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Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of the Christian Right
The bestselling author of Stranger at the Gate provides an inside expose of the Christian Right's agenda-and a playbook in how to resist it.
This Fall's midterm elections will see much discussion about the enhanced power of the Christian fundamentalist Right, leaving many people to just who are these people and what exactly do they want? What are their ultimate goals? The Reverend Mel White, a deeply religious man who sees fundamentalism as "evangelical Christian orthodoxy gone cultic," believes that it is not a stretch to say that the true goal of today's fundamentalists is to break down the wall that separates church and state, superimpose their "moral values" on the U.S. Constitution, replace democracy with theocratic rule, and ultimately create a new "Christian America" in their image. White's new book, Religion Gone Bad, is a wake-up call to all of us to take heed.
White is singularly qualified to write this expose of the Christian Right because he himself was a true believer who served the evangelical movement as pastor, professor, filmmaker, television producer, author, and ghostwriter for such fundamentalist leaders as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Billy Graham, all of whom he got to know well. As he writes, "These are not just Neocons dressed in religious drag. These men see themselves as gurus called by God to rescue America from unrighteousness. They believe this is a Christian nation that must be returned forcibly to its Christian roots."
He is also a gay man, who made news when he came out more than twelve years ago. White has gained a unique understanding of the fundamentalist agenda because, since the fall of "godless Communism," homosexuality and abortion have become the primary targets through which fundamentalists have created fear, raised money, and mobilized recruits. Religion Gone Bad documents the thirty-year war that fundamentalist Christians have waged against homosexuality and gays and lesbians and offers dramatic, heartbreaking evidence that fundamentalist leaders-Protestant and Catholic alike-are waging nothing less than a "holy war" (jihad) against sexual minorities. By focusing on the current plight of gay people in this country, White addresses the wider issue that fundamentalist Christianity-like fundamentalist Islam-has become a threat not just to gays, but to all Americans who disagree with fundamentalist Christian "values."
This Fall's midterm elections will see much discussion about the enhanced power of the Christian fundamentalist Right, leaving many people to just who are these people and what exactly do they want? What are their ultimate goals? The Reverend Mel White, a deeply religious man who sees fundamentalism as "evangelical Christian orthodoxy gone cultic," believes that it is not a stretch to say that the true goal of today's fundamentalists is to break down the wall that separates church and state, superimpose their "moral values" on the U.S. Constitution, replace democracy with theocratic rule, and ultimately create a new "Christian America" in their image. White's new book, Religion Gone Bad, is a wake-up call to all of us to take heed.
White is singularly qualified to write this expose of the Christian Right because he himself was a true believer who served the evangelical movement as pastor, professor, filmmaker, television producer, author, and ghostwriter for such fundamentalist leaders as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Billy Graham, all of whom he got to know well. As he writes, "These are not just Neocons dressed in religious drag. These men see themselves as gurus called by God to rescue America from unrighteousness. They believe this is a Christian nation that must be returned forcibly to its Christian roots."
He is also a gay man, who made news when he came out more than twelve years ago. White has gained a unique understanding of the fundamentalist agenda because, since the fall of "godless Communism," homosexuality and abortion have become the primary targets through which fundamentalists have created fear, raised money, and mobilized recruits. Religion Gone Bad documents the thirty-year war that fundamentalist Christians have waged against homosexuality and gays and lesbians and offers dramatic, heartbreaking evidence that fundamentalist leaders-Protestant and Catholic alike-are waging nothing less than a "holy war" (jihad) against sexual minorities. By focusing on the current plight of gay people in this country, White addresses the wider issue that fundamentalist Christianity-like fundamentalist Islam-has become a threat not just to gays, but to all Americans who disagree with fundamentalist Christian "values."
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 2006
9 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Mel White
60 books11 followersJames Melville "Mel" White is an American clergyman and author. White was a behind-the-scenes member of the Evangelical Protestant movement through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, writing film and television specials and ghostwriting auto-biographies for televangelists such as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Billy Graham. After years of writing for the Christian right, he came out as gay in 1994 and devoted himself full-time to minister to lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, also writing extensively on the subject of gay Christians.
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October 27, 2012
The issue of gay equality had divided the nation politically and socially. And when you look at the church, the Christian community is divided on this issue. Some denominations and faith communities are firmly opposed to gay marriage, and the homosexual lifestyle based on their reading of the Biblical text. Other congregations describe themselves as welcome and affirming. There is not a lot of middle ground with each side accusing the other of failing to be faithful to the words of Jesus.
I first heard of Mel White when I read Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace? Mel White was Yancey’s writer/minister friend who had ghost written for much of the Religious Right before he came out as a practicing homosexual ( White describes his own coming out story in his own book, Stranger At the Gate). In Holy Terror, White takes aim at Christian fundamentalism and their anti-gay agenda. He discusses his relationship with his former friends in the religious right (Francis Schaeffer, W.A. Crisswell, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson) and others who have rallied against gay marriage and gay equality (Jim Dobson and D. James Kennedy). and the ‘secret meeting’ (Glen Eyrie)where conservative Christians laid out a strategy to defeat homosexuality in a cultural war. He also lays out the ‘heresies of fundamentalism,’ namely the idolatry of the bible nation and family and the tendency of conservative Christians to use authoritarian and fascist means to achieve their goals. Lastly White discusses a strategy for progressives to advance their values in the public sphere.
This book was first published in 2006 (Magnus Books edition was released this year). There is little that changed in this edition (other than a preface which examines the Tea Party and its relationship to what was the Religious Right). Occasionally the book feels dated (i.e. Dobson is still at the helm of Focus on the Family and D. James Kennedy and Jerry Falwell are talked about as though they are still alive).
This is a book which would likely not convince anyone to shed their convictions on the matter of homosexuality. Progressives will hear confirmation about their suspicions of how conservatives manipulate the media for their own twisted, hateful agenda. White’s exposé on the Religious Right accuses them of using junk science, trumped-up experts and intentionally manipulating the facts around homosexual practice. Conservatives will be bothered by the way in which White paints fundamentalists as judgmental and hell-bent on destroying homosexuals. This is not a non-biased account but impassioned argument.
I fancy myself a moderate but I am much more conservative than Mel White. My own reading of the Bible is that homosexuality is a sin. I am also a member (and pursuing ministry) in a denomination which is welcoming but not affirming of the homosexual lifestyle. On the other hand, homophobia and ways in which some on the right have hurt people and have perpetuated hate, is abhorrent. White’s writing is emotional and at times, not really fair to the people he describes. But someone who has experienced all that he has is understandably angry.
As I said this is a controversial issue without a lot of middle ground, but I think that for those (like me) who are more conservative on the issue, reading a book like this may be good. Some of White’s criticisms of the Right seem right on track (i.e. the way homosexuality has been politicized, unethical tactics, the idolatry of family/nation). Certainly I think he overstates his case and isn’t always fair to the men he critiques, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a grain of truth to it. I think this is a complicated issue and we need to learn to listen. Where White is at his best, he urges us to diffuse the cycle of mutual labeling and dismissal.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
I first heard of Mel White when I read Philip Yancey’s What’s So Amazing About Grace? Mel White was Yancey’s writer/minister friend who had ghost written for much of the Religious Right before he came out as a practicing homosexual ( White describes his own coming out story in his own book, Stranger At the Gate). In Holy Terror, White takes aim at Christian fundamentalism and their anti-gay agenda. He discusses his relationship with his former friends in the religious right (Francis Schaeffer, W.A. Crisswell, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson) and others who have rallied against gay marriage and gay equality (Jim Dobson and D. James Kennedy). and the ‘secret meeting’ (Glen Eyrie)where conservative Christians laid out a strategy to defeat homosexuality in a cultural war. He also lays out the ‘heresies of fundamentalism,’ namely the idolatry of the bible nation and family and the tendency of conservative Christians to use authoritarian and fascist means to achieve their goals. Lastly White discusses a strategy for progressives to advance their values in the public sphere.
This book was first published in 2006 (Magnus Books edition was released this year). There is little that changed in this edition (other than a preface which examines the Tea Party and its relationship to what was the Religious Right). Occasionally the book feels dated (i.e. Dobson is still at the helm of Focus on the Family and D. James Kennedy and Jerry Falwell are talked about as though they are still alive).
This is a book which would likely not convince anyone to shed their convictions on the matter of homosexuality. Progressives will hear confirmation about their suspicions of how conservatives manipulate the media for their own twisted, hateful agenda. White’s exposé on the Religious Right accuses them of using junk science, trumped-up experts and intentionally manipulating the facts around homosexual practice. Conservatives will be bothered by the way in which White paints fundamentalists as judgmental and hell-bent on destroying homosexuals. This is not a non-biased account but impassioned argument.
