Persecution: How Liberals Are Waging War Against Christians [Hardcover]

David Limbaugh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003

A wake up call to lovers of liberty everywhere and a call to action to conservatives and Christians to defend the religious freedom envisioned and practiced by the founders.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

They may not get thrown to the lions any more, but today's Christians endure subtler forms of martyrdom, argues this strident manifesto. Limbaugh (Absolute Power: The Legacy of Corruption in the Clinton-Reno Justice Department) recites a litany of abuses and insults perpetrated, he claims, by separation-of-church-and-state absolutists and the forces of secular humanism. Most of them are familiar complaints of the Christian Right: school children are forbidden to pray before football games; nativity scenes are banned from municipal property; the media ridicule Christian politicians, and Hollywood caricatures Christians as Bible-thumping yahoos or axe-wielding fanatics. At universities where Darwinism, relativism and "sexuality studies" hold sway, Limbaugh says, vocal Christians get packed off to the psych ward. Most insidiously, Christians are continually subjected to sensitivity training-which often promotes a "homosexual agenda"-and silenced when they object. Many of the cases Limbaugh cites raise legitimate questions about society's hypersensitivity to religious expression (although the really serious abuses were often remedied after the inevitable lawsuit). Unfortunately, he tends to equate political controversy with religious bigotry, and Christianity with fundamentalism. Many of the issues he cites, like Democratic opposition to pro-life judicial nominees, or laws requiring Catholic employers to cover contraceptives in health insurance, amount to political disputes pitting conservatives like Limbaugh against liberals, feminists, gays or users of contraceptives, with Christians ranged on both sides. Limbaugh has a point: there are anti-Christian tendencies-rigid school bureaucrats, militant atheists and an often profane and irreligious popular culture-in American society. But there are plenty of pro-Christian tendencies too, such that Limbaugh's persecution complex seems overblown.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

David Limbaugh is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Absolute Power, and a nationally syndicated columnist and political commentator.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing; First Edition edition (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895261111
• ISBN-13: 978-0895261113
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 1.7 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (208 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #584,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 118 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Religious Warfare in the USA July 14, 2004

By Bryan Carey TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

David Limbaugh, younger brother of Rush Limbaugh, is a conservative columnist and occasional author who has written a few books about conservative thought and practice. In this book, Limbaugh presents some arguments explaining why he feels that the liberal establishment is waging war against Christians and Christianity.

Limbaugh composed this book as part history lesson and part modern- day political guide. He talks about the educational system in the United States, pointing out that the Bible was once the center of schooling for all youngsters. Today, teachers are forbidden from leading students in prayer or from promoting Biblical passages in the classroom. Public displays of religious symbols on government property were once the
norm. Today, they have been ruled unconstitutional by the "liberal" judicial system. He talks about speech codes, political correctness, and other changes that he feels have been made for the worst in the past fifty or so years.

I can agree with some of the complaints that Limbaugh has with the American system. It is true that, in many cases, political correctness has gone way too far. It is also true that Christians as a group are often singled out for harassment. I don't agree that they are being "persecuted", because there hasn't been any bloodshed or physical pain endured. But it is true that Christians as a whole have been targeted for personal attacks.

One problem I have with this book is its explanations regarding America's foundation and constitutional laws. Limbaugh correctly points out that most of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and most of the population in general back in the late 1700's was Christian. But he seems to think that merely "being" Christian means that the constitution and the basis of law are also religious in nature. I can agree that these men were, mostly, men who believed in a higher power. But that doesn't mean that they wanted the U.S. government to be founded on religion. If they wanted this, they would have explicitly added it to the constitution.

Limbaugh writes this book in a respectful way, and he avoids the tendency for authors like himself to resort to immaturity by calling their opponents names and belittling them at every turn. There is no doubt which side of the road Limbaugh is coming from. But he sticks with his arguments and avoids the temptation to hurl insults at those he disagrees with.

This is the type of book that some will love and others will hate. I have many issues with Limbaugh's ideas and his questionable logic. But I can also agree with him on some points, like the silliness of political correctness and the targeting of Christians for harassment. It is true that they are being targeted, but not necessarily because of religion, per se. I think Christians are attacked simply because they are in the majority, making them an easy target.

If you like some good, intellectual debate to get yourself thinking, then you might enjoy "Persecution". Like me, you may not agree with everything Limbaugh has to say, but his writing is still pretty good and he does avoid name calling and other acts of immaturity. I recommend taking a look at this book to see what you think.

65 of 81 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book. September 23, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

It's interesting that the individual from Oregon stated, "After all the misery and torture Christians have dished out over the past 2000 years, I would expect at the very least that those same children be sent to gas chambers for their beliefs before anyone dare write a book about how Christians are persecuted." This is an incredibly asinine statement...go checkout Stalin and numerous other individuals who have killed millions and was an Atheist. Second, Limbaugh provides an interesting viewpoint on this whole debate. We live in a country where the ten commandments have been removed from a court house...but, they allow statues of Athena (a pagan god)...within our libraries. But, we can't have the ten commandments within a courthouse even though our legal system is based upon them. Also, go check out the trim on the Supreme Court...Moses holding the ten commandments. What are they going to do next...chisel it off?

59 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Revealing September 22, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Limbaugh always uses facts to back up his assertions. I think the book may not be well received by the egalitarian types. Why do liberals have unlimited sympathy for Islam when Christianity compels it's members to spread the message just as Islam does?

A modern belief that secularism is the foundation of a stable and progressive society is driving many on the left to believe that no religion is appropriate in the public arena. This belief
operates most vigorously against the dominant religion in society. In our case, it is Christianity. Of course our political traditions spring from Judaism and Christianity which allow for such misguided movements.

Excellent reading, excellent points.