Religion, Politics, and the Christian Right: Post-9/11 Powers in American Empire (Facets) [Paperback]

Mark Lewis Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0800637763 | ISBN-13: 978-0800637767

Princeton theologian Mark Taylor analyzes right-wing Christian movements in the United States amid the powers of religion, politics, empire, and corporate classes in post-9/11 USA. The real gift of Taylor's book is his argument that this militant Christian faith must be viewed against a backdrop of the American political romanticism and corporatist liberalism of U.S. past and present. Taylor uses the best of cultural and historical studies, while deftly drawing lessons for American readers from theologian Paul Tillich's analysis of power and religion during the rise of fascism and nationalism in Germany of the 1930s. The result is an innovative framework for interpreting how Christian nationalists, Pentagon war planners and corporate institutions today are forging alliances in the U.S. that have dramatic and destructive global impact. Moving beyond lament, Taylor also leaves readers with a new romance of revolutionary traditions and a new more radical liberalism, revitalizing American visions of spirit that are both prophetic and public for U.S. residents today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Lewis Taylor is the Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Theology and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Among his many publications is The Executed God: The Way of the Cross in Lockdown America (Fortress Press). He is also editor of Paul Tillich: Theologian of the Boundaries and coeditor of Reconstructing Christian Theology, both from Fortress Press. He is coordinator of Academics for Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: FORTRESS PRESS (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800637763
• ISBN-13: 978-0800637767
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,150,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Lewis Taylor is Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Theology and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. His most recent book is entitled, _The Theological and the Political: On the Weight of the World_ (Fortress Press, 2011).

Previously, his most recent book was _Religion, Politics and the Christian Right: Post-9/11 Politics and American Empire_ (2005), and currently is speaking on themes of that volume. In his book, _The Executed God: The Way of the Cross in Lockdown America_(2000), Taylor developed a Christology in response to U.S. empire in relation to issues of the contemporary prison-industrial complex, police brutality and the death penalty. He is also founder, and now co-coordinator, of "Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal," a group of teachers from all levels of education university teachers organizing for a new trial for Abu-Jamal, a journalist on Pennsylvania's death row since 1982. He has also been an activist in other movements to end U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan/Pakistan, to reform radically U.S. prisons, to abolish the death penalty, while pressing for immigration rights and reform, and for change in US policy toward Mexico and Latin America. He also serves on the board for the Masters degree in Community Organizing, offered by the U.S.-Mexico Solidarity Organization and accredited with the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommend To Those Who Want To Resurrect Democracy, February 5, 2006

By 

Eliza (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Religion, Politics, and the Christian Right: Post-9/11 Powers in American Empire (Facets) (Paperback)

Prof. Taylor, a Christian Professor of Theology & Culture at the Princeton Theological Seminary, provides a scholarly analysis of the forces eroding our democracy both before and after 9/11. He provides a lot of insight into the dangerous and formidable combined alliance of neoconservatives, Christian right, and the corporate elite. These forces are tearing our democracy to shreds and forming a plutocracy in its place, perhaps even a theocratic plutocracy. The horrible events of 9/11 and the fear reaction that it has caused created fertile ground for their policies to be implemented. The recent eye opener for me is that those policies were in the wings before 9/11 ever happened. Thus, 9/11 is merely the enabling event. The news is not good for minorities, middle and lower classes, or those who treasure their religious and personal freedoms.

I think this book might resonate particularly with Christians who value religious freedoms for all peoples and democracy. This is not to say non-Christians and secular readers should shy away. The book was directed to a general audience and does so admirably. In fact, one of the things I liked about the book was the way Prof. Taylor's faith was there in the background but the message was always for everyone. This problem affects us all and part of the problem has been the sense of polarization occurring in our country. There is a brief epilogue directed specifically to Christian practice in countering Imperialism.

While the author does give the reader some direction for keeping democracy alive, I'm afraid the book didn't leave me with great hope or optimism for turning things around any time soon. I don't pose this as a criticism though as you can hardly blame the author for the mess we are in. Citizens becoming informed is part of the remedy and this book will definitely assist in that cause. Prof. Taylor does offer people cultivating "prophetic spirit" as part of the solution. This will entail people becoming impassioned enough over issues to bond together, to become activists, and take a stand. I think this will need to happen on large scales though to make a difference. Although Prof. Taylor mentions some encouraging actions and groups, I afraid that the large majority of citizens still have their heads in the sand. Corporate media and propaganda don't help either. People have to be motivated to really seek information from outside sources in order to understand what is happening.