The Politics of Doomsday: Fundamentalists of the Far Right

The movement known as "ultrafundamentalism" began in the late nineteenth century under the direction of theologians who feared liberalization and secularization of the church. For the first few decades of its existence, the group was concerned only with religious issues, believing strongly in the separation of church and state. However, in the 1950s and 1960s the ultrafundamentalists found themselves in agreement with, firstly, McCarthyism and, secondly, the political far right. As a result, they entered politics and actively supported such candidates as Barry Goldwater and George Wallace. "The Politics of Doomsday" is a concise history of all facets of ultrafundamentalism. Dr. Jorstad examines both its political ideology and its religious dogma to show why the group sees itself as the savior of modern man and how it seeks to implement its mission on earth. With an objectivity that will frustrate some readers, he writes the complete story of a very vocal minority which daily recruits new members for its well-financed, well-publicized programs.