Elizabeth Neumann

The greater enemy was never outside; it was always within.

Thus Elizabeth Neumann, a former Department of Homeland Security staff member at the White House in the Bush II and Trump administrations, concluded based on all the evidence DHS had obtained regarding the prospects of radicalism and terrorism.

In Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace (galley received as part of book review program), Neumann describes her own experiences and what she has come to show more learn and understand about the significance of the reactionary turn among many white Evangelicals in America, and considers some of why that has taken place, and what she believes must be done to return to some kind of moderation.

Much of the honesty in the book is refreshing: it is good for participants in American conservatism writ large to recognize, confess, and lament how the movement allowed all kinds of incredibly right-wing reactionaries to cultivate influence and power, how much fearmongering has become part and parcel of discourse, and how conservative Christendom has gone along with said movements more than they have resisted it. The author grapples with how it was “her people” who became more reactionary, considers why she did not, and what it all means.

The way forward is not easy. The author hopes for opportunities for de-escalation, but confesses how difficult it can be to bring people back from the conspiracy theory laden ways of the reactionaries.

While I am sure said reactionaries would portray the author as liberal or as a RINO, she is anything but. As she herself noted, hope for those deep into the reactionary world is slim; but perhaps many of those more moderate who have not yet wished to grapple with the seriousness of the right-wing reactionary problem might be persuaded by what she has to say.

I can only hope there will be a moderating way forward which does not involve a lot of violence and conflict. Time shall tell. show less

"Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace" by Elizabeth Neumann is an excellent book. For anyone interested in Christian extremism, I cannot recommend this book strongly enough -- really, an interest in any extremism should prompt one to read this book. While the author focuses on the rise of Christian extremism of recent years, the issue is not unique to Christianity, and what she relates can be applied to many forms of extremism.

One might assume based show more solely on the title that the author could have a grudge against Christianity or be a far-left liberal. Far from it, the author is a conservative Christian. And she sees the love espoused traditionally in Christianity (and that can be found in all major religions) to be part of the solution to turning things around. It's worth noting, too, that the author's professional background has a heavy concentration in understanding radicalization. All this makes her eminently qualified to write this book. Furthermore, the reader does not need to take Neumann's statements at face value, since she has cited her sources extensively, which contributes even more to the value of this book.

Neumann divides her book into two parts: The first is about radicalization, and the second is about the path to peace. Her dive into radicalization provides a sound understanding of what leads someone to become an extremist. She lists four basic steps, though not always linear, for a radical group: Define the in-group, define the out-group, define the existence of the out-group as an acute crisis for the in-group, and then define hostile actions (solutions) that must be applied to the out-group. In other words, create a view that it's "us" versus "them" and that "they" are out to get us, destroy our way of life, etc., so we have to act. Neumann goes on to discuss what draws individuals to become part of some extreme "in-group," summed up as "needs, narratives, and networks." Personal needs (such as needing to be part of a group or needing to find allies of some resentment) are a fuel waiting to be set afire by "narratives with overly simplistic explanations" and networks or groups that provide the individual with a sense of belonging and structure to act. The author moves on to talk about various extremist activities in the United States, but focuses on those of the far right, which she sees as "the gravest domestic threat," and in particular she homes in on Christian extremism, delving into what she describes as the "unholy alliance of right-wing extremism and Christianity." As she makes evident, the Christianity of the extremists, one in which hatred is openly evident, is not the Christianity founded on the teachings and love espoused by Jesus, but rather it has become a corrupted faith in which idols other than God have become a primary focus.

The second part of the book, "The Path Back to Peace," focuses on actions that can have a counter-effect to radicalization. Some of what Neumann includes are things that would be found in the Christian Bible and books of other faith traditions: Love, the kind that calls for things such as using self-restraint in dealing with others and having a willingness to have an open conversation. Lest one might think all her solutions are strictly faith-based (or what some might describe as "touchy feely"), the author addresses a number of additional practical ideas about addressing radicalization and extremists. She is quick to note there are situations in which one should defer to professional help, but there are things that any individual can practice, with the idea of diminishing the effects of radicalization. These range from how we prepare ourselves (such as grounding in prayer or some similar practice, whether individually or corporately) to ways of engaging with someone of radical views (for example, being calm and curious, asking questions). All through this section and in her appendices, Neumann provides some additional resources of value.

In her conclusion, the author has a statement which I think could be described as a thread woven through much of the book, when it comes to dealing with extremists: "And when they return your kindness with anger and hate, commit to a gentle answer that turns away wrath." show less