I fancy myself a moderate but I am much more conservative than Mel White. My own reading of the Bible is that homosexuality is a sin. I am also a member (and pursuing ministry) in a denomination which is welcoming but not affirming of the homosexual lifestyle. On the other hand, homophobia and ways in which some on the right have hurt people and have perpetuated hate, is abhorrent. White’s writing is emotional and at times, not really fair to the people he describes. But someone who has experienced all that he has is understandably angry.
As I said this is a controversial issue without a lot of middle ground, but I think that for those (like me) who are more conservative on the issue, reading a book like this may be good. Some of White’s criticisms of the Right seem right on track (i.e. the way homosexuality has been politicized, unethical tactics, the idolatry of family/nation). Certainly I think he overstates his case and isn’t always fair to the men he critiques, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a grain of truth to it. I think this is a complicated issue and we need to learn to listen. Where White is at his best, he urges us to diffuse the cycle of mutual labeling and dismissal.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
January 18, 2012
Some parts of this book deserve higher than a three rating, but on the whole it is in need of serious editing. I think the author's message tends to get lost in a sea of repetition.
A couple notable quotes:
"...At least twice Cameron has advocated the tattooing of AIDS patients on the face, so that people would know when they were meeting with an infected person. The penalty for trying to hide the tattoo would be banishment to the Hawaiian island of Molokai, the former leper colony."-p.163
"The Bible becomes a dead idol when we call the words between its covers inerrant, infallible, to be taken literally. This is not a dead book. It is alive. Open it carefully because the new truth that might come leaping out at you could change your life forever." -p. 180
"What is the point? If there is any one message the Bible delivers, it is the message that God loves outcasts and that Jesus was born into the world an outcast to rescue and renew outcasts from religion gone bad. He was born poor and died poor, yet the legacy of love he left us, the legacy of inclusion and acceptance and understanding, will endure forever." -p. 302
A couple notable quotes:
"...At least twice Cameron has advocated the tattooing of AIDS patients on the face, so that people would know when they were meeting with an infected person. The penalty for trying to hide the tattoo would be banishment to the Hawaiian island of Molokai, the former leper colony."-p.163
"The Bible becomes a dead idol when we call the words between its covers inerrant, infallible, to be taken literally. This is not a dead book. It is alive. Open it carefully because the new truth that might come leaping out at you could change your life forever." -p. 180
"What is the point? If there is any one message the Bible delivers, it is the message that God loves outcasts and that Jesus was born into the world an outcast to rescue and renew outcasts from religion gone bad. He was born poor and died poor, yet the legacy of love he left us, the legacy of inclusion and acceptance and understanding, will endure forever." -p. 302
July 31, 2012
I agree with the reviewer who wrote that this is a "must read for all Christians" irrespective of their stance on Gay/Lesbgian/Transgender equality. The author's communication of the use of politics and media by religiously-affiliated people, in the name of religion is eye-opening and troubling.
January 22, 2014
Certainly an eye-opener! An insider's look at the anti-gay agenda of the Christian fundamentalists and their strategies for "making America a Christian nation" in their image. Rev. Dr. Mel White outlines a detailed history of the Religious Right movements and how their work is currently being picked up by other groups. In addition, he describes strategies for reclaiming our progressive political and moral values and how to resist fundamentalism. A very accessible read that helps to refocus people of faith to do justice.
February 21, 2024
THE FOLLOW-UP TO HIS ‘STRANGER AT THE GATE’ BOOK
Author Mel White wrote in the Preface to this 2006 book, “How long will it take for gay-bashing fundamentalists, Protestant and Catholics alike, to realize that their antihomosexual campaign leads directly to suffering and death?... What will it take for the rest of us to realize that fundamentalist Christianity, that ‘perverse segment’ of the Christian church, is a threat---not just to lesbian and gay Americans but to all Americans who refuse to support their so-called absolute values or join them in making this ‘a Christian nation’? Fundamentalism… infects and sickens Christianity… on a regular basis, and the plague that follows infects and sickens the nation as well… We can watch in silence as fundamentalist Christianity reshapes church and state in its idolatrous image or we can choose to resist guided by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance… we must resist before the fundamentalists … turn the world’s oldest democracy into a theocracy ruled entirely by ‘righteous men.’ I also hope I can persuade you that the struggle for ‘gay rights’ is the next stage in the broader struggle for civil rights in this country… The intolerance must end. By working to achieve liberty and justice for gay and lesbian Americans, we are actually working to achieve liberty and justice for all Americans.” (Pg. xv-xvi)
He states in the first chapter, “I am not a Christian basher. My own roots are planted deep in evangelical Christianity… I have served the evangelical movement as … ghostwriter for many of its most powerful leaders. But in the early 1970s, the evangelical church as I knew it began to fall under the influence of fundamentalist Christian leaders like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson… their call to ‘reclaim America for Christ’ transformed the historic evangelical agenda from freely sharing the ‘good news’… to superimposing their ‘moral values’ on the nation through a dangerous combination of bad religion and dirty politics. While I was still a victim of fundamentalist lies about homosexuality… when I thought my homosexuality was … a ‘sin’---I worked closely with many fundamentalist Christian leaders… I was asked to ghostwrite Jerry Falwell’s ‘autobiography’ … and eventually I worked on books, films, and TV specials with key players in the fundamentalist Christian movement: Francis Schaeffer, Pat Robertson, Jim and Tammy Bakker, D. James Kennedy, and W.A. Criswell… I stayed in their homes, traveled in their private jets, and recorded endless hours of audiotape as they shared their life stories with me. Frankly, I learned to love these men… It drives my friends and allies crazy when I insist that these fundamentalists really do believe what they say about homosexuality… they are not just ‘using us’ to raise money and volunteers… For the past decade, I have been an eyewitness on the front lines of the war the fundamentalists are waging against lesbian and gay Americans.” (Pg. 2-3)
He observes, “Francis Schaeffer turned out to be the kind of fundamentalist Christian I could work with, even when we disagreed…. Although he was absolutely committed to his belief that the Bible is without error, he was also humble enough to admit that fundamentalist Christians can’t say the same for themselves. I find the spirit of Francis Schaeffer rather rare in the fundamentalist Christian leaders who have succeeded him.” (Pg. 28)
He reports, “By 1991, Falwell and his development team had launched a full-scale war on homosexuality and homosexuals… Falwell sent a letter to millions on his Moral Majority list that began: ‘Last Wednesday, I was threatened by a mob of homosexuals. This convinced me that our nation has become a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah. Please send your $35 gift today… Please pray also that God will protect me as I serve Christ.” (Pg. 57)
He admits, “in 1985… I compromised my integrity and accepted the invitation to write for Pat Robertson, a man whose political and religious views I despised…. Accepting Pat Robertson’s invitation to help him write a campaign book… would have forced me to compromise almost everything I believed as a Christian and as an American.” (Pg. 61)
He explains, “Just a word about the current ‘ghostwriting’ practices of leading fundamentalist Christians. These powerful men … have no time to sit and write a book. So ghostwriters are hired to interview the ‘author’ and then produce a book … And though I tried to reflect each ‘author’s’ views, looking back I realize that I was part of a very unethical and somewhat dangerous practice… those who shop in Christian bookstores and read Christian books may be reading the writings of a ghost who spent little or no time with the ‘author,’ who may or may not have even read the book he supposedly authored.” (Pg. 63)
He suggests, “It is a mistake to say that the Christian Coalition (or the Moral Majority, for that matter) failed or collapsed just because they aren’t what they used to be. In 2000 and 2004, fundamentalist Christians achieved their goals. They placed a fundamentalist Christian in the White House and elected enough fundamentalists … to achieve their majority in the U.S. House and Senate alike. Now, together the executive and legislative branches of our national government are reshaping the U.S. Supreme Court in their own fundamentalist Christian image.” (Pg. 73)
He asserts, “James Dobson is not satisfied to mislead millions … about the origins of homosexuality. Dobson goes on to demean, dehumanize, and demonize homosexuals, as well. I am also tired of Dobson’s attacks on ‘homosexual activists’ who supposedly have a ‘master plan’ that has as its centrepiece ‘the utter destruction of the family.’ … Don’t accuse me of ‘discrediting Scripture’ when I spent ten years… in seminary… learning Greek and Hebrew just to understand them better. I love the Scriptures… Dobson accuses me and my fellow activists of ‘muzzling the clergy,’ when in fact I am clergy in good standing with the Metropolitan Community Church and I would defend the rights of other clergy… to disagree with me publicly… and certainly without being muzzled either by the law or by lawlessness.”(Pg. 100)
He states, “D. James Kennedy was the perfect shepherd to guide his flock away from the real problems of justice, mercy, and truth every Sunday with a fundamentalist Christian mix of patriotism, cheap grace, pseudopsychology, and scary apocalyptic warnings of what might happen to America IF… it seemed rather apparent that his congregation was not growing simply because new converts were filling the pews but primarily because long-term Christians were shifting from … small churches (with large demands on their time and money) to a mega-church (where they could ‘just get fed').” (Pg. 104-105) He met with Kennedy, who told him, “'What you need, Mel White, is to repent your sin and get right with God… You need to repent. There’s nothing else to talk about'… ‘I have repented, Jim,’ I answered… I’ve not seen or heard from D. James Kennedy since that strange meeting…” (Pg. 115-116)
He reports, “In May 1994… fifty-five fundamentalist Christian leaders who were organizers and activists in their own communities assembled secretly behind locked gates at a castle at the Glen Eyrie conference center … [near] Colorado Springs, Colorado… these fundamental activists had just one purpose: to plan their ‘short-term’ solution for the problem of gay and lesbian America… to share their mutual fears about the consequences of the ‘militant homosexual agenda,’ to determine how they could ‘take back the ground’ that homosexual rights organizations had gained, and to prevent homosexuals from ever being recognized as a ‘protected class.’ … it was also a turning point in the fundamentalist Christian attempt to exercise absolute power over our nation---church and state alike---the ultimate sign of religion gone bad… These representatives … had come … also to learn how to duplicate in their states what Will Perkins’s Colorado for Family Values [organization]had accomplished … in the Mountain State.” (Pg. 123-125)
