Exploring the Dangers of Religious Nationalism: An Inside Look at The Power Worshippers

Antonio Nt: O livro mostra o perigo da ascensão do fundamentalismo cristão nacionalista, sobretudo como política de estado. É grande o risco da da dominação de uma corrente religiosa/ideológica. Há que se encontrar o equilíbrio entre a secularização e a liberdade religiosa.

Brazil on May 23, 2023

LB: The author knows very well the intricacies of this movement, which is Christian fundamentalism in principle, but political in practice. Definitely, their kingdom IS of this world. They try to impose their views through political influence. They are not after your heart, but after your vote. Catholics and protestants joined in search of civil power, trying to reedit the kind of church-theocracy of the Middle Ages (with its unavoidable consequence, the oppression). It is not exactly a white movement, as it appeals to the latinos as well. One area of influence is the judicial system, from the Supreme Court downwards. And yes, according to the book, the Republican party (GOP) is behind that, especially with the forty-fifth president of USA. For those acquainted with Bible prophecy, this could mean the fulfillment of Revelation 13, that is, American protestants helping the papacy to get what it wants (civil power). Worth reading.

Spain on Aug 15, 2022

Mumi: I learned a lot about a part of American history that was not taught in high school, or even college. The religious nationalists are the American Taliban.

They attack Islam for wanting to rule the world with a theocratic government, yet that is exactly what these religious nationalists are striving for.

Germany on Mar 09, 2021

Andy Simons: Although there are rewarding, eye-opening details within, this is a laborious if important read, emphasising the crafty organisers rather than the millions who follow them. My mistake was assuming the latter. So the focus is on this splayed movement's main venal actors, who are unfamiliar to me. Then again, I live in London. Shelves and shelves of scary details are packed into this filing cabinet of a book, which will likely suit lawyers and researchers. There are good endnotes for follow-up avenues.

United Kingdom on Feb 12, 2021

Russell Ferrell: The Power Worshippers is a detailed and well- researched book on the rise to power of the Christian nationalist movement. It provides the full history of the movement – the roots, origins, ideology, methodology, tactics, funding, and the major individuals and institutions at the heart of the movement. It is a powerful movement at the apex of power in the U.S. and the dominant force within the Republican Party, other than the plutocratic money dispensers like the Koch and DeVos families who fund the Party. The Republican Party is now a dangerous synthesis of theocracy and plutocracy aligned to destroy democracy in America. An outline of the most salient parts of the book will follow in the remainder of this review. This book is highly recommended.
The founding of the movement is generally traced to Rousas Rushdoony, whose writings are the source of many core ideas of the New Christian Right. Rushdoony advocated a return to “biblical” law in America, with Christianity being the sole legitimate authority over all aspects of human life. Two intellectual traditions played critical roles in the development of Rushdoony’s thought: (1) America’s band of pro-slavery...

United States on Jan 02, 2021

Michael Stirling: The Christian nationalists in America are a frighteningly well organised and funded bunch. This well researched books explores many aspects of there organisation, funding and plans for the future. There is a little glimpse of hope at the very end but generally it features the depressing progress of these zealots. The global outreach discussed in the last chapter makes you realise it's not America they have in their sights

United Kingdom on Aug 02, 2020

Randolph Eck: Sometimes you see things happening but just don’t quite understand what is really going on. Well, in this book, the author certainly cleared up a lot of misunderstandings concerning the polices of the religious right. For example, the drive to end public education always baffled me. But I have learned this is part of a much broader effort to “transform the defining institutions of democracy in America.” In the case of education, one can make way for a system of religious education more to one’s liking. This is not a social of cultural movement, but a political movement, in fact. Its ultimate goal is power. The goal is not to add to America’s pluralistic democracy, “but to replace the foundational democratic principles and institutions with a state grounded on a particular version of Christianity.” Interestingly, this also happens to serve the interests of the plutocratic funders and their allied political leaders. So then, this is a political war of the future of democracy. It consists of an ecosystem of a whole host of various entities, religious and nonreligious, and a leadership cadre of interconnected activists, politicians, and funders – some of which belong...

United States on Jul 04, 2020