Customer Reviews

The Theocons: Secular America Under Siege

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Theocons describes a phenomenon that ought to be of concern to anyone wanting to maintain the United States as a democratic republic, the marriage of religion and politics. Randall Balmer has accurately described how the marriage of religion and politics tends to weaken and corrupt both religious and governmental institutions. Mr. Linker examines this phenomenon from the perspective of Catholic institutions, rather than from the usual perspective of Protestant evangelicalism. As a practicing Catholic, I didn't find the book anti-Catholic or anti-religion, rather, it is a just criticism of the attempts of some religious individuals to marry religion and politics. Mr. Linker describes in the book how he began his career at First Things believing in what Fr. Neuhaus was doing, and how he became a critic after observing the publication and its editor in action. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting discussion on conservative Catholic involvement in what has been described as "dominionism."

Linker does a spectacular job in his expose of the infamous editor, conservative and convert to Catholicism, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus and his theoconservative colleagues. A well-written and edited work, this book systematically approaches the chronological development of an ideology that has come to manifest itself in the current United States governmental administration.

While the book might be viewed as polemical by those sympathetic to the theoconservative agenda, it is generally a even-tempered, fair treatment of the subject of a ideological group seeking to influence public policy.

An approachably written book, this is a nice analysis of timely subject regarding politics that diverges from the bounty of polemical material currently in print regarding the Bush Whitehouse. I highly recommend this book.

Damon Linker's fascinating monograph is both compelling and insightful, having been in the midst of things as editor of the rightwing Catholic magazine "First Things." This book does not reek with "sour grapes," but is a provocative wake-up call to serious observers of the American cultural and political scene. As an historian, I am impressed by the first-rate prose and organization of this book, not to mention what I perceive as a successful argument and finish. Linker's book is a good companion to Michelle Goldberg's recent book on the religious right and its threat to American democracy and the separation of religion and government (Church and State in the old way of speaking). Hopefully people will apply critical thinking and intellectual honesty to the issues Damon Linker raises.

Well written and referenced. A great insight into the diabolical nature of the right-wing neocons and their agenda. If you are left of center you will applaud the book. If you are inclined to listen to the right-wing talk radio freaks, you probably won't like the book.

This book should be required reading for anyone interested in the relationship between religion and politics in the U.S. The Theocons tells a story that has otherwise been lost in the recent fascination with the connection between evangelicals and conservative politics in the U.S. Linker's book is riveting, as he describes the ways that several influential American Catholics have shaped American political debates and pursued their goal of making this a deeply Christian country. Linker provides much-needed insight into the workings of the Theocon movement.

I have been concerned for many years with the power and danger of right wing religion in America, and for me the focus has been on Protestantism. So for me, this book was a necessary corrective and a powerful eye opener.

THE THEOCONS is a very important and timely book for anyone concerned with religious leaders hungry for political power and influence. In one sense it is a tell-all book by Damon Linker who worked for FIRST THINGS, the journal of right wing Roman Catholicism published by Rev Richard John Neuhaus. But that would be to trivialize the book, for Linker's purpose is not to tell personal tales at all. Rather, he carefully documents the development of this "theoconservative" movement over the past thirty years -- both a theological and political movement --- and tells of its deliberate attempts to influence U.S. society at many levels.

So the book deals with theology and (recent) history, and is not particularly a late night read. But it is well worth your time and attention. The author has done his homework, writes well, and ends with a chapter giving his own basic critique of THEOCON ideology. Linker has obviously come to believe that the Theocon ideology presents a real danger to America. How serious this danger really is, and how effective the Theocons have been in their grasping for power, will be matters for continued discussion. But the efforts of Neuhaus and this movement need to be understood, and this book is definitely the place to begin.

This book is really scary. Mr. Linker knows what he is talking about, though, because I have read similar things in many other books over the past few years. The U.S. is headed for a Theocratic/Plutocratic government with "Big Brother" watching us much too closely!

This book chronicles the takeover of our government by religion over the past few decades. Very informative and backs up the claims it makes.

Damon Linker, a former editor of First Things journal, details the rise of conservative theological influence on Washington politics in The Theocons: Secular America Under Siege. The emergence of religious rhetoric in political speech has been, for the most part, a recent infiltration contrasting against the secular swing of the sixties and seventies.

The Theocons chronicles the shift in loyalties of certain prominent theological leaders--namely Lutheran minister turned Catholic priest Richard John Neuhaus, and Catholic philosopher Michael Novak--from Vietnam War-inspired liberalism to the current theocracy permeating the Iraq War strategy.

The validity of Linker's assertions comes from his three and a half years of experience as editor of First Things, a publication by the Institute on Religion and Public Life, whose own goal according to the First Things website "is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society." Linker's personal observations of key players of the "theoconservative" movement, who also happen to be behind the creation of the journal, and his detailed research of prior publications made by these individuals, illustrate the deceptive manipulation of the American public by both the media and politicians, specifically the Bush Administration.

An unexpected quality of the book is that the majority of the content is relatively unbiased and is composed strictly of chronological facts. While it is clear that Linker disapproves of the agenda the theoconservative movement has created for the American people, the actions of those involved do well to create an image of an insidious political conspiracy, whether intentional or not. Collectively, religious leaders in the public eye have succeeded in molding American democracy into little more than an extension of the church.

The Theocons was originally published by Doubleday in 2006, and this 2007 Anchor Books trade paperback edition features an Afterword updated with two more years of political reactions and influence.

Armchair Interviews says: If this subject interests you, Linker offers a lot of thoughtful challenges.

You can't live in the United States of America and not notice the shift in politics towards religion. Almost daily we see the lines between Church and State become blurrier and blurrier. Damon Linker calls this movement theoconservatism and outlines the rise and development of this uniquely American point of view in his book The Theocons-Secular America Under Siege.

Linker has a unique perspective as the former editor of First Things, the journal of the theocons. He believes that Americans should be scared enough by this small conservative movement to keep an eye and a check on how far religion is allowed to go in consulting with federal government.

The argument is compelling. We are dealing with an administration that brought in faith based initiatives, faith based counseling, and that involved itself in the Terry Schiavo right-to-die case. It is also a proponent of "intelligent design", has passed (or attempted) pro-life legislation, is against gay marriage, and continues to fund and fight a moral global war against terror.

Linker focuses on the major players of the movement, all who have close ties to the current White House administration and who have very radical views of the role religion should play in government. From Catholic conservative Richard John Neuhaus (founder of First Things) and author Michael Novack, best known for his arguments against income tax and theological justifications for George W. Bush's Middle East policies; to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and almost-Justice Robert Bork - we get a good overview of the main organizers of this small but highly vocal and effective group of theorists and political advisors.

The Theocons is a great book, a scary book, an important book for anyone truly interested in the behind the scenes workings of the current U.S. government to read. Be aware that it is not an easy read. Linker writes from an academic focus that can be a bit dry and painful at times, but struggle through as I did and you will ultimately be glad that you did.