an extraordinary look at the inner-workings of the Christian nationalist movement--at their history， the money behind them， at their strategic efforts to change America into a country that is， in effect， as Christian theocracy--and the policy ramifications of that movement for the rest of us I have long been interested in the ways in which Christian extremism shapes society。 Stewart's book builds on her previous reporting， and that of others， like Jeff Sharlet and Michelle Goldberg。 This book is an extraordinary look at the inner-workings of the Christian nationalist movement--at their history， the money behind them， at their strategic efforts to change America into a country that is， in effect， as Christian theocracy--and the policy ramifications of that movement for the rest of us。 。。。more
Phillip Woodard
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A very complete and well researched book of one of the major problems in America。 Organized religion is a very real threat to our democracy。 Many of these groups absolute use whatever means possible to advance their agenda。
John Michael Strubhart
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This is one of the scariest books I've ever read。 There's nothing worse than powerful people who demand that you think and live just like they do。 Christians who practice their religion without evangelizing are usually good and decent people who don't judge others even if they think and live differently。 They apply the principles of their religion on their own lives only。 Nothing wrong with that。 However， when some asshole gets it in his or her mind that the world is going to Hell because there' This is one of the scariest books I've ever read。 There's nothing worse than powerful people who demand that you think and live just like they do。 Christians who practice their religion without evangelizing are usually good and decent people who don't judge others even if they think and live differently。 They apply the principles of their religion on their own lives only。 Nothing wrong with that。 However， when some asshole gets it in his or her mind that the world is going to Hell because there's not enough Jesus in the lives of other people （never do these people look in the mirror） and decides to legislate their wishes， then freedom loving people suffer for it。 So， you're thinking， "Well， that doesn't happen very often， right？" Wrong。 Read this book to find out just how powerful these people are and how much influence they have on your life。 I'm talking influence that if you examine would just make you angry （unless you're one of those assholes who thinks that everyone must accept Jesus - NO - put that demand on yourself only and leave the rest of us alone！）。 It's not just Christian nationalism at home here is the good old US of A， no！ This influence is international。 It is indirectly responsible for the Russian influence on the 2016 presidential election that gave us Cheeto Jesus who stacked the SCOTUS with Jesus freaks。 There's not a lot of remedial directive in this book。 The solution to the problem is simple。 Vote。 Write your congresspersons。 Write to the president。 Support lobbying groups like SCA and AU who fight daily for separation of church and state。 Rational people have no need or desire to destroy religion or anyone's right to practice it without harming others。 Rational people just want the Jesus people to keep it to themselves unless otherwise invited。 。。。more
Tom Schulte
，
Very interesting investigative piece on Christian nationalist maneuvers to co-opt public education and otherwise promote their ideology using schools， judicial appointments， etc。 What I thought was most interesting was beyond Trump administration ties is ties to authoritarian， right-wing movements in Poland， Russia， etc。 Also very interesting is the history of ideological development of the movement especially with key thinkers like Rousas Rushdoony:Among those present in the Dallas sports stadi Very interesting investigative piece on Christian nationalist maneuvers to co-opt public education and otherwise promote their ideology using schools， judicial appointments， etc。 What I thought was most interesting was beyond Trump administration ties is ties to authoritarian， right-wing movements in Poland， Russia， etc。 Also very interesting is the history of ideological development of the movement especially with key thinkers like Rousas Rushdoony:Among those present in the Dallas sports stadium that day was Gary North， an influential thinker in the world of Christian Reconstructionism， a theocratic movement seeking to infuse our society at all levels with a biblical worldview。 At Reunion Arena in 1980， however， North was concerned that one name was missing from the roster of speakers。“We agreed that it was unfortunate that Rousas Rushdoony was not speaking，” he observed。 “If it weren’t for his books， none of us would be here，” he said at the time to fellow activist Robert Billings， the former executive director of Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority who was now on staff with the Reagan campaign。 “Nobody in the audience understands that，” Billings said。 “True， but we do，” North reportedly replied。3Later， North would write， “Rushdoony’s writings are the source of many of the core ideas of the New Christian Right， a voting bloc whose unforeseen arrival in American politics in 1980 caught the media by surprise … They never did figure out where these ideas were coming from。” 。。。more
