God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It book cover

God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It

Hardcover – December 22, 2005

by
Price
$6.49
Format
Hardcover
Pages
384
Publisher
HarperSanFransisco
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0060558284
Dimensions
6.3 x 1.3 x 9.29 inches
Weight
1.57 pounds

Description

Secular liberals and religious conservatives will find things to both comfort and alarm them in Jim Wallis's God's Politics . That combination is actually reason enough to recommend the book in a time when the national political and theological discourse is dominated by blanket descriptions and shortsightedness. But Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, offers more than just a book that's hard to categorize. What Wallis sees as the true mission of Christianity--righting social ills, working for peace--is in tune with the values of liberals who so often run screaming from the idea of religion. Meanwhile, in his estimation, religious vocabulary is co-opted by conservatives who use it to polarize. Wallis proposes a new sort of politics, the name of which serves as the title of the book, wherein these disparities are reconciled and progressive causes are paired with spiritual guidance for the betterment of society. Wallis is at his most compelling when he puts this theory into action himself, letting his own beliefs guide him through stinging criticisms of the war in Iraq. In his view, George W. Bush's flaw lies in the assumption that the United States was an unprecedented force of goodness in a fight against enemies characterized as "evil." Indeed, although both the right and left are criticized here, the idea is that the liberals, if they would get religion, are the more redeemable lot. Wallis's line between religion and public policy may be drawn a little differently than most liberals might feel comfortable with, and while he pays some lip service to other faiths most of his prescription for America seems to come from the Bible. Still, for a party having just lost a presidential election where "moral issues" are said to have factored heavily, God's Politics is a sermon worth listening to. --John Moe From Bookmarks Magazine Godx92s Politics has struck a chord with contemporary Americans who, according to bestseller lists, are buying Wallisx92s book in droves. Regardless of how critics feel about the authorx92s religious beliefs (evangelical Christian) and political leanings (traditional on family values; progressive on issues like poverty and social justice), they are hard-pressed to argue with his central tenets: God belongs to no single political party and true faith transcends political categorization. Wallis writes that liberals and conservatives alike should work for a "new spiritual revival x85 that could transform our society." While at least one reviewer complains that Wallis glosses over the religious leftx92s failures, no one denies that he has produced a timely, thought-provoking book. Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc. How far should we go to understand each other’s points of view? Maybe the distance grace covered on the cross. — Bono, lead singer of U2 Jim Wallis is an inspiration to me– for his witness of faith and his engagement with politics. — Bill Moyers Jim Wallis is compelling, provocative, and inspirational, with faith that can move mountains and can certainly move people and communities. — Archbishop Desmond Tutu Wallis at his usual passionate and brilliant self: he will move you to examine your conscience and search your soul. — E.J. Dionne, author of Stand Up Fight Back and Why Americans Hate Politics Jim Wallis is the major prophetic evangelical Christian voice in the country. — Cornel West, author of Race Matters and Democracy Matters “Wallis provides a refreshing alternative voice to the polarizing rhetoric currently popular.” — Library Journal Conservative evangelicals have hugged their Bibles, worn their flag pins, and self-righteously attempted to co-opt any discussion of religion and politics. Liberals are embarrassed to discuss their religious beliefs in public and attempt to avoid the subject altogether. Is there an appropriate way Christians and other morally concerned people can express their faith and values in the public debate while still supporting the constitutional separation of church and state? We’ve become great at pursuing our individual “spiritualities,” but in the process may have lost sight of the power of religious belief for motivating social reform. What we need is something akin to the social politics of Jesus: speaking out for peace, justice, the poor and disenfranchised, while speaking out against oppressive government and rampant commercialism. Drawing on his experiences with the poor, with preachers, and with presidents, Wallis points a way for every person to draw on their faith and spiritual tradition to do their part, offering practical tips for how one can enact the spiritual ethic in their own public lives. Wallis finds the current conservative, liberal, and libertarian options out-of-step with the desires of most Americans untenable. Wallis offers a fourth option, “The Common Good,” that would represent those who are traditional on issues of moral character, personal responsibility, sexual integrity, and family values (without scape-goating any group like single parents or homosexuals), while being very progressive on issues like poverty and racial justice. This option affirms good stewardship of the earth and its resources, supports gender equality, and looks first to peacemaking and conflict-resolution when it comes to foreign policy questions. At the spiritual heart of this option is linking one’s personal ethics to social justice. A prophetic book, it provides a scathing indictment of American society and the skewed values our government seems to endorse and implement. A hopeful book, it offers a platform for bringing the spiritual and political together, offering an alternative to the conservative, liberal, and libertarian options currently available to Americans. Jim Wallis has long been the leading voice at the crossroads of faith, politics, business, spirituality, and culture. He is the founder and editor of SOJOURNER magazine, and the president and convener of “Call to Renewal, the national federation of churches and faith-based organizations working with members of Congress and the White House to overcome poverty and revitalize American politics. Time magazine names Wallis one of the 50 Faces for America’s Future, and in fall 2003, he was a visiting fellow of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He is the author of six books including, FAITH WORKS and THE SOUL OF POLITICS, as well as CALL TO CONVERSION. Jim lives in Washington, D.C. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • A leading voice of Christians in this country offers a prophetic indictment against our pursuit of individual spiritualities to the exclusion of any social responsibility for the common good, as well as the lack of political options for believers who want to link their personal ethics to social justice.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(97)
★★★★
25%
(81)
★★★
15%
(48)
★★
7%
(23)
★
23%
(74)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Should be on EVERY campaign reading list

