Errand into the Wilderness of Mirrors: Religion and the History of the CIA

The book "Errand into the Wilderness of Mirrors" explores the overlooked influence of religious thought in building the foundations of the CIA by combining two landmark titles: "Perry Miller's Errand into the Wilderness" and "David Martin's Wilderness of Mirrors." It argues that the religious approach to intelligence by key figures like Bill Donovan and Edward Lansdale was essential in establishing the agency's concerns, methods, and understandings of the world, but also led to tragic mistakes due to a tendency to view powerful religions and religious figures through the frameworks of Catholicism.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 17 June 2021
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
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Michael Grazianos captivating book seamlessly weaves together two seminal works in American history: Perry Miller's Errand into the Wilderness (1956), which delves into the religious beliefs of the early Massachusetts colonists, and David Martin's Wilderness of Mirrors (1980), which explores the perils and illusions inherent within the Central Intelligence Agency. Errand into the Wilderness of Mirrors, aptly named, delves into the dangers and delusions that stemmed from the religious worldview of the early architects of the Central Intelligence Agency. Graziano compellingly argues that the religious approach to intelligence adopted by key figures such as "Wild" Bill Donovan and Edward Lansdale played a vital, yet overlooked, role in shaping the agency's concerns, methodologies, and global perspectives. In a practical sense, this religious perspective offered American agents access to extensive global networks and secure havens, providing them with valuable resources. However, what is particularly intriguing is Graziano's revelation that American intelligence officers often approached powerful religions and religious figures through the lenses of Catholicism. This tendency, he suggests, led to tragic consequences and international disasters. Through his meticulous exploration, Graziano elucidates how these misconceptions hindered the agency's ability to comprehend and navigate complex religious dynamics, ultimately impeding its effectiveness in achieving its national security objectives. By intertwining the development of the modern intelligence agency with the story of postwar American religion, Errand into the Wilderness of Mirrors offers a thought-provoking and provocative perspective on a hidden force that has driven one of the major engines of American power.

\n Weight: 506g\n
Dimension: 161 x 238 x 26 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226767406\n \n