What do you think?
Rate this book
Awakening: How America Can Turn from Economic and Moral Destruction Back to Greatness
"The ultimate answer to what ails America."—from the Foreword by Gov. Mike Huckabee
In Awakening, Reed provides practical steps and a bold plan that will restore America to greatness. Find out how you can be part of the awakening that will re-energize Americans to effective citizenship and renew our core values of faith, personal responsibility, and liberty. Such an awakening can happen today—and it begins with us.
In Awakening, Reed provides practical steps and a bold plan that will restore America to greatness. Find out how you can be part of the awakening that will re-energize Americans to effective citizenship and renew our core values of faith, personal responsibility, and liberty. Such an awakening can happen today—and it begins with us.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 18, 2014
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 6, 2023
IS THE U.S. EXPERENCING ITS OWN ‘DECLINE AND FALL’?
Author Ralph Reed wrote in the Preface to this 2014 book, “while on a working vacation in Europe… we visited the ruins of Roman civilization… I wondered, ‘Is the United States experiencing its own decline and fall?’ … America is not immune to this cycle. In our time the U.S. is experiencing economic and moral decay that some believe foreshadows a descent to the status of a second-rate power… When not paralyzed by partisanship and dysfunction, Washington is taking over the health-care system, with disastrous results. Our culture is fraying at the seams, with four out of every ten children in the U.S. born out of wedlock, an epidemic of crime and drugs fueling the highest incarceration rate in the world, and the redefinition of marriage threatening the most important and enduring social institution in the history of civilization. Nevertheless, this book is not a doomsday warning to a dying nation.
“In spite of what ails us, I believe America’s best days are still ahead. Why? First, because in hope in God. And God, throughout history, has heard the prayers of the faithful and intervened in human affairs to stop this downward spiral by parking a spiritual and moral awakening among His people. Second… because our nation has in its DNA a bright and enduring strand of faith… The United States has experienced untold abundance, leading to pride and self-sufficiency, with consequences that have forced the faithful to their knee asking for God’s forgiveness. Throughout history this repentance has sparked spiritual awakenings and … political movements that reformed society, leading to greater obedience to God’s laws… Such an awakening can happen today… this spiritual awakening will not require a majority vote. It only requires men and women of faith to repent, pray, and act with moral courage… I have written this book to encourage those of us who are concerned about our country and worry that it has lost its way. It is my prayer that [this book] provides a road map we can follow to restore our nation from moral, economic, and political destruction back to God’s blessing.”
In the first chapter, he outlines, “Signs of America’s cultural decline extend far beyond the push for abortion and same-sex marriage. Consider these alarming social trends: *In 2010 the out-of-wedlock birthrate reached 40 percent of all births, 50 percent of all Hispanic births, and 70 percent of all African-American babies born in the United States. *… drug use is back on the rise… *,… Forth million Americans regularly visit po0rn websites, and 10 percent of the U.S. adult population is addicted to pornography… *… the FBI estimates that up to three hundred thousand children annually are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation… *Legalized gambling is a national epidemic… *Violence, foul language, and sexually explicit that once shocked sensibilities and sparked societal resistance no longer even raise eyebrows.” (Pg. 4-5)
He states, “political systems… seem to collapse at the peak of their influence and power. Why is that? The answer is the spiritual cycle: the tendency of human societies to move from faith to prosperity to pride in destruction, and then regeneration… The spiritual cycle moves through a series of six stages: *Faith leading to obedience to God’s laws *Obedience creating abundance *Abundance leading to pride *Pride leading to apostasy *Apostasy leading to defeat and judgment *Repentance leading back to faith… We can affect our destiny through our own choices. If we, as men and women of faith, repent and call out to God, we can see America return to faith and obedience, bringing her back to the fullness of His blessing and protection.” (Pg. 7-8)
He recounts from American history, “A final factor shaping the colonial experience … was slavery… the colonists built their society on the foundation of slavery. The first slaves arrived in America in 1619, and from that day on their presence---and the fact that enslavement completely contradicted America’s claim as the land of the free---would haunt the republic until the Civil War… and long after… The Constitution ended the slave trade in 1808, but the increase in the slave population in America ended any prospect that slavery would die a natural death… with the South’s increasing dependence upon the crops of cotton and tobacco, the slave labor… became even more intertwined in the American economy… race remains among the most controversial and difficult issues for the nation to resolve.” (Pg. 25-26)
