The point that most captures my attention in this book is:
We stand at the cusp a new age of ignorance reminiscent of the Dark Ages associated with medieval times.
The book is actually written in a low key, common sense manner that assists one in seeing the current state of American religion and politics as a predictable, although not necessary, outcome of our history. Being the descendant of a witch executed in Salem, a Bible teacher thrown out of the Boston Bay colony, a Pennsylvania slave owner, a Wisconsin abolitionist, and a Native American rights activist in the form of a rancher, I had no problem slotting real people into roles that grew into the best and worst of America. A strength of the author is his ability to make both the good and the bad familiar rather than an us vs. them that pushes you away from the thrust of his argument.
He proceeds to what Nationalist Christianity must do to achieve its goals, a section that helps make sense out of American politics not just currently but from say Reagan or so on. He then proceeds to deal with the disconnect between stated reasons and actual reasons - how we deceive ourselves - explaining why self-professed liberals can be the most dangerous to deal with. Throughout, but especially in the final section, he deals with how to reinvigorate Christianity by removing the European-American nationalist face that has defiled it.
Having many friends and classmates spread across the world in various forms of international studies or charities, I found little new or surprising. I simply found a solid, not compelling, argument presented in a clear and understandable manner. It did, however, help me to understand the quirks of certain converts in my church as well as some strange political opinions of some younger family members.
However, I also believe that it is so gentle that many readers will fail to recognize the worst of themselves in the descriptions despite the worst being more clearly defined than the best.
Theologically, the author is conservative and Gospel oriented.
Burying White Privilege: Resurrecting a Badass Christianity by Miguel A. De La Torre
