Bad Bad Religion

Sometimes a negative book review will start off coy and then slip the knife between the ribs. But sometimes, the very first sentence is a bitchslap:

ROSS DOUTHAT’S ANALYSIS of religion in America is more sophisticated than the analysis of, say, Rick Santorum—but not by much.

The best metaphor for what Michael Sean Winters does to Ross Douthat's new book would refer to an act staunchly forbidden by their church. Just one more:

My problem with Douthat’s book is not that his opinions differ from my own. My problem is that he does not seem to have any idea what he is talking about.