The Shadow Gospel

[FireDragon76]

In a relatively new book, The Shadow Gospel, Whitney Philips and Mark Brockway critique the notion that Christian Nationalism explains the rise of illiberal, right-wing politics in the US in recent decades. They give evidence that the origins of illiberal politics can be found in the Neo-Evangelical movement in the 1940's and 1950's, in figures such as Harold Ockenga and Billy Graham, and the anti-liberal demonology they promoted, rooted in American Christian Fundamentalism. This kind of anti-liberal demonology was never about loving God, but about hating 'the Devil", which became increasingly unmoored from either theology or fact. Eventually, this demonology became part of popular political discourse, well beyond the bounds of religion, and it proved a convenient tool of minoritarian politics and controlling the political narrative.

The Shadow Gospel: How Anti-Liberal Demonology Possessed US Religion, Media, and Politics-Book Introduction

shadowgospel.pubpub.org

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

Another book aiming to divide us rather then uniting us in Christ. Why can't Christian simply preach the gospel instead of judging others?

Scripture has historically been used to control others. Both sides in American democracy have manipulated the Bible: Christians once justified slavery and segregation, while some today use it to justify gay marriage and homosexuality—even though these practices are seen as unbiblical by traditional standards. Manipulation has occurred on both the Christian right and left.

This book argues that anti-liberal demonology is the issue. However, the problem might be that Christians, regardless of their ideology or politics, want to use scripture to pursue their political aspirations.

 

[FireDragon76]

Another book aiming to divide us rather then uniting us in Christ.

This is akin to the "why can't we still be friends?" memes that have been floating around on the internet since the election.

My spiritual integrity isn't dependent on being in fellowship with other Christians with whom I have profound disagreements. That's not me being a schismatic... that's me having healthy boundaries. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't mean I have to adopt groupthink and a herd mentality.

Why can't Christ simply preach the gospel instead of judging others?

The book is primarily about the sociology and political implications of religious or religious-adjacent ideas, not theology.

Scripture has historically been used to control others. Both sides in American democracy have manipulated the Bible: Christians once justified slavery and segregation, while some today use it to justify gay marriage and homosexuality—even though these practices are seen as unbiblical by traditional standards. Manipulation has occurred on both the Christian right and left.

The above is a perfect example of how insidious the Shadow Gospel has been in our discourses. To accept the premise of your argument is to basically capitulate to anti-liberal demonology, since defense of perceived "traditional standards" against a demonized other is at the core of anti-liberal demonology, and not acknowledging ideas on their own merits.

This book argues that anti-liberal demonology is the issue. However, the problem might be that Christians, regardless of their ideology or politics, want to use scripture to pursue their political aspirations.

The issue isn't that people are looking to the Bible to support ones politics (everybody does that), the issue is that anti-liberal demonology actually has no substantive theological basis in the first place, and comes from the peculiar sociology of Christian Fundamentalism.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

This is akin to the "why can't we still be friends?" memes that have been floating around on the internet since the election.

My spiritual integrity isn't dependent on being in fellowship with other Christians with whom I have profound disagreements. That's not me being a schismatic... that's me having healthy boundaries. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't mean I have to adopt groupthink and a herd mentality.



The book is primarily about the sociology and political implications of religious or religious-adjacent ideas, not theology.




The above is a perfect example of how insidious the Shadow Gospel has been in our discourses. To accept the premise of your argument is to basically capitulate to illiberal demonology, since defense of perceived "traditional standards" against a demonized other is at the core of anti-liberal demonology, and not acknowledging ideas on their own merits.



The issue isn't that people are looking to the Bible to support ones politics (everybody does that), the issue is that illiberal demonology actually has no substantive theological basis in the first place, and comes from the peculiar sociology of Christian Fundamentalism.

"why can't we still be friends? This may be in the internet and all over people talking about it.

However, these are the teachings of the true gospel.