This book is very thought-provoking. The author sees a place for religion, arguing that the exclusion of religion from the political sphere is unrealistic. It does not reflect the way which Americans have and continue to make policy.

Even liberal politicians are motivated to enter public life and work on behalf of other people because of their own religious convictions according to this book. Denying that these are moral values and their roots in religious belief damages our own standing. This denial then feeds into a stereotype that the left is bereft of any morals or opposes religious people.

At the same time. Wallis takes on the 'religious right' who have comadeered Republican Party infrastructure since the late 1970's/early 1980's. He argues their current interpretation of 'good' public policy is also counterproductive to good public policymaking; anybody not sharing their worldview instantly becomes demonized. Because there are so many different religious perspectives in America (even among Christian denominations themselves) religious right actions actually undercut the standing of religion throughout American society, as practiced by these groups religion becomes percieved as something which is harsh, judgemental, and exclusionary.

I appreciated this book's complex view of religion. It clarifies that the problem is not religion itself, but how we employ it in public life which is the real problem.
171 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Outstanding, even from a secularist viewpoint...

This book qualifies as serious political writing and thereby deserves a place in the Political Science libraries of mainstream colleges and universities. The author has an impressive command of current events and economics, and he critically addresses the salient political, military and economic policies of the present in terms of Christian ethics, that more often than not fall in line with the Progressive agenda of the Democrats, notwithstanding the abortion issue.

Father Wallis discusses how the Radcons and fundamentalists espouse what amounts to bad theology in respect to present economic policies that favor the wealthy at the expense of the poor. He also describes what constitutes a just war from the perspective of traditional Judeo-Christian philosophy. Needless to say, the conflict in Iraq is no such war. Also, the impressively researched chapters on world poverty are well worth the price of the book alone. For these reasons and others too numerous to mention, I highly recommend this book to people of faith and secularists alike.
51 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A must read Book for people of Conscience and Intelligence

Wallis brings an important and much needed message to the religious and political arena. Most of what he has to say is articulate, well thought out and presents the important message that Christians must beware of the dangers of "Group-Think."

My primary criticism and the reason I give the book 4 stars rather than what would have otherwise surely been a 5, is that the title is somewhat misleading. Reading this book I was under the impression that it would seek to point out issues on both the Democrats and Republicans and indeed there are places where that seems to happen.

Far more, however, this is aimed primarily at the "Right-Wing Conservative" faction of the Republican party who have embraced religious values. What little criticism the Democrats receive is more along the line of "They don't communicate their message, well." The title would lead you to believe there is criticism all the the way around. It just isn't so. -1 Star for misleading this reader in that regard.

Granted, the Republicans are the party of power and as such are worthy of more scrutiny. Even factoring this in, I don't believe an objective reader could look at this and conclude it is a balanced and equally critical look at both parties.

