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James Davison Hunter

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Culture Wars: The Struggle To Define America Hardcover – December 2, 1991

by James Davison Hunter (Author)

4.3 55 ratings

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A riveting account of how Christian fundamentalists, Orthodox Jews, and conservative Catholics have joined forces in a battle against their progressive counterparts for control of American secular culture.

From Library Journal

In this excellent, scholarly work, Hunter explores the transition in deeply rooted cultural conflicts in American society. These are the political and social hostilities generated from differing systems of moral understanding involving such issues as abortion, homosexuality, families, education, laws, elections, censorship, media, and the arts. In the past, ancient animosities had been expressed along religious lines: Protestants versus Catholics, Christians versus Jews. Now the culture wars are the issues-centered conflicts between two passionately polarized groups, the "orthodox" and the "progressive." Concluding that the moderate voices within this public discourse are usually eclipsed, Hunter suggests some practical steps for us to acquire new analytical tools to resolve cultural conflict. Recommended for all academic libraries. (Index not seen.)-- Anne Page Mosby, Georgia State Univ. Lib., Atlanta
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

America's ``identity'' is seen as a history of religious strife in this probing yet somewhat slanted study. Hunter (Sociology and Religious Studies/Univ. of Virginia; American Evangelicalism, 1983) uses historical references to religious battles throughout American history to show how yesterday's ecumenical divisions among Catholics, Protestants, and Jews have become realigned in recent years. Through debates about slavery, the Scopes trial, and the influence of deism on the Constitution, he elaborates on the ``new lines of conflict'' through the eyes of both clergy members and the more ``humanist'' intelligentsia. Hunter is adept at demonstrating how the battles are now between ``orthodox'' and ``progressive'' camps within faiths, and how political mine fields like gay rights, Roe v. Wade, and the ordination of women into the priesthood prompt a nagging concern over the roles of churches and synagogues in American life. The author has a pervasive regard for the role of family--possibly ``the beginning and end of contemporary culture'' since its dissolution may prove fatal to our social order. He also illustrates how the classic dualism between God and Satan has been transformed into an often unscrupulous intrigue between traditionalists and ``secular humanists.'' But Hunter betrays a possible bias regarding homosexuality. Here, the anti-gay ``convictions'' of a Jerry Falwell are treated as more worthy of serious debate than the fulminations against the ``evils'' of race- mixing or ``the Jewish Menace.'' In the end, Hunter seems to favor religious thinking over nontranscendental doctrines. Though giving short shrift to the secular viewpoint, Hunter still provides an informative look at America's ambiguous spiritual character. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Print length

432 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Basic Books
Publication date

December 2, 1991
ISBN-10

0465015336
ISBN-13

978-0465015337
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James Davison Hunter
306
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Allen D. Hertzke
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Andrew Hartman
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (December 2, 1991)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465015336
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465015337
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #308,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,004 in Popular Culture in Social Sciences
- #3,812 in Sociology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 55 ratings

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James Davison Hunter

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James Davison Hunter is LaBrosse-Levinson Distinguished Professor of Religion, Culture and Social Theory at the University of Virginia and Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. He is the author of Culture Wars and The Death of Character.

Photo by Kirsten Rose.

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4.3 out of 5

55 global ratings

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jvr

Still as Relevant Today as When it was Written

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2020

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The body politic in the US is as polarized if not even more so by the divisions he describes as the Culture Wars. Hunter traces the evolution of competing religious and political views beginning in the Prologue with short vignettes by six different people in San Francisco, New York and St. Louis. He proceeds to examine conflicts in the areas of family, education, media and the arts, law, and electoral politics. He examines how politicians are affected by these battles and how they in turn use them to further the divisions. Finally, he examines the challenges they present to democracy in the US. As has subtitle indicates they are the struggle to define America.

Others have written about what they claim is the end of culture wars. One could only wish it were so. One only needs to glance at the daily news, whether in print, on television or social media to realize they are omnipresent. One could hope for a sequel to this seminal work in today's trouble times. Hunter has continued to explore these issues in different ways in subsequent books.

8 people found this helpful

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Roger Gay

Hunter is one smart dude.

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2014

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I've been thinking about writing a review of this book. It's great and deserves 5 stars. Culture Wars has been talked about for decades already, and I think the best thing to say to people who haven't read the book is read the book. It's better than the movie.

8 people found this helpful

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Still Relevent and Timely After All These Years!

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2004

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The title of my review refers to the fact that this book, while published in '91, is still quite an accurate portrayal of how the culture wars are conducted. The passing of 13 years and tenure of two presidents has not served to ameliorate the culture war between 'traditionalists' and 'progressives.' Hunter, then, was certainly right.

Hunter's main thesis with this book is that, quite frankly, the culture war being fought over our schools, family policy, law, entertainment, etc. is not a war that will likely EVER engender a consensus. In fact, as it stands now, it seems even to proclude rational debate in favor of charged rhetoric, miscaricaturizations of opponents, and...well...mudslinging.

Hunter asserts this thesis, backs it up with chronicles of how the culture war has been conducted thus far, and conjectures as to why it is so. First, he says, we are dealing with core philosophic differences over questions to do with 'how the world should be.' Thus, both sides have deep emotions on the said issues. Second, there is no incentive to try and foster consensus because in an adversarial system like ours, the game is about power - the power to get your policy instituted and your other's quashed. Third, each 'side' operates using somewhat incompatible philosophic assumptions. To the anti-abortion-rights activist, it is a child and abortion is murder. To the abortion rights activist, it is only potential life and prohibiting abortion is denying the mother freedom of person. Where one sees freedom (either of the mother or fetus), the other sees either servitude or murder. Incomatibilities like these, says Hunter, will ensure that there will be no satisfactory end to the culture war - just a long, tiring, rhetorically charged, and endless, struggle.

Hunter makes his arguments well, is quite convincing, and is as objective as possible. He gives both sides due consideration, never caricaturizing them. While the book focuses on the culture wars from somewhat of a religious perspective (Catholic and Evangelical v. Liberal Protestant and Jew) in the end, the book is about the culture war PERIOD. Highly reccomended reading.

29 people found this helpful

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Kahok

Fair and balanced and boring

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2017

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Disappointing because he gives equal credibility to both sides and Liberalism is destroying America!

2 people found this helpful

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Charles P. Poole, Jr.

WARS OF CULTURE

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2014

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The struggle to define America. Makes sense of battles over the family, law, politics, art, and education. There are especially bitter battles over God's place in society, abortion, and same-sex marriage. Explains very well what is going on in America today. Highly recommended reading.

6 people found this helpful

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Dtwentyeight12

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2013

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This book warned America of the coming storm that would be unleashed by progressives/libs. Still a must read. Very informative

4 people found this helpful

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