Jerome
，
A disturbing account of the politicization and radicalization of Christianity。
Craig Williams
，
Ever since the release of The Handmaid's Tale， people on the left have been quick to point to it as a warning of what will happen should Christian nationalists get their way。 It can sometimes come across as hyperbolic as the constant comparisons between Republicans and Nazis or Trump and Hitler （even though such comparisons are not without merit）。However， Katherine Stewart's magnificent book is here to tell you that you are not wrong to worry about such an extreme eventuality coming as a result Ever since the release of The Handmaid's Tale， people on the left have been quick to point to it as a warning of what will happen should Christian nationalists get their way。 It can sometimes come across as hyperbolic as the constant comparisons between Republicans and Nazis or Trump and Hitler （even though such comparisons are not without merit）。However， Katherine Stewart's magnificent book is here to tell you that you are not wrong to worry about such an extreme eventuality coming as a result of Christian authoritarian rule triumphing over democracy。 Without trying to sound like an alarmist or conspiracy theorist， Stewart has uncovered powerful insidious forces at work who wish to undermine democracy at all costs in the name of "God"， who have been steadily laying the groundwork for their slow moving coup for years。 The effectiveness and reach of these organizations were in staggering evidence in 2016 when Trump was elected against all odds and common sense。If you were as shocked and confused by that outcome as most people， this book will make you realize that it's been a long time coming and， just because he lost a second term， we're not out of the woods yet。 Stewart entrenches herself within church gatherings， meetings， and conventions to gather a chilling first hand account of obscene fundamentalist beliefs that drive these movements and the scary about of access to authority most of them have had even before 2016。I'm not going to lie， I had no small amount of difficulty reading this book because each page was more upsetting than the next。 While reading this book， it's hard not to imagine a not-too-distant future when Christian authoritarianism has overthrown democracy and taken an iron grip on the country， disposing of dissenters （or "unbelievers"） through violence or imprisonment。 Perhaps if 2016 or the January 6th riots had never happened， I might have thought this book was casting the threat of the religious right as a bit overblown， but unfortunately its thesis matches reality uncomfortably well。 Despite how upsetting it is， I highly recommend reading this book。 While the subject matter is frightening， remaining ignorant about the scope of such a threat will do you no favors。 The best way to combat such threats is to cast light on it and be aware of its presence， as if I've learned anything from Power Worshippers， Christian nationalists have flourished in relative secrecy for too long as it is。 。。。more
Mindy Greiling
，
"The Power Worshippers" ties together shocking facts to reveal the power christian nationalists wield to undermine our schools， our hospitals， our mainline churches， our environment and our very democracy。 They are intent on abolishing abortion， human rights for women， LGBTQ+ people and people with religions different from theirs。 Recognizing that white supremacists don't equate to majorities， they seek to co-opt Hispanics and Black conservatives， and if all else fails they have used their vast "The Power Worshippers" ties together shocking facts to reveal the power christian nationalists wield to undermine our schools， our hospitals， our mainline churches， our environment and our very democracy。 They are intent on abolishing abortion， human rights for women， LGBTQ+ people and people with religions different from theirs。 Recognizing that white supremacists don't equate to majorities， they seek to co-opt Hispanics and Black conservatives， and if all else fails they have used their vast resources to power through their takeover of our Supreme Court。 Although the author uses her last few pages to claim she is optimistic our country can fight back and win， her book mainly unsettled me。 。。。more
Michael Donahoe
，
