book review: The Family

The Family:  The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, Jeff Sharlet, HarperCollins, 2008.

Growing up in the United States we always suspected there were power people behind the scenes, and that the actual people in office were often not much more than puppets. This book reveals just a little of the powers-behind-the-thrones who pull the strings.

The scary thing about all this is that it is cloaked in the language and images of conservative, evangelical Christianity. It is about people getting together to pray for each other and pray for the people in power. It is about following Jesus and his call on each person's life.

Yet, there is something about The Family that doesn't "feel" quite right. Jeff Sharlet began uncovering some of it's more sinister aspects. For one thing, the "gospel" they are promoting is that of unrestrained capitalism. They are against any help to the poor and disadvantaged of society; they fight welfare laws. They believe that if men in power do the right things (that is, gain power and influence to enact the right laws and make the right corporate decisions) it will "trickle down" to the poor.  Where have we heard this concept before?!!

God's leading, answers to prayer, are all couched in gaining power. Relationships are nurtured solely for the sake of access to powerful people. "The 'teachings of the Nazarene' for such politicians amounted to deregulation, the removal of government intervention from matters they thought firmly taken in hand by Jesus and His chosen representatives." (p142) "His chosen representatives", of course, are hand-picked to join The Family, also formerly called, The Fellowship. One cannot volunteer to join this group.

The Fellowship began under the leadership of Abram Vereide in the 1930's. Doug Coe took over after Abram's death in the late 1960's. Today, as Coe gradually retires, leadership is being assumed by Dick Foth. The main public event they organize is the National Prayer Breakfast. Vereide began this tradition during Eisenhower's presidency. Ike attended, as have presidents to this day.

But most of their work is behind the scenes, not only in Washington DC, but also around the world, as they seek one world order. "Jesus must rule every nation through the vessel of American power." (p218) Coe was anointed as Vereide's successor because, ". . . he would pray with anyone, and he would bless anyone, so long as they had the strength to submit their nation to God. That was his greatest virtue in Abram's eyes: he . . . never questioned whether Jesus really cared most for men with power." (p218)

If you want to know just a little about what is really going on in the halls of power in the US capital and around the world, I recommend this book. Sharlet has done a tremendous amount of research about the history of Vereide, The Fellowship, Coe and others. He infiltrated The Family for a few months to discover more of their inner workings. It all sounds so Christian, so righteous and Biblical, but oh, so sinister. God's Kingdom in their own image!