Product Description

Both Britain and America stand at a place where society's predominant values are secular and cross-culturally aware. In Britain, Christian values and religious beliefs are now generally seen only as part of an all-inclusive whole, deserving of no more consideration and respect than any other beliefs. Once the English Church and the State were two sides of the same coin. Longley claims that England is losing its identity and confidence as a nation because it has all but denied its religious roots. But America still claims to be "God's own country". Events of the 11th of September 2001 have given a new urgency to some of the hottest topics of the 21st century. What makes America so strong and yet so vulnerable? Why do the British and Americans so often stand side by side? What are the real roots of their common history? And what about the future for Britain and the USA, particularly in a world threatened by a terrorism which claims religion as its heart?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1122546 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 314 pages

Review
With differences between the world's major religions once again in the spotlight, Longley sets about answering the question of why exactly America - and, to a lesser extent, Britain - identifies so closely with Israel, and is prepared to provide political support for Israel's struggle against the Palestinians in the face of much worldwide opposition. The remarkable fact is that this support does not rest solely on the numbers of Jewish people resident in these countries, or even in powerful political and financial positions, as has been claimed by some commentators. Other European countries also have powerful Jewish lobbies, yet express far less support for Israel. Rather, Longley argues, the overwhelmingly Protestant religious-political establishment in both countries is based on one Great Idea - the Old Testament belief that one nation is the chosen one, will be saved before all others, and has a responsibility to influence the world towards a certain destiny. He provides compelling historical evidence, from the ceremonial oath taken by the Queen at her coronation, which draws heavily on Old Testament scripture, through the conflation of England with Israel in the hymn Jerusalem, to some of the more extreme evangelical beliefs that it is the duty of all Christians to see the Jewish people returned to Israel - and then converted to Christianity. Along the way, he takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the historic power struggles between Islam and Christianity, and Catholicism and Protestantism, highlighting the efforts of the Protestant church to draw upon the traditions of the Old Testament in such a way as to deny their associations with Catholicism. He illustrates his point with excerpts from speeches by Lincoln and Washington, who, although in favour of a secular United States, drew heavily on the idea that Americans were God's own chosen people. His subtitle - The Big Idea that Shapes England and America - is clearly no exaggeration. (Kirkus UK)

Synopsis
Both Britain and America stand at a place where society's predominant values are secular and cross-culturally aware. In Britain, Christian values and religious beliefs are now generally seen only as part of an all-inclusive whole, deserving of no more consideration and respect than any other beliefs. Once the English Church and the State were two sides of the same coin. Longley claims that England is losing its identity and confidence as a nation because it has all but denied its religious roots. But America still claims to be "God's own country". Events of the 11th of September 2001 have given a new urgency to some of the hottest topics of the 21st century. What makes America so strong and yet so vulnerable? Why do the British and Americans so often stand side by side? What are the real roots of their common history? And what about the future for Britain and the USA, particularly in a world threatened by a terrorism which claims religion as its heart?

About the Author
Clifford Longley is well-known as an author, broadcaster and journalist who has specialised since 1972 in the coverage of British and international religious affairs. He has written a weekly column in the British press, for 20 years in the Times and from 1992-2000 in the Daily Telegraph. He has been the longest continuously appearing columnist in British national newspapers. In 1986 he was named 'Specialist Writer of the Year' in the British Press Awards. For many years he was leader writer on the Times and the Telegraph. He is now independent, still writing for the catholic weekly, the Tablet and various nation al newspapers.

Customer Reviews

An excellent read.
A well worth while read. This really shows the role of Christianty in its darkest form. Longley really presents an indepth account of the attitudes of the U.S.A and Britain to the rest of the world which is invaluable to understanding the world of contemporay politics. In places it really makes you wana go and back and slap your GSCE history or science teacher when they said Newton was a great man. However in places Longley looses momentum and i often found myself wishing to skip to a more interesting section. However the content is eye opening and well worth a read.