Between Babel and Beast: America and Empires in Biblical Perspective

by Peter J. Leithart

Overview

The United States is one of history's great Christian nations, but our unique history, success, and global impact have seduced us into believing we are something more--God's New Israel, the new order of the ages, the last best hope of mankind, a redeemer nation. Using the subtle categories that arise from biblical narrative, Between Babel and Beast analyzes how the heresy of Americanism inspired America's rise to hegemony while blinding American Christians to our failures and abuses of power. The book demonstrates that the church best serves the genuine good of the United States by training witnesses--martyr-citizens of God's Abrahamic empire.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781725245808
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	07/06/2012
Series:	Theopolitical Visions , #14
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	214
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Peter J. Leithart is a Senior Fellow of Theology and Literature at New St. Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho, and serves on the pastoral staff of Trinity Reformed Church. He is the author most recently of Athanasius (2011). He and his wife, Noel, have ten children.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Part I Empires in Scripture

1 A Tale of Two Imperialisms 3

2 Rod, Refuge, Messiah, Beast 15

3 The Good News of Empire 34

Conclusion to Part I 52

Part II Americanism

4 Heretic Nation 57

5 Chanting the New Empire 84

Conclusion to Part II 110

Part III Between Babel and Beast

6 American Babel 115

7 Among Beasts 136

Conclusion 151

Endnotes 153

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"When I read a critique of the heresy of 'Americanism' from someone who nonetheless 'loves America,' I take notice: this is not the usual predictable boilerplate. In this important book, Leithart brings his usual verve, erudition, and nuance to bear on one of the central idolatries of our age."
—James K. A. Smith, Calvin College

"Between Babel and Beast offers a bracing critique of American political history and a pastoral call for repentance from imperial 'Americanism.' But Leithart's distinctive analysis provides a more complex—and potentially more constructive—biblical perspective on international politics than can be found in the many ecclesial critics of empire. This crisply argued and highly readable companion to Defending Constantine confirms that Leithart is one of the most interesting voices in theology today."
—Eric Gregory, Princeton University

Editorial Reviews

"When I read a critique of the heresy of 'Americanism' from someone who nonetheless 'loves America,' I take notice: this is not the usual predictable boilerplate. In this important book, Leithart brings his usual verve, erudition, and nuance to bear on one of the central idolatries of our age."
—James K. A. Smith, Calvin College

"Between Babel and Beast offers a bracing critique of American political history and a pastoral call for repentance from imperial 'Americanism.' But Leithart's distinctive analysis provides a more complex—and potentially more constructive—biblical perspective on international politics than can be found in the many ecclesial critics of empire. This crisply argued and highly readable companion to Defending Constantine confirms that Leithart is one of the most interesting voices in theology today."
—Eric Gregory, Princeton University

From the Publisher