This is a compelling book that argues that in the early Cold War, there was a conscious effort by many secular leaders to make the fight against a spiritual battle as well as a material one. The rationale was that the Communists believed wholeheartedly in their cause with a religious fervor. Americans had to have a similar fervor to combat them, but their fervor must come from God. As a result Truman and Eisenhower (though Eisenhower much more) pushed religion as both a reason and a means to fight Communism.

Part of the argument seems obvious. The phrase "under God" was added to the Pledge of Allegiance during this time. "In God We Trust" became the national motto. Church membership soared. But Herzog takes those clear issues and shows that the groundswell of religion didn't just happen on its own. Instead it was promoted from the White House, Congress, media and civic leaders. He does not argue that there was a conspiracy to sacralize the Cold War, but there was a consensus that religion was an essential part, so many leaders moved independently. The result was a dedication to a very vague religion that accepted almost all people of faith.

Herzog suggests that this hurt religion in the long term, because of the backlash against the over-sacralization of the 1950's, but he doesn't really prove this. Instead he shows that as the religious consensus waned in the late 1950's, conservative evangelicals formed organizations to continue the cause, which would eventually lead to the emergence of the religious right in the 1970s.

His epilogue makes the case that religious wars are no longer acceptable to the United States. Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech was largely panned by mainstream America. The War of Terror took a decidedly secular tone, even though it had all the making of a holy war.

This book is both interesting and convincing. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in American religious history. ( )