Darryl Hart’s new book on the role of evangelicals and the conservative movement offers a critical missing piece in understanding the ongoing role of evangelical Christians in American politics. You will not fully understand the 2012 election cycle without it at your side.
As an account of history, Hart’s work plows no new ground. For example, he misses entirely the role of Congressman John Conlan, who actually recruited D. James Kennedy, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Ed McAteer, and the others whose conservative politics shaped the emerging so-called, “Religious Right.” Instead, Hart relies on a rehashed version of the story provided by the mainstream media, a more Catholic, Paul Weyrich-influenced account. Hart follows the trail by reviewing the roles of evangelical leaders of influence such as Billy Graham, Carl McIntire, Marvin Olasky, Chuck Colson, Ron Sider, Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority, Pat Robertson and the Christian Coalition, and James Dobson and Focus on the Family.
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