An Angel Directs the Storm : Apocalyptic Religion and American Empire

This passionately argued book provides the first in-depth investigation of the religious politics of current American neo-conservatism. It shows that behind the neo-imperialism of the White House and George W. Bush lies an apocalyptic vision of the United States's sacred destiny "at the end of history", a vision that is shared by millions of Americans. The authors trace the roots of American apocalyptic to Puritan Millennialism and contemporary fundamentalist readings of the Book of Revelation. They suggest that Americans urgently need to recover a critique of Empire of the kind espoused by the founder of Christianity - or else risk becoming idolaters of a new Holy Roman Empire that leads others into servitude. "This book appraises two visions of religious freedom: on the one hand, the apocalyptic vision of George W. Bush and the Christian conservatives who back his policies, particularly in relation to Iraq and the so-called war on terror; and on the other hand, the peaceable vision of a Christian majority elsewhere who resist what they view as American neo-imperialism and the overlay of Christian apocalyptic rhetoric." "Drawing on a range of religious and secular literature, the author shows that there is a different king of war taking place from the one on terrorism. This is a war for the heart and soul of America itself, and for what 'Christian' culture might mean in a global context increasingly administered by an American empire which - like the Roman Empire of old - is yet hated and mistrusted by many of the peoples it claims to be there to protect. Northcott traces the roots of American apocalyptic to Puritan Millennialism and contemporary fundamentalist readings of the Book of Revelation. He suggests that Americans urgently need to recover a critique of Empire of the kind espoused by the founder of Christianity if their won religion is to avoid the charge of idolatry. America itself emerged out of a war against an empire. In the process, some of those amongst its peoples developed powerful resources for resisting imperialism which, as the author shoes, may yet prove valuable as the child of empire becomes, both in word and deed, an oppressive empire in its own right."--BOOK JACKET This passionately argued book provides the first in-depth investigation of the religious politics of current American neo-conservatism. It shows that behind the neo-imperialism of the White House and George W. Bush lies an apocalyptic vision of the United States's sacred destiny'at the end of history', a vision that is shared by millions of Americans. Michael Northcott traces the roots of American apocalyptic to Puritan Millennialism and contemporary fundamentalist readings of the Book of Revelation. He suggests that Americans urgently need to recover a critique of Empire of the kind espoused by the founder of Christianity - or else risk becoming idolaters of a new Roman Empire that leads others into servitude. EEn......Page 1 An Angel Directs The Storm - Apocalyptic Religion & American Empire......Page 2 Copyright Info......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 TOC......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Introduction......Page 9 1 - American Apocalypse......Page 22 2 - The Fading of the Dream......Page 52 3 - The Unveiling of Empire......Page 81 4 - The 'War on Terror' and the True Apocalypse......Page 111 5 - The Warrior Ethos and the Politics of Jesus......Page 142 Epilogue......Page 185 Notes......Page 188 Index......Page 205 Politricks EEn 1 An Angel Directs The Storm - Apocalyptic Religion & American Empire 2 Copyright Info 5 Dedication 6 TOC 7 Acknowledgements 8 Introduction 9 1 - American Apocalypse 22 2 - The Fading of the Dream 52 3 - The Unveiling of Empire 81 4 - The 'War on Terror' and the True Apocalypse 111 5 - The Warrior Ethos and the Politics of Jesus 142 Epilogue 185 Notes 188 Index 205 American Apocalypse -- The Fading Of The Dream -- The Unveiling Of Empire -- The War On Terror And The True Apocalypse -- The Warrior Ethos And The Politics Of Jesus. Michael Northcott. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.