The Religion of Whiteness

How Racism Distorts Christian Faith

By: Michael O. Emerson, Glenn E. Bracey II

Narrated by: Tom Parks

Recent years have seen a growing recognition of the role that White Christian Nationalism plays in American society. As White Christian Nationalism has become a major force, and as racial and religious attitudes become increasingly aligned among whites-for example, the more likely you are to say that the decline of white people as a share of the population is "bad for society," the more likely you are to believe the government should support religious values-it has become reasonable to wonder which of the adjectives in the phrase "White Christian Nationalism" takes precedence.

In this book, Michael O. Emerson and Glenn E. Bracey II respond definitively: the answer is "white." The majority of white Christians in America, they argue, are believers in a "Religion of Whiteness" that shapes their faith, their politics, and more. The Religion of Whiteness, they argue, raises the perpetuation of racial inequality to a level of spiritual commitment that rivals followers' commitment to Christianity itself.

Using national survey data, in-depth interviews, and focus group results gathered over several years, Emerson and Bracey show how the Religion of Whiteness shapes the practice of Christianity for millions of Americans—and what can be done to confront it.

©2024 Oxford University Press (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

How to understand the religion of whiteness more clearly

This book did a wonderful job of opening my eyes to the religion of whiteness in America, a multicultural nation. It illustrates how specific people of the white world view God/Jesus as equally white and then how people of other races must adopt this view to have a true understanding of God. With this perception, it describes how racism still permeates American culture and religion. We must find a method of erasing the religion of whiteness within our nation to come together as One with much less prejudice.

Im Glad They're Doing The Work

Well argued, well compiled and extensive. These men are adept at their explanations. My one issue is that I don't subscribe to the assertion that whiteness is a distortion on top of genuine Christianity, but instead an ethnocentric distortion within European Christianity itself that we have seen replicated in nearly all of the denominations throughout the last 700 years. Besides that, I'm on board with everything else said, 9/10.

Insightful

This book gave information that put a lot of things about this country in perspective.

White Trump supporters are bad and racist biased book

I am African-American, and this book was insulting to my intelligence. The book even says that Black people, practice or religion of whiteness so long as Black people are not wealth, weed distribution or anti-capitalist it’s such a critical race theory book where the definition of racism is changed.
The book basically takes Democratic principals of the current Democratic Party and says if people don’t believe in them, then they are racist. It doesn’t require that people believe that there is some kind of difference genetics. It has nothing to do with the actual definition of racism. It has a new definition of racism and stuff white Christians into that definition , the new definition of racism is anyone who supports Trump it this book was bad. I don’t like Trump. I’m black, but this book was bad.

So helpful for this brown Christian!

I Had Dr Emerson in an elective in a religion and society class around 1995-1996. Have read his book Divided By Faith. This book adds conceptual hooks to several articles that have floated around the room of my mind for years.
Growing up an adopted kid in nearly all white spaces (including wonderful adoptive parents ) I have wondered how even they as good Christians could espouse so many racist views. That have and love their brown sons. But this book helps you see the spiritual investment that many good Christian white folk have invested in the ROW.

The Authors spend lots of the book laying out their sociological research but it is their summary and applications in the last 45 minutes of the audiobook which really came alive for me. Though it was not the focus of their work, and I am seeing this more and more, it seems like at least one antidote (maybe the only?) to the stories being told by ROW will be new, different, authentic and truthful stories that the victims of the ROW start getting empowered to tell.

This book is helpful for those who have been gaslighted by folk both lay and professional in the church and other para-church organizations who ?un-knowingly practice the ROW. It is written not to weaponize but maybe more to help people who have suffered to help then see they (we) are not crazy.

Thanks to these authors !