This timely book describes the historical roots and political motives of America's most organized and outspoken political interest group, the Christian Right. Oldfield examines the dilemmas the movement faces within the Republican Party as it attempts both to mobilize its base membership and to participate effectively within broader coalitions.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
The Christian Right is far from being a "transitory phenomenon." Indeed, this political bloc, whose leading organization is the Christian Coalition, controls 18 state Republican parties and maintains a force in 13 others. Oldfield traces 50 years of religious growth, political activism, and party allegiances of this potent voting force. Between 1989 and 1994, he conducted more than 70 interviews, attended three National Religious Broadcasters conventions, researched scholarly and journalistic accounts, and scoured the movement's literature to provide an unbiased account of the Christian Right's strengths and weaknesses as well as its historical, sociological, and political terrain, from the evangelicals' political invisibility in the 1940s to the anti-Communist crusades by Carl McIntire and Billy James Hargis to the Jim and Tammy Bakker scandal to Pat Robertson's presidential campaign. It is implausible that the Christian Right will "exit" the Republican Party, but neither will it succeed, Oldfield concludes, unless it learns to respect that party's norms. A valuable and timely contribution to political literature. Patricia Hassler
Review
Oldfield presents an engaging and balanced account of the modern Christian Right and its ever closer ties to the Republican Party. . . . Highly recommended. (CHOICE )
. . . writing is clear and engaging, making the book accessible to upper-level undergraduates; at the same time specialists in the field of religion and politics will find it useful to have the material in one neat package. (Nesmith, Bruce Perspectives On Poltical Science )
. . . an informative, scholarly and objective analysis. Written without either the applause of the alarm usually associated with its subject, It will be a great help in understanding the dynamics of fateful political trends in the years ahead. (Dean M. Kelley )
Oldfield understands the people he is writing about—what they think and how they feel. He has interviewed them, read their literature, been to their meetings. This book is lucid, perceptive, and unusually well-observed. Those are rare qualities in academic writing today. (Schneider, William )
Duane Oldfield pays the Christian Right the ultimate compliment: he attends seriously to their history, their beliefs, and their prospects for the future. He writes judiciously and calmly about issues that others are shooting about. This is an impressive book, full of insights worth pondering by both the critics and the allies of the Christian Right. It could not be more timely. (Cromartie, Michael )
Oldefield's book is an excellent account of the Christian Right and its evolving relationship with the Republican party. (Douglas Jaenicke Political Studies, Vol. 46 N0. 2 June 1998 )
Oldfield's work is judicious and thorough. (William R. Stevenson, Jr. Jouranl Of Church and State, Vol. 40, No. 3 Summer 98 )
...articulate...extensive descriptions...historical detail... (Dennis J. Goldford H-Net Review )
. . . writing is clear and engaging, making the book accessible to upper-level undergraduates; at the same time specialists in the field of religion and politics will find it useful to have the material in one neat package. (Nesmith, Bruce Perspectives On Poltical Science )
. . . an informative, scholarly and objective analysis. Written without either the applause of the alarm usually associated with its subject, It will be a great help in understanding the dynamics of fateful political trends in the years ahead. (Dean M. Kelley )
Oldfield understands the people he is writing about—what they think and how they feel. He has interviewed them, read their literature, been to their meetings. This book is lucid, perceptive, and unusually well-observed. Those are rare qualities in academic writing today. (Schneider, William )
Duane Oldfield pays the Christian Right the ultimate compliment: he attends seriously to their history, their beliefs, and their prospects for the future. He writes judiciously and calmly about issues that others are shooting about. This is an impressive book, full of insights worth pondering by both the critics and the allies of the Christian Right. It could not be more timely. (Cromartie, Michael )
Oldefield's book is an excellent account of the Christian Right and its evolving relationship with the Republican party. (Douglas Jaenicke Political Studies, Vol. 46 N0. 2 June 1998 )
Oldfield's work is judicious and thorough. (William R. Stevenson, Jr. Jouranl Of Church and State, Vol. 40, No. 3 Summer 98 )
...articulate...extensive descriptions...historical detail... (Dennis J. Goldford H-Net Review )
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