Anyone read "Our Endangered Values" by Jimmy Carter?

[gulliver]

I'm only half-way through it but loving it. The great things about this book so far are the insights into recent world history, Christian philosophy, and politics. Carter addresses in depth the inconsistency of Republican right wing "Christianity" and the words and actions of Jesus. He tells of how he severed his ties with the Southern Baptist Convention after seventy years due to the changes in that organization. He reconciles his own devout Christianity with the separation of church and state.

Especially interesting to me so far is his unifying choice of the word "fundamentalism" to describe movements in Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam. Then he takes it a step further to describe so-called "neoconservatism" as a species of "government fundamentalism."

A truly excellent read so far. Gotta get back to it...

[niyad]

1. it is a most excellent book--should be required reading for everyone

(well, whoever has to read it to chimpboy)

[tatertop]

2. i love this guy

[Lisa]

3. a friend gave it to me for Christmas ...

I'm enjoying it too. Really, of all people, he would be entitled to say "I told you so" (about environmental and energy policies), but there isn't a hint of that so far. Very thoughtful analysis, and makes it clear how disappointed he is about the current administration.

[Maat]

8. Hey, I got it for Christmas too!

I'm enjoying it right now!

[H2O Man]

15. A Christmas present ....

It was a fun book to read.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

17. Same here...

I'm starting it today -- don't give away the ending!

[Maat]

18. I'll bet.

I'm working my way through it. You can't put it down when you do pick it up.

[YvonneCa]

4. I read it last month...

...and I agree. President Carter may be able to reach people and explain the neocon agenda in a way that many of us could not. Great book! Thank you, President Carter.:patriot:

[radio4progressives]

5. I'm still in the middle of Hornets Nest ... (on the revolutionary war)

from the pov of the those who settled in the Carolinas and then migrated to Georgia, where' i was born and "reared"...

when i'm done I'm probably going to get on to the new Secrets book just released - at some point i'll get on this book - i'm very glad that he wrote it (someone with his creds needed to) and that it's doing so well...

i do recommend Carter's Hornets Nest though... it's a good read.

[Lisa]

6. I was amazed by "Hornet's Nest"

They teach Canadian schoolchildren about the US invasions in the 1700s and 1800s, and I grew up in an area that had been the site of past battles. I thought that, as a former US President, Carter would probably not be that sympathetic to the Loyalists, so I decided I'd cut him some slack since I've already decided I like him! But his portrayal of the people and events was quite fair, I felt, and he wasn't trying to whitewash either side. Some really horrible things happened during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, done by both the British and the Americans -- I think it says a lot about human decency, that our countries weren't totally messed up as a result, and are now at peace with each other.

[Arkana]

7. Got it for Christmas, put it somewhere

while I was reading Al Franken, Richard Clarke, and Christopher Moore, and now I CAN'T FREAKING FIND IT. I'm not happy. :mad:

[Maat]

9. It will turn up!

;)

[Arkana]

23. And so it did, today when I was looking for it.

Where, you ask? RIGHT NEXT TO MY COMPUTER.

[Maat]

25. HeeHee.

Sounds my cluttered world (or my cluttered brain)!

:rofl:

[EMAN51]

10. A common sense religion/moral/political analysis

This is what my church (protestant) leader would author. This is a good, simple to read and easier to understand book, with chapter by chapter analysis of the topical concerns of today, refuting the christian values group "my way or the highway" philosophy. Some of the foreign policy stuff is scary.

[NativeTexan]

11. A GREAT READ....

...By a GREAT MAN!!!

[FreedomAngel82]

12. I have started it around Thanksgiving

but haven't read much since than. I've been so busy with finishing exam(s) and traveling during the holiday's. So far what I've read I've enjoyed. I like the style the book is and the print and all that. :)

[Crunchy Frog]

13. I bought the book, but I haven't started reading it yet.

I've got too many books that I'm trying to read right now, but I'm really looking forward to that one.

[awoke_in_2003]

14. Bought 2 copies...

was going to buy 1, read it, send it to my dad. But I figured, what the hell, may as well give the extra proceeds to a real President. Can't wait to start it.

[Dob Bole]

16. It's good...

I like his survey of fundamentalism, too. I've used it in forum posts...

[LiberalEconomist]

19. Preaching to the choir?

"Our Endangered Values" by former president Jimmy Carter is a nice summary of what we have being saying here on Democratic Underground for the past many years.

I hope his work reaches beyond those who already take his position.

[AirmensMom]

20. I got it for Christmas.

Almost done and I'm going to read it again. It's very good.

[Lisa]

21. update -- finished it last night

Jimmy's got a clear, straightforward style which is a real pleasure to read. He doesn't "dumb down" the rather complicated historical, theological, and political issues ... but somehow he manages to present the concepts without getting us all bogged down in a swamp somewhere. I especially liked the environmental and foreign aid sections. His concluding chapter is a zinger too.

Also -- I can't forget his personal anguish on the torture issue. I had no idea about his favorite uncle ... I don't want to post a spoiler here, but if possible I admire Jimmy even more now. There are lots of families who would be so angry and desiring vengeance after that.

[ddeclue]

22. Yes and I love it.

He really takes it to the religious right on their hypocrisy and stupidity.

Doug D.

[newspeak]

24. just returned home from visiting my aunt

She gave me the book to read. I'll start on it tomorrow.