Portions of Monotheocracy in The Handmaid's Tale American society has had some cultural and political forces that have proliferated in recent decades, described as the return to traditional Christian values. TV commercials promoting family values ​​followed by endorsements of specific denominations are on the rise. As the public became more aware of the change in cultural and political climate through the mass media, Margaret Atwood, writing The Handmaid's Tale, could have been similarly influenced by this growing awareness of the public consciousness. This may have led Atwood to write about a bleak future for the country in which a new regime is established and a religion becomes so powerful that it takes over the nation in a military coup, subjecting women to archaic, stereotypical female roles. Two of these forces, as reflected in the novel, are misogyny among Christian men and the growing political power of the religious right. Both are insidious because the true agendas are often couched in the authority of the Bible, and both serve to oppress women and their rights. Christian misogyny, such as the brainwashing at the Red Center and the ceremonial scripture readings preceding sexual intercourse in The Handmaid's Tale, maintains its foothold on women's necks by distorting the meaning of biblical scriptures. In the case of religious right, its principles would not only limit some women's rights, such as the ability to have an abortion, but would also violate the religious freedom of all Americans. In its forays into the political system, most recently through its Christian Coalition, the religious right, like Christian misogynists, interprets Scripture to support its movement to meet... middle of paper... Robertson's Agenda for America: A Marriage of Religion and Politics." USA Today. July 1996. 30. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. New York: Fawcett Crest, 1985. Boston, Robert. Why Religious Right Is Wrong: On the Separation of Church and State. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books, 1993. Doerr, Edd. "Pat Robertson's Agenda for America: A Marriage of Religion and Politics." USA Today, July 1996. 30Gushee, Steve "TV Series Chronicles Rise of Religious Right." The Palm Beach Post. September 27, 1996. 1F.Rinck, Margaret. Christian Men Who Hate Women. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Pyranee Books, 1990. Trotter, F. Thomas. "The Frequently Cited Bible carelessly for political points. " The Nashville Banner. September 28, 1995. A7. Wallsten, Peter. "Church Meets State." St. Petersburg Times. February 16, 1997. 1D.