Church Power Politics

For too long the Religious Right has masqueraded as a social movement preoccupied with a number of cultural issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage. In her deeply reported investigation, Katherine Stewart reveals a disturbing truth: this is a political movement that seeks to gain power and to impose its vision on all of society. America’s religious nationalists aren’t just fighting a culture war, they are waging a political war on the norms and institutions of American democracy.

Sword & Cross is a fearless investigation into the real history of the Catholic Church — a story not of pure faith, but of power, politics, and profit. From the first-century gatherings of frightened disciples to the towering cathedrals of medieval Europe, from the Council of Nicaea to the Vatican Bank, this book traces how Christianity was transformed into one of the most powerful institutions in human history. Scripture itself was shaped and edited to reinforce authority, demand obedience, and secure wealth. Councils and concordats turned theology into policy, while inquisitions and ...

An urgent call for Christians everywhere to explore the nature of the kingdom amid the political upheaval of our day. Should Christians be politically withdrawn, avoiding participation in politics to maintain their prophetic voice and to keep from being used as political pawns? Or should...

For more than 25 years John Thavis held one of the most fascinating journalistic jobs in the world: reporting on the inner workings of the Vatican. His daily exposure to the power, politics, and personalities in the seat of Roman Catholicism gave him a unique, behind-the-scenes perspective on an institution that is far less monolithic and unified than it first appears. Thavis reveals Vatican City as a place where Curia cardinals fight private wars, scandals threaten to undermine papal authority, and reverence for the past is continually upended by the practical considerations of modern life.

In the Closet of the Vatican is a fascinating description and evaluation of financial, sexual and political misconduct throughout the Catholic Church at a time when new revelations are being uncovered each and every week. This audiobook explores the underlying causes and includes interviews with numerous Cardinals and other individuals, some of whom cannot be named. Martel reveals financial scandals in the Vatican bank; political collusion with unsavoury regimes, including Castro’s Cuba and Pinochet’s Chile; sexual abuse and hypocrisy over homosexuality.

Americans have been leaving their churches. Some drift away. Some stay home. And some have been searching for—and finding—more authentic ways to find and follow Jesus. This is the story of one such “radical outpost of Jesus followers” dedicated to service, the Sermon on the Mount, and working toward justice for all in this life, not just salvation for some in the next. Part of a little-known yet influential movement at the edge of American evangelicalism, Philadelphia’s Circle of Hope grew for forty years, planted four congregations, and then found itself in crisis.

Scott Coley exposes the inner workings of the religious right’s propaganda—and how Christians can resist it. Good evangelical Christians are Republican. It seems like it’s always been this way. That means the propaganda is working. Scott Coley trains a critical eye on the fusion of evangelicalism and right-wing politics in Ministers of Propaganda.

Former special assistant to President Trump, New York Times bestselling author, and evangelical Christian Cliff Sims shares the lessons he learned on faith, politics, and the Christian witness while working in the halls of power. American life today is consumed by politics. Even our churches are...

Mr. Beat’s The Power of Our Supreme Court is the Supreme Court book of decisions that affect the everyday lives of Americans everywhere. The real democracy of America unveiled. What does the supreme court do? Sure, people care when the court makes a big ruling, but most don’t pay attention to the court’s day-to-day decisions. In this law book, Mr. Beat takes you on a journey through our Supreme Court system, what it is, who is in it and how they got to be there while foreshadowing how it shapes our very future.

A warning and a wake-up call to learn history so we are not doomed to repeat it. A must-read for anyone who longs for a promising future for our great nation. What is wrong with America today? Is it possible that America could crumble and our democracy fail? Questions like these plague Americans...

Politics are being transformed by religion, namely in China - within the next 30 years, one-third of this potential superpower could be Christian. If this religious transformation occurs, China would be one of the largest Christian nations in the world.

In this brilliantly analytical yet personal book, nondemocratic societies are put under a microscope to reveal the mechanics of tyranny that sustain them. In exposing the inner workings of a "fear society", the authors explain why democracy is not beyond any nation's reach, why it is essential for our security, and why there is much that can be done to promote it around the world.

Jesus Inc. – A Divine Comedy/Tragedy of Faith, Power, and the Business of Belief Behind the dazzling lights, powerful sermons, and awe-inspiring worship of Old Rugged Cross Church lies something far more complex—a system. One that lifts people up, but also lets them down. That inspires, but sometimes exploits. That seeks to serve, but struggles with its own soul. Jack thought he was answering the call to ministry. Instead, he stepped into the inner workings of a multimillion-dollar megachurch—where faith meets franchise, leadership is performance art, and success is measured in ...

In the medieval town of Felsenburg, where the skies are pierced by the construction of a grand cathedral, a tale of redemption, love, and defiance awaits. Dive into the pages of Hammering at the Doors of Heaven , where Count Raimund, burdened with a lifetime of guilt, seeks absolution by commissioning the finest bronze bells—a costly pursuit for peace and eternal treasures. But can earthly riches truly cleanse a tormented soul? Amidst the echoing clang of metal and faith, two resilient souls, Emmerich, the skilled bronze worker, and Monica, a widow with young children, are drawn into a ...

The Obama administration’s overreaching and pervasive secularist policies represent the greatest government-directed assault on religious freedom in American history. So argues conservative movement leader Phyllis Schlafly and journalist George Neumayr. In No Higher Power, Schlafly and Neumayr show how Obama is waging war on our religious liberties and actively working to create one nation under him rather than one nation under God.

Sampat Pal was married at twelve, essentially illiterate. Today she leads a vigilante group fighting for women's rights: the Pink Gang. When Sheelu was arrested for stealing from a powerful politician in the notoriously crooked region of Uttar Pradesh, she was sure that she would be forced to accept a prison sentence, not least because she had alleged that she had been assaulted by a man in the politician's household.

In the shadows of medieval Europe, where colossal cathedrals touch the sky and whispers of rebellion echo beneath the stone, a gripping tale unfolds. In the Shadow of the Cathedral transports readers to a time when faith is both a weapon and refuge. After the small church of Felsenburg succumbs to flames, an ambitious bishop vows to build an architectural marvel—a towering emblem not only of God's glory but of his own unchecked power. Enter Andrew, a young, earnest assistant to the bishop, whose journey of awakening begins amidst the rising walls of stone. Within the hidden fold of those ...