Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism | Tim Alberta
The award-winning journalist and staff writer for The Atlantic follows up his New York Times bestseller American Carnage with this timely, rigorously reported, and deeply personal examination of the divisions that threaten to destroy the American evangelical movement. Evangelical Christians are perhaps the most polarizing--and least understood--people living in America today. In his seminal new book, The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, journalist Tim Alberta, himself a practicing Christian and the son of an evangelical preacher, paints an expansive and profoundly troubling portrait of the American evangelical movement. Through the eyes of televangelists and small-town preachers, celebrity revivalists and everyday churchgoers, Alberta tells the story of a faith cheapened by ephemeral fear, a promise corrupted by partisan subterfuge, and a reputation stained by perpetual scandal. For millions of conservative Christians, America is their kingdom--a land set apart, a nation uniquely blessed, a people in special covenant with God. This love of country, however, has given way to right-wing nationalist fervor, a reckless blood-and-soil idolatry that trivializes the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Alberta retraces the arc of the modern evangelical movement, placing political and cultural inflection points in the context of church teachings and traditions, explaining how Donald Trump's presidency and the Covid-19 pandemic only accelerated historical trends that long pointed toward disaster. Reporting from half-empty sanctuaries and standing-room-only convention halls across the country, the author documents a growing fracture inside American Christianity, journeying with readers through this strange new environment in which loving your enemies is "woke" and owning the libs is the answer to WWJD. Accessing the highest echelons of the American evangelical movement, Alberta investigates the ways in which conservative Christians have pursued, exercised, and often abused power in the name of securing this earthly kingdom. He highlights the battles evangelicals are fighting--and the weapons of their warfare--to demonstrate the disconnect from scripture: Contra the dictates of the New Testament, today's believers are struggling mightily against flesh and blood, eyes fixed on the here and now, desperate for a power that is frivolous and fleeting. Lingering at the intersection of real cultural displacement and perceived religious persecution, Alberta portrays a rapidly secularizing America that has come to distrust the evangelical church, and weaves together present-day narratives of individual pastors and their churches as they confront the twin challenges of lost status and diminished standing. Sifting through the wreckage--pastors broken, congregations battered, believers losing their religion because of sex scandals and political schemes--Alberta asks: If the American evangelical movement has ceased to glorify God, how long can it survive?
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
melissajayne
post image
Pickpick

4.5⭐️ It was a very fascinating read, which was very in-depth about how American evangelicals are becoming more and more extreme and not in a good way. What‘s really important is that the author travels to the various places around the US that are highlighted. Highly recommended. #2024 #nonfiction #bookreview #christianity #evangelicals

21 likes1 stack add
review
Scochrane26
post image
Pickpick

Another 5 ⭐️ read. I‘m not evangelical (I‘m in the evil left they talk about in the book), but I‘m glad the author is because he has a unique perspective. We all know about the alt-right, but what is going on in some “churches” is eye-opening. I recommend this to any religious person—he does talk about faith/Christian beliefs so for non-believers, it might not be a book for you.

blurb
Deblovestoread
post image

I‘m not reading as much non-fiction as I‘d like to be but these all have been excellent. I still think about the Winterson but there‘s lots of potential for others to claim the top spot.

review
Floresj
post image
Pickpick

I grew up in a religious household and this book validated my feelings of what I thought Christianity was to my “I don‘t want a part of that‘ now. Through multiple interviews, Alberta showcases the evolution of the Church from Christ focused to politics focused…because fear sells. Well written and thoughtful, this was a great book.

13 likes1 stack add
review
Deblovestoread
post image
Pickpick

A huge thank you to @Suet624 for her review and the discussion that arose around it. At the time I felt like I would be wasting time and was a bit dismissive. That is always a wake up call because there is always something to learn. I listened to this slowly over the last few months. It fleshed out so much of what I believe to be wrong but also left me hopeful that others are fighting against those wrongs with the right message. Maybe we ⬇️

Deblovestoread ⬆️ aren‘t doomed yet. 5 🌟 (edited) 6mo
AmyG Agreed. It was a bit frightening, but hopeful. 6mo
Suet624 I‘m so glad you took on the challenge of reading this one. I think it‘s an important read. Your review is spot on! 💕 6mo
50 likes2 stack adds3 comments
quote
BarbaraJean
post image

“Religion and politics are natural enemies; both provide a sense of belonging and self-actualization to the masses. Tension between the two is healthy and necessary. When one appropriates the other, history shows that oppression—leading to death and human suffering at a woeful scale—is the inevitable result.”

