Beyond Left and Right : Helping Christians Make Sense of American Politics

by Black, Amy E.

• ISBN13: 9780801067266
• ISBN10: 080106726X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-01
• Publisher: Baker Pub Group

Summary

The 2008 U.S. presidential election is already heating up, fueled by debates about religion and politics, and dividing people of faith. Many Christians want to engage in politics but feel underequipped and overwhelmed. Wheaton College political scientist Amy E. Black believes Christians must become politically educated, not stereotyped and polarized. Beyond Left and Right offers a complete guide to the inner workings of American politics, equipping readers to think intelligently and to actively engage politics with their faith. Black is intentionally unbiased and avoids fleeting hot-button issues, ensuring the staying power of Beyond Left and Right, even after the election dust settles. Recommended for Christians and students interested in faith and politics.

Author Biography

Amy E. Black (PhD, MIT) is associate professor of Politics & International Relations at Wheaton College and is president of Christians in Political Science. She is the coauthor of the book Of Little Faith and author of From Inspiration to Legislation. She lives in Wheaton, Illinois.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. 9
Introduction	p. 11
The Basics: Beginning the Conversation
Who Speaks for God in Politics? Where We Begin	p. 15
When It's No Sin to Compromise: From Black-and-White to the Real World	p. 29
Is Liberal a Bad Word? Understanding Political Labels	p. 41
Looking Backward: Hints from History
Is the United States a Christian Nation? Separating Truth from Myth	p. 55
Are All Christians Republican? Christians and Voting	p. 69
How It Works: Highlights from American Politics 101
Good Guys and Bad Guys? Understanding Our Two-Party System	p. 87
Who Does What? The Branches of Government and Their Powers	p. 105
Does the Church Have Any Business in Politics? What the Constitution Really Says	p. 123
Finding Your Own Path: Applying Your Faith to Politics
Applying Faith to Politics: Some Different Christian Approaches	p. 139
My Way or the Highway? Toward Constructive Political Dialogue	p. 157
Can Christians Honestly Disagree? Tackling Tough Issues	p. 169
Behind the Curtain at the Voting Booth: A Decision-Making Guide	p. 187
Beyond the Ballot Box: Other Ways Faith Can Inform Politics (with Jennifer L. Aycock)	p. 205
Can We All Get Along? Politics and the Great Commandments	p. 221
Discussion Questions for Small Groups	p. 227
Notes	p. 235
Suggestions for Further Reading	p. 245
Contributors	p. 248
Index	p. 249
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.