The American Religion

The American Religion: The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation
by
Harold Bloom
(Simon & Schuster, 1992)

Bloom turns his critical literary genius towards investigating American religion and its gnostic nature. He does a superb job and this book is a rare mix of scholarship and deep reading which he calls religious criticism. He has a long history of studying religion, from The Flight of Lucifer to The Book of J, and proves his merit here by encompassing the breadth and width of American religious thought.

This insightful and important study of the origins and nature of American religion is a must-read for any who wish to understand the current landscape of American society. It goes a long way towards understanding the rise of evangelicalism and lays the foundation of modern theocratic society. The Nineteen Century Know-Nothings have heirs in the religious right of today. Bloom's connections are so very insightful they help illuminate the ongoing evangelicals' attacks on learning and literacy, explaining why the religious right are at war with culture, education, arts, sciences, and society as a whole.

For instance, Bloom predicted the evangelical conquest of the Southern Baptist Convention and their rise to national power. This book offers vital understanding of how and why this is occurring. Plus, it gives clues to what will continue to happen in the future due to this peculiar American form of religion.

Excerpt from Kirkus Reviews:

"A great bolt of originality: Bloom manages to wade into a hopelessly over explored territory and point out precisely those landmarks that everyone else has missed. Remarkable ideas remarkably set forth."