He states, “When I first heard the term ‘gay agenda’… I laughed it off… Then I discovered that our adversaries were basing their fears on an actual ‘Homosexual Agenda’ written in 1987 by Michael Swift, a gifted gay writer with a flair for satire… Swift’s angry (but very clever) article was … a satire of the ridiculous assertions being made against us…” (Pg. 132-133)
He asserts, “Because of their excessive commitment to a literal Bible, fundamentalist Christians have fallen into the trap of bibliolatry… To the fundamentalist… The Good News in Christ has no more weight than the Ten Commandments… The fundamentalist reads a line in Leviticus and says to himself, ‘God said it. I believe it. That settles it.’ No questions. No discussions. No possible change of mind or heart.” (Pg. 175) He continues, “for me the debate is over… Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a sin… I will dialogue, discuss, debate the issue with anyone who is seriously open to the truth, but fundamentalist Christians are not open and thus we must resist their untruth in other ways.” (Pg. 183-184)
He summarizes, “we [must] decide that fundamentalist Christianity is a real threat to this democracy and that the only way we can confront that threat without bloodshed… and reconcile with our fundamentalist neighbors is to rediscover the power of relentless nonviolent resistance…” (Pg. 277) He adds, “Although I claim to be a Christian… Given the current state of the ‘Christian’ religion… I refuse to wear the ‘Christian’ label without redefining it." (Pg. 289-290) He concludes, “Active love creates a force in the world that overthrows tyrants and defeats injustice. ‘Soul force’ is born in the hearts of men and women who put love into action… Our Creator is not in church or synagogue, temple or mosque. Our Creator is on the front lines where people are suffering injustice, and when we join her there we discover what it means to be a son or daughter of God, what it means to be truly human.” (Pg. 333)
This book will be of interest to those who enjoyed White’s previous book.
Author Mel White wrote in the Preface to this 2006 book, “How long will it take for gay-bashing fundamentalists, Protestant and Catholics alike, to realize that their antihomosexual campaign leads directly to suffering and death?... What will it take for the rest of us to realize that fundamentalist Christianity, that ‘perverse segment’ of the Christian church, is a threat---not just to lesbian and gay Americans but to all Americans who refuse to support their so-called absolute values or join them in making this ‘a Christian nation’? Fundamentalism… infects and sickens Christianity… on a regular basis, and the plague that follows infects and sickens the nation as well… We can watch in silence as fundamentalist Christianity reshapes church and state in its idolatrous image or we can choose to resist guided by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance… we must resist before the fundamentalists … turn the world’s oldest democracy into a theocracy ruled entirely by ‘righteous men.’ I also hope I can persuade you that the struggle for ‘gay rights’ is the next stage in the broader struggle for civil rights in this country… The intolerance must end. By working to achieve liberty and justice for gay and lesbian Americans, we are actually working to achieve liberty and justice for all Americans.” (Pg. xv-xvi)
He states in the first chapter, “I am not a Christian basher. My own roots are planted deep in evangelical Christianity… I have served the evangelical movement as … ghostwriter for many of its most powerful leaders. But in the early 1970s, the evangelical church as I knew it began to fall under the influence of fundamentalist Christian leaders like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson… their call to ‘reclaim America for Christ’ transformed the historic evangelical agenda from freely sharing the ‘good news’… to superimposing their ‘moral values’ on the nation through a dangerous combination of bad religion and dirty politics. While I was still a victim of fundamentalist lies about homosexuality… when I thought my homosexuality was … a ‘sin’---I worked closely with many fundamentalist Christian leaders… I was asked to ghostwrite Jerry Falwell’s ‘autobiography’ … and eventually I worked on books, films, and TV specials with key players in the fundamentalist Christian movement: Francis Schaeffer, Pat Robertson, Jim and Tammy Bakker, D. James Kennedy, and W.A. Criswell… I stayed in their homes, traveled in their private jets, and recorded endless hours of audiotape as they shared their life stories with me. Frankly, I learned to love these men… It drives my friends and allies crazy when I insist that these fundamentalists really do believe what they say about homosexuality… they are not just ‘using us’ to raise money and volunteers… For the past decade, I have been an eyewitness on the front lines of the war the fundamentalists are waging against lesbian and gay Americans.” (Pg. 2-3)
He observes, “Francis Schaeffer turned out to be the kind of fundamentalist Christian I could work with, even when we disagreed…. Although he was absolutely committed to his belief that the Bible is without error, he was also humble enough to admit that fundamentalist Christians can’t say the same for themselves. I find the spirit of Francis Schaeffer rather rare in the fundamentalist Christian leaders who have succeeded him.” (Pg. 28)
He reports, “By 1991, Falwell and his development team had launched a full-scale war on homosexuality and homosexuals… Falwell sent a letter to millions on his Moral Majority list that began: ‘Last Wednesday, I was threatened by a mob of homosexuals. This convinced me that our nation has become a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah. Please send your $35 gift today… Please pray also that God will protect me as I serve Christ.” (Pg. 57)
He admits, “in 1985… I compromised my integrity and accepted the invitation to write for Pat Robertson, a man whose political and religious views I despised…. Accepting Pat Robertson’s invitation to help him write a campaign book… would have forced me to compromise almost everything I believed as a Christian and as an American.” (Pg. 61)
He explains, “Just a word about the current ‘ghostwriting’ practices of leading fundamentalist Christians. These powerful men … have no time to sit and write a book. So ghostwriters are hired to interview the ‘author’ and then produce a book … And though I tried to reflect each ‘author’s’ views, looking back I realize that I was part of a very unethical and somewhat dangerous practice… those who shop in Christian bookstores and read Christian books may be reading the writings of a ghost who spent little or no time with the ‘author,’ who may or may not have even read the book he supposedly authored.” (Pg. 63)
He suggests, “It is a mistake to say that the Christian Coalition (or the Moral Majority, for that matter) failed or collapsed just because they aren’t what they used to be. In 2000 and 2004, fundamentalist Christians achieved their goals. They placed a fundamentalist Christian in the White House and elected enough fundamentalists … to achieve their majority in the U.S. House and Senate alike. Now, together the executive and legislative branches of our national government are reshaping the U.S. Supreme Court in their own fundamentalist Christian image.” (Pg. 73)
He asserts, “James Dobson is not satisfied to mislead millions … about the origins of homosexuality. Dobson goes on to demean, dehumanize, and demonize homosexuals, as well. I am also tired of Dobson’s attacks on ‘homosexual activists’ who supposedly have a ‘master plan’ that has as its centrepiece ‘the utter destruction of the family.’ … Don’t accuse me of ‘discrediting Scripture’ when I spent ten years… in seminary… learning Greek and Hebrew just to understand them better. I love the Scriptures… Dobson accuses me and my fellow activists of ‘muzzling the clergy,’ when in fact I am clergy in good standing with the Metropolitan Community Church and I would defend the rights of other clergy… to disagree with me publicly… and certainly without being muzzled either by the law or by lawlessness.”(Pg. 100)
He states, “D. James Kennedy was the perfect shepherd to guide his flock away from the real problems of justice, mercy, and truth every Sunday with a fundamentalist Christian mix of patriotism, cheap grace, pseudopsychology, and scary apocalyptic warnings of what might happen to America IF… it seemed rather apparent that his congregation was not growing simply because new converts were filling the pews but primarily because long-term Christians were shifting from … small churches (with large demands on their time and money) to a mega-church (where they could ‘just get fed').” (Pg. 104-105) He met with Kennedy, who told him, “'What you need, Mel White, is to repent your sin and get right with God… You need to repent. There’s nothing else to talk about'… ‘I have repented, Jim,’ I answered… I’ve not seen or heard from D. James Kennedy since that strange meeting…” (Pg. 115-116)
He reports, “In May 1994… fifty-five fundamentalist Christian leaders who were organizers and activists in their own communities assembled secretly behind locked gates at a castle at the Glen Eyrie conference center … [near] Colorado Springs, Colorado… these fundamental activists had just one purpose: to plan their ‘short-term’ solution for the problem of gay and lesbian America… to share their mutual fears about the consequences of the ‘militant homosexual agenda,’ to determine how they could ‘take back the ground’ that homosexual rights organizations had gained, and to prevent homosexuals from ever being recognized as a ‘protected class.’ … it was also a turning point in the fundamentalist Christian attempt to exercise absolute power over our nation---church and state alike---the ultimate sign of religion gone bad… These representatives … had come … also to learn how to duplicate in their states what Will Perkins’s Colorado for Family Values [organization]had accomplished … in the Mountain State.” (Pg. 123-125)
He states, “When I first heard the term ‘gay agenda’… I laughed it off… Then I discovered that our adversaries were basing their fears on an actual ‘Homosexual Agenda’ written in 1987 by Michael Swift, a gifted gay writer with a flair for satire… Swift’s angry (but very clever) article was … a satire of the ridiculous assertions being made against us…” (Pg. 132-133)
He asserts, “Because of their excessive commitment to a literal Bible, fundamentalist Christians have fallen into the trap of bibliolatry… To the fundamentalist… The Good News in Christ has no more weight than the Ten Commandments… The fundamentalist reads a line in Leviticus and says to himself, ‘God said it. I believe it. That settles it.’ No questions. No discussions. No possible change of mind or heart.” (Pg. 175) He continues, “for me the debate is over… Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a sin… I will dialogue, discuss, debate the issue with anyone who is seriously open to the truth, but fundamentalist Christians are not open and thus we must resist their untruth in other ways.” (Pg. 183-184)
He summarizes, “we [must] decide that fundamentalist Christianity is a real threat to this democracy and that the only way we can confront that threat without bloodshed… and reconcile with our fundamentalist neighbors is to rediscover the power of relentless nonviolent resistance…” (Pg. 277) He adds, “Although I claim to be a Christian… Given the current state of the ‘Christian’ religion… I refuse to wear the ‘Christian’ label without redefining it." (Pg. 289-290) He concludes, “Active love creates a force in the world that overthrows tyrants and defeats injustice. ‘Soul force’ is born in the hearts of men and women who put love into action… Our Creator is not in church or synagogue, temple or mosque. Our Creator is on the front lines where people are suffering injustice, and when we join her there we discover what it means to be a son or daughter of God, what it means to be truly human.” (Pg. 333)
This book will be of interest to those who enjoyed White’s previous book.
