The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power

... at this phenomenon all around me. And that is one of the strengths of Sharlet's book; he was willing to, at length, and in a fairly systematic way. The American news is filled with the threats and dangers of Islamic fundamentalism (and indeed, there really is such a thing), but what of the Christian religious fundamentalism within our own country, which is usually not discussed in terms of being a threat, but rather as an occasional oddity, such as a theme park that shows dinosaurs and man coexisting, all after 4004 B.C or the numerous televangelists and/or evangelical preachers caught in a sex scandal. For me, Sharlet functioned much in the sense of that website which proclaims: "We watch Fox News so you won't have to."The author tackles a complex and sensitive subject, the intersection of Christian fundamentalist beliefs with the American political system. He had the erudition to place it within an historical context, and relates it to the secular strains of American life. He starts with his own personal experiences at Ivanwald, the "retreat" for the elite fundamentalists, those who want to utilize "Jesus," the one they define as a tough, muscular one, certainly not the "turn the other cheek" one, to further specific political objectives, as well as the general ones, of expanding the influence of "free-markets" and the American empire. Next, Sharlet places today's fundamentalist movement in an American historical context, starting in the early 1700's, with the preacher Jonathan Edwards, author of "The Great Awaking," and his relationship with Abigail Hutchinson. He then moves in the early 1800's, and the character of Charles Finney. I'm beginning to think: Do I really need to know all this? Fortunately, I persevered, and Sharlet did convince me that I DID need to know it: specifically, his theme that religious fundamentalism has been one of the essential strains of the American historical experience. The author then moves into the modern period, and how Abram Vereide used fundamentalism in his fight against the labor movement of the `30's, and in particular, Harry Bridges of the Longshoremen's union.The author discusses how numerous leaders of the fundamentalist movements, including Coe in recent times, openly admired the techniques of various totalitarian leaders, from Lenin to Hitler and Mao, although he is generally careful to insist that the fundamentalist leaders are not actually fascists themselves. He also shows how many dictators in the world, from Papa Doc in Haiti, through Haile Selaisse in Ethiopia, to even a Muslim leader, like Sukarno in Indonesia, became friends of "The Family," and were in turn sponsored by them with political leaders in Congress. The last third of the book is wryly entitled the "popular front," and centers on a town three hours to my north, Colorado Springs, CO., which has become a "Mecca" for fundamentalist. I particularly appreciated the detailed background on Pastor Ted Haggard, whom I had only recalled as yet another hypocritical preacher when he was exposed briefly in the media.I found the book most readable, though it is difficult to organize material of such a vast scope without seeming to be episodic. Sharlet has his witty moments, with some pithy comments like: "This religion isn't an opiate of the masses; it's the American Christ on methamphetamine." And "For Coe, it was Jesus plus nothing--a formula into which he could plug any values. It was a theology of total malleability, perfect for American expansion." And in discussing Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, the author says his attitude is: "Hate the sinner, love the sin."This is a rich, informative book, which addresses the working of power, and as those who wield it so often prefer, they would like to remain "behind the curtain." I thought of Mearsheimer's and Walt's book on "The Israeli Lobby." Both books steer clear of a "conspiracy theory" mode, yet frankly address the behind-the-scenes political lobbying efforts of each lobby. And for their efforts, both have received their share of 1-star reviews. I read all the 1-stars on Sharlet, and concluded that they were of limited substance, and usually outright wrong, such as the statement by Coffman that Sharlet was claiming "The Family" was "anti-Semitic." I was particularly impressed that Sharlet answered in a thoughtful manner.Lastly, I loved the cover, well-done as an antique Bible, and I felt one of Sharlet's concluding messages was aimed at me: "We cannot just counter fundamentalism's key men with our own; nor can we simply switch out the celebratory model of history for an entirely grim chronicle of horrors. Rather, we must continue to revisit the history of American fundamentalism--which is to say, we must reconsider the story we speak of when we say "America." In another words, we must pay much more attention to that which we really don't want to look at. A solid 5-star work that will be re-visited.

It reads in part like a Cold War spy novel, but unfortunately The Family by Jeff Sharlet is not fiction. Rather, The Family, subtitled The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, tells the story of how one quasi-evangelical organization clandestinely infiltrated the halls of power in Washington, D.C. and beyond. It is the story of raw politics wrapped in a blanket of evangelical piety that is at times both fascinating and disturbing.The author, Jeff Sharlet, knows the Family better than most outside the elite Washington set -- Sharlet spent a month in 2002 living in one of the Family's many residences, Ivanwald. While there, Sharlet was privy to confidential Family documents and met with the head of the Family, Doug Coe. In 2005, Coe was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals by Time magazine, joining the ranks of more widely-recognized figures like Chuck Colson (a Family member and product); James Dobson; and others.The Family, Sharlet says, "is a story about two great spheres of belief, religion and politics, and the ways in which they are bound together by the mythologies of America." And quite a story it is, too. Best known for their behind-the-scenes sponsorship of the annual National Prayer Breakfast, the Family is a far less benign, and far more influential group than might be apparent at first glance. Recently, some members of the Family have made headlines for their marital infidelity -- Senator John Ensign, and Governor Mark Sanford. But the Family counts its many friends among the most powerful business and political leaders in the world, many of whom are not Christians and some of whom have crossed the line into international criminality.Sharlet writes with a captivating clarity, weaving the story of the organization from the Family's own records housed at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. Once accessible to anyone, more recent documents are now off-limits to researchers because of Sharlet's articles and the inquiries of several international reporters, according to Sharlet. Secrecy creates the impression the Family has something to hide, which Sharlet's critics say they don't.Does Sharlet get it all right? I'm not sure about all the details, but at times the book seems to gather up the whole of evangelicalism under the suspicion of one part of it, the Family. But perhaps this is Sharlet's way of pointing out that evangelicalism's unquestioning embrace of all who bathe their work in the name of Jesus ought to be re-examined. For the most part, Sharlet's book is a stunning expose' of the blurring of power politics and a reinvented gospel fostering an Americanized-version of Jesus.Jeff Sharlet has done evangelicals a favor by showing us that in the case of the Family, the emperor really is naked. The argument which forms the basis for the Family -- that men of authority are there because God placed them there -- is a poor exegetical attempt to justify amoral power politics. If Jesus had adopted the philosophy of the Family, he would have worked with Herod, and taken Pontius Pilate to lunch. And, when Satan tempted Christ by offering him raw political power, Jesus would have jumped at the chance because, as Doug Coe says, "we work with power where we can [and] build new power where we can't."

Fascinating book and more precisely than the movie. However, I am reading this book after the death of the main character.It was more interesting to have it long time ago when some of the facts were not yet "cold".

Arrived earlier than expected. Good quality even though I bought a used copy.

Shockingly true. Found this book revealing.

Davvero un libro intrigante che fornisce un quadro controverso sull influenza che i gruppo evangelico autodefinitosi the Company ha sulla politica della Casa Bianca da oltre 40 anni ..ed ora anche su diversi governi dell Est. Da leggere assolutamente.

The author not only tells "stories" but gives references to the source of his information. This makes the content of this book credible but the information even more shocking and rocking the naive believer.