American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America
by Chris Hedges
American Fascists: The Ch...
Chris Hedges |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 339)
More thoughtful than the title suggests, Chris Hedges lays out an informed analysis of the dominionist movement in the United States and how it has used the sympathies of the Christian Right to further anti-free speech and anti-freedom of religion/freedom from fear/freedom of expression agendas.
While every person's religious belief is protected by the Constitution, a totalitarian agenda is not. What has increasingly happened since the late sixties is a movement within the Christian Right...more
While every person's religious belief is protected by the Constitution, a totalitarian agenda is not. What has increasingly happened since the late sixties is a movement within the Christian Right...more
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Read in April, 2008
Chris Hedges paints a rather frightening, regressive, misogynistic view of the underground Christian Right, a fundamentalist movement he alleges is closely linked to neo-conservatism and the American Republican party. Citing a plethora of anecdotal evidence -- which, I feel, both makes his thesis of Christo-fascism increasingly terrifying, yet also manages to come off as patently absurd -- Hedges tells a tale of a vocal minority of Christian...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone
So, Ellis and I just finished reading this as Book #1 in our newly-founded 2-person book group, and while it wouldn't have been my first pick, I actually really enjoyed reading it, and it was an excellent book for discussion.
Chris Hedges describes the idealogy of the extreme Christian Right group based here in America, and frankly, I found it to be pretty scary. The idea behind creating an entirely Christian nation (as the Christian Right would like to do) is not only un-democratic, but it ...more
Chris Hedges describes the idealogy of the extreme Christian Right group based here in America, and frankly, I found it to be pretty scary. The idea behind creating an entirely Christian nation (as the Christian Right would like to do) is not only un-democratic, but it ...more
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Read in November, 2007
I had the good fortune of seeing Chris Hedges speak at the University at Albany in the Fall 2007 semester. He spoke about Iraq and Iran, and about the role of the ultra-theo-conservatives in American politics. He grounded his talk in an anecdote about a professor of his in divinity school who had lived in Germany under the Nazi regime and who had escaped by train, hiding damning film footage in his luggage under a portrait of Hitler. This...more
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Read in February, 2007
recommends it for:
bob jones
I initially saw author Chris Hedges speak on BookTV about this book, and was enchanted by the fiery invective and seething passion he had for his subject matter. It was a powerful sermon aimed at the "dominionist" movement in fundamental Christianity, led by people like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. On the surface, his argument is obvious at points, as this group is already much maligned by mainstream media and the liberal elite. But his perspective is refreshing, as he not only ...more
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Read in April, 2007
Last year, I read Michelle Goldberg's Kingdom Coming, about the rise of "Christian Nationalism," the political movement of evangelical Christians. I said it was the scariest book I had read in a while. Strike that, American Fascists is the scariest book I have read, possibly ever. Picking up on the same themes, but with more alarmism, Hedges describes the twenty-five year progression that began with Pat Robertson's and Jerry Falwell's early televangelism, and has led to enormous politi...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone
The danger of the "Christian" right wing to our freedom and right to live as we desire is vastly underrated, and Hedges does a brilliant job of exposing this danger. By defining what is right and wrong, by viewing history and even prehistory through the prism of a literal interpretation of the Bible, they seek to impose their worldview on all and to hell - literally - with those who refuse to accept their way. Hedges has solid credentials as a "person of faith", but sees cl...more
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Read in March, 2007
American Fascists is a good (if not great) book about the totalitarian underpinnings of one of the America's strongest cultural movements. Hedges, a Christian who attended Harvard Divinity School, explores the component parts of evangelical "dominionism," his name for the right-wing religious movement that seeks to dismantle the open society and create a Utopian Christian state.
The great irony is that, as dominionists like Pat Robertson and James Dobson rail against our society's g...more
The great irony is that, as dominionists like Pat Robertson and James Dobson rail against our society's g...more
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Read in March, 2007
This book is an excellent review of some of the practices and ideas of the Christian Right, and Chris Hedges' view that these are the new fascists, intent on taking over America and the world. Hedges writes from a very biassed view- after all, he is arguing that these are the people who will bring about the downfall of America as we know it- but it is interesting. While perhaps my conclusions would not be as strong as Hedges', he argues it well and has great examples for the reader. Worth a read...more
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Read in December, 2007
So, I read this book in anticipation of a trip to a museum dedicated to creationism. That trip never worked out, but I ended up finishing the book anyways.
The author believes that there is a conspiratorial cabal of ultra-right Christians that seek to control the world and convert others through force and nefarious means. He tries to make his case by taking us to Christian sermons, conventions, etc, but he really misses the opportunity to take us into this world and really give us an immers...more
The author believes that there is a conspiratorial cabal of ultra-right Christians that seek to control the world and convert others through force and nefarious means. He tries to make his case by taking us to Christian sermons, conventions, etc, but he really misses the opportunity to take us into this world and really give us an immers...more
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AMERICAN FASCISTS is pretty interesting (and blood-boiling) through its stretches of matter-of-fact reporting on the many Bible-addled lunatics and charlatans with whom America is afflicted. There's good stuff in here about the origins of Dominionism, Creationist museums, the NRB convention, anti-gay activists and their weird conversion therapies... all as fascinating as it is infuriating for any reader with an attachment to reality-based reasoning. Less interesting are the more abstract passage...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
people not yet convinced that born-agains ache for the apocalypse
Like his more compelling book War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning, the author offers a humorless but decently written treatise, this time on why we should be afraid of folks on the more snake-handling end of the religious spectrum. We all know this, of course, but seeing it all in print makes me all the more twitchy, which is more likely caused by all the MSNBC political programming that I watch. Yes, global warming is bad, but is it any more immediately terrifying than Pat Robertson or ...more
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Addendum: ok, I'm finally done with this book, after like forever. For a while there, it was like pulling teeth to get through it, but the later chapters did a lil redeeming action. All in all,it was quite eye opening.
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I'm really trying my best to read this book. But it is very boring--although granted, I'm barely through Chapter 1, and granted, I do try to read it while on the stationary bike. Suffice it to say, it's been a long rid...more
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I'm really trying my best to read this book. But it is very boring--although granted, I'm barely through Chapter 1, and granted, I do try to read it while on the stationary bike. Suffice it to say, it's been a long rid...more
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3 comments
Worth reading - he's spot on in describing the craziest fringe of fundamentalists. The book suffers at times from a lack of articulation of what real Christianity is, and does paint evangelicals with the same brush. There is a tendency to not see the humanity of the individuals who are buying into the movement - a lack of compassion, that Hedges decries in the "crazies."
The last chapters make the book worth it when Hedges speaks to the rise of the Nazi party and the churches who allo...more
The last chapters make the book worth it when Hedges speaks to the rise of the Nazi party and the churches who allo...more
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Read in May, 2008
This, without a doubt, is the most frightening, sickening, and depressing book I have ever read. It is a trumpeting wake-up call to everyone in this country, to stand up and oppose those who have wrapped themselves in a flag and carry a cross but are truly fascist inside. They are growing in power, they have the ears of much of the government and their goal is the end of our society and democracy.
Read this book now.
Tell everyone you know to read it.
Time is running out.
Read this book now.
Tell everyone you know to read it.
Time is running out.
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Read in June, 2007
i can't say enough good things about this book. chris hedges is a brilliant writer, thinker, theologian, humanist. i could not read put this book down. he disects the christian right movement in america but he does it in a way that shows great concern and caring for the future of america. the last few pages of the book gave me goosebumps. as soon as i finished i went online and ordered all of his other books. i will loan this book to anyone who is interested.
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Read in September, 2007
I found myself caught up in a church closely aligned with some of the teachings targeted in this book. I am glad I read this book when I did because it inspired a lot of reflection on what I had been experiencing within myself and within this particular community. To those who might dismiss Hedges as over-reacting or inflating the situation, believe it - there are many Christians in this country who are as Hedges' describes them - I was almost one myself.
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Read in October, 2007
Persuasively presents the notion that, though small in number, the ultra-conservative religious right in America stands poised to gain an unabashed totalitarian authority over all thought and action should there be a substantial demise in economic security in this country. The author illustrates how Nazis were similarly poised to--and suceeded in--criminalizing everyone who did not absolutely share their ideals.
Challenges those who would sit still.
Challenges those who would sit still.
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Read in April, 2007
Chris Hedges is a pultizer-prize winning journalist and one-time student at Harvard seminary. In this personal and vivid book he tells the stories of Americans stranded in a wasteland of low-wage service jobs and fragmented families and the radical brand of Christianity they are turning to en masse for a source of empowerment. The political aspirations of this movement will convince you fundamentalism is a greater threat to our nation than terror.
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The f-ing title says it all. It's a detailing of the history of the religious right: from their climb to power to their current influence on american politics and government. It is also an excellent warning of what awaits this country if we don't see these "Warriors for Christ" as they really are.
"When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." -Sinclair Lewis
"When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." -Sinclair Lewis
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