by Jeff Sharlet
First published 2011
Jeff Sharlet investigates the C Street House, a Washington DC residence where religious fundamentalism intersects with American political power. As the only journalist granted inside access to this Fellowship residence, Sharlet documents how its inhabitants work to reshape American democracy through religious influence. His reporting extends beyond Washington scandals to examine fundamentalism's global reach, including efforts by Ugandan culture warriors to eliminate homosexuality and a 15,000-member movement of military officers seeking to "reclaim territory for Christ in the military." Sharlet argues that Barack Obama's presidency did not end America's culture wars but revealed their deeper entrenchment. Using exclusive sources and internal documents, he traces connections between Washington's religious political networks and international fundamentalist movements. The book demonstrates how piety and corruption have merged into a single force, showing readers the contemporary battlegrounds where religious fundamentalists pursue long-term political transformation.
Genres: 21st-century, investigative-journalism, current-affairs, activism, american-history, fundamentalism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: corruption, investigative-journalism
Setting: C Street, Uganda, Washington DC
Period: 21st Century
368 pages · Paperback · Little, Brown Paperbacks