March 14, 2009
I think this may be one of the most important books I have ever read.
Rev. Mel White, PhD, is a former evangelical pastor who has witnessed the fundamentalist takeover of his faith -- and clearly explains the differences between the two. As an author who has ghostwritten for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and D. James Kennedy, White is intimately acquainted with the fundamentalists' plans for a theocracy in the United States.
Having participated in various on-line debate forums with fundamentalists over the years, I agree with White on two points in particular: it's easy to be dismissive of what seems to be obvious crackpottery, but these people are deadly serious. They have laid out a plan to dissolve religious freedom (under the guise of protecting their own) for anyone who does not believe as they do, and to implement a Christian version of sharia law in the US and, eventually, the world.
A large part of this agenda, which is no shock to those against Prop 8 and similar anti-equality measures, is the criminalization of homosexuality. Fundamentalist Scott Lively, of "Defending the Family," is presently in Uganda presenting the parliament with a bill that does just that.
White rights intelligently about how the fundamentalist movement has coopted the bible and even the name Christianity such that many believers refuse to use the word anymore, and many have left the church because they have been materially and psychologically harmed.
I recommend this book to *anyone* who values their religious and political freedoms and, hence, the separation of church and state as established in the US Constitution.
Rev. Mel White, PhD, is a former evangelical pastor who has witnessed the fundamentalist takeover of his faith -- and clearly explains the differences between the two. As an author who has ghostwritten for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and D. James Kennedy, White is intimately acquainted with the fundamentalists' plans for a theocracy in the United States.
Having participated in various on-line debate forums with fundamentalists over the years, I agree with White on two points in particular: it's easy to be dismissive of what seems to be obvious crackpottery, but these people are deadly serious. They have laid out a plan to dissolve religious freedom (under the guise of protecting their own) for anyone who does not believe as they do, and to implement a Christian version of sharia law in the US and, eventually, the world.
A large part of this agenda, which is no shock to those against Prop 8 and similar anti-equality measures, is the criminalization of homosexuality. Fundamentalist Scott Lively, of "Defending the Family," is presently in Uganda presenting the parliament with a bill that does just that.
White rights intelligently about how the fundamentalist movement has coopted the bible and even the name Christianity such that many believers refuse to use the word anymore, and many have left the church because they have been materially and psychologically harmed.
I recommend this book to *anyone* who values their religious and political freedoms and, hence, the separation of church and state as established in the US Constitution.
April 8, 2016
Interesting look at how fundamentalists twist Biblical teachings into reasons to basically wage war against the homosexual community. Mel White is a gay Christian who outlines everything that's wrong, and dangerous, about how these groups are pushing their interpretations as hard truths with no room for alternate beliefs, and how their ultimate goal is to return America to a Christian nation (which in reality, it never was). He discusses the parallels between fundamentalism and fascism, including the fear mongering that we see ever-present in today's political arena. In contrast, White promotes what Jesus taught, which is to truly love your neighbor, and brings to the battle the teachings of MLK and Gandhi. Would be interesting to see how the author would address current state of the union. Overall, a good read, however, could have used a better editor.
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge Task # 20: Read a book about religion (fiction or non-fiction)
Book Riot Read Harder Challenge Task # 20: Read a book about religion (fiction or non-fiction)
December 7, 2012
This year marks the re-release of Holy Terror: Lies the Christian Right tells us to Deny Gay Equality (Magnus Books, 2012). It was originally published in 2006 under the title Religion Gone Bad.
Reading Holy Terror has been one of those sobering, upsetting experience. I am periodically and forcibly reminded of the seriousness of our task, and of the power of the forces arrayed against us and the ones we love. What I'm going to do here is provide a brief introduction to the book, followed by some personal reflections.
There are several words you will come across when people respond to Holy Terror. One phrase is "must-read." The other is "scary," and the book is definitely scary.
Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, and Kennedy
The first section discusses the men who prepared the soil for the anti-gay campaign yet to come, and sections two and three contain the stories of the four men whose name are familiar to us all: Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, and D. James Kennedy. Four factors linger in the memory from these vignettes. The first is their influence over their massive audiences; second is their amazing organizing ability; third is their exercise of political muscle; and finally is their well-honed ability to raise cash, and lots of it. Of the four men, James Dobson seems to have been the best at all this.
Dobson sounds like the most ruthless hardball player of all, a lot like presidents Johnson and Nixon. White says of Dobson, "During my time in the entourages of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, I never saw either of them attack and punish those who disagree, as Dobson does on a regular basis." Dobson himself has bragged about his ability to shut down Washington, D.C., by orchestrating hundreds of thousands of phone calls in a single day. He reminds me of the one about the most important organ in the body.
Much of the fourth section discusses America's anti-gay history, going back to the earliest days of European settlement. You can never tell what vivid piece of explanatory history you will find, such as the actual evidence for the sexual orientation of King James I. The King James story is just one example of the value of Holy Terror as a resource for general readers, pastors, and bloggers (!).
The Glen Eyrie Protocol
The discussion Glen Eyrie Protocol in section five to be one the tantalizing in the book. The secret meeting at Glen Eyrie might have passed unnoticed to outsiders had the event not been leaked to a reporter working for Rev. Sun Moon's conservative newspaper, the Washington Times. Tapes of the sessions were later discovered in the archival library of Tufts University in Massachusetts. Glen Eyrie marked a turning point made necessary by the advancing age of the big names in fundamentalism's anti-homosexual crusade. The baton had to be passed to a generation of grass roots organizers. Their unrelenting campaign shows no signs of abating. The evolution to a virtually "faceless" crusade is proving effective.
Three major goals were announced at that 1994 conference, so they are quite familiar to us now. Devoting several pages to each, White discusses their major goals one by one:
Goal 1: Prove to the American People that "Heterosexuality is Best for Individuals and Society."
Goal 2: Prove to the American People that "Homosexuality is not Immutable"
Goal 3: Prove to the American People that "Society Needs to Make Certain Demands on People Sexually"
I'm going to conclude these opening remarks by listing the section titles. These five sections of the book are more tightly focused than the others, being more thematic and less historical.