That having been said it is still an important and riveting book.

Wallis is nothing if not passionate and his lifestyle and actions as reported by him, are in line with what he is saying which I respected immensely and chose to accept at face value. Of particular note, and resonating with this reader were these important points:

1. No reading of the Bible can miss the prevelent theme of how Christians respond to the poor as a primary tenet of Christians and their role in society.

2. Any Christian response to terrorism that is based on fear and focuses on external threats without addressing the legitimate needs of the poor, misses several primary teachings of Christianity and may, in fact, be planting the seeds of our own internal demise by what the response will be from those so neglected.

3. There is no one party that espouses all legitimate values of the thinking Christian, therefore, decisions must be made based on a preponderance of issues and not just a few packaged for public consumption.

4. Christians must come forward into the political process and bring with them their Faith-based values. Society needs them. Our faith demands it. To do otherwise is to leave the field to packaged populism which unfortunately, far too often allows itself to be drawn into the mold that the major parties prepare and the media conveys.

Very much worth the read. Just be aware that the bias of the author is not particularly veiled and certainly not hard to see.
49 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Polite Homphobia

This author may indeed be well meaning, but nonetheless, like most religious rightwingers, his true colors are revealed when he discusses gay marriage. Gays don't have the right to marriage, the author says matter-of-factly, implying that gays are less worthy than good God-fearing souls like himself. He also says that gay civil rights are not nearly as important as other people's civil rights, implying that, again, gays are less worthy than others.

All in all, not the most hateful book by a religious writer, but nonetheless quite hostile towards gay Americans. Why is it that no one who claims to love his fellow humans due to his religious beliefs can actually do so?
48 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Some excellent points on the important issue of poverty

Jim Wallis has written a stirring book about politics, and how the essential principles of religious and theological beliefs have been misrepresented by both political parties. His basic stance can be found on the cover with the statement: "Why the Right gets it wrong and the Left doesn't get it". Certainly a compelling topic considering the combination of religion and politics in America.

The best of the book can be found in his assertion that Christian beliefs focus on serving others, namely the poor. He asserts throughout the book that serving the poor and addressing the problems of poverty is a profoundly religious view that is no where to be found in the Republican Party, despite their assertions of being aligned to Christianity. Throughout the book he attacks Republicans for their policies which do not support those in need. I agree with him on this, despite his continued use of terminology like "tax cuts for the rich" which is nothing more than propaganda, and not related to reality. He admits as such. (Page 103). Nonetheless he makes some great points on why our government policies should serve those in need, both in America and throughout the world.

However, it should be noted that this book is nowhere near the "middle"; it is a far left view of political issues. He makes some outrageous claims such as: "Most of us do not support school backed prayers or the Ten Commandments in a court house" (Page 70). Who is he talking about? Jim's diatribes against the war in Iraq are fair enough, but he makes no mention of any other conflicts such as WWII, and what a Christian response should have been then. He further ignores the fact that his ideas about Iraq were only postulated at the 11th hour when it was far too late. Where was he during the Clinton Administration, and when Saddam was refusing to comply with UN regulations, or making a mockery of the "oil for food" program? He makes some good points against the war, but his solutions are a bit late.

However, there are some glaring defects here as well. First, he makes no references at all to the core worldview within the Left of moral relativism. In a 300 plus page book, which is about how each party fails to understand or align itself with Biblical principles, to fail to even acknowledge this basic worldview of the Left and how it contrasts with religious beliefs is astounding. It is one reason many Christians will not vote Democrat despite the issues on the Republican Party.

The second area that is even more of a blind spot for Wallis is the issue of abortion. He does little more than pay lip service and wink at the issue, by failing to speak out in any meaningful way against the practice. Despite his views glorifying those who are non-violent supporters of the impoverished and oppressed, the person most known for her work with the poor - Mother Theresa - speaks of abortion as promoting violence. Her view contrasts vividly with Jim's support of non-violent approaches to social issues. His support for legal abortion is nothing short of hypocritical when combined with his other stances against violence.

