walruz's review against another edition
3.0
While there's nothing in this 2006 book by widely-traveled journalist Hedges that any reasonably critical American would find startlingly new or profound, still this expose is unsettling, not so much because these religio-fascist-capitalist leaders exist, but--as Hedges points out from time to time--that anyone with a modicum of sense follows them at all.
digitalrob's review against another edition
3.0
This book is disturbing.
First, Hedges starts with a definition and explaination of fascism, and I had to double check the publication date to see that it wasn't specifically written to be a lampooning of the Trump administration. It was written in 2007, so the fact that the description of fascism immediately made me think of Trump is telling in and of itself.
All of the middle chapters explain the different methods that conservative Christians move to make the U.S. a Christian Nation, and in so doing accept and relish their own hypocrisy. Most of what is described here, I had already heard of; however, put together in this manner with these expamples and quotes from the church leaders makes it abundantly clear that Christian hegemony is the agenda, not an accident of ignorant policies and Biblical interpretations.
Finally, one of the most interesting aspects of this study for me is the fact that so many of the radical right have professed a faith of prosperity, that gaining riches is the result of great faith and thus being wealthy is a sign of God's trust in someone. This is what I mean when I say that fascism knowingly embraces their own hypocrisy and also prey on the desperation of those in most need.
Quotes from Chapters 9 and 10
"There can be no liberty for the community that lacks the means to detect lies."
After the quote from Huck Finn about tearing up the note: "The radical Christian right calls for exclusion, cruelty, and intolerance in the name of God. Its members do not do evil for evil's sake. They commit evil to make a better world."
"I do not deny the right of the Christian radicals to be, to believe and worship as they choose. But I will not engage in a dialog with those who deny my right to be, who delegitimize my faith and denounce my struggle before God as worthless."
First, Hedges starts with a definition and explaination of fascism, and I had to double check the publication date to see that it wasn't specifically written to be a lampooning of the Trump administration. It was written in 2007, so the fact that the description of fascism immediately made me think of Trump is telling in and of itself.
All of the middle chapters explain the different methods that conservative Christians move to make the U.S. a Christian Nation, and in so doing accept and relish their own hypocrisy. Most of what is described here, I had already heard of; however, put together in this manner with these expamples and quotes from the church leaders makes it abundantly clear that Christian hegemony is the agenda, not an accident of ignorant policies and Biblical interpretations.
Finally, one of the most interesting aspects of this study for me is the fact that so many of the radical right have professed a faith of prosperity, that gaining riches is the result of great faith and thus being wealthy is a sign of God's trust in someone. This is what I mean when I say that fascism knowingly embraces their own hypocrisy and also prey on the desperation of those in most need.
Quotes from Chapters 9 and 10
"There can be no liberty for the community that lacks the means to detect lies."
After the quote from Huck Finn about tearing up the note: "The radical Christian right calls for exclusion, cruelty, and intolerance in the name of God. Its members do not do evil for evil's sake. They commit evil to make a better world."
"I do not deny the right of the Christian radicals to be, to believe and worship as they choose. But I will not engage in a dialog with those who deny my right to be, who delegitimize my faith and denounce my struggle before God as worthless."
krasmazov's review against another edition
5.0
Sometimes my dad wants to have “conversations.” I don’t talk, it’s mostly him monologuing. What do these monologues consist of you might ask? Mostly the Rapture, the end times, and how great everything will be once the filth has been washed away.
My family is the quintessential American petite-bourgeoisie. Money has been tight before, but I am thankful that I’ve always had a roof over my head and never missed out on any meals. My dad is also thankful but he will be truly happy once Jesus comes back and all the degenerates are eternally burning in a pit of fire.
Who are these degenerates? Well that’s easy, his list is always the same. It’s the socialists, the gays, the lesbians, the violent black thugs, and presumably the unconverted Jews. My dad is adamant that the Jews constantly put their own interests ahead of good God fearing Christian’s. The only new addition to his list are Trans people, who he especially despises.
Mostly everyone in my family is ready for the Rapture. They can’t wait to be with lost loved ones and spend eternity in the grace of Jesus. They’re enraptured. And they pray it comes soon because of all the oppression Christians suffer in America.
Whenever my dad monologues, or my family tearfully wish Jesus come back, one phrase always circles in my head. “They have abandoned reality in favor of fantasy, and when push comes to shove they may try to force their fantasy onto reality.”
I’m glad Hedges focuses in on the psychology behind the Christian Right. While economics do play a key role for Christians similar to my family money is no problem. They’re jobs haven’t disappeared in fact some of them are making more money than ever. Men such as my father view the world through a lens of Us and Them. Us is the favored and Them is everyone who is different. My only hope is that the various minority groups who make up the Them are prepared and ready for whenever the Christian Right really falls off the deep end.
My family is the quintessential American petite-bourgeoisie. Money has been tight before, but I am thankful that I’ve always had a roof over my head and never missed out on any meals. My dad is also thankful but he will be truly happy once Jesus comes back and all the degenerates are eternally burning in a pit of fire.
Who are these degenerates? Well that’s easy, his list is always the same. It’s the socialists, the gays, the lesbians, the violent black thugs, and presumably the unconverted Jews. My dad is adamant that the Jews constantly put their own interests ahead of good God fearing Christian’s. The only new addition to his list are Trans people, who he especially despises.
Mostly everyone in my family is ready for the Rapture. They can’t wait to be with lost loved ones and spend eternity in the grace of Jesus. They’re enraptured. And they pray it comes soon because of all the oppression Christians suffer in America.
Whenever my dad monologues, or my family tearfully wish Jesus come back, one phrase always circles in my head. “They have abandoned reality in favor of fantasy, and when push comes to shove they may try to force their fantasy onto reality.”
I’m glad Hedges focuses in on the psychology behind the Christian Right. While economics do play a key role for Christians similar to my family money is no problem. They’re jobs haven’t disappeared in fact some of them are making more money than ever. Men such as my father view the world through a lens of Us and Them. Us is the favored and Them is everyone who is different. My only hope is that the various minority groups who make up the Them are prepared and ready for whenever the Christian Right really falls off the deep end.
williamstome's review against another edition
4.0
Cutting and thoughtful, but would have benefited from a clearer argument structure, especially in terms of the connections with Eco's principles of Ur-Fascism, and did not connect nearly enough with the obvious white supremacist dimensions of American CristoFascism.