Enjoyed reading this book， although it was very upsetting reading about what the evangelical extremists have planned。 It is scary， yet at the end the author gives hope knowing there are things that can be done and organizations working against their plan。 The book was interesting and easy to read。
Pak455
，
1） Jeśli uznasz， że Bóg karze ci głosować na tę， czy ową partię， to wkrótce ona zastąpi Boga。 Więc oddzielenie religii od państwa nie jest dyskryminacją -- jest ochroną obu stron。2） To co znamy nie jest nowe， a USA miało swoją "Law and Justice" już około 1990 roku。 Nie， nie partię， ale w nazwie organizacji politycznej i to bardzo bratniej。3） Dość to przewrotne， że historia ruchów aborcyjnych wiąże się z eugeniką; ale nie -- "prolajfowcy" nie byli przeciw eugenice -- byli za。 Im chodziło o to， by 1） Jeśli uznasz， że Bóg karze ci głosować na tę， czy ową partię， to wkrótce ona zastąpi Boga。 Więc oddzielenie religii od państwa nie jest dyskryminacją -- jest ochroną obu stron。2） To co znamy nie jest nowe， a USA miało swoją "Law and Justice" już około 1990 roku。 Nie， nie partię， ale w nazwie organizacji politycznej i to bardzo bratniej。3） Dość to przewrotne， że historia ruchów aborcyjnych wiąże się z eugeniką; ale nie -- "prolajfowcy" nie byli przeciw eugenice -- byli za。 Im chodziło o to， by białe kobiety rodziły więcej， bo inaczej w to miejsce przyjdą czarni， albo imigranci psuć naród genetycznie。 Skąd my to znamy？4） Wątki polskie są， chciałoby się więcej， ale wiadomo。。。 W każdym razie -- pomoc amerykańskich chrześcijański nacjonalistów dla europejskiej prawicy miała wynieść co najmniej 50 milionów dolarów w poprzedniej dekadzie。5） Autorka nie pisze tego sobie a muzom tylko -- opisuje przypadek， jak podczas problemów z ciążą trafiła do katolickiego szpitala， który bojąc się o płód nie ratował jej życia。 Miała szczęście， że nie podzieliła losu Izy z Pszczyny。Cóż， nie czytało się tego miło。 Wolałem czytać o katastrofach lotniczych -- one się już zdarzyły i wyciągnięto z nich wnioski。 To zaś się dzieje i nie wiadomo czym skończy， nawet jeśli Trump przegrał wybory。 。。。more
Renee
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Oh， it hurts to read。 But it is medicine Christians need to take: listen to what we are doing to others and ourselves in the world。
Judie
，
In the 1980s， Howard Phillips， the conservative caucus chair， declared that ““We will not try to reform the existing institutions。 We only intend to weaken them and eventually destroy them。” Paul Weyrich declared， “I don’t want everybody to vote。，，，Our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down。”tJudging by today’s political situation， they have succeeded。tTheir drive to promote a Christian nationalist movement attracted supporters who feared the changes （e In the 1980s， Howard Phillips， the conservative caucus chair， declared that ““We will not try to reform the existing institutions。 We only intend to weaken them and eventually destroy them。” Paul Weyrich declared， “I don’t want everybody to vote。，，，Our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down。”tJudging by today’s political situation， they have succeeded。tTheir drive to promote a Christian nationalist movement attracted supporters who feared the changes （e。g。， minorities， immigrants， non-Christians， women’s liberation） in America。 While they were a minority， many were in the DC area and had the power to use their view of their religion （picking and choosing the points with which they agreed） to change America。 For example， today they believe a woman has no right to control her body when it comes to whether or not to give birth （Billy Graham supported Planned Parenthood and Ronald Reagan signed the most liberal abortion bill in 1967） but the government has no right to order people to wear masks to stop the spread of a deadly disease。 tFormer Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos donated millions of dollars to religious rights groups。 She was confirmed by the Senate， twenty two members of which， including four on the education committee， received $900，000 from her family and their affiliated PACs。 She said， “We expect a return on our investment。” Under her administration， charter schools， in which she had financial interests， increased， with decreased safeguards， and in Detroit， the education system collapsed， partly because of patronage。 Almost 90% of the children affected were Black。tTHE POWER WORSHIPPERS covers church， abortion， slavery， abuse， health care， and the judiciary。 t Things have gotten much worse since this book was published in 2019。 For those who want to regain our democracy， there is not much time to make the necessary changes。 The Epilogue provides a guide to do so。 。。。more
Sawyer X
，
Detailed and exhaustive， fact-based with professional analysis。 A sobering， scary reality。
Leah
，
