The Christian Coalition

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.

Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.