The best new books I’ve read in the last month are
- (5+) The Flag + The Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy by Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry (Oxford University Press, 2022)
- (5.0) Render Unto Cesar: The Struggle Over Christ and Culture in the New Testament by John Dominic Crossan (HarperOne, 2022)
- (4.5) Body Becoming: A Path to Our Liberation by Robyn Henderson-Espinoza (Broadleaf Books, 2022)
- (4.0) The Nineties: A Book by Chuck Klosterman (Penguin Press, 2022)
- (4.0) Humbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Story to Live By by Samuel Wells (William B. Eerdmans, 2022)
- (4.0) The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten Wilson (Brazos Press, 2022)
- (3.5) From Isolation to Community: A Renewed Vision for Christian Life Together by Myles Werntz (Baker Academic, 2022)
- (3.5) Who Moved my Neighborhood: Leading Congregations Through Gentrification and Economic Change by Mark E. Strong (IVP, 2022)
The Flag + The Cross
The Flag + The Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy is just the second book in 2022 to receive the highest possible rating of 5+. Written by Philip S. Gorski (Frederick and Laura Goff Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Yale University) and Samuel L. Perry (Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oklahoma), this eye opening new book explores the very real threat posed by white Christian nationalism. Importantly it does so in an accessible volume that explores the development of this troubling ideology over the last three centuries, and places recent events within that larger historical context. I approached the volume expecting to have prior learning reinforced and be introduced to a small amount of new content; instead, I learned a great deal. I am also planning to reread the book this summer alongside a few friends.