He notes, “The final legacy of the charismatic renewal was bridging the gulf separating evangelicals and Roman Catholics. The two communities had been divided since the Reformation… The charismatic renewal bridged and healed this breach… The pro-life movement also brought Catholics and evangelicals together in a common cause, engendering mutual cooperation and respect.” (Pg. 48-49)
He admits, “The Christian Coalition… made its share of mistakes, including me. I once bragged to a reporter … by saying our opponents didn’t know what was happening ‘until you’re being zipped into a body bag.’ … I later apologized, advising our grassroots members to avoid harsh language that didn’t reflect our spiritual mission or God’s love. A similar episode occurred in 1992 when we sent a letter from Pat [Robertson]… to voters… urging them to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment. The letter included incendiary language that cited some feminist leaders who favored abortion-on-demand and overthrowing capitalism. It was a rookie mistake… I was heartsick and apologized profusely to Pat…” (Pg. 82)
He says, “Same-sex marriage has become the cause [of the day], advanced by the media, Hollywood, and the far left. Those who object are … labeled intolerant… Occasionally this persecution turns vicious… The objective is to silence Christians… The evangelical and faithful Catholic response to the marriage debate is not motivated by animus toward gay Americans. Far from it! The issue is first about fidelity to our faith. Second, it is about protecting the essential role that marriage plays as the central … socializing institution in our society.” (Pg. 110)
He proposes, “We need a new anti-poverty, pro-prosperity agenda for the twenty-first century, one that recognizes the centrality of marriage and intact families. People of faith must speak with a prophetic voice to politicians of both parties…This message will not always be popular… The left criticizes the pro-poor agenda of religious conservatives for an alleged lack of compassion because our approach does not rely on the failed strategies of higher taxes and more bureaucracy. But there is no contradiction between free markets and lifting people out of poverty.” (Pg. 124-125)
He contends, “actions reveal Obama as the most anti-Israel president in my lifetime, if not modern U.S. history. For an American president to be this insensitive to the security needs of Israel at a time of such bloody turmoil in the Middle East is tragic, and it would have bene unimaginable even a decade ago.” (Pg. 135)
He argues, “A war on Christianity has been under way in the U.S. for some time, fought not with bullets or tear gas but with court rulings, government policies, and a culture that stigmatizes and denigrates those with faith in Jesus Christ. To be sure… Christians in America do not fear being murdered or our churches burned because of our faith. But violence is always preceded by rhetorical and judicial hostility, and there is ample evidence that a dangerous and insidious war on Christianity began decades ago with court decision marginalizing religious speech… It we do not combat hostility toward Christianity outside of our nation’s borders, by the time we finally rise up, it may be too late.” (Pg. 142) Later, he adds, “The only difference between the war on Christianity here and abroad are the tactics, including the degree of violence…” (Pg. 155)
He acknowledges, “Jesus … demonstrated that he did not come to earth as a political savior and that eternal salvation does not come through politics. Yet that does not absolve His followers from participating in the political process… Parties and factions may at times seem evil, but they are a necessary evil in a free society.” (Pg. 185)
He also observes, “the faith community suffers from a credibility gap on the issue of same-sex marriage because it allowed no-fault divorce to wreak havoc on the institution of marriage. It is long past time to … make the reform of unilateral divo0rce the centerpiece of a pro-marriage agenda… It is not… possible to pass a law to make husbands love their wives and remain devoted to their children… we should begin by making it more difficult for one party to unilaterally dissolve a marriage.” (Pg. 206-207)
He concludes, We may not be able to usher in the kingdom of God through political action, but we can combat evil, protect the innocent, and secure justice… may we exercise our rights as American citizens with moral zeal but also with knowledge, in wisdom and patience, so that future generations may rise up one day and praise our memory because in the hour of testing we persevered.” (Pg. 226)
This book (and other books of Reed’s) will appeal to many conservative Christians.
