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America's political landscape is experiencing dangerous
polarization and fragmentation, with the extremes pulling the
country apart. Voices on the left and right clash over different
worldviews, definitions of America, and what it means to be an
American citizen. The levels of incivility and hostility lead some
to invoke the language of a cold civil war or even a looming civil
war: one that could split the country in two. Is there any way to
step back from this dangerous precipice? Political philosopher Jim
Belcher shows that this is not merely a binary opposition between
conservativism on the right and liberalism on the left, but also
between conflicting visions of order and freedom on both sides.
Through his unique quadrant framework, Belcher traces the people
and movements in each position, examines their underlying
narratives, and articulates their respective contributions and
dangers. This quadrant framework not only reveals how polarization
divides us but also shows us how to move beyond the right-left
stalemate. At the core of the competing visions are the seeds of a
new vital center, a robust and surprising model that has the
ability to transcend political tribalism and bring America back
together again before it is too late.
Ever since John Winthrop told his fellow colonists in 1630 that
they were about to establish a City upon a Hill, the idea of having
a special place in history has captured the American imagination.
Through centuries of crises and opportunities, many have taken up
this theme to inspire the nation. But others have criticized the
notion because it implies a sense of superiority which can fuel
racism, warmongering and even idolatry. In this remarkable book,
John Wilsey traces the historical development of exceptionalism,
including its theological meaning and implications for civil
religion. From seventeenth-century Puritans to twentieth-century
industrialists, from politicians to educators, exceptionalism does
not appear as a monolithic concept to be either totally rejected or
devotedly embraced. While it can lead to abuses, it can also point
to constructive civil engagement and human flourishing. This book
considers historically and theologically what makes the difference.
Neither the term nor the idea of American exceptionalism is going
away. John Wilsey's careful history and analysis will therefore
prove an important touchstone for discussions of American identity
in the decades to come.
A New Abridgement of a Classic on the American Experiment. As
debates rage over the future of America and the country's
relationship to its past, there is no better time to examine the
American culture from the perspective of a nineteenth century
French thinker and student of democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville's
Democracy in America, written in French in the early 19th century,
is seen as a classic of American political and cultural studies.
However, the expansive 2--volume original has never seen an
accessible version that remains true to the original text. This new
abridgement of Francis Bowen's 1864 translation keeps Tocqueville's
thought intact. All chapters have been retained and no sentences
have been divided. This volume offers a clear window into American
political history and a concise approach to this classic outsider's
perspective on the United States. A new introduction by editor John
D. Wilsey further interprets and applies Tocqueville's thought for
the modern student of American institutions, politics, religion,
and society.
Is America a Christian nation? This question has loomed large in
American culture since the Puritans arrived on American shores in
the early seventeenth century. More recently, the Christian America
thesis has been advocated by many evangelical leaders across the
denominational spectrum. This book contributes to the conversation
by critiquing, from an evangelical perspective, the idea that
America is a Christian nation as articulated by specific writers
over the past three decades. Wilsey asserts that the United States
was not conceived as a Christian nation, but as a nation with
religious liberty. Herein lies the genius of the Founders and the
uniqueness of America.
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