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.

PERFECT book 4 Evangelicals struggling w/ trumpism

I grew up Evangelical, am no longer, but the vast majority of friends and family are. Some support trump, many voted for him begrudgingly, as the lesser of two evils. This book perfectly worded how I've felt for years now, and I will highly recommend to every Evangelical who realizes that trump is not a savior. This is probably the most on point and timely book I have ever read!!!

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.

The summation of hypocrisy

Mr. Howe pulls no punches in describing how many ways the Christian right is contradicting itself in its unwavering support of Trump. The words mean more from Howe with his viewpoint as an evangelical. We all know someone who fits in the depictions described in this book and it made for a very entertaining listen.

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.

Evangelical apologist

Garbage. A predictable never Trumper tries to defend the moral high ground for “real” evangelicals. At one point the author even offers a lengthy discussion critiquing his own tweets. An absolutely awful political “hot take” interlaced awkwardly with biblical references. The only thing the author was right on was acknowledging the obvious train wreck Trump was and continues to be. If you haven’t made the mistake of buying this drivel pass while you still have the chance.

Very Interesting

This book is a thoughtful exploration of the how and why the Evangelical right has apparently changed so dramatically recently. It gives insight to those who are puzzled by these changes. The author is a devout member of the group, seems sincere, and reveals a humility that's seems foreign to those in the group. It doesn't answer all my questions, but does provide at least possible and reasonable answers to many of them.

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."

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.

Food for thought

Whatever your beliefs or non-beliefs, this book explains the paradox of a particular group of people with purportedly Christian values voting for and being apologists for Trump - especially bearing in mind their outrage at Clinton’s (much less outrageous) behaviour. I don’t share Ben Howe’s religious beliefs, and got a bit impatient some way into the book where there were quite a few biblical quotations, but I’m glad I persevered because he is actually trying to talk to EVERYONE - he’s being very honest, and he asks us ALL to think, to look hard at ourselves - which is good!! Understanding ‘the other’ is important these days.