Idolatry: The Religion of Fundamentalism
Fascism: The Politics of Fundamentalism
Reclaiming our Progressive Political Values
Reclaiming our Progressive Moral Values
Discovering Soul Force
Holy Terror is scary, even alarming. It would make an excellent gift for:
Any LGBT person who needs to wake up and smell the bacon
Any straight person, ally or not, who cares about truth, justice, or love
Any pastor, committed or non-committal regarding LGBT issues
Any professor or teacher
Any person you consider your friend
Holy Terror: Personal Experience and Ambivalence
While Holy Terror is an excellent resource for pastors and bloggers, and an excellent introduction to the anti-homosexual campaign since the 1970's, it is also a deeply personal, complex book. From beginning to end it reflects the ambivalence many of us experience about our home churches. Some of us call it a love-hate relationship. Others can't sit in a pew without tears welling up in their eyes. Still others are so wounded by their church experience that they have walked away in disgust, anger, and bitter disappointment.
Mel White repeatedly expresses his love and concern for the "villains" of the piece, his former friends, colleagues whose lives he shared and families he knew. He refuses to return evil for evil, but is committed to overcoming evil with good. He returns blessings for curses. In this, and in his non-violent resistance à la Gandhi's satayagraha, White follows one of the neglected paths of Jesus.
Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela
I came to Holy Terror hoping to find some direction. A question I sometimes ask myself is, "Am I, are we, making realistic progress toward our goals? How do our activities, my activities, help achieve those goals?" White's prescription seems to be a return to successful non-violent resistance of the past. In his concluding chapter, "Discovering Soul Force," he urges us to mass movements like the ones that changed India, the American South, and South Africa.
There are many important spiritual, moral, and political values we can learn from these historical episodes. But the situations are quite different. There are perhaps four main differences between our situation and theirs. First, satayagraha pressure was applied to governments that exercised nearly total control over the effected populations. Second, there emerged in each situation a clearly identifiable leader with the moral and political stature for the task. Third, the subjugated populations were easily identifiable either by ethnicity or colonial status. And fourth, there was an outside audience which thoroughly disapproved of the oppression, an audience capable of exerting their own coercive pressure on the offending government.
Many of us experience, at least periodically, the desire for a single, dramatic event that will solve our problems. Sometimes that's being born again. For others, it's the dream captured in the phrase, "Come the revolution." And for others it is the repeal of a law or the fall of a government. Democracy's genius for stability and endurance is rooted in part in the need for widespread consensus, in the famed "checks and balances." At one time this was a revolutionary concept, now it is the bane of every revolutionary's dreams.
Out Celebrities: One of the Movement's Strengths
I found in Mel White's book sobering confirmation of the pure love of power and money that characterizes some of Christian leaders. White lets these people speak for themselves. No one has to demonize them. In the chapters on the Glen Eyrie Protocol I found new information regarding their strategy for moving away from big names to grass roots, a strategy forced upon them by the effect of time on their aging leadership.
We are facing a similar passing of the baton, but not identical. We still have Mel White and Bishop Gene Robinson as respectable leaders, but their influence may possibly be waning. Or that may be my perception because of the throng of new players on the field. Recently, the most public faces of the LGBT movement are those people who are already established in their fields, and coming out of the closet to their audiences. There's a long list, with people like Ellen Degeneres, Queen Latifa, Barney Frank, and Anderson Cooper topping the list.
There's also a host of transgender celebrities, including Chaz Bono, Lady Gaga, Isis King, Amanda Lapore, and Harisu. And then there are the twenty-five top athletes worldwide who came out in 2011.
And for the older generation there's the discovery that some of their favorite actors were gay. It's good for us to learn of a pre-existing special bond we have with older stars like Barbara Stanwyck, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo, and younger ones like Linda Hunt, Wanda Sykes, Rosie O'Donnell, Lily Tomlin, and Meredith Baxter. The same holds true with Paul Lynde, Montgomery Clift, Sal Mineo, Dick Sargent, Robert Reed, George Takei, Marlon Brando, Randolph Scott, Rock Hudson, Dirk Bogarde, and Raymond Burr.
Major Christian entertainers who have come out and paid the price include Marsha Stevens, Ray Boltz, Chely Wright, and Jennifer Knapp.
This list of LGBT names and faces helps me put things in perspective. It's easy to feel alarmed and frightened to hear the "plans" being hatched by our political and religious opponents. There is an air of secrecy surrounding the Glen Eyrie meeting and the Council for National Policy that can send shivers down your spine.
The lines of battle facing off in this struggle differ from one another in nature and strength. It's like a war where one nation has a strong navy, another has dominating air power, and another has a powerful infantry. Then there is for some that pesky problem of changing demographics, praise God.
Nothing I say here should cause us to lower our guard against the theocratic enemies of democracy. White wisely counsels us to reclaim our progressive political values, which includes familiarizing ourselves with our U.S. constitution and its safeguards. Rushdoony (deceased) and these Dominionists truly are, without exaggeration, anti-Democracy. I knew that democratically organized churches and political democracy went hand in hand. And I remember how odd it sounded, hearing for the first time, "The church is not a democracy." I knew what was meant, but I had no idea what seeds of anti-Democracy were being sown.
"Fret Not Thyself Because of Evildoers"
As I read Holy Terror, however, I kept hearing the voice of scripture, one I memorized in high school from my Scofield Bible. Despite the emphasis on patient waiting, I hope you understand that this passage lives side-by-side with the Bible's many exhortations to do justice. There is a prophetic place for militant resistance. It's not a question of passive inactivity, but unworried, confident action. Here are the first fifteen verses of Psalm 37. Every verse has something good in it. Try reading it out loud.
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Just as the Psalmist promises, one by one these wicked men and women are passing from the scene. R.J. Rushdoony died in 2001 at age 85. D. James Kennedy and Jerry Falwell both died in 2007, at 77 and 74 respectively. Pat Robertson is 82. Tim LaHaye and James Dobson are both 86, and Beverly LaHaye is 83.
The words of the Psalmist are comforting. They speak of the ultimate rightness and vindication of our cause.
I am also reminded of these words: God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Holy Terror is a sobering, frightening book, and deeply thought-provoking on many levels. It really is a must-read.
_______________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Reading Holy Terror has been one of those sobering, upsetting experience. I am periodically and forcibly reminded of the seriousness of our task, and of the power of the forces arrayed against us and the ones we love. What I'm going to do here is provide a brief introduction to the book, followed by some personal reflections.
There are several words you will come across when people respond to Holy Terror. One phrase is "must-read." The other is "scary," and the book is definitely scary.
Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, and Kennedy
The first section discusses the men who prepared the soil for the anti-gay campaign yet to come, and sections two and three contain the stories of the four men whose name are familiar to us all: Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, and D. James Kennedy. Four factors linger in the memory from these vignettes. The first is their influence over their massive audiences; second is their amazing organizing ability; third is their exercise of political muscle; and finally is their well-honed ability to raise cash, and lots of it. Of the four men, James Dobson seems to have been the best at all this.
Dobson sounds like the most ruthless hardball player of all, a lot like presidents Johnson and Nixon. White says of Dobson, "During my time in the entourages of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, I never saw either of them attack and punish those who disagree, as Dobson does on a regular basis." Dobson himself has bragged about his ability to shut down Washington, D.C., by orchestrating hundreds of thousands of phone calls in a single day. He reminds me of the one about the most important organ in the body.
Much of the fourth section discusses America's anti-gay history, going back to the earliest days of European settlement. You can never tell what vivid piece of explanatory history you will find, such as the actual evidence for the sexual orientation of King James I. The King James story is just one example of the value of Holy Terror as a resource for general readers, pastors, and bloggers (!).
The Glen Eyrie Protocol
The discussion Glen Eyrie Protocol in section five to be one the tantalizing in the book. The secret meeting at Glen Eyrie might have passed unnoticed to outsiders had the event not been leaked to a reporter working for Rev. Sun Moon's conservative newspaper, the Washington Times. Tapes of the sessions were later discovered in the archival library of Tufts University in Massachusetts. Glen Eyrie marked a turning point made necessary by the advancing age of the big names in fundamentalism's anti-homosexual crusade. The baton had to be passed to a generation of grass roots organizers. Their unrelenting campaign shows no signs of abating. The evolution to a virtually "faceless" crusade is proving effective.
Three major goals were announced at that 1994 conference, so they are quite familiar to us now. Devoting several pages to each, White discusses their major goals one by one:
Goal 1: Prove to the American People that "Heterosexuality is Best for Individuals and Society."
Goal 2: Prove to the American People that "Homosexuality is not Immutable"
Goal 3: Prove to the American People that "Society Needs to Make Certain Demands on People Sexually"
I'm going to conclude these opening remarks by listing the section titles. These five sections of the book are more tightly focused than the others, being more thematic and less historical.