Overall, the book is written well. I do recommend the book; it contains some excellent and thoughtful ideas well worth reading and pondering. Jim makes some points about serving the poor and that it is a profoundly religious issue not supported by Republicans. I agree completely. However, in the end he avoids any real condemnation for some deep defects within the Democratic Party, choosing to simply make vague statements about how they are reluctant to embrace religious principles. The book is poorer for it.
41 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Pedantic

To be sure there were many praises I had about this book. I felt very much in sync with Wallis' criticisms of the Left/Right divide that unnecessarily bifurcates every issue. His heart for the poor is admirable, and he also realizes many of the ugly tendencies Religious conservatives employ in their campaigning against just one or two issues. The book's best parts are about how faith should influence politics and how our public life in many ways is just as important as our private life.

However, there were many places where I simply shook my head. The redundant veneration of Martin Luther King Jr and Desmund Tutu became so tiresome that I got less impressed with their accomplishments each time Wallis cited their names. The problem with this book is that it is simply disingenuous. Instead of doing the hard work of biblical exegesis, navigating through historical hermeneutics, and systematizing a true "politics of God" in light of Christ's redemptive work we are left with the pedantic moorings a disgruntled Democrat who whose idea of revival is getting people to repent of voting for Bush. The subtitle should read "God isn't a Republican BECAUSE he is a Democrat." More or less Wallis criticizes Republicans and counsels Democrats, which of course is fine. I do not have a problem with Christians deliberating between political parties in order to vote their conscious. It is true that God isn't a Republican or a Democrat. I just wish he would have been more accurate about his intentions.

Wallis' use of Scripture in the construction of his platform was sorely lacking. And the times he used Scripture were scattered and spurious, replete with exegetical fallacies and hermeneutical pitfalls. Quite honestly, he is not much better than Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson in using the Bible as a political manifesto. What I found to be most disappointing in reading the book is that I, being a disaffected conservative, was very open to his ideas yet was hardly compelled by them. However, Wallis did succeed in convincing me there are more than two sides to every issue, and that Christians should draw upon the Prophetic voice of Scripture in deliberating their stance on particular issues, instead of whatever the GOP spins in the media. It will help me be more confident in my political positions in the future.
31 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Mixed Feelings

It was refreshing to read the thoughts of a Christian who is focused on something other than using the government to punish and control people who don't subscribe to a narrow, intolerant belief system. However, I have mixed feelings about Mr. Wallis' conclusions about the role of religion in public life.

One of his key points is that many social movements have been informed by spiritual beliefs, the civil rights movement and the suffrage movement being prime examples. This is true; however, I can't help but notice that opponents of these movements were also motivated by religious beliefs. Biblical justifications were advanced to support slavery in its day, and the KKK and other white supremacists say that Christianity underlies their beliefs. Women's suffrage was opposed vigorously by clergymen who cited the writings of Paul as grounds for denying women the vote.

People's politics are going to be informed and influenced by their religious beliefs. That's inevitable. But in the face of a deeply conflicted historical record, Mr. Wallis doesn't convince me that combining religion with politics is always going to yield just results.

I'm not interested in being governed by a Christian theocracy, even a benevolent one. I stand with the Founders on this, and their vision of a country governed by Reason.
30 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Voice to counter the Religious Right

If I could ask George W. Bush one question it would be, `How have the teachings of your favorite philosopher Jesus Christ helped to shape the decisions of your presidency?'. The problem is that the values of Christ and the values of modern Conservatives are polar opposites. To say that helping the poor only contributes to a state of dependency and erosion of the family is certainly a philosophy but it wasn't the philosophy of Jesus. Jesus didn't advise his followers to slap the other guy in the face before he gets the opportunity to slap you. Jesus wasn't a Free Market Capitalist; if anything he was expounding a Socialist doctrine. Bush's Conservative values may be correct or they may be wrong but they certainly don't resemble the teachings of Christ even in the least. So how does one resolve a belief in Christ's divinity while ignoring his message utterly?