"The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"


However, that is the challenge in spreading the gospel. One must love their neighbor and pray for their enemies. There is no place for an "us versus them" mentality.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Scripture has historically been used to control others. Both sides in American democracy have manipulated the Bible: Christians once justified slavery and segregation, while some today use it to justify gay marriage and homosexuality—even though these practices are seen as unbiblical by traditional standards. Manipulation has occurred on both the Christian right and left.

The above is a perfect example of how insidious the Shadow Gospel has been in our discourses. To accept the premise of your argument is to basically capitulate to illiberal demonology, since defense of perceived "traditional standards" against a demonized other is at the core of illiberal demonology.

FireDragon, there is only one way to read your response to FAITH-IN-HIM's statements above. You must be pushing back on the idea that homosexual acts are sinful.

 

[FireDragon76]

FireDragon, there is only one way to read your response to FAITH-IN-HIM's statements above. You must be pushing back on the idea that homosexual acts are sinful.

I'm pushing back against the notion that Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians have a market cornered on biblical hermeneutics and interpretation, and get to define what is, and isn't, worthy of demonization.

 

[Godsunworthyservant]

In a relatively new book, The Shadow Gospel, Whitney Philips and Mark Brockway critique the notion that Christian Nationalism explains the rise of illiberal, right-wing politics in the US in recent decades. They give evidence that the origins of illiberal politics can be found in the Neo-Evangelical movement in the 1940's and 1950's, in figures such as Harold Ockenga and Billy Graham, and the illiberal demonology they promoted, rooted in American Christian Fundamentalism. This kind of illiberal demonology was never about loving God, but about hating 'the Devil", which became increasingly unmoored from either theology or fact. Eventually, this illiberal demonology became part of popular political discourse, well beyond the bounds of religion, and it proved a convenient tool of minoritarian politics and controlling the political narrative.

The Shadow Gospel: How Anti-Liberal Demonology Possessed US Religion, Media, and Politics-Book Introduction

shadowgospel.pubpub.org

""The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." Billy Graham

 

[FireDragon76]

""The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it." Billy Graham

I think he was speaking from experience. Later in his life, I suspect he had become wiser to that. Though I don't think he ever did that in a thoroughgoing way, he was starting to realize he'ld dedicated alot of his life to something that amounted to a political grift. No doubt Billy Graham helped alot of people with an inspiring message about redemption, but in the process he also spread alot of toxic political ideas. Life is complicated in that manner, even the best people can have serious failings, and we can recognize that without having to either demonize somebody or lionize them through a blatant hagiography.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

I'm pushing back against the notion that Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians have a market cornered on biblical hermeneutics and interpretation, and get to define what is, and isn't, worthy of demonization.

This is really the only thing that matters...

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Ro 14:12)​

What one group thinks or what another group thinks really doesn't count for much. What counts is that each one of us must answer to God. He sheds light into our hearts as to what He wants and expects of us and we are each accountable to Him for what we do in response.

 

[BCP1928]

FireDragon, there is only one way to read your response to FAITH-IN-HIM's statements above. You must be pushing back on the idea that homosexual acts are sinful.

There is not really very much push-back on the idea that homosexual acts are considered sinful by many Christians. There real issue is whether homosexual acts should be criminalized for the non-Christian citizens of a secular state, and whether that is a Christian thing to strive for.

 

[High Fidelity]

Another book aiming to divide us rather then uniting us in Christ.

There will always be division. The Bible tells us of the many and the few. From the first day to the last there will always be division.

 

[FireDragon76]

I found out about the book by watching Genetically Modified Skeptics channel, particularly this episode.

 

[durangodawood]

This is really the only thing that matters...

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. (Ro 14:12)​

What one group thinks or what another group thinks really doesn't count for much. What counts is that each one of us must answer to God. He sheds light into our hearts as to what He wants and expects of us and we are each accountable to Him for what we do in response.

Political outcomes matter immensely to many people. Much more than some over the horizon reckoning you need faith to appreciate.

