In this important exploration of one of the most misunderstood phenomena of our day, former fundamentalist Christian Monique El-Faizy argues that evangelicals have become the new establishment, constituting over 40% of our population by some estimates. The 2004 Presidential election opened the eyes of many so-called blue state Americans to the reach of evangelical Christianity, yet much of the media and Hollywood still fail to understand the paradigm shift that has placed evangelicals in the American mainstream. With the intimate perspective of a former insider, God and Country takes readers past the edges of the evangelical community into its heart, presenting an in-depth look at megachurches, Christian rock, Christian publishing, and the day-to-day lives of evangelical Americans. El-Faizy shows how, by mimicking many elements of secular America and creating strong communities, evangelical leaders lure converts by the thousands. But while the public face of the movement has softened, the conservative old guard still drives the political agenda. Evangelicals see every aspect of their life through the prism of their faith; their belief is central to every decision, personal, social or political. To dismiss or miscast such an influential population would be a grave mistake. Intelligent, clear-headed and piercing, God and Country is essential reading for anyone interested in our nation's future. "Trying to understand the role Christians play in modern American politics is a trying endeavor. Luckily for us, Monique El-Faizy is up to the task. God and Country is a wonderfully-written analysis. Highly recommended!"-Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Director of the Roosevelt Center at Tulane University and author of the New York Times bestseller The Great Deluge "Evangelicalism has too often been dismissed as a 'sub-culture' in the contemporary United States-a religious relic or a political lobby. Monique El-Faizy recognizes that Evangelicalis A sweeping investigation into the culture and massive influence of evangelical Christianity, by a journalist raised in a fundamentalist Christian community.