So you have a problem with evangelical Christians? Which ones?
These are the provocative questions Tom Krattenmaker poses to his fellow progressives in The Evangelicals You Don’t Know. He challenges stereotypes about evangelical Christians and introduces readers to a movement of “new evangelicals” who are bringing forth a non-partisan expression of evangelicalism and creating opportunities for alliances and partnerships to advance the common good. Krattenmaker argues that cultural fault lines no longer divide the religious from the secular, or the evangelicals from “everyone else.” Rather, the lines that matter now run between the fundamentalist culture warriors of both the left and right on one side, and, on the other, the good-doers of any faith, or none, who want to work together to solve our society’s problems and introduce a new civility and decency to our shared national life.
Krattenmaker is one of the best-informed non-evangelicals writing about evangelicalism in American public life. He offers interesting stories, intriguing character sketches, and incisive writing in his readable and engaging book. Recounting the findings and insights gleaned from his many years of engagement with evangelical America, he draws conclusions sure to surprise, challenge, and even inspire non-evangelicals who had written off this controversial and influential faith movement. The Evangelicals You Don’t Knowoffers a refreshing alternative to narratives that pay attention only to aspects of evangelicalism that are most distasteful and threatening to secular-progressives and liberal religionists — providing instead a hopeful introduction to promising new currents rising among theologically conservative Christians.
Tom Krattenmaker is a Portland-based writer specializing in religion in public life and an award-winning contributing religion columnist for USA Today. Krattenmaker is the author of the book Onward Christian Athletes, a Foreword Book of the Year for 2009. His work has also appeared in Salon, the Los Angeles Times, Beliefnet, the Huffington Post, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Krattenmaker’s numerous media appearances include Fox & Friends, National Public Radio, ESPN’s “Outside the Lines,” and more.
Table of Contents
1: Styrofoam Jesus 2: Jesus’ Favorite City 3: All Bait, No Switch 4: Unchristian Nation 5: Confession Booth 6: Breaking Formation 7: Through the Logs in Their Eyes 8: ProLife … Seriously 9: From Behind Church Walls 10: September 12
What People are Saying About This
Randall Balmer
Tom Krattenmaker’s excellent book demonstrates that evangelicals once again, always exquisitely attuned to the idiom of the culture, are finding new ways to live out their faith in a pluralistic society. The very good news in these pages is that this rising generation of “new evangelicals” is eager to consign the follies and the fallacies of the Religious Right to the dustbin of irrelevance.
Paul Louis Metzger
Tom Krattenmaker is one of the liberals we evangelicals need to know. In The Evangelicals You Don’t Know, one of America’s leading journalists on religion presents a fair-minded, critical assessment of evangelicalism from his liberal vantage point. Krattenmaker complexifies the situation in which we find ourselves in America today. Drawing attention to a groundswell of compassion and civic virtue within evangelical Christianity that does not fit the negative stereotypes of much of secular America, Krattenmaker powerfully argues that the battle is not between evangelicals and non-evangelicals, including secularists. As he sees it, the culture war dividing line is between religious and secular totalitarians on the one hand and those from across the religious and cultural spectrum that are coming together in support of the common good. Journalism of this caliber and scope is vitally important if we are to move beyond the partisan politics and religious fervor that so divides our society in the pursuit of a more humane America. A must read for all concerned—everybody.
Hemant Mehta
For years, atheists have been countering the claims of prominent evangelical Christians, with their anti-gay, anti-women, and anti-science beliefs. What Tom Krattenmaker shows us in this book is that a new wave of Christians, while still believing in God, may hold views closer to atheists than their older evangelical counterparts. They are growing in influence and we're all better off because of it.
It's this new generation of Christians — dedicated to social justice issues — whose beliefs stand a chance of surviving in a post-religious America. If Christianity has ever let you down, this book will lift you up. While atheists pride themselves on winning minds, the Religious Left is doing an incredible job of winning hearts. Tom Krattenmaker shows us how they're doing it and offers a preview of what's to come.
