The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power

Jeff Sharlet investigates "The Family," a secretive Christian organization based in Washington, D.C., known officially as the Fellowship Foundation. He details how the group establishes private influence networks linking politicians, military leaders, and foreign dictators through a model of "elite fundamentalism." The narrative traces the group's history from its labor-union-busting origins to modern-day initiatives like the National Prayer Breakfast. Sharlet examines how the organization promotes a theology centered on the "chosen" few, favoring backroom power brokering over traditional democratic transparency or public ministry.

This book serves readers interested in the intersection of religious extremism and institutional political power. People who study the informal mechanisms of lobbying and foreign policy seek this text to understand how nondenominational religious networks bypass official diplomatic channels. Readers walk away with a specific framework for identifying how private spiritual associations shape policy and a historical perspective on the Christian right’s long-term integration into the American executive and legislative branches.