DOC Surge of Piety: Norman Vincent Peale and the Remaking of American Religious Life by Christopher Lane in History

Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Insightful;Timely; and Beautifully WrittenBy Dr. Deborah LuepnitzI learned a great deal from this thoughtful; impressive volume.. Many of us interested in contemporary culture are trying to understand how religion came to be so front and center in American politics. How did we get from the Founding Fathers; who were broadly speaking tepid theists; to the current climate in which anyone running for office needs to wear their faith practices--preferably Christian--on their sleeve? How did Jesus' message of love and humility get weaponized for what has been called the "corporate coup d'état" that took control in the 20th century? No single work could answer all such questions; but SURGE OF PIETY tells a crucial part of the story through its exploration of the life and work of Norman Vincent Peale. Most know him as a popular preacher and bestselling author of The Power of Positive Thinking; a book that has sold in the millions; but he had a political agenda that I; for one; never imagined. The author reveals Peale as a virulent foe of FDR and the New Deal--a man who did everything in his power to discredit both before throwing his considerable popularity behind President Eisenhower; J. Edgar Hoover; Joseph McCarthy; and Richard Nixon. Peale's anticommunist crusade turned into a cry for Christian nationalism--something that still bedevils our politics. He teamed up with a psychiatrist and actually opened a "Religio-Psychiatric Clinic" and; later; national evangelical organization; the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry; widely promoting the idea that to be mentally healthy; Americans should believe in God and; better still; attend church regularly. Peale apparently wrote an article titled "Let the Church Speak up for Capitalism" in 1950-- presaging the megachurches and prosperity gospel to come. SURGE OF PIETY goes a long way to explaining Peale's role in developing the "spiritual-industrial complex" that has dominated life and politics in America ever since. I didn't find this book to be anti-religion. The author is even-handed and cites research that shows; for example; that churchgoers tend to be less anxious and lonely. He makes it clear; however; that what prompted the inclusion of "In God We Trust" on every dollar bill since 1957 was not so much a sudden groundswell of religious feeling as a political conviction that America; in its piety; should somehow redeem the world. Peale spoke of this openly as building "enthusiasm for Christian world conquest." I noted with interest that the author; in a short piece in TIME magazine; mentioned that Peale was; with Roy Cohn; one of Donald Trump's most important mentors; including in politics. See: "Meet the Men Who Taught Donald Trump How to Bully;" available online. All told; a striking; fast-moving book that goes a long way to explaining our current political passions and divisions.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Another side to PealeBy Rhys J RichardsBefore reading Surge of Piety; the Norman Vincent Peale I knew was the author of the famous book The Power of Positive Thinking and an aggressive promoter of self-help through motivational messages; affirmations; and numerous publications. Lane's book has shown me that Peale also actively attacked FDR's New Deal and; later; JFK -- that he cut deals with Eisenhower; J. Edgar Hoover; Nixon; and other prominent figures in the 1950s as they made religion part of a nationalist movement. Peale incorporated the mediums of radio and television in the promotion of self-confidence while exaggerating the fears of his followers in an effort to mask and distort his actual goals. The author shows us that other side of Peale convincingly; with a lot of documentation.Peale's conservative activism; like his evangelical organizations; looked to make religious faith a standard for national and mental health. He tried to pair religion and psychiatry as a counterweight and antidote to communism; helping America win the Cold War while comforting Americans at a time of high anxiety. In the letters and papers quoted in this readable and compelling book; Peale's underlying agenda is readily apparent. The quip of two-time Democratic presidential nominee and JFK's Ambassador to the United Nations; Adlai Stevenson; seems all the more appropriate now: “Speaking as a Christian; I find the Apostle Paul appealing and the Apostle Peale appalling.” Peale remains a big influence on many parts of modern life. In the midst of the 2016 presidential race; Donald Trump claimed to attend Peale's Marble Collegiate Church and often cited Peale as a formative influence. Surge of Piety helps us understand that lasting influence. I highly recommend Surge of Piety. Five stars.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Nice readBy Ana ChurchNot a standard biography of Peale – more a history of his contribution to a social and religious movement that dominated much of the country in the 1950s – but the book includes lots of intriguing detail about especially Peale's early years in the ministry and politics; and the organization he used to promote both of them nationally: the American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry. Readers are given a clear; often behind-the-scenes look at his involvement with numerous influential figures at the time; including President Eisenhower; and the way a national case for piety was made central to expressions of patriotism. The book ends with an interesting Coda on extremism in American religion and politics that makes it especially relevant for our current moment. I found it engaging and well written – a fast; absorbing read about a complex figure and an influential era.