In 2008, I had the chance to host an FDL book salon with Jeff Sharlet when his book, The Family, was released. Drawing on his experiences living at one of the organization’s houses as well as his significant research into the history of this secretive religious group, Sharlet’s bestselling book exposed us all to this frightening circle of influence.

It’s ultimately a sad, adolescent view of manhood — Christians as macho soldiers — that reduces men to testosterone-fueled, war-fighting machines.