But, I'd also note that Rod Dreher's manifesto is not incompatible with Christian reconstructionist politics.

Indeed, at a personal level I find much that is laudable in the lifestyles of reconstructionist families whose blogs I've read - I too prize self-sufficiency, anti-consumerism, simplicity, frugality.... the list could go on. Now of course there are many values I don't hold in common with reconstructionist homesteaders. But I think it's very important to acknowledge such shared terrain because that cuts through the bogus narrative of "the culture war" . There are not two warring sides, and those who reject consumerism, materialism, and pop culture fall all along the political spectrum or, rather, there are multiple axes or dimension of politics. If lifestyles are inherently political ( and how could they fail to be ? ), then some on the left are bound together with those in the reconstructionist movement who have chosen to earn less, spend less, and live more ( or better ) - those who are living closer to the land, growing their own food perhaps, learning to fix, repair, and make do, and opting for a slower, less affluent life with more free time for family and more time - one might say - for life itself.

by Bruce Wilson on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 08:41:08 AM EST

That he describes a fantasy-land GOP constituency gets ignored - he should dream on - such people do not exist, other than as a PR spin.  That was my first thought - this is like the moderate window dressing that gets dragged out every four years for the conventions.

To be sure, asceticism knows few 'cultural' or political boundaries.  In and of itself, asceticism is an ecumenical 'value'.  But there's not much else here.  All of the uber-lefty intellectual elites I know also disdain pop schlock culture.  Beyond elitist asceticism, what else is in that manifesto?  There is very little dominion over the private personal lives and morality of others, nor is there much money to be made in pursuit of his manifesto - who else does he really believe

He seems to espouse a Muir-like conservation of our natural world, and the instropective intellectual reflection of Thoreau - while both of these things are solidly 'American' - they are conservative only insofar as the desire to hearken back to classical liberalism may be called 'conservative'.  The traditions, intellectual and activist, in support of this manifesto have been the property and province of the Left for decades.  The guy is just delisional - as a relative told me a long time ago, "you're a Democrat liberal - you just don't accept that yet."

by montpellier on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 04:06:32 PM EST

There is also a new book out by David Fitch with the title: THE GREAT GIVEAWAY: RECOVERING THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH FROM ... Big Business, Parachurch Organizations, Psychotherapy, Consumer Capitalism, and Other Modern Maladies.

Notice the similarity in style and content. Notice also that the traditional Christian Right has invested heavily in parachurch organizations. I think a growing number of evangelicals are revolting against certain overly political and manipulative elements of the Christian Right.

by Carlos on Wed Mar 15, 2006 at 06:32:55 PM EST