AmyG Frightening. 6mo
33 likes1 comment
quote
BarbaraJean
post image

“Today‘s evangelicalism preaches bitterness toward unbelievers and bottomless grace for churchgoing Christians, yet the New Testament model is exactly the opposite, stressing strict accountability for those inside the Church and abounding charity to those outside it.”

quote
BarbaraJean
post image

“This is the gospel we are to proclaim both in word and in deed: To be a Christian is to sacrifice not for the benefit of those we already have around our table but for the betterment of those we have never considered to invite.”

quote
BarbaraJean
post image

“The notion that God was ‘calling‘ on Christians to ‘take back‘ their country—especially by force—is laughably incompatible with the teachings of Christ. It was Jesus who subverted the authorities with teachings of obedience and edicts of nonviolence; it was Jesus who mocked His captors for brandishing weapons as they arrested Him.”

Aimeesue This was a scary, scary day for us locals. People DIED. We‘re 5 miles from the Mall and the sirens and helicopters overhead were constant. I‘d like to read this book, but honestly, the whole subject makes me physically anxious. 🙁 6mo
BarbaraJean @Aimeesue Ugh, yes—I understand that reaction!! I could only read so much of this at a time. It‘s so insidious and disturbing. 6mo
AmyG @Aimeesue I would be so frightened too. I can‘t imagine living near that. 6mo
See All 9 Comments
Bookwormjillk @Aimeesue I hear you. We were heading out of town that day for a funeral and left quickly fearing they would close the beltway and would be trapped. At the funeral I heard a man say “They just got out of hand.” 6mo
Amiable @Aimeesue I don‘t live near DC and conversations about this subject make me sick to my stomach. I can‘t even imagine what that day was like for you. (edited) 6mo
Aimeesue @AmyG It was nerve wracking for sure. 6mo
Aimeesue @BarbaraJean It‘s overwhelming. I can‘t wrap my head around it. 6mo
Aimeesue @Bookwormjillk Oh, that‘s awful. And yeah, insurrection is now "just getting out of hand." Sheesh. 6mo
Aimeesue @Amiable It was pretty bad. The noise only added to the uncertainty, and made it impossible to ignore. 🙁 6mo
28 likes9 comments
review
BarbaraJean
post image
Pickpick

This was excellent but challenging, because the content is so troubling. Alberta offers a detailed, nuanced look at the rise of Christian nationalism in the US, going back to Jerry Falwell & the “Moral Majority” of the 80s, & exploring the current political landscape from the Trump years through COVID, BLM, & beyond. Woven throughout are interviews with pastors & Christian leaders (both Christian nationalists & those troubled by the movement). ⬇️

BarbaraJean (Cont‘d) One of the book‘s many strengths is that Alberta is not an outsider—as a Christian himself, he does a fantastic job of setting Christian nationalism alongside the actual teachings of Jesus and the actual words of the Bible. He draws a stark contrast between Christianity and Christian nationalism—calling Christians back to the truth of their faith rather than the lure of transitory political power. Highly relevant and highly recommended. 6mo
AmyG I recommend the audio. Excellent. 6mo
44 likes2 comments
review
REPollock
post image
Pickpick

A fantastic must-read for any American concerned about the rise of Christian nationalism and the conflation of Christian faith with political ideology.

18 likes1 stack add
review
Decalino
post image
Pickpick

Tim Alberta's father was a pastor in the evangelical church; when parishioners confronted him about his criticism of Trump at his father's funeral, he felt compelled to investigate the changes that have led nationalism to be conflated with faith, and caused evangelicals to be focused on power in this world instead of justice in the next. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the evangelical movement, whether you're a believer or not.

