From Billy Graham to Sarah Palin provides an iconoclastic new history of the entrance of evangelical Christians into national American politics. Examining the key players of the “Religious Right†― Billy Graham; Jerry Falwell; Chuck Colson; James Dobson; Pat Robertson; and many others ― D. G. Hart argues that evangelicalism is (and always has been) a bad fit with classic political conservatism. Hart shows how the uneasy alliance of these unlikely political bedfellows has contributed directly to the fragmentation of today’s conservative movement. He contends that the ongoing burden of reconciling the progressive moral idealism of religious conservatives with the sober realism of political conservatives increasingly threatens this precarious partnership. Moreover; Hart suggests that evangelicals are unlikely to remain politically conservative in the long term unless they stop looking to big government to solve societal woes at home and abroad and at last embrace classic small-government conservatism for its own sake.
#1144285 in Books Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company 2007-03-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .45 x 6.00l; .65 #File Name: 080281767X192 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Less than 2 dollars a dayBy Melissa VanderhaarOverall I really enjoyed this book. It reaffirms all of my beliefs about the Christian perspective of poverty. Many people know and believe that poverty is awful and wrong but they feel nothing can be done. This book was able to give a detailed description of what is specifically wrong with the system that we have today; what the bible really says about poverty; and a platform to build solutions on. The book asks all of the right questions to get at the poverty matter from a Christian perspective. It gets at the heart of the matter in scripture by asking what the bible really says about poverty. There is overwhelming evidence that America is not acting like a Christian nation. Many Christians don't realize that helping the poor is not something to do just out of kindness but a commandment from God. I also liked that it asked the question of how we can begin to solve the problem. It is a very complex problem; but the question still needed to be asked because something must be done and VanTil offers real and reasonable actions that could lead to a solution.6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Thoughtful analysis of free market economies and povertyBy FargoAs a former missionary to Costa Rica and current professor of Religion at Hope College; Van Til brings both personal experience and solid ethical scholarship into this fascinating review. His explanation of the development and nuances of free market economics is clear and well illustrated; and offers six profound reasons why poverty does not automatically disappear in these societies (worth the price of the book alone)."What the Bible Says about Poverty" is short and basic; as is Van Til's review of church history on wealth and poverty. He affirms a Kuyperian/Dooyeweerdian "sphere sovereignty" approach to social development in which government promotes social justice. Van Til sees free market economies as generally beneficial; but calls for morally invested care that redistributes perhaps $100-200 a year from haves to assist have-nots.Putting his money where his heart is; all profits from the sale of this book will go toward poverty relief and community development.2 of 3 people found the following review helpful. World Poverty and Economics 101By M. WalkerI really enjoyed this book. It is well layed out and thouroughly researched. If you don't know how we got to our economy today; this book will give you a complete picture from Adam Smith until now. You also get an in depth look at the Christian viewpoint and how the Bible intertwines with the market economies. I enjoyed reading on the concept of spheres and how we all relate to each other.The last chapter was my favorite because it really puts the world poverty problem in front of you as Van Til gives statistics about poverty and getting rid of it. Only $100 per year per adult...interesting that it doesn't seem too far out of the realm of posibilities.This is an excellent book for anyone looking into world poverty. VanTil not only tells us about it in other countries; he tells of his first hand experiences with it in Latin America.