Idolatry: The Religion of Fundamentalism
Fascism: The Politics of Fundamentalism
Reclaiming our Progressive Political Values
Reclaiming our Progressive Moral Values
Discovering Soul Force
Holy Terror is scary, even alarming. It would make an excellent gift for:
Any LGBT person who needs to wake up and smell the bacon
Any straight person, ally or not, who cares about truth, justice, or love
Any pastor, committed or non-committal regarding LGBT issues
Any professor or teacher
Any person you consider your friend
Holy Terror: Personal Experience and Ambivalence
While Holy Terror is an excellent resource for pastors and bloggers, and an excellent introduction to the anti-homosexual campaign since the 1970's, it is also a deeply personal, complex book. From beginning to end it reflects the ambivalence many of us experience about our home churches. Some of us call it a love-hate relationship. Others can't sit in a pew without tears welling up in their eyes. Still others are so wounded by their church experience that they have walked away in disgust, anger, and bitter disappointment.
Mel White repeatedly expresses his love and concern for the "villains" of the piece, his former friends, colleagues whose lives he shared and families he knew. He refuses to return evil for evil, but is committed to overcoming evil with good. He returns blessings for curses. In this, and in his non-violent resistance à la Gandhi's satayagraha, White follows one of the neglected paths of Jesus.
Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela
I came to Holy Terror hoping to find some direction. A question I sometimes ask myself is, "Am I, are we, making realistic progress toward our goals? How do our activities, my activities, help achieve those goals?" White's prescription seems to be a return to successful non-violent resistance of the past. In his concluding chapter, "Discovering Soul Force," he urges us to mass movements like the ones that changed India, the American South, and South Africa.
There are many important spiritual, moral, and political values we can learn from these historical episodes. But the situations are quite different. There are perhaps four main differences between our situation and theirs. First, satayagraha pressure was applied to governments that exercised nearly total control over the effected populations. Second, there emerged in each situation a clearly identifiable leader with the moral and political stature for the task. Third, the subjugated populations were easily identifiable either by ethnicity or colonial status. And fourth, there was an outside audience which thoroughly disapproved of the oppression, an audience capable of exerting their own coercive pressure on the offending government.
Many of us experience, at least periodically, the desire for a single, dramatic event that will solve our problems. Sometimes that's being born again. For others, it's the dream captured in the phrase, "Come the revolution." And for others it is the repeal of a law or the fall of a government. Democracy's genius for stability and endurance is rooted in part in the need for widespread consensus, in the famed "checks and balances." At one time this was a revolutionary concept, now it is the bane of every revolutionary's dreams.
Out Celebrities: One of the Movement's Strengths
I found in Mel White's book sobering confirmation of the pure love of power and money that characterizes some of Christian leaders. White lets these people speak for themselves. No one has to demonize them. In the chapters on the Glen Eyrie Protocol I found new information regarding their strategy for moving away from big names to grass roots, a strategy forced upon them by the effect of time on their aging leadership.
We are facing a similar passing of the baton, but not identical. We still have Mel White and Bishop Gene Robinson as respectable leaders, but their influence may possibly be waning. Or that may be my perception because of the throng of new players on the field. Recently, the most public faces of the LGBT movement are those people who are already established in their fields, and coming out of the closet to their audiences. There's a long list, with people like Ellen Degeneres, Queen Latifa, Barney Frank, and Anderson Cooper topping the list.
There's also a host of transgender celebrities, including Chaz Bono, Lady Gaga, Isis King, Amanda Lapore, and Harisu. And then there are the twenty-five top athletes worldwide who came out in 2011.
And for the older generation there's the discovery that some of their favorite actors were gay. It's good for us to learn of a pre-existing special bond we have with older stars like Barbara Stanwyck, Marlene Dietrich, and Greta Garbo, and younger ones like Linda Hunt, Wanda Sykes, Rosie O'Donnell, Lily Tomlin, and Meredith Baxter. The same holds true with Paul Lynde, Montgomery Clift, Sal Mineo, Dick Sargent, Robert Reed, George Takei, Marlon Brando, Randolph Scott, Rock Hudson, Dirk Bogarde, and Raymond Burr.
Major Christian entertainers who have come out and paid the price include Marsha Stevens, Ray Boltz, Chely Wright, and Jennifer Knapp.
This list of LGBT names and faces helps me put things in perspective. It's easy to feel alarmed and frightened to hear the "plans" being hatched by our political and religious opponents. There is an air of secrecy surrounding the Glen Eyrie meeting and the Council for National Policy that can send shivers down your spine.
The lines of battle facing off in this struggle differ from one another in nature and strength. It's like a war where one nation has a strong navy, another has dominating air power, and another has a powerful infantry. Then there is for some that pesky problem of changing demographics, praise God.
Nothing I say here should cause us to lower our guard against the theocratic enemies of democracy. White wisely counsels us to reclaim our progressive political values, which includes familiarizing ourselves with our U.S. constitution and its safeguards. Rushdoony (deceased) and these Dominionists truly are, without exaggeration, anti-Democracy. I knew that democratically organized churches and political democracy went hand in hand. And I remember how odd it sounded, hearing for the first time, "The church is not a democracy." I knew what was meant, but I had no idea what seeds of anti-Democracy were being sown.
"Fret Not Thyself Because of Evildoers"
As I read Holy Terror, however, I kept hearing the voice of scripture, one I memorized in high school from my Scofield Bible. Despite the emphasis on patient waiting, I hope you understand that this passage lives side-by-side with the Bible's many exhortations to do justice. There is a prophetic place for militant resistance. It's not a question of passive inactivity, but unworried, confident action. Here are the first fifteen verses of Psalm 37. Every verse has something good in it. Try reading it out loud.
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Just as the Psalmist promises, one by one these wicked men and women are passing from the scene. R.J. Rushdoony died in 2001 at age 85. D. James Kennedy and Jerry Falwell both died in 2007, at 77 and 74 respectively. Pat Robertson is 82. Tim LaHaye and James Dobson are both 86, and Beverly LaHaye is 83.
The words of the Psalmist are comforting. They speak of the ultimate rightness and vindication of our cause.
I am also reminded of these words: God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Holy Terror is a sobering, frightening book, and deeply thought-provoking on many levels. It really is a must-read.
_______________________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
December 20, 2025
A good read, a bit histrionic at times but made some quite cogent points about both politics and religion and quite convincingly tells of the Christian right’s ‘idolatry of the Bible’ and over simplicity in forgetting love and demanding rules, much like the Pharisees.
These are not new ideas, of course. The comparisons to fascist movements was interesting - but I think people fall on what is a cheap argument too often. But White did run through some pretty good evidence to show the comparisons.
A 2006 book, it’s interesting how much has changed in that short time.
These are not new ideas, of course. The comparisons to fascist movements was interesting - but I think people fall on what is a cheap argument too often. But White did run through some pretty good evidence to show the comparisons.
A 2006 book, it’s interesting how much has changed in that short time.
November 20, 2019
White’s book shed a lot of light on the fundamental Christian agenda, which I appreciated.
His anger and hurt was mostly tempered and he had a lot of research to draw from. I enjoyed how he ended with hope.
His anger and hurt was mostly tempered and he had a lot of research to draw from. I enjoyed how he ended with hope.
December 1, 2020
An excellent starting point for research and reading. Traces the current thinking and history of the "Fundamentalist" Christian church's hostility toward homosexuality with copious references and historical notes.
November 8, 2025
I love Mel’s work, and this book is an incredibly detailed breakdown of the rise of the religious Right in the early 2000s and decades prior, but it’s very dry. The book is very informative, but like what many other reviewers say, it desperately needed an editor to trim it down and clean it up.
March 19, 2020
I'm with you guys!
January 30, 2016
I wanted to read this title because I have gay/lesbian friends in my life and because I, too, have been concerned by the political actions/leanings of several figures of late. This was an eye-opening work, but not in the way I expected.
Mostly Mr. White talks about the leaders of several fundamentalist Christian groups, men like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, etc. These are the gurus that have been urging their flocks to vote for (or against, as the case may be) legislation they deem "immoral". Basically, this is anything that goes against a literal interpretation of the Bible, since fundamentalists believe the Bible is "inerrant" and that everything that is written in it are factual events. This would include things such as homosexuality being a sin, and that people engaging in that sort of "lifestyle" should be put to death (eventually - White is quick to point out that while that may be the ultimate goal of these groups, they're not crazy enough to try for it straight out of the gate).
Mr. White's interest in such things is personal; he's been out of the closet and in a committed relationship with his partner Gary for 25 years. Previously, he was married, had children, and was a pastor. He also waged war on a daily basis with his "sickness", trying to "cure" himself through therapy, electroshock, and various other devices. Obviously, he finally saw that he wasn't "sick", never had been, and that in denying who he was, he was also denying that God had made him that way. After coming out, he was ostracized and shunned by many of his former evangelical friends and peers. He also saw the growing danger to the gay and lesbian community by fundamentalist Christian groups, people who want several things changed to reflect "God's law", but seem to have an unhealthy obsession with denying basic rights to the homosexual community at large.