The_Book_Ninja From the outside looking it, it seemed like Trump was messianic to the Bible Belt‘s religious right even though he‘s clearly a worshiper of himself 7mo
Decalino @The_Book_Ninja yes, it is a really difficult thing to understand. I'm not sure I ever will. 7mo
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
jlhammar
post image
Pickpick

Really well done, but what a difficult listen. Distressing and just appalling. Alberta is thoughtful and thorough so definitely worth a read if you can stomach it.

Aimeesue The whole leveraging of religion for political ends and the subsequent warping of religion is just unbelievable to me. Astonishing. 8mo
JenniferEgnor Highly recommend this podcast where they discuss this ongoing problem. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/straight-white-american-jesus/id1441649707 8mo
jlhammar @JenniferEgnor Thanks for the rec! 8mo
jlhammar @Aimeesue It really is. 8mo
Ephemera Christo-fascists 8mo
64 likes5 comments
review
HeatherBookNerd
post image
Pickpick

A fascinating and troubling look at the widening division within the American evangelical church. Journalist Tim Alberta, coming from a conservative Christian upbringing himself, shares the history of some key evangelical players. He also visits churches, conferences, and pastors around the country to investigate the distressing trend towards Christian nationalism, increasing scandal, and political power grabbing in the church. Pretty alarming.

SamAnne He had a great interview on NPR Freah Air. This has been on my list. 8mo
HeatherBookNerd @SamAnne it‘s very well done. 8mo
jlhammar I‘m listening to this right now. It really is alarming. 8mo
DocBrown Alarming, disturbing, and disappointing. All that energy that could be used for good in the world. I seem to remember a line from the Sermon on the Mount about salt losing its saltiness. 8mo
HeatherBookNerd @jlhammar @DocBrown This is precisely why I have left the evangelical churches that I spent most of my adult life in. I‘ve certainly hung onto my Faith, but I needed to be in a different church family. 8mo
39 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Suet624
post image
Pickpick

I can‘t possibly review this book adequately in the space allotted here. Alberta, a pastor‘s son and very familiar with church teachings, travels the U.S. and brings us an in-depth analysis of what the mega churches and evangelicals are preaching. It‘s fascinating, infuriating, frightening. He also outlines what some leaders are trying to do to return their churchgoers to the teachings of Jesus. Please check it out. I would suggest the audiobook.

Megabooks Great review! 9mo
Suet624 @Megabooks thanks! Your review does a better job of describing the specifics of the book. I just hope more people get their hands on it. 9mo
HettyG I read an excerpt of this book in The Atlantic, it was all the things you describe. 9mo
See All 17 Comments
sarahbarnes Wow. 9mo
Amiable I‘ve had my eye on this one —thanks for the thoughtful review. 9mo
Suet624 @HettyG Alberta does such a good job of making the information accessible to all, whether you are a churchgoer or not. It was also stunning (and scary) to see in one chapter the model of Putinism turned into Trumpism in the evangelical church. I don‘t think people realize just how much certain individuals want to remove the idea of democracy and have done that through the church. 9mo
Suet624 @Amiable if I could put the book in your hands I would. 😊 it‘s worth the read. 9mo
Amiable @Suet624 The problem is that I‘ve grown numb to books that are shouting out all the warnings. The people who are already alarmed are reading them, but the people who SHOULD read them are not. And I‘m also in a constant state of incredulity that our country has gotten to a state where we even need the incessant warnings in the first place. 9mo
Suet624 @Amiable I completely understand. What I found interesting was learning about all the people in the church who are trying to open the eyes of those who have been affected by the virus of hate and us vs. them. It‘s been a difficult task but I think they are making a difference in some churches. 9mo
sarahbarnes I don‘t know if I have the stomach for this. Great review. 9mo
Suet624 @sarahbarnes you know what‘s best for you. 💕💕 9mo
Deblovestoread @Amiable I‘m in the same place. I‘m reading books who are “preaching to the choir” so to speak and if I put that book in someone‘s hands who should read it they won‘t because their minds are closed. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 9mo
squirrelbrain I‘ve seen so many great reviews for this, but it‘s difficult to get hold of here in the UK. I can get a physical copy, but it feels like it would work so much better on audio. 9mo
Suet624 @squirrelbrain I hope the audio becomes easier for you to find. I think it‘s definitely the way to go with this book. 9mo
Suet624 @Deblovestoread I may be overly optimistic but I just wonder if a moment comes where they see the book, read one chapter and see how they‘ve strayed from what they purportedly believe in. Some people have moved so far from the teachings of Jesus that just being reminded of that can remove a brain fog of bombast and hate. Again, maybe just a hope and not realistic on my part. 🤷🏻‍♀️All I can say is I learned a lot from this book. 9mo
Singout Thank you, that looks powerful. Something I as a sheltered leftist Canadian Christian need to learn more about as it really feeds the scary changes that are happening now. 9mo
batsy I definitely want to read this, because I'm learning that the influence of American Evangelicals is being exported in many ways and works with local conservative movements to further the usual agendas 🫤 (https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/03/19/africa-uganda-evangelicals-homophobia-antigay-bill/) 9mo
55 likes3 stack adds17 comments
review
Megabooks
post image
Pickpick