Based on the 2004 election it seems that Republicans believe there are only two important issues to Christians; Abortion and Gay Rights; two issues that ironically Jesus said nothing about. Wallis asks what about capital punishment or preemptive strikes or unilateralism or helping the poor, sick and needy or fighting racism. As Wallis says the war on poverty has turned into a war on the poor as Conservatives feverishly try to stack the deck in favor of the rich. Young men and women from the lower ends of the economic spectrum are sent off to die in wars while the wealthiest American's get their taxes cut. As one writer said the difference between a Conservative and a Compassionate Conservative is that Compassionate Conservatives smile more.

One astute observation that Wallis makes is that George W. Bush isn't practicing Christian Theology but instead practices Nationalistic Theology. Bush's speech writers tend to lace his speeches with Bible quotes but make edits that change the meaning of the words. Wallis gives specific examples where the writers substitute America into passages describing Christ or God. This, Wallis states, definitely skirts the edge of blasphemy. Instead of finding humility in faith Bush uses his Christian beliefs as justification for his actions.

The left, particularly Secularists, also gets taken to task but I think that Wallis completely misses the mark. Wallis says, "The secular fundamentalists tell us that religion should be restricted to one's church or family. No talk of faith, they seem to be saying, ought to be allowed to seep into the public arena for fear of violating the First Amendment or alienating the nonreligious". What Secular fundamentalists? He lists the ACLU and Americans for the Separation of Church and State but his words are a complete distortion of their goals. Secularists are not trying to remove religion from the public discussion. As American's we have religion in our movies, on our car bumpers, on our vanity plates, in our magazines, on our news programs. The average bookstore has a larger selection of religious books than science books. You can scarcely leave your home without seeing evidence of the Christian majority. The ACLU and Americans for the Separation of Church and State have no intent or desire to ban any of this from the public arena except as it relates to government endorsement.

The problem is when politicians like George W. Bush cynically use religion in order to garner votes, push agendas, bludgeon opponents and place themselves on a higher moral ground. Wallis sees Howard Dean's blundering attempt to talk about religion as evidence that Democrats are uncomfortable with religion. The real issue is that Howard Dean felt forced to talk about an unfamiliar subject because there is an unwritten religious purity test in this country. If Wallis is trying to create a religious message to counter the venom of the Religious Right it would help him not to parrot their rhetoric and lies.
25 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Frightening left-wing religious demagoguery

Jim Wallis, like others of his ilk, uses religion to cloak his political agenda. "God's Politics" is just another left-wing political tract that calls for massive public funding and government infrastructures to "solve" every social problem. Every problem is described in the most extreme language. All criticisms of those not agreeing with Wallis' views are also extreme and, often, provably untrue.

Wallis fails to attribute his social solutions to Marx, Lenin, Mussolini, Hitler and other original authors, but instead claims they are divinely inspired. Any student of history would realize that these are old nostrums, requiring that earners be stripped of their earnings by bureaucrats in order to "redistrbute" wealth, make everyone equal in their misery and thus create a perfect world.

Some of Wallis' ideas echo the long discredited America First that pretended that there was no evil in the world meriting the attention of the United States. Ignoring such evil resulted in WWII and the deaths of millions of innocent people.

It could be argued that Wallis is well-intentioned. I doubt it. The self-absorption demonstrated in the book depicts a man of ego, not a man of religion. Wallis must recount all the luminaries he claims to know, all the events he has attended.

In short, Wallis is political and so is his professed god.

Jerry
24 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

It's About Time For a Book That is Moderate...

I have to say that it is about time there is a book that moderates, like myself can read and feel that there is hope for the future of this country. Like I said, I am a moderate, but I tend to learn further to the left than to the right. I will admit that I don't attend church on a regular basis, but I do believe in God, and a moral code of ethics. One ethic that I believe in and I wish our current government did is that we as a free nation should not endorse the idea of pre-emptive war against a nation that we have no proof attacked the United States, or had any indication of attacking the United States or its allies. Also, if President Bush, or his advisors and our Congress are reading, historically, tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans during a war and taxing to death the middle-class, like myself, and the poor by not giving tax credits where needed just doesn't work. I urge all Americans that care about the direction of this country and also its future read this book. Just remember, an ultra left wing is just as bad as an ultra right-wing. We need to find common ground and common people to lead us into the best days still yet to come.

Thank you.
23 people found this helpful

Related Books