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American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America | 
| Author: Chris Hedges
Publisher: Free Press
Category: Book
List Price: $25.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  169 reviews
Sales Rank: 319252
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Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1
Dewey Decimal Number: 322.10973
ASIN: B0012F9WEW
Publication Date: January 9, 2007
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Product Description
Twenty-five years ago, when Pat Robertson and other radio and televangelists first spoke of the United States becoming a Christian nation that would build a global Christian empire, it was hard to take such hyperbolic rhetoric seriously. Today, such language no longer sounds like hyperbole but poses, instead, a very real threat to our freedom and our way of life. In American Fascists, Chris Hedges, veteran journalist and author of the National Book Award finalist War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, challenges the Christian Right's religious legitimacy and argues that at its core it is a mass movement fueled by unbridled nationalism and a hatred for the open society. Hedges, who grew up in rural parishes in upstate New York where his father was a Presbyterian pastor, attacks the movement as someone steeped in the Bible and Christian tradition. He points to the hundreds of senators and members of Congress who have earned between 80 and 100 percent approval ratings from the three most influential Christian Right advocacy groups as one of many signs that the movement is burrowing deep inside the American government to subvert it. The movement's call to dismantle the wall between church and state and the intolerance it preaches against all who do not conform to its warped vision of a Christian America are pumped into tens of millions of American homes through Christian television and radio stations, as well as reinforced through the curriculum in Christian schools. The movement's yearning for apocalyptic violence and its assault on dispassionate, intellectual inquiry are laying the foundation for a new, frightening America. American Fascists, which includes interviews and coverage of events such as pro-life rallies and weeklong classes on conversion techniques, examines the movement's origins, its driving motivations and its dark ideological underpinnings. Hedges argues that the movement currently resembles the young fascist movements in Italy and Germany in the 1920s and '30s, movements that often masked the full extent of their drive for totalitarianism and were willing to make concessions until they achieved unrivaled power. The Christian Right, like these early fascist movements, does not openly call for dictatorship, nor does it use physical violence to suppress opposition. In short, the movement is not yet revolutionary. But the ideological architecture of a Christian fascism is being cemented in place. The movement has roused its followers to a fever pitch of despair and fury. All it will take, Hedges writes, is one more national crisis on the order of September 11 for the Christian Right to make a concerted drive to destroy American democracy. The movement awaits a crisis. At that moment they will reveal themselves for what they truly are -- the American heirs to fascism. Hedges issues a potent, impassioned warning. We face an imminent threat. His book reminds us of the dangers liberal, democratic societies face when they tolerate the intolerant.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 164 more reviews...
EXCELLENT WORK BUT COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH BETTER November 17, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had quite mixed emotions about this particular work. To begin with, the book was not what I expected. When I read several of the prereleases from the publisher I was expecting a more scholarly work, one that was a bit heaver on the research side, and less of the "rant" side. But to my somewhat disappointment, which is really neither here or there, it is probably more my problem than the authors. Expectations can so often let you down and the author really should not be held responsible for my not doing my research closer.
First, I am not a theologian, far from it. I do though have a great interest in this particular subject. I am what I would consider to be a Christian, although by the standards as outlined in this work, a rather poor one, or so it would seem. I have done a tremendous amount of reading on this subject and am in a position that I am fortunately (or unfortunately, depending upon how you look at it) able to observe first hand many of the phenomena outlined in this volume. Secondly, I have for quite a number of years, held the belief that the religious right; those of the Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, Pat Robertson, James Dobson and their ilk type, represent one of the greatest threats to this country since it was founded. I have felt that the apparent take over by these men and their followers of the Republican Party has been both amazing and frightening. It absolutely sickens me when this group asserts that they represent Christianity...I simply do not like being soiled with the same label.
Now as to this book. The author has made an attempt, and I must say, has made some very good points, to compare the religious right, i.e. fundamentalists and literalists with Fascism. Many of the examples the author provides us are down right scary and completely dead on. Personally knowing some of these folks; their beliefs and attitudes and teachings, I do feel the author makes a strong case. These people are indeed a great threat to our freedom and the stabilization of the world in general. It is at this point where I start having problems with the author's work. It would not take someone with a lot of intelligence to make some of the very same claims against the extreme left in our society, and their arguments would be just as valid as this author's!
