TheKingdom, The Power, And The Glory
The Era of Evangelical
America
By
Tim Alberta
Reviewed by
Geoffrey W. Sutton
Looking
back, I see that the year 2016 marked the baptism of millions of evangelicals
into the Republican faith they had been attending for decades. Massive numbers
of white evangelicals voted for the 45th US president. Today, the
blended self-identities of faith and politics seem as strong as ever. Tim
Alberta’s book, The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory illustrates the
widespread wedding of white evangelical Christians and conservative Republican
party members.
*****
Tim
Alberta, a journalist with deep roots in the evangelical community, provides a
nuanced and critical examination of the movement. The book is part memoir, part
investigative journalism, and part historical analysis. Alberta’s personal
background as the son of a Presbyterian megachurch preacher in Michigan gives
him a unique perspective on the subject.
Alberta
begins by tracing the historical roots of the evangelical movement,
highlighting its evolution from a religious revivalist movement to a
significant political force. He discusses the early days of evangelicalism, its
rise in the 20th century, and its increasing involvement in politics,
particularly through figures like Jerry Falwell Sr. and the Moral Majority.
This historical context sets the stage for understanding the current state of
the movement.
A
significant portion of the book focuses on the 2016 presidential election and
the subsequent years, during which many evangelical leaders and followers
aligned themselves with Republican candidate Donald Trump. Alberta explores the
reasons behind this alignment, including the perceived threats to religious
freedom, the desire for political power, and the cultural and social issues
that resonated with evangelical voters. He also examines the internal conflicts
and moral dilemmas faced by evangelicals who struggled to reconcile their faith
with their political choices.
Alberta
enriches his narrative with personal stories and interviews with a wide range
of individuals within the evangelical community. These include televangelists,
small-town preachers, celebrity revivalists, and everyday churchgoers. Through
these stories, he paints a vivid picture of a community grappling with its
identity and purpose in a rapidly changing world. The interviews reveal a
spectrum of opinions and experiences, from staunch supporters of the political
status quo to those who feel disillusioned and betrayed.
The book
also explores the broader cultural and political impact of the evangelical
movement. Alberta discusses how the movement’s embrace of right-wing
nationalism and its involvement in partisan politics have affected its
reputation and influence. He argues that this entanglement has led to a
distortion of the movement’s original spiritual mission, turning it into a
vehicle for political power and cultural dominance.
Alberta
does not shy away from addressing the criticisms and challenges facing the
evangelical movement. He discusses issues such as the handling of sexual abuse
scandals, the role of women in the church, and the movement’s stance on social
justice issues. These topics are explored with a critical eye, highlighting the
tensions and contradictions within the community.
In the
concluding chapters, Alberta reflects on the future of the evangelical
movement. He expresses hope for a return to the movement’s spiritual roots and
a re-emphasis on the teachings of Jesus Christ. However, he also acknowledges
the significant challenges that lie ahead, particularly in overcoming the deep
political and cultural divisions that have come to define the movement.
As a
psychologist, I tuned into the spiritual struggles revealed by the religious
leaders, which often focused on issues of morality I have written about
elsewhere. In addition, the book illustrates how people can change their key
dimensions of their core identity. That is, for many, religion is a core part
of their self-identity. Devout Christians identify as Christian and do not view
Christianity as just a religion. For millions of conservative Americans, being
patriotic means being a Republican. Readers will see these twin aspects of
self-identity blended for evangelicals in their church services.
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References
Alberta, T.
(2023). The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an
Age of Extremism. New York: HarperCollins.
Sutton, G.
(2024). The Era of Evangelical America: A Review of The Kingdom, The Power,
and The Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism. Interdisciplinary
Book and Film Reviews. Retrieved from https://suttonreviews.suttong.com/2024/07/the-era-of-evangelical-america-kingdom.html
I read
the Kindle edition.
Various
editions of the book are available on AMAZON.
Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He
retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical
neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com
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