Christian Mentality: The Entanglements of Power, Violence and Fear

by Burton L. Mack

Overview

The Christian myth is entangled with American politics, with the nation's image of its own manifest destiny. 'Christian Mentality' analyses the myths that have shaped America's collective mentality. Concepts that are taken for granted in the formation of American policy - namely power, violence and fear - are examined. The book argues that America must find an image for itself which more truly reflects its reality as a polycultural nation still struggling for social democracy. 'Christian Mentality' will be invaluable to students and scholars interested in the impact of religion on political thought

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781845538958
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/01/2011
Series:	Religion in Culture
Pages:	198
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Burton L. Mack, now retired, was formerly John Wesley Professor in Early Christianity at the Claremont School of Theology and Graduate University in California. He is the author of numerous publications on Hellenistic Judaism, ritual theory, Classical rhetoric and Christian origins from the viewpoint of cultural anthropology and the history of religions.

Table of Contents

Introduction PART I: MENTALITIES Chapter 1: The Christian Nation Chapter 2: The Way Myths Work Chapter 3: The Christian Myth and Legacy PART II: SOCIAL ISSUES Chapter 4: Social Issues Chapter 5: The Mythic Correlations Chapter 6: The Entanglements of Power Chapter 7: The Entanglements of Violence Chapter 8: The Entanglements of Fear PART III: CRITIQUE Chapter 9: The Nation-State and Violence Chapter 10: Parsing the Entanglements Chapter 11: Rethinking Mentalities Conclusion