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RICHARD T. HUGHES
Foreword by Brian McLaren The idea of the United States as a Christian nation is a powerful, seductive, and potentially destructive theme in American life, culture, and politics. Many fundamentalist and evangelical leaders routinely promote this notion, and millions of Americans simply assume the Christian character of the United States. And yet, as Richard T. Hughes reveals in this powerful book, the biblical vision of the kingdom of God stands at odds with the values and actions of an American empire that sanctions war instead of peace, promotes dominance and oppression instead of reconciliation, and exalts wealth and power instead of justice for the poor and needy. With conviction and careful consideration, Hughes reviews the myth of Christian America from its earliest history in the founding of the republic to the present day. Extensively analyzing the Old and New Testaments, Hughes provides a solid, scripturally-based explanation of the kingdom of Goda kingdom defined by love, peace, patience, and generosity. Throughout American history, however, this concept has been appropriated by religious and political leaders and distorted into a messianic nationalism that champions the United States as Gods chosen nation and bears little resemblance to the teachings of Jesus. Pointing to a systemic biblical and theological illiteracy running rampant in the United States, Hughes investigates the reasons why so many Americans think of the United States as a Christian nation despite the Constitutions outright prohibition against establishing any national religion by law or coercion. He traces the development of fundamentalist Christianity throughout American history, noting especially the increased power and widespread influence of fundamentalism at the dawn of the twenty-first century, embodied and enacted by the administration of President George W. Bush and Americas reaction to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Timely and provocative, Christian America and the Kingdom of God illuminates the devastating irony of a Christian America that so often behaves in unchristian ways.
RICHARD T. HUGHES is Senior Fellow in the Ernest L. Boyer Center and Distinguished Professor of Religion at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania, and author or editor of more than a dozen books, including Myths America Lives By and How Christian Faith Can Sustain the Life of the Mind.
For publicity and media inquiries, contact Michael Roux at (217) 244-4689 or mroux@uillinois.edu.
232 PAGES. 6 x 9 INCHES. CLOTH, 978-0-252-03285-1. $29.95
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With peerless research into both biblical and historical sources, Hughes dispels the myth of America as a Christian nation. Hughes is persuasive and lucid; his arguments deserve a wide hearing. Randall Balmer, author of Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America Since many Americans claim we are a Christian nation, they stand self-indicted, and in this powerful and persuasive book, Hughes argues that they have indicted their country as well as themselves. John Dominic Crossan, author of God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now The biblical vision of the kingdom of God is characterized by peace and justice, not greed, violence, and war. As a black Christian who has wrestled with these issues for more than fifty years, I find this to be an exceptional book. John M. Perkins, President, John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development, Jackson, Mississippi We American Christians desperately need to learn the difference between America and the Kingdom of God, and Hughes is a master teacher on this important subject. Richard J. Mouw, President and Professor of Christian Philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary Every student of American religion, American history, and American politics should read this book. Jack Scott, Chancellor, California Community College System An insightful, unsettling analysis of a fundamental misunderstanding and misuse of Christian faith. In these dark times, Hughes sheds a discerning light, reminding us that the kingdom of God is still at hand. John Neafsey, author of A Sacred Voice is Calling: Personal Vocation and Social Conscience
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