From Library Journal
This book began as the author's doctoral dissertation at Florida State University, where he was an instructor in the Department of Religion. The book examines the aims of the Christian Coalition (CC) to restore America to its Christian roots, the organization's history since its 1989 founding, and contentions that evangelical Christians are often persecuted in our society. Chapter 2 probes the goals and purposes of the CC within the context of evangelicalism and its struggle within the pluralism of modern America. Watson also sketches the lives, careers, and thought of CC leaders Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed and looks at the restoration both men seek. A later chapter deals with the claims of victimization. Watson's narrow focus will limit the applicability of his findings; yet he is very clean in his intent to promote reasonable discourse about matters of religion and politics. Public libraries intending to stay current on contemporary American religion will find this title a helpful addition.?Leroy Hommerding, Citrus Cty. Lib. System, Fla.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


The New York Times Book Review, David Greenberg
...this book is no apologia. Though it has its flaws--mainly a lack of depth (there is scant evidence that Watson did any interviews) and bad timing (he barely mentions the coalition's new leaders, Donald Hodel and Randy Tate)--it exhibits the virtue of fairness.


From Kirkus Reviews
This meticulously documented study of the Christian Coalition illuminates for the general reader the goals and motives of one segment of the religious right. Watson (Religion/Florida State Univ.) finds a mixed message in the public pronouncements of the Christian Coalition leadership. Is their hope to restore to America the Christian character they believe it once had or merely to assure that, among the many movements competing for roles in the nation's public life, the Christian voice is recognized? After a brief opening chapter on the history of evangelicalism that helpfully recalls its 19th-century social activism, its conservative turn in the 1920s, and its public resurgence in the '70s, Watson narrows his focus to the coalition founded in 1989 by Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed. The study, based on the published writings of the two men, is an institutional biography, tracing the life of the coalition from its origins in ideals of a Christian nation through to its successful (and self-compromising) accommodation with political reality. Watson distinguishes the coalition's hope of overcoming the separation between private and public religious life from the aim of kindred religious-right movements legally to establish Christianity as the state religion. Part of the Christian Coalition's overt rejection of statist Christianity is, according to Watson, a cherished self-conception as outsider, even martyr, which serves to enhance its sense of moral purity. Watson shows intriguing parallels between this aspect of the organization's rhetoric and similar language among multiculturalists at the opposite end of the political spectrum. The drama of the movement lies in what Watson takes for an honest and unresolved tension within it between ideals of cultural dominance and of holy martyr. Though repetitive and overly detailed in parts, Watson offers both friend and foe of the Christian Coalition an impartial look at its institutional psychology. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
The mobilization of politically conservative followers of Christianity into a single lobbying force is perhaps the most unique feature of American politics in the late twentieth century. The group most frequently associated with this movement is the Christian Coalition, founded by talk show host and past presidential candidate Pat Robertson. In The Christian Coalition, Justin Watson provides an unflinching look at the underpinnings of this remarkable organization. Watson examines the Christian Coalition in the context of religious and political history in the United States, offering theories that help to explain its purpose, its popularity, and its power. He argues that the main motives for its existence are a longing for the restoration of America to a "purer," homogeneous nation under God and a desire for widespread recognition of conservative Christians as a minority victimized by a socially liberal world. Including a fascinating conclusion that sheds light on what the future may hold, The Christian Coalition is an engrossing study of a phenomenal political movement.


Card catalog description
The mobilization of politically conservative followers of Christianity into a singly lobbying force is perhaps the most unique feature of American politics in the late twentieth century: The group most frequently associated with this movement is the Christian Coalition, founded by talk show host and past presidential candidate Pat Robertson. In The Christian Coalition, Justin Watson provides an unflinching look at the underpinnings of this organization. Watson examines the Christian Coalition in the context of religious and political history in the United States, offering theories that help to explain its purpose, its popularity, and its power. He argues that the main motives for its existence are a longing for the restoration of America to a "purer," homogeneous nation under God and a desire for widespread recognition of conservative Christians as a minority victimized by a socially liberal world. Including a conclusion that sheds light on what the future may hold, The Christian Coalition is an engrossing study of a phenomenal political movement.