Author Ralph Reed wrote in the Preface to this 2014 book, “while on a working vacation in Europe… we visited the ruins of Roman civilization… I wondered, ‘Is the United States experiencing its own decline and fall?’ … America is not immune to this cycle. In our time the U.S. is experiencing economic and moral decay that some believe foreshadows a descent to the status of a second-rate power… When not paralyzed by partisanship and dysfunction, Washington is taking over the health-care system, with disastrous results. Our culture is fraying at the seams, with four out of every ten children in the U.S. born out of wedlock, an epidemic of crime and drugs fueling the highest incarceration rate in the world, and the redefinition of marriage threatening the most important and enduring social institution in the history of civilization. Nevertheless, this book is not a doomsday warning to a dying nation.
“In spite of what ails us, I believe America’s best days are still ahead. Why? First, because in hope in God. And God, throughout history, has heard the prayers of the faithful and intervened in human affairs to stop this downward spiral by parking a spiritual and moral awakening among His people. Second… because our nation has in its DNA a bright and enduring strand of faith… The United States has experienced untold abundance, leading to pride and self-sufficiency, with consequences that have forced the faithful to their knee asking for God’s forgiveness. Throughout history this repentance has sparked spiritual awakenings and … political movements that reformed society, leading to greater obedience to God’s laws… Such an awakening can happen today… this spiritual awakening will not require a majority vote. It only requires men and women of faith to repent, pray, and act with moral courage… I have written this book to encourage those of us who are concerned about our country and worry that it has lost its way. It is my prayer that [this book] provides a road map we can follow to restore our nation from moral, economic, and political destruction back to God’s blessing.”
In the first chapter, he outlines, “Signs of America’s cultural decline extend far beyond the push for abortion and same-sex marriage. Consider these alarming social trends: *In 2010 the out-of-wedlock birthrate reached 40 percent of all births, 50 percent of all Hispanic births, and 70 percent of all African-American babies born in the United States. *… drug use is back on the rise… *,… Forth million Americans regularly visit po0rn websites, and 10 percent of the U.S. adult population is addicted to pornography… *… the FBI estimates that up to three hundred thousand children annually are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation… *Legalized gambling is a national epidemic… *Violence, foul language, and sexually explicit that once shocked sensibilities and sparked societal resistance no longer even raise eyebrows.” (Pg. 4-5)
He states, “political systems… seem to collapse at the peak of their influence and power. Why is that? The answer is the spiritual cycle: the tendency of human societies to move from faith to prosperity to pride in destruction, and then regeneration… The spiritual cycle moves through a series of six stages: *Faith leading to obedience to God’s laws *Obedience creating abundance *Abundance leading to pride *Pride leading to apostasy *Apostasy leading to defeat and judgment *Repentance leading back to faith… We can affect our destiny through our own choices. If we, as men and women of faith, repent and call out to God, we can see America return to faith and obedience, bringing her back to the fullness of His blessing and protection.” (Pg. 7-8)
He recounts from American history, “A final factor shaping the colonial experience … was slavery… the colonists built their society on the foundation of slavery. The first slaves arrived in America in 1619, and from that day on their presence---and the fact that enslavement completely contradicted America’s claim as the land of the free---would haunt the republic until the Civil War… and long after… The Constitution ended the slave trade in 1808, but the increase in the slave population in America ended any prospect that slavery would die a natural death… with the South’s increasing dependence upon the crops of cotton and tobacco, the slave labor… became even more intertwined in the American economy… race remains among the most controversial and difficult issues for the nation to resolve.” (Pg. 25-26)
He notes, “The final legacy of the charismatic renewal was bridging the gulf separating evangelicals and Roman Catholics. The two communities had been divided since the Reformation… The charismatic renewal bridged and healed this breach… The pro-life movement also brought Catholics and evangelicals together in a common cause, engendering mutual cooperation and respect.” (Pg. 48-49)