A helpful， if concerning， exploration of the power players at work within Christian nationalism， their motivations and tactics， and some of their philosophical foundations。 My only complaint arises from a lack of detail in chapter 3 - more context for some of the quotations would have been helpful， as well as a fuller history of anti-abortion sentiment or the lack thereof。For me， the most important takeaways are: 1。 the steady and deliberate erosion of the separation between church and state， bo A helpful， if concerning， exploration of the power players at work within Christian nationalism， their motivations and tactics， and some of their philosophical foundations。 My only complaint arises from a lack of detail in chapter 3 - more context for some of the quotations would have been helpful， as well as a fuller history of anti-abortion sentiment or the lack thereof。For me， the most important takeaways are: 1。 the steady and deliberate erosion of the separation between church and state， bound up with a push to privilege a particular form of religiosity， and2。 the blatant affinity for authoritarianism。 。。。more
Michael Bellesiles
，
Anyone who believes in a loving God will be deeply disturbed by this examination of America’s white evangelicals。 It is not just that they prefer the vindictive and homicidal god of Deuteronomy and Leviticus， it is also the case that they are self-righteous， hypocritical， misogynist， anti-democratic， and mean-spirited dogmatists more interested in worldly power and money than in helping their fellow humans。 At the very least， they care nothing for the ninth commandment; but given their often-biz Anyone who believes in a loving God will be deeply disturbed by this examination of America’s white evangelicals。 It is not just that they prefer the vindictive and homicidal god of Deuteronomy and Leviticus， it is also the case that they are self-righteous， hypocritical， misogynist， anti-democratic， and mean-spirited dogmatists more interested in worldly power and money than in helping their fellow humans。 At the very least， they care nothing for the ninth commandment; but given their often-bizarre adoration of the former president， it appears that the other commandments have little force in their life。 They even seem to have little respect for the fourth commandment， as they encourage ministers and congregants to devote the sabbath to politics rather than devotion—though they would insist that a minister demanding his congregation’s support for the Republican Party is a form of devotion。 They also ignore James Madison’s warning that one of the primary reasons to keep a clear separation between church and state was not to protect the latter but the former， as efforts to establish a theocracy undermine religion far more than the polity。 The very fact that white evangelicals have seen their reputation tumble since the days of Billy Graham should demonstrate the accuracy of Madison’s warning。 The core message of this book is that many of the richest people in the United States have manipulated white evangelicals to support tax and subsidy policies that benefit the richest to the detriment of the poorest。 We see that in action right now， as evangelical ministers do the bidding of the rich to try and convince their followers that progressive policies like health care， day care， equal rights， clean water， and so much else is part of a satanic socialist plot to end freedom。 Stewart does an amazing job disentangling the twisted logic of Christian nationalist political thinking and the odd alliance of the very wealthy who fear government regulation and higher taxes with evangelicals devoted to putting Christ at the center of their lives。 The average evangelical is probably complete sincere in his and her beliefs， but Stewart amply demonstrates that far too many ministers and leading theologians cannot resist the lure of money and access to power as they corrupt a once beautiful message of peace and love。 The specifics of the Christian nationalists’ goals for a nation under their control indicates that they took Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale as an instructional manual。 Their attitude toward women is horrifying， as is their willingness to see others suffer in the name of their theological certainty。 Their almost sadistic glee in discussing the need to discipline children is sickening， at times bordering on Deuteronomy’s notorious injunction to kill disobedient children （Deut。 21:18， 21）。 But it is their contempt for democracy that should most terrify us。 Stewart leaves little doubt that Christian nationalism poses a dire threat to the future of the United States as a democratic nation—as though we need more warnings after the past year。 。。。more
Elizabeth
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ryan howard with notebook dot gif
Suzanne Cloud
，
