Live Not by Lies

As I processed this content, there was a part of me that was concerned that Rod Dreher was fear mongering or charging divisive people and groups up even more. Now that I have finished the book, for the most part I do not think that is what will happen with this book. Although, I think it will charge up the wrong people in the wrong way in some cases, I think his content goes deeper than what shallow, reactionary activism wants to go.

This book runs in an already familiar thought groove for me. But, it is not the same ole stuff that has been rattling around in my mind for years now. Dreher brings new thoughts to the table with some excellent solutions that he gleaned from those who lived through and some who died under brutal totalitarian regimes.

I agree with Rod that the seeds of totalitarianism are sprouting in America albeit a "soft totalitarianism" as he calls it. And, I agree that the potential to completely take over public life in an ugly way can happen over night. What is difficult to agree with him on is for us to live in the urgency that this has already happened. I do find value in the preparatory steps he offers for us to pursue now for when that day will come. I just have a part of me that recoils at a call to Christian dissidence at this point in my Christian experience in America. I suspect that if I were having a personal conversation with Dreher he would point out the fact of my relative youth and inexperience. And, I don't disagree with him. But, how can I live as if I am in something that I am not with the wisdom I would have gain from it if I had? And again, I suspect that he would reply saying, well, that is why I wrote this book. And back to him I would reply, thank you. I will be thinking on this.