So often Christianity and Christian Nationalism are critiqued by those outside the faith, so I was pleased to read believer Alberta‘s unflinching look at a dangerous subculture. He examines the affect of MAGA and the pandemic on both followers and leaders and the perfect storm brewing for division in the country. But he also reflects on his pastor father‘s legacy, and in the final section highlights those working to improve churches. 5⭐️

Bookwormjillk Ohh that sounds good 9mo
AmyG Excellent book. Great audiobook. 9mo
JamieArc He‘s going to be giving a talk at a local bookstore soon. I should make sure not to miss it. 9mo
See All 8 Comments
Megabooks @JamieArc I‘m jealous, and I really think you should go. I‘d be interested in your perspective as an exvangelical. 9mo
Megabooks @AmyG 💯💯💯 9mo
Megabooks @Bookwormjillk it was so good!! 9mo
Suet624 So good. Just finished. 9mo
Megabooks @Suet624 glad you enjoyed it! 9mo
82 likes3 stack adds8 comments
review
CRR
post image
Pickpick

Really good book that looked into and explained some of the extremism in the historic evangelical church in America. It was difficult to read because of the uncomfortable truths that it exposed. I wish that many in the American church would read and receive this important message. I hope that I can receive it in my own heart too. Merry Christmas.

AmyG This was an excellent book. Laid everything out, was easy to understand. A bit frightening. I listened to it and it was a great audiobook. 9mo
JenniferEgnor Read The Power Worshippers by Katherine Stewart. Scary and infuriating. 9mo
CaitlinR Put it in hold after seeing the author on the PBS News Hour. Looking forward to reading. Thanks for the review. 9mo
CRR @JenniferEgnor I will check it out. Thanks! 9mo
31 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
Christine
post image
Pickpick

If you, like me, appreciate Tim Alberta‘s journalism in The Atlantic or on TV news, I think you‘ll be riveted by this. It‘s a far-reaching analysis of the influence of Evangelical institutions/personalities on politics (and vice versa). Alberta‘s a Christian and his late dad was a prominent pastor, so it‘s insider-y. I was a bit 😳 seeing it was over 18 hrs on audio, but it was so engaging that I inhaled in just a couple of days (at 2.0 speed).

AmyG I just borrowed this audiobook. Bracing myself. 😬 10mo
Christine @AmyG I‘ll look forward to your review! It‘s rough but a bit hopeful! 10mo
Suet624 Hoopla has American Carnage. Is that worth checking out? 10mo
See All 9 Comments
AmyG @Suet624 I‘d check it out as he is a wonderful writer. 10mo
Suet624 @AmyG thanks. 10mo
Megabooks I‘m on hold for this at the library! 10mo
Christine @Suet624 What @AmyG said! I haven‘t tried it but I bet it‘s great. 10mo
Christine @Megabooks I certainly look forward to your thoughts on it! 10mo
Suet624 Thanks! 10mo
40 likes9 comments