"For too long the polarization between the Religious Right and the secular left has paralyzed us. Our need is not simply for a Religious Left, although that might be part of the solution. What we need most now is Christians in both major parties, and other "third" parties too, who commit themselves to raise the level of discourse above bitter argument, mutual caricaturing, and divisive win-lose politics. We need committed Christians who care for the common good, who seek to be uniters rather than dividers, in deed and not just in word, who let their faith modify their politics rather than the reverse, who are suspicious of "graven ideologies," and who love their political counterparts by refusing to see them as enemies, treating them instead as beloved neighbors. We need people of faith who search the Scriptures, not for proof-texts to support the policies about which they’ve already made up their minds, but rather for new truths that will stretch their political and social understandings beyond the planks of any party.
That describes Dr. Hunter’s aim in this important and well-written book.
In spite of the word "Democrat" in the title, Dr. Hunter isn’t interested in getting Republicans to switch parties. He wants to help Christians -
and especially evangelical Christians - see that their first loyalty is to a King and kingdom higher than any "principality or power" on earth. If we get that straight, we can expect a revolution of goodness and peace to continually unfold.
The effects of that revolution will make themselves felt in the areas of economics, ecology, sexuality and family, poverty, education, the arts, racial reconciliation, the media, religion, and yes, even politics."
--Brian D. McLaren, author of A Generous Orthodoxy
(anewkindofchristian.com), from the Foreword
| 1 | How most American evangelicals became one-party people | 1 |
| 2 | What American evangelicals can learn from world evangelicals | 5 |
| 3 | Christianity's gospel and its ethic | 9 |
| 4 | The (sub-Christian) history of Christianity's stewardship of its gospel and ethic | 31 |
| 5 | "Social influence" and Christian belief today | 39 |
| 6 | The public communication (and mis-communication) of Christianity today | 55 |
| 7 | Okay, let's talk as Christians about some specific political issues | 65 |
| 8 | On supporting both parties on some issues | 71 |
| 9 | Evangelical Christianity's unique opportunities to contribute to American political life | 83 |
| 10 | An evangelical "platform" for reaching democrats (and republicans) | 93 |
| Postscript : if you are still reluctant | 105 |
Overview
"For too long the polarization between the Religious Right and the secular left has paralyzed us. Our need is not simply for a Religious Left, although that might be part of the solution. What we need most now is Christians in both major parties, and other "third" parties too, who commit themselves to raise the level of discourse above bitter argument, mutual caricaturing, and divisive win-lose politics. We need committed Christians who care for the common good, who seek to be uniters rather than dividers, in deed and not just in word, who let