And so we see a lot of people put religion in service of politics.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

In a relatively new book, The Shadow Gospel, Whitney Philips and Mark Brockway critique the notion that Christian Nationalism explains the rise of illiberal, right-wing politics in the US in recent decades. They give evidence that the origins of illiberal politics can be found in the Neo-Evangelical movement in the 1940's and 1950's, in figures such as Harold Ockenga and Billy Graham, and the illiberal demonology they promoted, rooted in American Christian Fundamentalism. This kind of illiberal demonology was never about loving God, but about hating 'the Devil", which became increasingly unmoored from either theology or fact. Eventually, this illiberal demonology became part of popular political discourse, well beyond the bounds of religion, and it proved a convenient tool of minoritarian politics and controlling the political narrative.

The Shadow Gospel: How Anti-Liberal Demonology Possessed US Religion, Media, and Politics-Book Introduction

shadowgospel.pubpub.org

What of Abraham Vereidi then Doug Coe and The Fellowship Foundation? They went right to the core of politics with the introduction of the National Prayer Breakfast then proceeded to infiltrate every member of Congress. This organization's main focus is to seek out elite wealthy individuals and political leaders. Surely we can see the fruits of their agenda today.
Blessings

 

[FireDragon76]

What of Abraham Vereidi then Doug Coe and The Fellowship Foundation? They went right to the core of politics with the introduction of the National Prayer Breakfast then proceeded to infiltrate every member of Congress. This organization's main focus is to seek out elite wealthy individuals and political leaders. Surely we can see the fruits of their agenda today.
Blessings

I am doing research on The Family ATM, I don't know much about them. It does sound like they are dealing in some of the same dynamics, if only because The Family is based on a very fundamentalist interpretation of Protestant Christianity.

I think the paranoid, conspiratorial style of the Shadow Gospel explains the bulk of what we see today in a populace that's increasingly polarized by conspiracism and misinformation. However, I could almost start another thread on how corrosive parachurch ministries have been in American culture and political life, since they take away traditional accountability structures of religious denominations in favor of religious entrepreneurism.

 

[NBB]

What the left is promoting is anti biblical. You know which topics are those.
I don't say any political side, is Godly, but at least some sides are not promoting spiritually damaging stuff for society.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I am doing research on The Family ATM, I don't know much about them. It does sound like they are dealing in some of the same dynamics, if only because The Family is based on a very fundamentalist interpretation of Protestant Christianity.

I think the paranoid, conspiratorial style of the Shadow Gospel explains the bulk of what we see today in a populace that's increasingly polarized by conspiracism and misinformation. However, I could almost start another thread on how corrosive parachurch ministries have been in American culture and political life, since they take away traditional accountability structures of religious denominations in favor of religious entrepreneurism.

There is a biography out on the founder, Abraham.

Modern Viking: The Story Of Abraham Vereide, Pioneer In Christian Leadership

 

[FireDragon76]

There is a biography out on the founder, Abraham.

Modern Viking: The Story Of Abraham Vereide, Pioneer In Christian Leadership

I asked Deep Seek and ChatGPT about The Family, and the report it gave said that from a Mainline Protestant ethical standpoint, the organization is highly problematic. The Family is involved with promoting authoritarianism, elitism, a lack of accountability and lack of transparency. It sounds more like it mixes political influence peddling with religion.

I'm watching the Netflix documentary and the group does seem to fit the definition of a pernicious, heretical sect. It's alarming that it's had so much influence in US politics, much more than it deserves. However, I know from my own experience, these kinds of religious sentiments aren't unheard of in the wider US culture, with similar groups or teachings being highly influenced by the Keswick type theology this group seems to espouse.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

I'm pushing back against the notion that Evangelical and Fundamentalist Christians have a market cornered on biblical hermeneutics and interpretation, and get to define what is, and isn't, worthy of demonization.

Personal opinions on sin are irrelevant without scriptural evidence from the Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox Bible. You can challenge fundamentalist Christians, but without scripture proving that homosexuality is not a sin, your opinion does not affect Christian beliefs about sin.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

What the left is promoting is anti biblical. You know which topics are those.
I don't say any political side, is Godly, but at least some sides are not promoting spiritually damaging stuff for society.

Both sides use scripture to promote their ideology. The right also promotes anti-biblical ideas, so let's not just attack the left.