We Gather Together: The Religious Right and the Problem of Interfaith Politics

by Neil J. Young

The story of the birth of the Religious Right is a familiar one. In the 1970s, mainly in response to Roe v. Wade, evangelicals and conservative Catholics put aside their longstanding historical prejudices and theological differences and joined forces to form a potent political movement that swept across the country. In this provocative book, Neil J. Young argues that almost none of this is true. Young offers an alternative history of the Religious Right that upends these widely-believed myths.
Theology, not politics, defined the Religious Right. The rise of secularism, pluralism, and cultural relativism, Young argues, transformed the relations of America's religious denominations. The interfaith collaborations among liberal Protestants, Catholics, and Jews were met by a conservative Christian counter-force, which came together in a loosely bound, politically-minded coalition known as the Religious Right. This right-wing religious movement was made up of Mormons, conservative Catholics, and evangelicals, all of whom were united--paradoxically--by their contempt for the ecumenical approach they saw the liberal denominations taking. Led by the likes of Jerry Falwell, they deemed themselves the "pro-family" movement, and entered full-throated into political debates about abortion, school prayer, the Equal Rights Amendment, gay rights, and tax exemptions for religious schools. They would go on to form a critical new base for the Republican Party.
Examining the religious history of interfaith dialogue among conservative evangelicals, Catholics, and Mormons, Young argues that the formation of the Religious Right was not some brilliant political strategy hatched on the eve of a history-altering election but rather the latest iteration of a religious debate that had gone on for decades. This path breaking book will reshape our understanding of the most important religious and political movement of the last 30 years.

Genres: History, Politics, Christianity, Religion, Nonfiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Dan Cotter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does an excellent job of looking at the religious right and its rise and issues. Not always an easy read, but worth the read if interested in the topic.

[Austin Steelman]

I have a read a ton of histories of the Religious Right and this may be the very best. Looking forward to using sections of this with undergrads in the future.

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

In We Gather Together Neil J. Young presents a view of the Religious Right's beginning from a more nuanced and historically situated perspective.

In contemporary debate involving the Religious Right it is often presented as a monolithic entity with but one common direction. While at times this certainly appears to be the case, especially for those in their cross-hairs, it is not really the case. Looking at how these varied denominations, and factions within denominations, came to be at times uneasy allies gives a better understanding of both why they have gained strength in spite of being a minority of the population as well as where the fault lines run within the loose alliance.

The writing was very good and kept the pages turning. I would recommend for anyone on either side of the divide the Religious Right has caused in this country. Knowledge is power whether you believe as they do or not, and this book will arm you with knowledge.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.

[David Krueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a nice interview with the author over at Marginalia Radio: http://marginalia.lareviewofbooks.org...