He admits, “The Christian Coalition… made its share of mistakes, including me. I once bragged to a reporter … by saying our opponents didn’t know what was happening ‘until you’re being zipped into a body bag.’ … I later apologized, advising our grassroots members to avoid harsh language that didn’t reflect our spiritual mission or God’s love. A similar episode occurred in 1992 when we sent a letter from Pat [Robertson]… to voters… urging them to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment. The letter included incendiary language that cited some feminist leaders who favored abortion-on-demand and overthrowing capitalism. It was a rookie mistake… I was heartsick and apologized profusely to Pat…” (Pg. 82)
He says, “Same-sex marriage has become the cause [of the day], advanced by the media, Hollywood, and the far left. Those who object are … labeled intolerant… Occasionally this persecution turns vicious… The objective is to silence Christians… The evangelical and faithful Catholic response to the marriage debate is not motivated by animus toward gay Americans. Far from it! The issue is first about fidelity to our faith. Second, it is about protecting the essential role that marriage plays as the central … socializing institution in our society.” (Pg. 110)
He proposes, “We need a new anti-poverty, pro-prosperity agenda for the twenty-first century, one that recognizes the centrality of marriage and intact families. People of faith must speak with a prophetic voice to politicians of both parties…This message will not always be popular… The left criticizes the pro-poor agenda of religious conservatives for an alleged lack of compassion because our approach does not rely on the failed strategies of higher taxes and more bureaucracy. But there is no contradiction between free markets and lifting people out of poverty.” (Pg. 124-125)
He contends, “actions reveal Obama as the most anti-Israel president in my lifetime, if not modern U.S. history. For an American president to be this insensitive to the security needs of Israel at a time of such bloody turmoil in the Middle East is tragic, and it would have bene unimaginable even a decade ago.” (Pg. 135)
He argues, “A war on Christianity has been under way in the U.S. for some time, fought not with bullets or tear gas but with court rulings, government policies, and a culture that stigmatizes and denigrates those with faith in Jesus Christ. To be sure… Christians in America do not fear being murdered or our churches burned because of our faith. But violence is always preceded by rhetorical and judicial hostility, and there is ample evidence that a dangerous and insidious war on Christianity began decades ago with court decision marginalizing religious speech… It we do not combat hostility toward Christianity outside of our nation’s borders, by the time we finally rise up, it may be too late.” (Pg. 142) Later, he adds, “The only difference between the war on Christianity here and abroad are the tactics, including the degree of violence…” (Pg. 155)
He acknowledges, “Jesus … demonstrated that he did not come to earth as a political savior and that eternal salvation does not come through politics. Yet that does not absolve His followers from participating in the political process… Parties and factions may at times seem evil, but they are a necessary evil in a free society.” (Pg. 185)
He also observes, “the faith community suffers from a credibility gap on the issue of same-sex marriage because it allowed no-fault divorce to wreak havoc on the institution of marriage. It is long past time to … make the reform of unilateral divo0rce the centerpiece of a pro-marriage agenda… It is not… possible to pass a law to make husbands love their wives and remain devoted to their children… we should begin by making it more difficult for one party to unilaterally dissolve a marriage.” (Pg. 206-207)
He concludes, We may not be able to usher in the kingdom of God through political action, but we can combat evil, protect the innocent, and secure justice… may we exercise our rights as American citizens with moral zeal but also with knowledge, in wisdom and patience, so that future generations may rise up one day and praise our memory because in the hour of testing we persevered.” (Pg. 226)
This book (and other books of Reed’s) will appeal to many conservative Christians.
November 11, 2022
I didn't agree with a few points but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It's very well written and has a few very good points worth seriously considering.
May 22, 2014
Every American should read this book! What an eye opening book. A must read!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews