With God on Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America

With God on Our Side chronicles the emergence and growth of the Religious Right in America from the 1950s through the 1990s. Based on extensive interviews and research, William Martin traces the movement's transformation from scattered fundamentalist groups into a powerful political force. The narrative follows key religious and political figures who shaped the movement's trajectory and messaging over decades. Martin documents watershed moments including school prayer controversies, the Moral Majority's founding, and battles over social issues that galvanized evangelical Christians. Through firsthand accounts and historical analysis, the book examines how conservative Protestant leaders mobilized their followers and built alliances with political operatives. The text covers internal debates, strategic decisions, and the movement's increasing influence in Republican Party politics. The work stands as an essential text for understanding how religious conviction and political action became intertwined in modern American conservatism. Martin's account reveals the complex relationships between faith, cultural change, and the pursuit of political power.

Readers describe this as a thorough historical account of the American Religious Right's political mobilization. Multiple reviewers note Martin's balanced reporting and extensive interviews with movement leaders. Readers appreciated: - Neutral tone that avoids demonizing or glorifying subjects - Coverage of lesser-known events and figures - Clear explanations of complex theological and political concepts Common criticisms: - Too focused on top leaders rather than grassroots perspectives - Ends in 1996, missing recent developments - Some sections drag with excessive detail Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (147 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 ratings) One reader noted: "Martin lets the subjects speak for themselves without editorializing." Another wrote: "The book shows how religious movements gain political power through specific strategies and alliances." Several academic reviewers called it useful for understanding current American political dynamics, though dated in its coverage.

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🔷 Author William Martin spent six years conducting over 100 interviews with key figures in the Religious Right movement, including Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Billy Graham, providing rare first-hand accounts of the movement's development. 🔷 The book served as the companion volume to the acclaimed PBS series of the same name, which aired in 1996 and helped bring mainstream attention to the growing influence of evangelical politics. 🔷 The term "Religious Right" wasn't widely used until the late 1970s, despite the movement's roots extending back to the 1920s—a historical progression that Martin carefully traces throughout the book. 🔷 Martin reveals how the Scopes "Monkey Trial" of 1925 caused many evangelical Christians to retreat from public life for decades, only to re-emerge as a powerful political force in the 1970s. 🔷 The book details how Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential campaign initially united evangelical voters, but his presidency ultimately helped catalyze the modern Religious Right movement that would later oppose him.