The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism is a truly frightening book that provides evidence for the truth that many American Christians are fascists at heart who wish to see EVERY American adhere to their misogynistic religious beliefs whether they're believers or not。 It is also terrifying to understand that the Republican Party is totally invested on using these so-called "Christians" to bring them to power in every election （note: the proliferation of anti-cho The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism is a truly frightening book that provides evidence for the truth that many American Christians are fascists at heart who wish to see EVERY American adhere to their misogynistic religious beliefs whether they're believers or not。 It is also terrifying to understand that the Republican Party is totally invested on using these so-called "Christians" to bring them to power in every election （note: the proliferation of anti-choice laws forcing women to even bear the children of their rapists。）A must read for anyone who cares about the dissolution of our democracy。 。。。more
Joni
，
Wow！ Well written， well researched， thought provoking book。 A very enlightening read。
Rick
，
Useful， even terrifying， but not an elegant read。
Howard
，
I tried to write a review of this book。 I failed。 There is just too much to unpack for me to do it or its author justice。 It is an important book and even if you don't agree with everything -- or anything -- that Katherine Stewart has written， you owe it to yourself to give her a hearing。 I tried to write a review of this book。 I failed。 There is just too much to unpack for me to do it or its author justice。 It is an important book and even if you don't agree with everything -- or anything -- that Katherine Stewart has written， you owe it to yourself to give her a hearing。 。。。more
Andrea
，
A fascinating look at religious influences and agendas in politics and vice versa in the United States。 Revealing and concerning that religious institutions are being used by conservatives to meet political goals。 I am not naive and am pretty sure liberals do so as well。 A siren call for all that our democracy is in danger of being lost。
Marilyn Bauchat
，
This book brought up angry feelings as we learned how Christianity has been hijacked by religious nationalists to further their agenda of exclusion。
Nick
，
A detailed and thorough examination of the motivations and key players of America's Christian Nationalist movement。 An enlightening read at every chapter， the inner workings of this movement of religious reactionaries is shown to be is vast and often shrouded in secrecy to obscure the goals and sources of funding。 Stewart shares with the reader the fruits of an aggressively meticulous and driven accomplishment of research。 This book is an important piece of investigative journalism， exposing how A detailed and thorough examination of the motivations and key players of America's Christian Nationalist movement。 An enlightening read at every chapter， the inner workings of this movement of religious reactionaries is shown to be is vast and often shrouded in secrecy to obscure the goals and sources of funding。 Stewart shares with the reader the fruits of an aggressively meticulous and driven accomplishment of research。 This book is an important piece of investigative journalism， exposing how the religious right is continually， tenaciously， unapologetically attempting to establish a theocracy through infiltration， political donations， misinformation and overt misuse of power。 。。。more
Jane
，
Like Dark Money， scary stuff。 Authoritarian， anti democratic white male evangelicals and their founders。
Dee Miller
，
Eye opener with big deficitThe author confirms my fears and provides a thorough explanation of how powerful the strong immoral minority is oppressing the size franchised through horrifying means。 She makes me feel discouraged but longing to join hands with national activists。 I want to broadcast this sentiment as a writer。However， she does not give practical ideas or enough direction to the masses of us who do not have $$$ to contribute yet have voices dying to be heard。 Yes， we need lawyers fig Eye opener with big deficitThe author confirms my fears and provides a thorough explanation of how powerful the strong immoral minority is oppressing the size franchised through horrifying means。 She makes me feel discouraged but longing to join hands with national activists。 I want to broadcast this sentiment as a writer。However， she does not give practical ideas or enough direction to the masses of us who do not have $$$ to contribute yet have voices dying to be heard。 Yes， we need lawyers fighting。 We need to see that we are voting for those who have the power to change things。Is that all she wants？ She really does not say as she sums it up。 I wanted a list of resources and a practical "go for it" list。 Perhaps her next work will provide this。 We can certainly hope。 。。。more
Dayla