This book goes into great detail Mr. White's crusade to protect those rights, as well as pointing out several similarities between the American fundamentalist Christians and other fundamentalist groups. That part of the book is particularly disturbing, as the groups here have called for the death of such groups abroad (think Al Queda). Also, there's a whole section comparing the groups now to the groups that popped up in WWII, Hitler and fascist Germany as well as Italy. No, Mr. White doesn't go so far as to call anyone the new Hitler, but he does uncover some very disturbing similarities, which is probably inevitable; anytime you have one group of people trying to humiliate/destroy another group, there are bound to be similarities.
The surprising things I learned in this book were about Jesus and the Bible. I have to admit, I am not a religious person. What Mr. White pointed out is what I have, to some extent, felt in my heart, that to be a "good person" and follow a moral life, you should show mercy and kindness to others, take care of those less fortunate than yourself and seek justice for those oppressed. I'm glad to know that that philosphy IS in the Bible, a book I probably should read, as the only parts I hear about/know are the ones quoted incessantly by the fundamentalists. And remember, scripture can and has been twisted to promote any variety of ills, including slavery.
Bottom line, I found the book interesting, if a bit heavy-handed. Then again, I'm not in the homosexual minority that this book is probably being marketed to. I will state, for the record, that I have never believed that legalizing marriage for gays and lesbians is a threat to my marriage, and I just don't understand how others can feel that way. The only threat to my marriage would be my taking it for granted, a thing done on a daily basis by thousands, something glaringly obvious by the divorce rate in this country. Don't forget, marriage was and is still evolving; once upon a time, it was all about property rights and had very little to do with love. I think in this day and age, if you're lucky enough to find a person that you love with all your heart, a person that you'll respect and work towards building a committed relationship with, you should have every right to marry that person. True love is nothing to sneeze at, and it's hard work once you find it. I tell my hubby every day how lucky I am to have him, and how much I love him. I hope others can be so lucky.
Mostly Mr. White talks about the leaders of several fundamentalist Christian groups, men like Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, etc. These are the gurus that have been urging their flocks to vote for (or against, as the case may be) legislation they deem "immoral". Basically, this is anything that goes against a literal interpretation of the Bible, since fundamentalists believe the Bible is "inerrant" and that everything that is written in it are factual events. This would include things such as homosexuality being a sin, and that people engaging in that sort of "lifestyle" should be put to death (eventually - White is quick to point out that while that may be the ultimate goal of these groups, they're not crazy enough to try for it straight out of the gate).
Mr. White's interest in such things is personal; he's been out of the closet and in a committed relationship with his partner Gary for 25 years. Previously, he was married, had children, and was a pastor. He also waged war on a daily basis with his "sickness", trying to "cure" himself through therapy, electroshock, and various other devices. Obviously, he finally saw that he wasn't "sick", never had been, and that in denying who he was, he was also denying that God had made him that way. After coming out, he was ostracized and shunned by many of his former evangelical friends and peers. He also saw the growing danger to the gay and lesbian community by fundamentalist Christian groups, people who want several things changed to reflect "God's law", but seem to have an unhealthy obsession with denying basic rights to the homosexual community at large.
This book goes into great detail Mr. White's crusade to protect those rights, as well as pointing out several similarities between the American fundamentalist Christians and other fundamentalist groups. That part of the book is particularly disturbing, as the groups here have called for the death of such groups abroad (think Al Queda). Also, there's a whole section comparing the groups now to the groups that popped up in WWII, Hitler and fascist Germany as well as Italy. No, Mr. White doesn't go so far as to call anyone the new Hitler, but he does uncover some very disturbing similarities, which is probably inevitable; anytime you have one group of people trying to humiliate/destroy another group, there are bound to be similarities.
The surprising things I learned in this book were about Jesus and the Bible. I have to admit, I am not a religious person. What Mr. White pointed out is what I have, to some extent, felt in my heart, that to be a "good person" and follow a moral life, you should show mercy and kindness to others, take care of those less fortunate than yourself and seek justice for those oppressed. I'm glad to know that that philosphy IS in the Bible, a book I probably should read, as the only parts I hear about/know are the ones quoted incessantly by the fundamentalists. And remember, scripture can and has been twisted to promote any variety of ills, including slavery.
Bottom line, I found the book interesting, if a bit heavy-handed. Then again, I'm not in the homosexual minority that this book is probably being marketed to. I will state, for the record, that I have never believed that legalizing marriage for gays and lesbians is a threat to my marriage, and I just don't understand how others can feel that way. The only threat to my marriage would be my taking it for granted, a thing done on a daily basis by thousands, something glaringly obvious by the divorce rate in this country. Don't forget, marriage was and is still evolving; once upon a time, it was all about property rights and had very little to do with love. I think in this day and age, if you're lucky enough to find a person that you love with all your heart, a person that you'll respect and work towards building a committed relationship with, you should have every right to marry that person. True love is nothing to sneeze at, and it's hard work once you find it. I tell my hubby every day how lucky I am to have him, and how much I love him. I hope others can be so lucky.
November 1, 2023
This book is written by Mel White, a LGBTQ+ activist for over 30 years, and who spent the previous 30 as a ghostwriter and videographer for such Christian fundamentalists as Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Billy Graham. When he came out as gay, and after an amicable divorce from his wife, he married another man in 1994. Due to his past associations, White should be at least one of only a handful of people to know what the religious right and its leaders are all about. This book is about his efforts to talk to, negotiate, and even plead with the televangelists who had been his friends to stop their verbal attacks on gay and lesbian people. In the face of the failure of that, he formed an organization called Soul Force, an LBGTQ+ group who hold peaceful demonstrations across the country to call attention to the danger that this kind of rhetoric inspires.
The first part of the book tells about his days working for the same people he now calls his adversaries. During this time, he was an eyewitness to the development of such influential Christian organizations as the Moral Majority and The Christian Coalition. He knew their ideologies inside and out, and even wrote some of the speeches that the leaders gave when the organizations were formed. With all this background knowledge, no one has any cause to question or suspect his view of events. However, the first seven of the ten chapters of this resembles nothing more or less than Christian bashing. While White freely admits some bitterness to his former colleagues refusing to even admit his existence after he came out as gay, it is pretty obvious that that hurt still runs deep. While what he says may be true, and more than likely is, his constant calling out of the names of those same people gets to be somewhat monotonous. It is true, and many can attest to this, that there are many on the radical Christian right who have been responsible for the verbal assaults on LBGTQ+ people, so it would have been nice if just a few more of them had been named.
It has now been almost 20 years since this book was published, and much has changed since then. Only one of the major four names that are mentioned are still alive, the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law by the President in 2022, and there has been a growing societal movement to accept LBGTQ+ people as a minority group, which means that crimes against them can be treated as hate crimes and charges brought against perpetrators on a federal level. These changes have been slow in coming, but there has been progress made, and I believe that everyone is the better for them. People like White and his organization may have been influential in contributing to this, but the fact is that I had never even heard of Soul Force before reading this book and looking them up online. Whether that is symptomatic of LBGTQ+ activism being swept under the rug, or that they simply were only one small group that helped to push these changes into public awareness, I suppose will remain unknown. I do know that their philosophy, which is based on the writings and teachings of Mahatma Ghandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a great endeavor and should be applauded. I just hope that organization has more understanding and tolerance than this book seems to.
The first part of the book tells about his days working for the same people he now calls his adversaries. During this time, he was an eyewitness to the development of such influential Christian organizations as the Moral Majority and The Christian Coalition. He knew their ideologies inside and out, and even wrote some of the speeches that the leaders gave when the organizations were formed. With all this background knowledge, no one has any cause to question or suspect his view of events. However, the first seven of the ten chapters of this resembles nothing more or less than Christian bashing. While White freely admits some bitterness to his former colleagues refusing to even admit his existence after he came out as gay, it is pretty obvious that that hurt still runs deep. While what he says may be true, and more than likely is, his constant calling out of the names of those same people gets to be somewhat monotonous. It is true, and many can attest to this, that there are many on the radical Christian right who have been responsible for the verbal assaults on LBGTQ+ people, so it would have been nice if just a few more of them had been named.
It has now been almost 20 years since this book was published, and much has changed since then. Only one of the major four names that are mentioned are still alive, the Respect for Marriage Act was signed into law by the President in 2022, and there has been a growing societal movement to accept LBGTQ+ people as a minority group, which means that crimes against them can be treated as hate crimes and charges brought against perpetrators on a federal level. These changes have been slow in coming, but there has been progress made, and I believe that everyone is the better for them. People like White and his organization may have been influential in contributing to this, but the fact is that I had never even heard of Soul Force before reading this book and looking them up online. Whether that is symptomatic of LBGTQ+ activism being swept under the rug, or that they simply were only one small group that helped to push these changes into public awareness, I suppose will remain unknown. I do know that their philosophy, which is based on the writings and teachings of Mahatma Ghandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a great endeavor and should be applauded. I just hope that organization has more understanding and tolerance than this book seems to.
