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.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

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 in 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, the Roman Catholic Church's extensive global networks of individuals and secure locations provided American agents with valuable resources. However, what is more significant is Graziano's revelation that American intelligence officers often approached powerful religions and religious figures through the lenses of Catholicism, leading to tragic consequences on an international scale. Through the intricate braid of the development of the modern intelligence agency and the story of postwar American religion, Errand into the Wilderness of Mirrors offers a thought-provoking and provocative exploration of a hidden force that has driven one of the major engines of American power.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226829432