The Future of Faith in American Politics: The Public Witness of the Evangelical Center

Front Cover
Baylor University Press, 2008 - Religion - 335 pages

David Gushee argues convincingly that there is in U.S. politics an "evangelical center" of voters who do not identify with the politics and religion of either the right or the left. Although evangelical Christians are portrayed by the media as conservatives, Gushee claims that the evangelical movement includes nearly even numbers of voters on the right, in the center, and on the left of the political spectrum. He provides portraits of the major figures in each of the three camps, outlines the core convictions of the adherents, and analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each group's positions. He suggests that the evangelical center is poised for growth; this book could be its manifesto.

 

Contents

The Evangelical Right
23
The Evangelical Left
57
The Emerging Evangelical Center
87
PART II
119
Marriage and the Law
141
Creation Care and the Climate Change Debate
175
Evangelicals and War
199
A Way Ahead for Evangelicals and American Culture
215
An Analysis of For the Health of the Nation
235
An Evangelical Declaration against Torture
253
How to Read An Evangelical Declaration against Torture
271
An Urgent Call to Action
283
Notes
291
Further Reading
311
Index of Names and Terms
321
Copyright

For the Health of the Nation
223

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2008)

David P. Gushee (Ph.D. Union Theological Seminary) is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University.

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