The rise of the Religious Right is one of the most important political and cultural stories of our time. To many, this controversial movement threatens to upset the nations delicate balance of religious and secular interests. To others, the Religious Right is valiantly struggling to preserve religious liberty and to prove itself as the last, best hope to save Americas soul. In With God on Our Side --the first balanced account of conservative Christians impact on post-war politics--William Martin paints a vivid and authoritative portrait of Americas most powerful political interest group.Although its members now number between forty and sixty million people, the Religious Right has not always carried the tremendous--and growing--political clout it enjoys today. A hundred years ago, scattered groups of conservative Christians worked fervently to spread the Gospel, but their involvement in politics was marginal. Early in this century, however, a series of charismatic and ambitious leaders began transforming the movement; by the election of John F. Kennedy as our first Catholic president, the Religious Right had found its voice. Politics and religion began mixing as never before. From Richard Nixons strategic manipulation of Grahams religious influence in the 1970s, to Ronald Reagans association with Falwells Moral Majority in the 1980s, to the Christian Coalitions emergence as a slick, sophisticated political machine, the line separating the pulpit from the presidency became increasingly blurred. Now, preachers such as Graham, Falwell, and Pat Robertson preside over ministries so vast and well organized that most politicians can ill afford to ignore their views--or lose their votes.In recent years, the Religious Right`s political influence has propelled it into spheres beyond pure politics. Race relations, abortion and reproductive rights, school curricula, the nature and role of the family--conservative Christians have embraced all of these socially charged is