Star-Spangled Jesus
Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding A True Faith
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4.7 • 13 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A hilarious and eye-opening account of leaving Christian Nationalism behind to follow Jesus better.
April Ajoy wouldn’t have called herself a Christian Nationalist when she performed her original song “America Say Jesus” on the Jim Bakker show, or when she participated in Jesus Marches across America, or when she posted cringe-worthy videos on YouTube to campaign for Mitt Romney. April just considered herself a good Christian: faithful, Republican, and determined to make America a Christian nation once again.
But as her view of the world widened, Ajoy began to see cracks in her steadfast beliefs and recognized the ways her conservative politics and religion were intertwined in her mind. Did God really bless America? Is it actually by His red, white, and blue stripes that we are healed?
Ajoy, content creator and podcast host, shares funny stories from her time deep within Christian nationalism, exploring how aspects of evangelical culture such as product boycotts, Satanic panic, and end-times theology have all been exploited to advance the Christian Nationalist narrative. She also illuminates the ways nationalist thinking has infiltrated our churches and political arenas, shaping not only modern evangelical culture but also American public policy and international relations.
Part memoir, part guidebook, part call to action, Star-Spangled Jesus explores how the fight to make America a “Christian nation” has damaged us all and shows how one woman left Christian Nationalism and why America should too.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
TikTokker Ajoy debuts with a witty account of her departure from the toxic Christian nationalism in which she was raised. The daughter of an evangelical pastor, she'd been indoctrinated since childhood in the importance of "keeping America a Christian nation." Her views began to shift during the Trump presidency and were forever changed after she saw footage of members of her church at the January 6 Capitol insurrection (this was "not some extremist sect I had never interacted with before," Ajoy recalls thinking. "These were my people"). During the painful spiritual "deconstruction" that followed, the author agonized over "researching topics and finding answers that could destroy meaningful relationships in my life." Ultimately, she was able to detangle her Christianity from Christian nationalist beliefs and find a more inclusive faith rooted in love. Throughout, she pairs impassioned calls for readers to recognize how Christian nationalism "exploits our faith for power" with flashes of tongue-in-cheek humor. For example, on the quiz she provides to determine where one falls on the Christian Nationalist spectrum, a score of 30–40 points is "Marjorie Taylor Greene Level": "If you keep reading this book, you probably won't be triggered too much, because you can just write off what I say by believing that George Soros is paying me with eternal youth from his space lasers." It's an approachable insider's look at a controversial movement.
Customer Reviews
A Must Read
As someone who always found the Evangelical and Baptist approach very off putting from my own limited experience, this is an eye opening read about the control and fear factors that drive so much of this American Christian experience. If you think you are a great Christian, this book may challenge some of your beliefs and you will be better off for that.