January 14, 2011
MW shows here how Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, James Kennedy, and other fundamentalists have used their war against homosexuality as a rallying cry in their unrelenting march toward reconstructing America as a theocracy, how their words and actions have had tragic and even deadly consequences in the lives of gay/lesbian Americans, and how their strategies toward political power threaten our nation.
Not only is MW uniquely qualified to provide an insider’s view, but his research/organization/documentation is nothing short of amazing. Perhaps most impressive to me, however, is his spirit of fairness and generosity toward those crusading against him and his brothers/sisters. He doesn’t stop with describing in detail the fundamentalist goals and methods. He calls for action—action which does not cooperate with or support evil but which responds to violence with non-violent resistance, based on the teachings and life examples of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King.
Reviewers (promo) include John Shelby Spong, author of The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible’s Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love; Jack Rogers, moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church/USA; Jimmy Creech, United Methodist pastor tried and defrocked for marrying a gay couple; et al. (See www.religiongonebad.com, www.melwhite.org, www.soulforce.org .)
If you are gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans-gendered or a loved-one of same, this is a “must read.” If you are a person of faith, this is a “must read.” If you are a patriot, this is a “must read.” All of us are endangered by the radical right, and we are called to act redemptively
Not only is MW uniquely qualified to provide an insider’s view, but his research/organization/documentation is nothing short of amazing. Perhaps most impressive to me, however, is his spirit of fairness and generosity toward those crusading against him and his brothers/sisters. He doesn’t stop with describing in detail the fundamentalist goals and methods. He calls for action—action which does not cooperate with or support evil but which responds to violence with non-violent resistance, based on the teachings and life examples of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King.
Reviewers (promo) include John Shelby Spong, author of The Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible’s Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of Love; Jack Rogers, moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church/USA; Jimmy Creech, United Methodist pastor tried and defrocked for marrying a gay couple; et al. (See www.religiongonebad.com, www.melwhite.org, www.soulforce.org .)
If you are gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans-gendered or a loved-one of same, this is a “must read.” If you are a person of faith, this is a “must read.” If you are a patriot, this is a “must read.” All of us are endangered by the radical right, and we are called to act redemptively
April 12, 2010
The title of this book is somewhat misleading I think. The author focuses mainly on the Christian Right's attacks on homosexuality. As he is a gay man himself, it is understandable that he emphasizes this over the other "hidden dangers," but I think the book would have benefited from a bigger picture. He also repeats himself a bit much in trying to get his point across. Several times as I was reading I would think to myself "Didn't I just read that same quote?" It was distracting, and the main reason I didn't give this book a higher rating.
That said, I do sympathize with his aim. I was once deeply entrenched in the fundamentalist culture and know all too well how dead set they are against anything that doesn't fit into their view of reality. In fact, one of things that led me out of that culture was reading stories such as Mr. White's in Stranger at the Gate. It seemed obvious that being gay wasn't a choice. What sane person would choose a way of life that, in our homophobic society, would end up causing them so much pain & suffering? It just made no sense.
If nothing else, I would recommend reading the last chapter of this book. I found the personal anecdotes touching, and his description of non-violent resistance intriguing. I would have liked to have seen this fleshed out some more. I always admired Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. but reading this has encouraged me to seek out their writings.
That said, I do sympathize with his aim. I was once deeply entrenched in the fundamentalist culture and know all too well how dead set they are against anything that doesn't fit into their view of reality. In fact, one of things that led me out of that culture was reading stories such as Mr. White's in Stranger at the Gate. It seemed obvious that being gay wasn't a choice. What sane person would choose a way of life that, in our homophobic society, would end up causing them so much pain & suffering? It just made no sense.
If nothing else, I would recommend reading the last chapter of this book. I found the personal anecdotes touching, and his description of non-violent resistance intriguing. I would have liked to have seen this fleshed out some more. I always admired Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. but reading this has encouraged me to seek out their writings.
July 26, 2008
A demanding and documented account of what happens when fanatical religion and fascistic politics merge an provide religion that simply can only be called terrorism. We worry about the "extremists" in other religions yet we have fundamentalist right here on our TV sets, Radios, and in our President's ear. Truly frightening. Every gay individual should read this book, no EVERY one should read this book, and educate their selves on the evil that hides itself under Christianity. Read it if only to hear Mel describe the time that his 80 plus father decided to not head the advise of his Christian peers and ride in a gay pride parade with his son and later have a crying lesbian who's own parents have abandoned her ask him to be her father. The pages are still wet with my tears. Heartbreaking!!! This is not a war against gays but a war against our fundamental establishment of democracy. "This one command I give thee, Love one another. By this will they know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another " (john 13:34-35)
October 23, 2015
This is an important work, although I stumbled on it a bit late. I'd love to read the author's take on numerous developments since its publication. I'd like to recommend this book to both those who listen to the Christian right leaders he's describing, for a better understanding of what they stand for, and to those who have dismissed them, so you can better understand the influence they are having on public debate.
To be frank, I'd rather ignore the Christian right, because I don't share their religious perspective or like their rhetoric. However, I recognize that ignoring them puts me at risk of having a serious blindspot. White's personal career path gave him an upclose look at the behind-the-scenes dynamic of certain Christian leaders with signficant followings. He makes a convincing case that some organizations intentionally stir up anti-gay sentiment to raise funds for themselves and to unify their supporters around a perceived common foe and unfounded fears. And, that is dangerous not only to gays but to everyone who values true freedom of religion.
To be frank, I'd rather ignore the Christian right, because I don't share their religious perspective or like their rhetoric. However, I recognize that ignoring them puts me at risk of having a serious blindspot. White's personal career path gave him an upclose look at the behind-the-scenes dynamic of certain Christian leaders with signficant followings. He makes a convincing case that some organizations intentionally stir up anti-gay sentiment to raise funds for themselves and to unify their supporters around a perceived common foe and unfounded fears. And, that is dangerous not only to gays but to everyone who values true freedom of religion.
December 19, 2009
The author has been a pastor, professor, filmmaker, television producer, author, and ghostwriter for Christian leaders such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Billy Graham. He documents the alarming rise to power of fundamentalist Christians in American politics and religion. Warns readers about the hazards of replacing our Constitutional democracy with a legal system based on literal biblical law. Explains how America was NOT founded as a Christian nation but rather a country where freedom OF religion or FROM religion was the law from day one. He condemns the false gods fundamentalists call upon in their struggle to "reclaim America for Christ".
Mel White is a life-long Christian. He's also gay.
Mel White is a life-long Christian. He's also gay.
April 5, 2013
For fun, I read this and To Save America: Stopping Obama's Secular-Socialist Machine at the same time. Who knew both sides were hell-bent on destroying America? I certainly didn't!
I read this last year but I already have a hard time remembering it. I know this much: it was actually a thoroughly-researched but repetitive argument argument that homosexuality should be tolerated by Christianity, the author being a gay Christian himself.
I read this last year but I already have a hard time remembering it. I know this much: it was actually a thoroughly-researched but repetitive argument argument that homosexuality should be tolerated by Christianity, the author being a gay Christian himself.
July 6, 2007
Find out what fundamentalists have planned for a war on the GLBTQ community in America. These angry "Christians" have turned God and the Bible into idols, picking and choosing what they want to believe from them as ways to make money, instill fear, and control government and society.
This is an important, if not critical read for anyone who values democracy over the theocracy fundamentalists want to put in place.
This is an important, if not critical read for anyone who values democracy over the theocracy fundamentalists want to put in place.
September 1, 2012
Disappointing compared to his memoir "Stranger at the Gate", which was emotionally involving and informative. The first 100+ pages are shrill and add scarcely any new information to my understanding of the Christian Right. By focusing on well-known figures like Falwell, White misses the more interesting question of why these demagogues' homophobia appeals to millions of Americans. What motivates *them*?
July 14, 2009
Pretty good book, kinda long. But very informative. You can tell this guy is serious about gay rights and has done his homework. I don't know, but I don't think it will every sound right when white people say 'my brothers and sisters'. :) The last line of the book, however, is the jaw dropper. I'm tempted to e-mail the author and ask exactly what he meant by it. Good read.
Currently reading
September 5, 2007When I finish this book, will post my opinion!
June 22, 2008
An insightful, somewhat terrifying peak into the world of organized "Christianity" and how it's a well-oiled machine which can inspire and raise millions in moments with no conscience or regret.
September 16, 2009
Mel does a very good job of showing the dark side of fundamentalism with real live examples.
January 24, 2010
Very conversational style. Utilized good examples to support conclusions. Repetitive. Organization could have been a bit tighter. Thought provking.
August 26, 2010
A must read for anyone wanting know know the truth behind fundamentalist attacks on homosexuality.
June 3, 2011
Either you really hate this book or really love it. You can obviously see how I feel about it ;)Open your eyes people. Inform yourself.
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