Born Again

-- A gripping investigation of the power of Christian Right worldwide -- The Christian Right wields massive political power in the United States and beyond. This is the first book to reveal the growing influence of the Christian Right within the United Nations. Jennifer Butler -- who worked as Presbyterian Representative at the U.N. for nine years -- shows how Christian conservative groups are able to shape policy in every corner of the world. Drawing on interviews with Christian Right leaders, she reveals how today's most powerful Christian Right organizations are building interfaith coalitions. At the United Nations, groups like Focus on the Family and Concerned Women for America work with Catholic, Mormon and Muslim allies to advance a conservative agenda. The United States has recently joined this alliance. President George W. Bush has given them a significant voice in shaping U.S. positions on issues including women's rights, reproductive health, human cloning, children's rights and AIDS. In short, the Christian Right is globalizing -- a phenomenon that promises to challenge progressive social policy on a worldwide scale -- as well as transform the Christian Right itself. 'Jennifer Butler's sharp eye for critique and smooth handling of complexity makes her the ideal analyst [of] the U.S. Christian Right. Butler pulls aside the veils of religiosity to show the mean-spirited and elitist ideologies, and yet she never stoops to caricature theology nor bash sincere religious belief.' Chip Berlet, Senior Analyst, Political Research Associates and co-author of Right-Wing Populism in America