Description
Book SynopsisPresents the examination of Christian fundamentalism. This title focuses on the words - sermons, speeches, books, audiotapes, and television broadcasts - of individual preachers, particularly Falwell, as they rewrote their Bible-based tradition to include, rather than exclude, intense worldly engagement.
Trade ReviewWinner of the 2001 Award for Excellence in Religious Studies in Analytical-Descriptive Studies, American Academy of Religion Honorable Mention for the 2001 Cawelti Book Award, American Culture Association Honorable Mention for the 2000 Award for Best Professional/Scholarly Book in Sociology and Anthropology, Association of American Publishers "Harding has brought the finely tuned eyes and ears of an anthropologist to her research inside Falwell's fundamentalist Baptist community. Her analysis is incisive and empathetic."--Linda L. Giedl, The Christian Science Monitor "This is a highly readable book."--Library Journal "Harding's central subject is the rhetoric of fundamentalism, the language of its persuasion. But she also explains how Falwell, and others like him, have brought the fundamentalist community into politics ... Harding's headlong exuberance propels [the book] and carries us deep into the mind and heart of a subculture that is increasingly mainstream."--Ronald D. Elving, Washington Post "An eloquent and incisive study of religious fundamentalism in the United States... [A] theoretically rich and highly original work."--Jeremy Stolow, Sociology of Religion "Harding's own mastery is on display throughout her book... By the end ... she has skillfully shown the myriad ways in which fundamentalist rhetoric created and transformed both the fundamentalist community itself and the wider American culture. Her work should be required reading not only for students of American religion, but for anyone who wishes to study sympathetically and fruitfully a different religious culture."--Jonathan Moore, Christian Century "So much has been written about resurgent Christian fundamentalism that it is difficult to imagine that someone might find something fresh to say about it. Yet Susan Friend Harding gives us some amazing glimpses into contemporary fundamentalism's heart and soul... [A] bold, artful, and largely convincing book."--Joel Carpenter, Journal of Religion
Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments ix A Guide to Terms xv INTRODUCTION Standing in the Gaps 3 PART ONE RITES OF ORIGIN 31 CHAPTER ONE Speaking Is Believing 33 CHAPTER TWO Fundamentalist Exile 61 PART TWO SITES OF REVISION 83 CHAPTER THREE The Art ofJerry Falwell 85 CHAPTER FOUR Sacrificial EconormIcs 105 CHAPTER FIVE Cultural Exodus 125 CHAPTER SIX The Moral Majority jeremiad 153 CHAPTER SEVEN The Pro-Life Gospel 183 CHAPTER EIGHT The Creation Museum 210 CHAPTER NINE The Last Days 228 CHAPTER TEN The Born-Again Telescandals 247 Postscript 270 Appendix A Thomas Road Baptist Church Statement of doctrine 277 Appendix B Sources of Jerry Falwell's Sermons 280 Notes to the Chapters 283 Bibliography 313 Credits 329 Index 331
