| Description |
xii, 223 pages ; 22 cm |
| Note |
"The kernel of this project was first presented in May 2022 as my inaugural address as Chair in Christian Social Ethics for the Faculty of Religion and Theology at Vrije Universiteit (VU-FRT) Amsterdam. Shortly thereafter, the work benefited immensely from a detailed discussion in the Peace, Trauma, and Religion Working Group of VU-FRT."--Acknowledgements page. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Contents |
Machine generated contents note: Table of ContentsAcknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. Defining and Defending Democracy -- 2. Alternatives and Threats to Democracy -- 3. Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity -- 4. Secular Revolutions and Religious Counterrevolutions -- 5. Reactionary Politics in France, 1870-1944 -- 6. The Politics of Cultural Despair in Germany, 1853-1933 -- 7. Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity in Putin's Russia -- 8. Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity in the Recent Politics of Poland -- 9. Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity in Orbàn's Hungary -- 10. Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity in Bolsonaro's Brazil -- 11. Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity in Trump's United States -- 12. The Baptist Democratic Tradition -- 13. The Black Christian Democratic Tradition in the United States -- 14. Renewing the Democratic Covenant -- Discussion Questions -- Works Cited. |
| Summary |
"American democracy is in danger. How do we protect it from authoritarian reactionary Christianity? On January 6, 2021, a group of Americans stormed the Capitol to prevent the certification of their political opponent's election in the name of Jesus Christ and his representative on earth, Donald Trump. How could this have happened? David P. Gushee tackles the question in this timely work of Christian political ethics. Gushee calls us to preserve democratic norms of civil rights, rule of law, and shared governance, even as many Christians grow reactionary and antidemocratic. Broadly surveying global politics and modern history, he analyzes the ways Christians have supported authoritarianism today and in the past, aiming to understand why and how this happens-and how to prevent it. Ultimately, he develops a better model of Christian political engagement, looking to traditions of congregational democracy , dissident Black Christian politics, and covenantal theology as a guide. Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies advocates for sane, ethical, and compassionate politics in a world where many Christians are instigating discord and vying for power. Any concerned Christian will leave its pages with eyes clear to the dangers of our current form of political engagement and with insight into what democracy is truly meant to be. "-- Provided by publisher. |
| Subject |
Christianity and politics.
|
|
Democracy -- Religious aspects -- Christianity.
|
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Religious fundamentalism -- Political aspects.
|
| ISBN |
9780802882936 (hardcover) |
|
0802882935 (hardcover) |
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