Jan’s latest book, Unbinding Christianity: Choosing the Values of Jesus over the Beliefs of the Church, is available at http://www.universal-publishers.com.
Evangelicalism and The Decline of American Politics
Beginning in the 1970s evangelical Christians decided to become involved in our nation’s political life by becoming Republican partisans. Today they are widely considered the Republican Party’s most reliable constituency. In the process American politics has become more bitter, chaotic, divisive, and now dysfunctional. There is a significant bipartisan consensus that the Republican Party bears the most responsibility for the state of our nation’s politics. This is not an endorsement of Democratic policies, only an assessment of why our government no longer gets anything done. What is often ignored, though, is the role evangelicals are playing in what is happening. This book connects the dots between evangelical theology and evangelical politics. The key factor in both is their “no compromise” attitude that sees negotiations as a betrayal of moral principles, confident as they are that they are doing God’s work here on earth. The result, as this book shows, is bad politics and bad religion, both of which are out of step with the views of most Americans. It concludes with suggestions for what the nation and evangelicals themselves can do to open the door to our government being able to function again, and to the nation healing some of its divisions.
A Different Jesus: A Christian Theology Big Enough For An Interfaith World (Sweetgrass Books, 2014)
What’s Wrong With The Christian Right (BrownWalker Press, 2004)
In recent years, Jan Linn says, religious and political dialogue in the United States has been hijacked by the so-called religious right, a coalition of conservative Christian leaders who purport to speak for all Christians but whose politicized brand of Christianity excludes many and falls short of the true gospel message. Linn argues for a bigger Christianity, one big enough to embrace all of God’s people with a message of inclusion and acceptance.
In his passionate argument, Linn recovers the prophetic voice of a faith that cannot be reduced to a single nation, race, or class and echoes a call for justice, integrity, and deep faithfulness in the political landscape of contemporary America.
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(Additional books on Amazon.com)
Christians Must Choose (CBP Press, 1985)
What Ministers Wish Church Members Knew (Chalice Press, 1993)
Living Inside Out: Learning How To Pray The Serenity Prayer (Chalice Press, 1994)
What Church Members Wish Ministers Knew (Chalice Press, 1995)
The Jesus Connection (Chalice Press, 1997)
Reclaiming Evangelism: A Practical Guide for Mainline Churches (Chalice Press, 1998)
How to Be An Open-Minded Christian Without Losing Your Faith (Chalice Press, 2002
22 Keys To Being A Minister Without Quitting or Wishing To Retire Early (Chalice Press, 2003)
Dear Mr. Linn,
I wanted to write you and say how grateful that I am for your book on A Different Jesus: A Christian Theology Big Enough For An Interfaith World. I recently became an ordained Interfaith Minister, but I was raised a Christian and still follow the Jesus Path. I cannot begin to tell you how much of a struggle it has been for me to be able to reconcile remaining steadfast to my personal faith and yet pursuing my calling towards interfaith without receiving feedback that my role as an interfaith minister need be one of converting those who follow another path of faith to my faith (the “”true faith”). I have struggled with this challenge for my 2 years in the seminary. I have ordered the book and I look very forward to reading your thoughts and perspective.
Sincerely and in deepest gratitude,
Rev. Jeff Anderson
Just finished your last book -Evangelism and the Decline of American Politics. I am thankful for the message you bring. My hope is that many voices like yours will make themselves heard. I was raised in an evangelical community, but was taught to think and be open to new understandings. My life has changed as well as my understanding. People like you have helped me. Thank you!
I am truly humbled by what you wrote, Lester. We have obviously traveled a similar journey. That we both came through it and are in a better place now is what counts. Thank you for reading the book and for writing.