A lot of Americans are downright perplexed about the increasingly militant and domineering role that religion is playing in Washington, D.C. and in State Capitals throughout the country. For some, the Terri Schiavo case and rallies of powerful politicians and preachers fomenting revolt against the judiciary have exposed a jarring disconnect between current political reality and the understanding that most Americans have of the place of religion in public life.
For those who didn't see this coming and wonder what is next on the horizon, I highly recommend Michelle Goldberg's Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism. It is the best of a torrent of recent books about the religious right, dominionism, and theocracy in America. Goldberg uses the term "Christian Nationalism" to accurately and succinctly describe the religious ideology binding together all the diverse strands of thought and theology within the religious right.
I highly recommend this book. It is essential reading for all moderate, mainstream Baptists. Most of the information from my workshop on "Who's Who in the Religious Right" (presented at the last national Mainstream Convocation) is confirmed and expounded upon in superb narrative style in this book.
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