The New Christian Right

This book of original essays provides an objective and enlightening analysis of the emergence and changing forms of the New Christian Right. The subject is in itself important in contemporary American life, but in addition The New Christian Right reexamines standard theories of social movements and the relationship between religion and politics in America today.

The book presents findings from original research, including surveys, personal interviews with elites, analysis of financial documents, reanalysis of existing data, and analysis of direct-mail solicitations and other primary literature. The New Christian Right is balanced and objective rather than partisan and evaluative. Using non-technical and non-jargonistic language, the authors raise questions concerning the nature of religion, the role of status groups, and contemporary directions in American culture.

“Sometimes it seems that the only thing growing faster than the New Christian Right is the torrent of books and articles describing it. This collection of essays raises the discussion to an enviable level of sophistication. The authors, mostly sociologists, provide detailed examinations of the movement’s development, political effectiveness, organizational structure, social composition, and connections with other forms of economic and political conservatism. They also explore wide-ranging historical and cultural questions, such as parallels with other reform movements in American history and reasons why Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority has overwhelmed rival traditionalist groups like Religious Roundtable in the popular imagination.”

—Grant Wacker, Church History

“The editors pursued a theoretical pluralism that provides excellent descriptions and a multiplicity of theoretical insights. Critical points described here were themselves stimulated by the detailed insights of the book. This volume should prove to be the springboard for any future innovation in our understanding of religious movements.”

—George M. Thomas, American Journal of Sociology

“[V]ery useful to students of religion in general and students of the New Christian Right in particular.”

—C. Eddie Palmer, Social Forces

“After seeing so much purple prose about the New Christian Right in the popular press, it is a pleasure to read these balanced and scholarly accounts of the ideology, impact, social bases, scope, and probable future of this movement. Collections on ‘hot topics’ often suffer in the rush to get into print, but this volume contains none of the usual shortcomings. These twelve previously unpublished essays are all tightly written and lacking in jargon and, considering the variety of disciplines and methods represented by the authors, add up to a surprisingly coherent whole. The editors are to be especially commended for their excellent introductory and concluding summaries. . . . These essays tell the reader much about contemporary American society, the political system, religion, and social movements in general. I recommend it highly to all who are interested in the intersection of these forces.”

—Thomas H. Koenig, Contemporary Sociology

"[The] most balanced and objective scholarship yet available on the New Christian Right. . . . [There] is a great deal to be learned here. . . . [The] book must be rated as excellent."

—Paul J. Weber, The Journal of Church and State

"[A] rich and detailed analysis of the politically active religious right. . . . This authoritative and carefully edited book contains an excellent bibliography and index. It will be a very useful resource for students in political science, sociology, and religious studies."

—Choice