New Book By FPL Executive Director Jennifer Butler!
Born Again: The Christian Right Globalized: An Insider’s Account of the Global Reach of the Christian Right
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Rev. Jennifer S. Butler, former human rights advocate at the United Nations, launches her new book today, Born Again: The Christian Right Globalized. This compelling narrative reveals how today’s most powerful Christian Right organizations are building international, interfaith coalitions and shaping policy in every corner of the world. Rev. Butler provides the first insider’s account of the strategies and effectiveness of Christian Right lobbying the United Nations, and their efforts to build a global conservative family values movement.
In her book, Born Again, The Christian Rights Globalized, Rev. Butler provides a unique perspective on the Christian Right’s massive political power and what impact it may have on shaping future global policies. Drawing on interviews with Christian Right leaders, she reveals how today’s most powerful Christian Right organizations are poised to challenge progressive social policy on a worldwide scale.
“Butler pulls aside the veils religiosity to show the mean-spirited and elitist ideologies, and yet she never stoops to caricature theology nor bash sincere religious belief.” says Chip Berlet, co-author of Right-Wing Populism in America.
During her nine years as a Presbyterian Church (USA) Representative at the United Nations, Rev. Butler witnessed Christian Right groups working with Catholic, Mormon and Muslim allies to advance a conservative agenda. The United States recently has joined this alliance, and President George W. Bush has given them significant voice in shaping U.S. positions on issues including women’s rights, reproductive health, human cloning, children’s rights and AIDS.
“It is a global movement,” says Butler. “It’s a phenomenon that promises to challenge progressive activism on a worldwide scale.”
Rev. Butler’s research for this book inspired her to become Executive Director of Faith in Public Life, where she urges moderates and progressives to avoid losing a pending global culture war by more effectively engaging religious communities.
“I joined Faith in Public Life to strengthen the effectiveness, collaboration, and reach of faith movements that share a call to pursue justice and the common good,” says Butler. “Our work is critical to ensuring that those using religion as a tool of division and exclusion do not dominate public discourse.”
CONTACT: Sally Aman or Jessica Watson press@faithinpubliclife.org, 202-544-7921
