God and Country
How Evangelicals Have Become America's New Mainstream
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- 17,99 €
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- 17,99 €
Publisher Description
In this important exploration of one of the most misunderstood phenomena of our day, former fundamentalist Christian Monique El-Faizy argues that evangelicals have become the new establishment, constituting over 40% of our population by some estimates. The 2004 Presidential election opened the eyes of many so-called blue state Americans to the reach of evangelical Christianity, yet much of the media and Hollywood still fail to understand the paradigm shift that has placed evangelicals in the American mainstream. With the intimate perspective of a former insider, God and Country takes readers past the edges of the evangelical community into its heart, presenting an in-depth look at megachurches, Christian rock, Christian publishing, and the day-to-day lives of evangelical Americans. El-Faizy shows how, by mimicking many elements of secular America and creating strong communities, evangelical leaders lure converts by the thousands. But while the public face of the movement has softened, the conservative old guard still drives the political agenda. Evangelicals see every aspect of their life through the prism of their faith; their belief is central to every decision, personal, social or political. To dismiss or miscast such an influential population would be a grave mistake. Intelligent, clear-headed and piercing, God and Country is essential reading for anyone interested in our nation's future.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Billed as a primer on evangelical Christianity for the millions of Americans with only a superficial understanding of its inner workings, El-Faizy's book delivers impressively on its promise. Raised in a strict fundamentalist church, El-Faizy left it behind in college and now looks back at her roots through the lens of the urban, liberal, secular journalist she has become. This insider-outsider position combined with her crisp writing and wide-ranging research make her the perfect bridge from one world to the other. She writes both critically and appreciatively of this growing movement, laying down the historical context for how evangelicalism grew out of austere fundamentalism and into a come-as-you-are ministry that reaches across multiple social boundaries by emphasizing God's love. El-Faizy takes her readers on tours of megachurches, the exploding Christian publishing and music industries, evangelical colleges and political activism. Along the way, she sprinkles the text with important (but never intrusive) observations about the evolution of religion in America and ends with some surprising and intriguing predictions for the future of Christianity. Among the gaggle of books rushing in to translate the gulf between red-state and blue-state America, this one shines. Well-written, engaging and informative, this snapshot of American evangelicalism is a must-read for students of American religion.