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Here Evangelicals are called religious nationalists， but it's all the same as Christian Nationalists。 They would rather see a dictator take over their country （USA） than have toleration for anyone who doesn't think and act like they do， including trans， gay， people of color， and women。 All too much machismo for me。 Here Evangelicals are called religious nationalists， but it's all the same as Christian Nationalists。 They would rather see a dictator take over their country （USA） than have toleration for anyone who doesn't think and act like they do， including trans， gay， people of color， and women。 All too much machismo for me。 。。。more
Steve Jobe
，
Little known details on a cast of characters who have pushed a movement into the forefront of American politics。 Cause for concern in multiple respects。 3。5 stars overall。
Michelle
，
I'm glad I returned to finish this book。 Her bias is obvious which makes it difficult to say that the book was a neutral take on the topic but it does provide a pretty comprehensive take on what's happening including how US political systems have been captured by these Christian nationalists。 There's a lot of room for reflection， especially if you consider yourself a Christian。 I'm glad I returned to finish this book。 Her bias is obvious which makes it difficult to say that the book was a neutral take on the topic but it does provide a pretty comprehensive take on what's happening including how US political systems have been captured by these Christian nationalists。 There's a lot of room for reflection， especially if you consider yourself a Christian。 。。。more
Vladimir
，
Some of the reviews say that the author is biased and she sure is。 However， she does mention that this is not about her not liking or blaming Christianity， the religion。 She is specifically talking about a Christian nationalist movement。 In fact， she is talking about fascism， without sadly using that word。 Her bias is morally quite justified; unlike CNN， I am of the opinion that there is no "both sides" when one side is fascist。 It's a scary book in so many ways。 I gave it 4 stars and not 5 for Some of the reviews say that the author is biased and she sure is。 However， she does mention that this is not about her not liking or blaming Christianity， the religion。 She is specifically talking about a Christian nationalist movement。 In fact， she is talking about fascism， without sadly using that word。 Her bias is morally quite justified; unlike CNN， I am of the opinion that there is no "both sides" when one side is fascist。 It's a scary book in so many ways。 I gave it 4 stars and not 5 for the simple reason that it becomes tedious after a while。 Too many names， for example。 It would have benefited from some more condensing and editing。 Nonetheless， it's an important read and I think a dire warning for America's future。 And also for the future of religion！ I feel like people who actually care about Christianity need to take it back from movements such as the ones described in this book。 。。。more
Janine
，
This book is a powerful expose of the determination and persistence of right wing religious zealots to make another “big lie” real: America was founded as as a Christian nation and assert that this “Christian” country is based on Christian teachings viewed on their perceptions of what is good for all is us - and who cares if we should have a different religious preference especially of Tandy preference isn’t Christian。 Right wing religious extremists seek to distort and propagate the belief that This book is a powerful expose of the determination and persistence of right wing religious zealots to make another “big lie” real: America was founded as as a Christian nation and assert that this “Christian” country is based on Christian teachings viewed on their perceptions of what is good for all is us - and who cares if we should have a different religious preference especially of Tandy preference isn’t Christian。 Right wing religious extremists seek to distort and propagate the belief that separation of church a d state is a liberal myth negating what Thomas Jefferson put paper “to describe a principle written into the Constitution and carved into history as the core achievement of the American Revolution” （page 275）: separation of church and state。 Stewart’s book identifies the people leading the march to this bigoted desire to make America something it not intended to be by our founders。 She identifies how these various right wing individuals and groups seek to destroy public education and replace it with religious-based education - lets brain wash the young and get everyone on board to one way of thinking; how religious views drive health care which can harm rather than help; how the abortion fight came to be （Roe v Wade was not originally anathema to many conservative Christians） is really all part of the intention to make Christian “wholeheartedly） and even how these groups are exporting this vision to the rest of the world。 This was an eye opening read and clarified， at least for me， some of the rhetoric of the past four years about the assault on Christianity。 Excellent book。 。。。more
Rai
，