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Title: Why the Religious Right Is Wrong: About Separation of Church & State by Rob Boston, Robert Boston, Barry W. Lynn ISBN: 0-87975-834-1 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: March, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (16 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: a bit simple
Comment: I must first declare my bias. I am a person who has some sympathy with the ideas of the author and I am in fact a non-believer. Despite that I did not particularly enjoy it. The author has written a number of books on related topics and is active in a political way. Towards the end of the book he describes how the religious right is politically active and how they provide pamphlets and information and become involved in local and school politics. He encourages people with a liberal outlook to do the same. This book is basically a fact list for that purpose rather than being a book which stands on its own as a dispassionate study of an interesting phenomena.
In reality the book is quite short. It is 218 pages but the type face is quite large. It can be read quite quickly. It has a brief history of the rise of the separation of church and state and talks a little about early American history. The initial settlement of America was by religious groups who did not show much tolerance. He refers to the execution of some quakers by one colony. There is a discussion about the reasons for the development of constitutional separation which would seem to be that although America was a Christian country there was enormous division within the various sects and there was not a clear consensus about the real elements of religious belief.
The book then discusses issues around the operation of rights clauses and a history of some litigation. The book is readable and is a good introduction but is short and superficial. However the reality is that the aim of the book is to be a primer more than a scholarly work so that my complaints are probably minor quibbles
Rating: 5
Summary: The dangers of the Religious Right movement
Comment: Rob Boston presents an intelligent, well written argument against the threat of the Religious Right movement in America. He traces church- state relations from several hundred years ago to the present day and confronts the non-seperationists with zeal and passion.
Why do many Americans fall so easily for the propaganda and historical distortions from the Religious Right? I think the main reason lies in the attitudes that many Americans have toward people in authority. Not just religious authority, but other authorities as well, such as political figures, teachers, and even our elders. Many people seem to falsely think that individuals in positions of authority are incapable of wrongdoing, even when they have been proven wrong in the past. I cannot count the number of times that I have heard a person in an authoritarian position make an outrageous statement which is then quickly taken as gospel by the gullible public. Sometimes, the individual in authority will later contradict himself and even his contradiction will be treated as infallible by the public! This has never ceased to amaze me.
Rob Boston states several times that he is unsure whether the Religious Right is ignorant of the facts or withholding the truth. In the case of the followers of the movement, I think ignorance and vulnerability are at the forefront. But the leaders of this so- called "religious" movement can only be described one way: they are bona-fide liars! Pat Robertson and the rest of the leaders are willing to sacrifice honesty in order to further their political agenda. These leaders have studied the constitution and American history history extensively. They would have to know that what they preach is completely false, beyond all shadow of a doubt.
We all need to take a stand against these extremist groups to protect our freedom for ourselves and for future generations. Remember: apathy is the #1 tool used by the Religious Right. We need to get up and fight!
Rating: 4
Summary: Somewhat biased but excellent overall
Comment: In this work, Rob Boston gives a good in-depth analysis of the church state separation issue. He provides an excellent historical background including a detailed description of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution's first amendment. Prior drafts of the amendment provide very interesting reading. He correctly examines the effect of the 14th amendment that extended the Bill of Rights to the states and the fact that it was legal for states to set up religion up to that point.
Crucial Supreme Court cases are covered in detail providing excellent examinations of the opinions they generated. He points out that church state separation was virtually ignored during the 19th century and exploded as an issue when immigration during the 20th century brought a number of new religions to the country that the people had never previously encountered.
Mr. Boston does not hide his disdain for the Religious Right and it becomes very obvious in some of his statements, but he illuminates some of the dangers this small but very influential group pose. He exposes the desires of some extreme fringes to convert America into a Christian theocracy.
All in all this is a great work with thorough documentation of sources that allow a reader to research further into the issue. Mr. Boston also provides a number of historical documents in whole or in part to illustrate the mindset of the founding fathers, particularly Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
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Title: The Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness by Isaac Kramnick, R. Laurence Moore ISBN: 039331524X Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: February, 1997 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Myth of Christian America : What You Need to Know About the Separation of Church and State by Mark Weldon Whitten, James Dunn ISBN: 1573122874 Publisher: Smyth & Helwys Pub Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: The Fundamentals of Extremism by Kimberly Blaker, Edward M. Buckner, Edwin Kagin, Bobbie Kirkhart, Herb Silverman, John Suarez ISBN: 0972549617 Publisher: New Boston Books, Inc. Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Close Encounters With the Religious Right: Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics by Rob Boston, Robert Boston ISBN: 157392797X Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: May, 2000 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: The Founding Fathers and the Place of Religion in America by Frank Lambert ISBN: 0691088292 Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr Pub. Date: 09 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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