Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies

American democracy is in danger. How do we protect it from reactionary authoritarian Christianity?

On January 6, 2021, hundreds of Americans stormed the Capitol to prevent the certification of their political opponent's election. At the forefront were Christians claiming to act in the name of Jesus Christ and his supposed representative on earth, Donald Trump. How can this have happened?

David P. Gushee tackles the question in this timely work of Christian political ethics. Gushee calls us to preserve democratic norms, including constitutional government, the rule of law, and equal rights for all, even as many Christians take a reactionary and antidemocratic stance. He analyzes where Christians have discarded their commitment to democracy and bought into authoritarianism in the US and several other countries, both historically and today. He urgently argues that to defend against reactionary and authoritarian Christians we must revive and draw on our hard-won traditions of congregational democracy, dissident Black Christian politics, and covenantal theology.

Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies makes a robust case for the defense of democracy from its enemies--including Christians--arguing for a renewed commitment to democracy on the part of Christians, by drawing on our own best traditions, not succumbing to mere secular liberalism. Any concerned Christian will leave its pages with eyes wide open to the dangers of our current form of political engagement Readers will gain insight into what democracy is truly meant to be and why Christians once supported it wholeheartedly--and should do so again.