Why the Christian Right Is Wrong
A Minister's Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag, Your Future
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ISBN-10: 0-470-18463-9
ISBN-13: 9780470184639
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
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Year: April 4, 2008
Size: 14.99 x 22.61 x 1.78cm
Number of pages: 224
Weight: 249gr
Binding: Paperback
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»I join the ranks of those who are angry, because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus but whose actions are anything but Christian.« —Robin Meyers, from his »Speech Heard Round the World«
Millions of Americans are outraged at the Bush administration's domestic and foreign policies and even angrier that the nation's religious conservatives have touted these policies as representative of moral values. Why the Christian Right Is Wrong is a rousing manifesto that will ignite the collective conscience of all whose faith and values have been misrepresented by the Christian Right.
Praise for Why the Christian Right Is Wrong:
»In the pulpit, Robin Meyers is the new generation's Harry Emerson Fosdick, George Buttrick, and Martin Luther King. In these pages, you will find a stirring message for our times, from a man who believes that God's love is universal, that the great Jewish prophets are as relevant now as in ancient times, and that the Jesus who drove the money changers from the Temple may yet inspire us to embrace justice and compassion as the soul of democracy. This is not a book for narrow sectarian minds; read it, and you will want to change the world.« —Bill Moyers
»In this book, a powerful and authentic religious voice from America's heartland holds up a mirror to the Bush administration and its religious allies. The result is a vision of Orwellian proportions in which values are inverted and violence, hatred, and bigotry are blessed by one known as 'The Prince of Peace,' who called us to love our enemies. If you treasure this country and tremble over its present direction, this book is a must-read!« —John Shelby Spong author, The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible's Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love
»This is a timely warning and a clarion call to the church to recover the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to a great nation to resist the encroachment of the Christian Right and of Christian fascism. Many of us in other parts of the world are praying fervently that these calls will be heeded.« —Archbishop Desmond Tutu
reviews
At last, a liberal excretion that actually made it to Amazon's list of »viable« books. Almost unheard of … If this learned treatise is endorsed by Bill Moyers, I know it has to be so far off the left flank that it would be purposeless to get it. After all, is he not an ultra-Leftist icon? Do not his blatantly illegal conflicting business relationships with PBS constitute adequate reason for his dismissal from any post requiring the same level of judgmement?
This book suffers from the same sort of problem other preachers have when they get involved in trying to shape public policy: they try to prove points with bad data and demonstrate obvious bias by ripping the other guy for his policies and ignoring the same mistakes by their guy. No doubt his intentions are good, but I think he should try and stick to his area of expertise (theology?) and stop making suggestions about policy. I would respect Meyers more as a religious leader if he had a consistent scale on which to grade politicians and were willing to blame each administration for their faults instead of cherry picking from the guy sitting on the other side of the aisle. There's a blurb on the back cover from John Shelby Spong. If you know anything about him that should tell you a lot about this book. Meyers is a minister but this book contains a lot of theology out of step with most Christians. That may be a plus for someone like him who claims to `rethink' theology, but there's a reason why most people probably don't feel the same way he does. Among some of the views espoused by Meyers: -the Bible is flawed and dead (it doesn't 'say' anything, it 'said' something centuries ago) -the Fall of man never happened (therefore evolution is true. then how do you explain sin?) -we do not need a savior to pay for our sins. (pg. 122. oh, ok. forget sin) You know, the denial of things most Christians would consider basic tenets. Also, Paul was homosexual (pg. 93) and Jesus was anti-family. (pg. 80) When he starts talking about public policy he pulls everything out of the left-wing playbook: -Your money is not yours, it belongs to the gov't. (pg.56) They know how to spend it better than you do. (apparently this doesn't stop him later for claiming the gov't is full of lobbyists and corrupt individuals. I guess that makes them good at spending your money) -Support the death tax. Any attempt to pass wealth along to your children after death is selfish and should be happily given back to the gov't. (pg. 129) -We have executed innocent people on death row. (He doesn't have any citations to support this) -Death penalty doesn't deter crime. (Some economists disagree, like John Lott.) -We need to respect `the earth's mysterious fertility' (pg. 107) or she will seek revenge with extreme weather. (He gets into some quasi new age mysticism here.) -10 of the hottest years have occurred since 1980 (pg.105. Wrong. It's only 4, and NASA says so.) -Social security is the most successful government program in American history (pg. 127. Never mind it needs major reform and will soon have a negative cash flow.) -Bush rejected Kyoto. (Half right. If you blame Bush you must blame Clinton/Gore, but he never does that. What about Resolution 98? What about the fact Clinton/Gore never sent Kyoto to the Senate for approval?) This is just a small list of problems with the book. I could go on further about his misrepresentation of the Mercury Regulation problems Clinton created for Bush or the sketchy data used to support universal health care. Obviously Meyers has an incredible heart for helping the sick and poor, but he does a horrible job of convincing me that his way will actually accomplish any of that or that the right is completely wrong. Like most people in politics he's more interested in proving a point than actually helping enlighten us about the issues. Also, there's not a whole lot of scripture to back up his arguments. This book is way more political than theological and unfortunately Meyers doesn't do a very good job supporting either.
Robin Meyer's book is essential reading for us progressive evangelicals.He is a prophetic voice in the wilderness. God bless his courage.
This is one of the most inspiring books to correct the misconception of a »Christian« administration vs the true philosophy of Jesus. In simple, English Dr Meyers describes the immoralities of this government and what we should do as real Christians to change our society/church. The weakness of the opposition party is also recognized and we are called upon as individuals to work diligently to change all phases of life to what the Saviour taught.
This book, in no uncertain terms, tells it like it is about the GOP and the Christian »Right«. Mr Meyers describes, in detail, how the mixing of politics and religion has led to many of the problems we have today, including »W«. It is a must read for anyone who doesn't want another »W« like leader in 08. They have distorted the Christian message from »What would Jesus do?« to »Who would Jesus bomb« and offers a message of acceptance and inclusion of all, even non-believers», to make a better world. Offers many valuable points (about the environment, the poor, health care, and others, who the so called «Christian» people have twisted [in an «unholy» alliance with the GOP] which has nothing to do with the messages of the Gospels). Of course, the holier than thou will think it's «blasphemy", but these are the same people who talk out of both sides of their mouths. Judge for yourself.
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- Christian Life – Political Issues
- Christian Theology
- Christianity
- Conservatism
- Fundamentalism
- Government – U.S. Government
- Political Ideologies – Conservatism & Liberalism
- Politics – Current Events
- Religion
- Religion & beliefs
- Religion & Politics
- Religion, Politics & State
- RELIGION – Christian Life – General
- Religion – Religion, Politics & State
- Religion – Socialissues
- Religious aspects
- United States
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