In Defense of the Religious Right: Why Conservative Christians Are the Lifeblood of the Republican Party and Why That Terrifies the Democrats

by Patrick Hynes

Political consultant and commentator Patrick Hynes dispels common stereotypes and misapprehensions about the most powerful political constituency in the country while undertaking the most exhaustive effort yet to define what the Religious Right is, what its members believe, and why they are right.

267 pages, Hardcover

First published July 2, 2006

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will admit right up front...I don't consider myself a conservatice republican by any stretch of the imagination. Nor, however, do I consider myself a "liberal" democrat either. I consider myself a "hopefully more than not faithful follower of God in the way of Jesus who allows God's heart to determine what are priorities in my life (and politics)."

The author had a number of good and surprising things to say. And at times it was an enjoyable read. It was very surprising (if I read the intro right) that he does not consider himself an "evangelical Christian" but identifies with the "morals and values" of the Religious Right (and by extension, obviously, the Republican Party). So it was an interesting take on the whole debate.

The biggest thing that bothered me about this book, among a whole bunch of smaller things, was he used the same tone and verbal jabs that he so often accused the democrats and liberals in his book. Apparently, what is bad for them is okay for him. I thought this tone took away a lot from his book. Just give us the "facts" and be generous and kind to your opponents (even if they don't return the favor). But this is part of the problem...the religious right has been co-opted by the Republican Party and instead of having the voice (tone and message) of Jesus they feel that using the same "weapons" against their opponents is justified and needed for other Christians and culture to get the message.

Liberals whine and complain. And after reading this book so do conservatives and the Religious Right. Ahh, politics...don't you love it?

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the author is far too guilty of the name-calling and invective that he criticizes his political opponents for, he makes some valid points about the Religious Right and its place in American politics. I am not an advocate for many of the tactics and even ideals of the Religious Right, but Hynes gives a history that helps to create insight into why the group exists and what its motivations are. I do agree with him that many of the perceptions of the Religious Right are caricatures that have been taken for truth. It's an interesting read, and provocative, as it intends to be.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is mostly tripe to progressives, and red meat to conservatives, especially Tea Party conservatives. You know - the ones that don't really give a shit about conserving anything except an imagined WASPy lifestyle.

Meh.

[Juliana Knight Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the beginning was a bit slow and some of it was tedious to get through, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and how Patrick Hynes approaches examining conservative christians in politics, a group that many people would prefer to ignore or act like it has limited influence. There was plenty data used to support his points, but what struck me the most was how the reaction of liberals after the 2001 election is so similar to the political climate today. There are paragraphs in this book where you could switch out the years and the names of the candidates and the story would read almost identically.