Intolerance, be it from the left or right, is an odious and dangerous thing! People who tell you how to live your life and that their way is the only way, should be watched quite closely! On the other hand, I myself am as guilty as the next when it comes to the religious right as I find I have a very low tolerance level. I Suppose I need to work on that.
On the plus side of this work, I do feel this is one that everyone should read so that there is an awareness of the potential dangers out there for we as individuals, and we as a nation. Now this book had a definite agenda, there is no doubt about that. Personally I read books that have agendas with a jaundice eye. I guess what I am trying to say, is that I question this type of book and take a closer look than I do others. As my personal beliefs tend to lean toward this author's views, I had to agree with about 80 percent of his message. Like all such books though, it will not persuade either side, left or right, Christian or non Christian one way or another. For me it only reinforced what I already felt. Then I read a work such as this that disagrees with my feelings and experience, then I usually believe only about 20 percent of what I am being fed. Guess that is sort of human nature.
I enjoyed the book, agreed with most of it, but felt the author's propensity to rant made it much less effective than it could have been. In many ways he, the author, was practicing the same dreadful thing he was so critical of, that being intolerance. I do recommend this one as a read, but a read that should be tempered with common sense and certainly should not be taken as the ultimate authority on the subject. I am giving this one four stars. It could have been five stars had it been approached differently, and I probably should actually give in three or two stars simply because, in many ways, the author blew it.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
Dangerous Elmer Gantrys of the Electronic Age November 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mr. Hedges' objective is to inform the reader based upon his experiences as a foreign correspondent in many war-torn countries as well as being seeped in religious teachings when he graduated from seminary at Harvard Divinity School. The man has seen this kind of religious nonsense throughout the world. Mr. Hedges successfully lays out what many other authors have also recorded about America's home-grown fascism packaged in the guise of God's chosen. The book is understanding and sympathetic of the followers, but wisely enraged towards the charlatans preaching and running these religious enterprises.
In many respects, religion can be a great benefit to people and society as a whole, but not in this corrosive and intolerant manifestation. Loony and/or deceptive Elmer Gantrys peddling salvation to the emotionally desperate and promising wrathful retribution to those not of their ilk. Enlightened countries of the 20th century which fell under despotic regimes never saw these power-hungry, intolerant monsters coming or dismissed the warnings by brave individuals such as Mr. Hedges. His argument is dead on. Very informative and a necessary read for anyone that doesn't fit into the Religious Right's hateful, black & white, moral absolute mold.
 Fantastic Book! October 24, 2008
I absolutely loved this book. I learned a ton of new things about the evangelicals and their political aims, I was both appalled and scared, but happy to know. Chris Hedges gives the subject a firm but fair criticism. Highly recommended for all.
Well worth the read---but with an open mind.. October 18, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I found this a very interesting read. As well as reading the book;the reviews are also very interesting. I suggest one read a variety of them,some with high ratings with many helpful votes as well as few helpful votes;then reviews with low ratings with both high as well as low numbers of helpful votes.Then sample some reviews with middle ratings and high and low helpful votes.
I believe, when a subject that is so charged as this is;one should read about it by people with opposing as well as agreeing views.
This book is ,without doubt, written with an extremely radical left preference about the extremely radical right.There is nothing wrong with that, nor books written from the opposite perspective. One should read them but take them for what they are. Bias and intolerance is wrong and has been the source of most of society's problems and should be understood and confronted whether it is from the Left or the Right,Religious or Anti-Religious;or any other point of view.
Fortunately,men of good will far outnumber extreme radicals;but history has shown ,to the regret of huge numbers of innocents in the middle,that a few can dominate the many,if allowed to get in the position of power and control.Plato tells us,"This and no other is the root from which a tryrant springs:'When he first appears,he is a protector'".this applies to both the Radical Right as well as the Radical Left.
There are two sides to all coins and with extremists ,be they the Radical Left or the Radical Right,their views,aims,and yes,even their words should be taken with the greatest of discretion.
American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on Democracy September 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Every American should read this book by Chris Hedges. As an avid reader of all types of literature, without a doubt, this is the best book I have ever read. Hedges explains to us what some of the underlining facts are of this group, and how they are effecting American government and society. It is amazing how the Christian Right have distorted true Christianity.
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