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This week's featured review: Winning the Culture War by Linda Rae Hermann
How to Fight the Socialist Takeover of America...and Win
Though admittedly no conspiracy theorist, Christian political scientist and former Republican candidate for U.S. Congress Linda Rae Hermann demands Christians recognize the widespread socialist and secular progressive infiltration of nearly every American political and cultural institution. In her book “Winning the Culture War,” Hermann admonishes believers to recognize the threat this socialist infiltration poses and to stand up and do something about it. As she writes on page 17, “understanding socialist ideas, strategies and goals will help the reader understand how our society has been revolutionized and how we can do something about it.”
In workmanlike fashion, Hermann identifies the roots of America’s current culture war, exposes specific methods and tactics “secular progressives” have used to seize control of American society and articulates a clear strategy to help Christians retake control. “Winning the Culture War” is a primer on how to reclaim America for Christ, and any Christian looking for better ways to integrate faith and practice or to respond to socialist attacks and threats will find it an indispensable resource.
Like “Death of a Christian Nation,” its counterpart in the God and Country Press Series, “Winning the Culture War” begins by examining America’s uniquely Christian founding. Using research from Puritan original sources, Hermann tracks what she calls America’s “prophetic calling” from the first Puritan religious uprisings in England through the constitutional genius of the founding fathers to the largely secular landscape dominating twenty-first century America.
Hermann also clearly defines the stakes facing U.S. Christians in culture war combat. “In spite of our shortcomings,” Hermann writes in chapter two, “the initial covenant of our Puritan ancestors lives on in our culture, and consequently we have been blessed more than any nation in the history of nations…However, to remain true to our covenant with God to enhance that City [on a hill] image, we have much to restore that has been destroyed by the Cultural Revolution, and if it grows stronger, we may turn God away from us.” The author then proceeds to arm her fellow warriors with devastating yet graceful anti-socialist weapons and tactics.
Churches and pastors must play the leading role in turning the secular tide, Hermann argues, if America is to survive the current socialist infiltration of its schools, government, social welfare agencies and business structures. Hermann criticizes churches for being largely silent during the turbulent 1960s, the decade she says “began with free love, drugs and anger at the establishment and end[ed] with a secular culture.” She further explains that most churches have traditionally been and continue to be so concerned about growing membership, increasing salvations and promoting spiritual growth that they simply have little time, energy or money left over for training culture warriors. That can – and will – change, Hermann posits, if denominational leaders are willing to seek courageous reform.
Hermann’s prose is engaging yet scholarly, rooted in original source material and solid research. “Winning the Culture War” is both entertaining reading for the everyday American Christian concerned about the future of our great republic and useful to academics, researchers and culture warriors on the front lines.
“Winning the Culture War” was released in 2010 by God & Country Press, an imprint of AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, Tennessee. It may be ordered by visiting the God & Country Press web site at www.godandcountrypress.com
