Secular Nations under New Gods: Christianity's Subversion by Technology and Politics

Ever since Max Weber's study of the role Protestantism played in our civilization, the role of Christianity in our world has been much debated. This work is addressed to those interested in a return to the Biblical message as opposed to what institutionalized Christianity has made of it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 18 December 2018
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

The ongoing political assertions of various Christian communities in North America evoke significant concerns regarding their roles within our society. Earlier studies, such as Herberg's Protestant, Catholic, and Jew, have demonstrated that these three branches of the Judaeo-Christian tradition align with three distinct forms of American life. Meanwhile, Kruse's One Nation Under God showcased how corporate America influenced Christian America. Willem H. Vanderburg's Secular Nations under New Gods builds upon a dialogue between Jacques Ellul's interpretation of the Christian's role in the world and his understanding of the roles of technique and the nation-state in individual and collective human existence. He further offers insightful perspectives on our nature as a symbolic species grappling with finitude by engaging with the myths of our society and creating new secular frameworks for moralities and religions.

If we perceive everything as political and believe that scientific and technical approaches can be applied to discipline it, we may be treating these human creations as omnipotent, devoid of limitations. Vanderburg contends that until organized Christianity becomes acutely aware of sharing these commitments with their societies, it will remain entrapped in serving false gods, thereby distorting the message of freedom and love into one of morality and religion.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 230 x 151 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487523039