From the Publisher
"This meticulously documented study of the Christian Coalition illuminates for the general reader the goals and motives of one segment of the religious right." --Kirkus Reviews "Watson argues, persuasively, that the coalition's moderate garb is not a disguise to mollify critics. Rather, it reflects an appreciation of the dress code required in liberal democracy." --The New York Times Book Review "Watson's language and argument are coherent and accessible, and his book is a significant contribution to studies of American evangelicalism and its role in American politics." --Publishers Weekly "Watson...glimpses into the heart of the Coalition's principle." --The Washington Times


About the Author
Justin Watson is an instructor in the department of religion at Florida State University.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The mobilization of politically conservative followers of Christianity into a singly lobbying force is perhaps the most unique feature of American politics in the late twentieth century: The group most frequently associated with this movement is the Christian Coalition, founded by talk show host and past presidential candidate Pat Robertson. In The Christian Coalition, Justin Watson provides an unflinching look at the underpinnings of this organization. Watson examines the Christian Coalition in the context of religious and political history in the United States, offering theories that help to explain its purpose, its popularity, and its power. He argues that the main motives for its existence are a longing for the restoration of America to a "purer," homogeneous nation under God and a desire for widespread recognition of conservative Christians as a minority victimized by a socially liberal world. Including a conclusion that sheds light on what the future may hold, The Christian Coalition is an engrossing study of a phenomenal political movement.

FROM THE CRITICS

New York Times Book Review

Argues, persuasively, that the coalition's moderate garb is not a disguise to mollify critics.

Booknews

An unflinching look at the underpinnings of the mobilization of politically conservative Christians in the Christian Coalition, examining the group in the context of religious and political history in the US and explaining its purpose, popularity, and power. Argues that the main motives for the group's existence are a longing for the restoration of America to a homogeneous nation under God and a desire for widespread recognition of conservative Christians as a minority victimized by a liberal world. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Watson (religion, Florida State U.) provides an unflinching look at the underpinnings of the Christian Coalition founded by Pat Robertson. He examines it in the context of religious and political history in the U.S., offering theories that help to explain its purpose, popularity, and power. He argues that the main motives for its existence are a longing for the restoration of America to a "purer," homogeneous nation under God and a desire for widespread recognition of conservative Christians as a minority victimized by a socially liberal world. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

Kirkus Reviews

This meticulously documented study of the Christian Coalition illuminates for the general reader the goals and motives of one segment of the religious right.

Watson (Religion/Florida State Univ.) finds a mixed message in the public pronouncements of the Christian Coalition leadership. Is their hope to restore to America the Christian character they believe it once had or merely to assure that, among the many movements competing for roles in the nation's public life, the Christian voice is recognized? After a brief opening chapter on the history of evangelicalism that helpfully recalls its 19th-century social activism, its conservative turn in the 1920s, and its public resurgence in the '70s, Watson narrows his focus to the coalition founded in 1989 by Pat Robertson and Ralph Reed. The study, based on the published writings of the two men, is an institutional biography, tracing the life of the coalition from its origins in ideals of a Christian nation through to its successful (and self-compromising) accommodation with political reality. Watson distinguishes the coalition's hope of overcoming the separation between private and public religious life from the aim of kindred religious-right movements legally to establish Christianity as the state religion. Part of the Christian Coalition's overt rejection of statist Christianity is, according to Watson, a cherished self-conception as outsider, even martyr, which serves to enhance its sense of moral purity. Watson shows intriguing parallels between this aspect of the organization's rhetoric and similar language among multiculturalists at the opposite end of the political spectrum. The drama of the movement lies in what Watson takes for an honest and unresolved tension within it between ideals of cultural dominance and of holy martyr.

Though repetitive and overly detailed in parts, Watson offers both friend and foe of the Christian Coalition an impartial look at its institutional psychology.