The Immoral Majority

Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values

By: Ben Howe

Narrated by: Marc William

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Evangelicals are losing the culture war. What if it’s their fault?

In 2016, writer and filmmaker Ben Howe found himself disillusioned with the religious movement he’d always called home. In the pursuit of electoral victory, many American evangelicals embraced moral relativism and toxic partisanship.

Whatever happened to the Moral Majority, who headed to Washington in the ’80s to plant the flag of Christian values? Where were the Christian leaders that emerged from that movement and led the charge against Bill Clinton for his deception and unfaithfulness? Was all that a sham? Or have they just lost sight of why they wanted to win in the first place? From the 1980s scandals till today, evangelicals have often been caricatured as a congregation of judgmental and prudish rubes taken in by thundering pastors consumed with greed and lust for power. Did the critics have a point?

In The Immoral Majority, Howe - still a believer and still deeply conservative - analyzes and debunks the intellectual dishonesty and manipulative rhetoric which evangelical leaders use to convince Christians to toe the Republican Party line. He walks us through the history of the Christian Right, as well as the events of the last three decades which led to the current state of the conservative movement at large.

As long as evangelicals prioritize power over persuasion, Howe argues, their pews will be empty and their national influence will dwindle. If evangelicals hope to avoid cultural irrelevance going forward, it will mean valuing the eternal over the ephemeral, humility over ego, and resisting the seduction of political power, no matter the cost. The Immoral Majority demonstrates how the Religious Right is choosing the profits of this world at the cost of its soul - and why it’s not too late to change course.

©2019 Ben Howe (P)2019 HarperAudio

An atheist appreciation of this book

Now I understand the short term evangelical perspective. I don't like what I now see.

Excellent assessment of the GOP

Clear expression of issues in the GOP which I agree with. My 50 year Christian life was betrayed and he explains the issues VERY well

A must read for Christian Republicans.

It is refreshing to hear from a Christian Republican who has put in the research and effort necessary to describe the harm to our faith that is being done by President Trump, Steve Bannon, and other disciples through their tool of choice, the ungodly propaganda machines of the far-right media. My fellow Christians, please penitently join me in pursuit of more faithful Christian leadership for our communities and country.

Great read

Insight to wisdom from one within the party about a party that seemed to loose all desire for wisdom and seeking power and wealth instead.

Great Book

Great book; albeit mistitled. This is a book written by a Christian for Christianians. The title makes the book seem antagonist towards Christianity, which it is not.

Please read this INSPITE of its title

if you go into this book with preconceived notions, you are bound to be disappointed but it you take the time to digest this I believe you will have gained some important insights about yourself. "Winning is fleeting; Victory is Eternal."

A much needed book

Howe does a phenomenal job in parsing out how the evangelical church landed in the position it is today. He offers a well balanced view of what it looks like to engage in the political landscape of our country while maintaining your commitment to follow Christ.

Solidly and thoughtfully portrays the state of affairs as of 2019

Highly recommend this book to my Christian friends. It reminds us of what Christianity should be and what can happen when it is not the focus of our professed faith.

Good Treatise of What Evangelicals Sacrificed

This is a really good book about what Christians who support Trump have sacrificed in standing behind him. The author makes no bones about the integrity Christians have lost in standing by and supporting this president.

I thought this was a well-authored book about a sad and regrettable situation.

A Prayer on Behalf of Christianity

The Immoral Majority, Why Evangelicals Chose Political Power Over Christian Values, by Ben Howe and narrated by Marc William. Come sit down with Mr. Howe, the son of an evangelist minister, and a practicing Christian. Ben Howe is an author, columnist, podcaster, television writer, film­maker and award-winning political ad producer; a know it all. Well, I do not mean that sarcastically. His wealth of knowledge on Christendom and his ability to dissect charismatic arguments and analyze their value or duplicity is uncanny. It also makes for intriguing listening. This novel (essay) is a Christian’s prayer, and argument, to the United States Christian population to realize they have abandoned their cherished understanding of the word of Christ, to follow arguments full of duplicity and the double forked tongue of a Charlatan; actually, a list of Swindlers. These issues are taken up with vehemence.

If you wonder why a deplorable like Trump has the allegiance of the moral right, then this is the book for you to read or listen to. Before you do though, go to OED dictionary and look up the meaning of the word hypocrisy. Well, never mind, I will make it easy on you: “The practice of claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.” That’s what this fabulous analysis is, discernment of hypocrisy to be found in the moral majority’s support for Trump. Thus, the play on the word immoral in the book’s title. Mr. Howe’s analysis is easy to follow, true to its reasoning, and intriguing in conclusion. Good read. Go for it. No need to consider any longer