|
| American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America |
| By: | Chris Hedges |
| Media: | Book |
| ISBN: | 0743284437 |
| Average Rating: |  |
|
|
A Clear-eyed View of America Today
Nowhere else have I seen a clearer description of the ideology of the Religious Right and the threat that it represents to our freedom. Hedges calls the Christian Right "a sworn and potent enemy of the open society...a Christian fascism." While he accepts religious differences, he refuses to tolerate the intolerant. All it would take, he warns us, would be one economic or environmental disaster and the Christian Right "stands poised to manipulate fear and chaos ruthlessly and reshape America in ways that have not been seen since the nation's founding." This highly readable book should be read by everyone who values his/her personal freedom.
Chris Hedges on religion and fascism
I was struck by how Chris Hedges confirmed an observation of Eric Hoffer who wrote The True Believer, that people are often shaped by their own specific demons. In other words, we are apt to be shaped by our perceived enemies. Thus evangelical atheists become mirror counterparts of evangelical religious fundamentalists. Whenever conflict escalates to hostility the outcome tends toward violence.
American Fascists, The Christian Right and the War on America
Interesting and inciteful, but does not reflect, but implies, the agenda and operational conduct of Christian churches generally.
Stirring Argument Regarding Religious Extremisms
In its 13 April 2009 edition, Newsweek reports that the 2009 American Religious Identification Survey shows a 10 percentage point decrease in the number of Americans who self-identify as Christian since 1990. The article further goes on to declare the modern religious right's notion of a Christian America has fallen and that fewer people now think of the United States as a "Christian Nation." In American Fascists, Chris Hedges theorizes that if 1,000 people had stood up and let their voices be heard Hitler's totalitarian state of terror would not have existed. Is the supposed decline and fall of the Christian Nation because of the works of people like Harris, Dawkins, Hitchens and other commentators and individuals who have raised their voices in protest? Hedges provides a strong voice in with his commentary that adds to the discussion regarding extremist, not all.
American Fascists is scary when you when you consider the correlations of the Conservative Christian Right's efforts to build a Christian Nation in America and the efforts used by fascists throughout history. The tolerance of the left towards the intolerant behavior of the Christian Right has allowed the acceptance of undemocratic behaviors. While democracy ensures equal protection to all religions and all peoples, the Christian Right has set an agenda to establish laws that definitely eliminates equal protection and identifies those who are worthy and those who are not. Those who are not worthy ( i.e. those not saved through a born again experience) are to be condemned and dismissed.
Key points that are identifiable today America include:
- Beyond rule over all creation, Dominionism calls for a master race who are above all humans, which the Christian right believes is American Christians.
- The call for violence is always in the name of self-defense and to make the world a better place. It is always the victims fault for any violence that falls upon them.
- Murder is unacceptable, except at the end of time when all who have not been saved will be murdered.
- Depletion of the natural resources is acceptable for God has unlimited ability to replenish the earth.
- A dialogue is not desired by the Christian Right. Thoughts, ideas, and facts that do not fit their selective interpretation of the bible or beliefs are dismissed as untrue.
- Evolution posits what they fear most, a morally neutral world, which will destroy their world of myth, magic and irrationality.
Hedges has written a great book that provides a good look into the mirror for America. However, I feel it will be mainly read and accepted by the choir that sings along with him. Whether or not the dream of a Christian Nation is dead is to be seen. Many movements have tried to gain control over the great American experiment but have failed. Hopefully, this is one of the 1,000 voices that helps keep it in check.
|
|
