Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics [Hardcover]

Ralph E. Reed (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996

Today's multicultural elite seem to want every voice to be heard--except that of conservative Christians and other people of faith. Yet, as Ralph Reed points out, our nation was founded on principles of faith, morality, and conscience--values that suddenly have been deemed politically incorrect. Are politically involved people of faith a threat to democracy?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Reed, the executive director of the Christian Coalition, issues Christians a call to arms in the ongoing "culture wars." In a fair and judicious manner, he articulates how religious people who hold pro-family views have been alienated from the political process. Reed argues that the conventional conservative religious view of a society composed of stronger families, smaller government, less crime, and more educational support is well supported outside as well as inside the Church. Christians can implement this vision through prayer, participation in the political process, and persistence. Though Reed's solutions to social ills are often simplistic, he has written a sober and clear plan of action for conservative religious people seeking to change society. Recommended for public libraries.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

In this book-length exposition of the Christian Coalition's aims (a drastically shorter one is in Disciples and Democracy ), its executive director articulates the organization's agenda, explains how religion has been--much to the detriment of social cohesion--shunted aside by twentieth-century politics and exhorts people of faith to participate at all levels of politics, indeed, perhaps especially at the local level (on school boards, neighborhood councils, etc.), and to communicate their opinions to those in higher elective offices. Throughout, Reed gives little history refreshers on the influence, bad (white Christian resistance to black civil rights) as well as good, Christianity has exerted on U.S. political and social development. Although he leaves a few controversial coalition stands unexplained (especially its opposition to gay rights), Reed presents the program of the so-called Religious Right cogently and winningly; anyone who wants to know what that program is all about could not do better than to read this book. With a 125,000-copy first printing and an extensive media campaign and national author tour already launched, its fame will precede its presence in most libraries. Ray Olson --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: W Pub Group (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 907167634X
• ISBN-13: 978-9071676345
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #927,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Faith Factors and Free Speech, January 1, 2005

By 

joedriver252 "joedriver252" (Stuarts Draft, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics (Hardcover)

There seems to be a movement in the US to silence any political opinions that are informed in any way by religious faith, especially if that faith is a Conservative version of Christianity. Those who would silence people of faith from speaking out politically may be a very small group, but their numbers may be growing, and they will certainly become more vocal as President Bush begins his second term. This is one of the key issues Reed addresses in "Politically Incorrect", a book that is timely in many regards even though it was written about a decade ago. Reed points out that the great social movements of the last few centuries had a strong religious dimension, and in many cases were spearheaded by persons motivated by their religious faith. Reed goes on to lay down a common sense prescription for some of the ills he sees in society, and effectively argues that the right to pursue these goals should not be denied to people simply because they are guided in part by religious faith. Some humor inserted somehow would have been welcome in Reed's work, but his book is otherwise a solid effort worthy of the reader's time.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent resource, February 14, 2003

By 

student (the South) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics (Hardcover)

An excellent resource for anyone of any faith becoming involved in the political process. Also handy for those interested in starting or enhancing their own grassroots political organization.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars an angry young man, December 18, 2005

By 

Emily Denis "RDENIS" (Katy, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Politically Incorrect: The Emerging Faith Factor in American Politics (Hardcover)

Reed's book comes across as the effort of an ambitious angry young man who being frustrated with the course of political and social events in the US, has decided to take it upon himself to mold the nation in his imagined image of what it should be at any cost.

Reed appears to have great potential but his sentiments are misplaced. Reed (a professing Christian) drifts from Christianity to Capitalism as if they are one in the same. He is a true reflection of the upper middle class Sunday Christian who is in church on Sunday and out for his personal conquest and gain the other 6 days of the week.

In my opinion the book is the long version of any political talk show where folks put forth their side at all costs while disparaging those who oppose them no matter how vaild their points may be.

Reed is a man of controversy. Found guilty of plagarism while at the University of Georgia, Reed was fired from the school newspaper the "Red and Black". He has also in the past been accused of election rigging, and has close ties to casino gambling.

Maybe Reed and others best put forth the case.

"I want to be invisible. I do guerrilla warfare. I paint my face and travel at night. You don't know it's over until you're in a body bag." Ralph Reed.

"His M.O. is to tell evangelical Christians that his cause of the moment, for which he has been hired, is their religious duty, and therefore they need to write regulators, turn up at meetings, or whatever. As an evangelical myself, I resent Christianity being used simply to help Reed's business." - Bob Irvin, former Republican leader of the Georgia House of Representatives

"I used to tell people he was going to be either President of the United States or Al Capone. Whatever he did, he was really good at it." - his mother, Marcy Reed