Blinded By Might Why The Religious Right Can’t Save America
By: Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson
Zondervan Publishing House
1999
1-193
1-90Blair Emsick

Book Review Project

AP Government

15 December 2009

Blinded By Might Why The Religious Right Can’t Save America

The title of this book, written by journalist Cal Thomas and pastor Ed Dobson, gives the innocent passerby a huge misconception. Judging from the title this book looks like it was written by a couple of left wing atheists (okay…that‘s a little harsh). Turns out the book was actually written by two adamant followers of Jesus Christ. The two men were also deeply involved and associated with the Moral Majority, a Christian political group that took a strong hold on America during the 1980’s founded by Jerry Falwell and played a huge part in electing President Ronald Reagan. The phrase “Don’t judge a book by its cove,” never seemed to truer after a passerby picks up the book and starts reading it.
In the introduction Thomas and Dobson make the purpose of their book quite clear. “We seek to influence the greater corporate body of the church and in doing so, leave a far greater imprint on culture.” (Dobson,Thomas. 13) The authors of the book intend to inform as well as influence their readers. The book appears to be mainly aimed at the audience of American Christians, whom many have had a violent reaction to it. Thomas and Dobson write, “Many of those who need to hear this message are the least interested in hearing it.” (7) Thomas and Dobson share an unconventional view on their Christianity and the political spectrum. They write in the introduction, “We have come to believe that a delicate balance exists between church and state and if each fulfills its proper role, the other is positively affected. But if one assumes the role of the other , or ignores and rejects that role, then both suffer.” (Thomas and Dobson. 12)
Cal Thomas worked for five years with the Moral Majority side by side with Jerry Falwell. Ed Dobson worked for almost fifteen years with the Moral Majority and often took the place when Falwell wasn’t available for television interviews and debates. The authors use their vast knowledge, experience, insight working within the Moral Majority, and watching Christianity grow bigger then it ever has in politics to provide a profound and enlightening, and quite controversial, view of Christians role in politics and the government. Dobson and Thomas identified many of the failures of the Moral Majority. Two decades ago the group The Moral Majority fought fervently against pornography, gay marriage, abortion, drug use. Dobson and Thomas urge the reader to look at the way these issues stand today. A poll taken in 1973 and again in 1991 asking the public if they were for or against abortion was compared in the book and the outcome was practically the same. After all the Moral Majority did for America in the 1980’s it seems that today nothing has been accomplished, in fact America appears to be worse off. “This was the Moral Majority’s greatest failure,” writes Cal Thomas (Thomas. 36)
The book is not simply a harsh pessimistic view of the social ills of America and a commentary on how none of them will ever be solved and that America will eventually swallow it’s self whole. No, the book provides a much deeper and enlightening message. Darold H. Morgan, who urges audience to read the book, wrote in Christian Ethics Today that, “The strength of this book is the repeated statement that it is only in the power of the Christian gospel, applied to the human heart, that transformation of people can take place. Legislation and manipulation of political position and power cannot change lives. The preeminent task of the Church is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Religious Right people have made a fatal mistake in making political power take precedence over the spiritual power latent in the Christian gospel.” The Wall Street Journal Also provide a positive review of the book, “Now there’s a fresh and very different line of criticism, coming from inside the world of conservative Christians….Cal Thomas and the Rev. Ed Dobson describe the Christian political movement as a paper tiger.”
Throughout the book Thomas and Dobson explain there work with the Religious Right, its flaws, and eventually why the left. Then the authors go into a more deeper message about faith and the social and cultural conditions of America. Dobson writes, “The Christian understands the wrongs of society are not merely social ills. As such, these wrongs require spiritual help, not merely political Adjustment. Ultimately, there are no permanent solutions to the problems of a society in a fallen world. But that does not mean that we should retreat to a monastery and allow social anarchy for the rest of the world.” (Dobson. 48). The authors then go into a descriptive way as to how Christian Americans can save the social ills of America. Thomas writes that to fix these problems we must start from the bottom up, not the top down. What he’s saying is that we can’t fix these problems by passing bills, holding fundraisers, and electing a republican president in the office to put ideas in people’s heads. No we must start from the bottom and move up, get a little dirty. Start with really influencing the people these social ills effect. Cal Thomas came up with the idea to give a woman a sonogram before she goes in to have an abortion, a tactic that has decreased abortions nationwide.
After reading this book, I’ll have to admit it is not for everywhere. It provides a message that may offend some people, but also provides a message that any person from whatever religious or political affiliations should share. That America has a heart wrenching amount of social ills that need to be solved. Whether through governmental action, or through actions from groups like The Christian Coalition these social ills with a lot of dedication, hard work, and sacrifice maybe one day be solved.