Christian America

and the Kingdom of God

RICHARD T. HUGHESForeword by Brian McLaren

The idea of the United States as a Christian nation is a powerful, seductive,

and potentially destructive theme in American life, culture, and politics. Many

fundamentalist and evangelical leaders routinely promote this notion, and

millions of Americans simply assume the Christian character of the United

States. And yet, as Richard T. Hughes reveals in this powerful book, the bibli-

cal vision of the “kingdom of God” stands at odds with the values and actions

of an American empire that sanctions war instead of peace, promotes domi-

nance and oppression instead of reconciliation, and exalts wealth and power

instead of justice for the poor and needy.

With conviction and careful consideration, Hughes reviews the myth of

Christian America from its earliest history in the founding of the republic to the

present day. Extensively analyzing the Old and New Testaments, Hughes pro-

vides a solid, scripturally-based explanation of the kingdom of God—a king-

dom defi ned by love, peace, patience, and generosity. Throughout American

history, however, this concept has been appropriated by religious and political

leaders and distorted into a messianic nationalism that champions the United

States as God’s “chosen nation” and bears little resemblance to the teachings

of Jesus.

Pointing to a systemic biblical and theological illiteracy running rampant in the

United States, Hughes investigates the reasons why so many Americans think

of the United States as a Christian nation despite the Constitution’s outright

prohibition against establishing any national religion by law or coercion. He

traces the development of fundamentalist Christianity throughout American

history, noting especially the increased power and widespread infl uence

of fundamentalism at the dawn of the twenty-fi rst century, embodied and

enacted by the administration of President George W. Bush and America’s

reaction to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Timely and provocative, Christian America and the Kingdom of God illumi-

nates the devastating irony of a “Christian America” that so often behaves in

unchristian ways.

RICHARD T. HUGHES is Senior Fellow

in the Ernest L. Boyer Center and Dis-

tinguished Professor of Religion at Mes-

siah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania,

and author or editor of more than a

dozen books, including Myths America

Lives By and How Christian Faith Can

Sustain the Life of the Mind.

For publicity and media inquiries,

contact Michael Roux at (217) 244-4689 or

mroux@uillinois.edu.

232 PAGES. 6 x 9 INCHES.

CLOTH, 978-0-252-03285-1. $29.95

Advance praise for Christian America and the Kingdom of God

“A powerful and eloquent critique of those who would use a distorted interpretation of Christian belief to further their political agenda.”—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States: 1492 to Present

“In the fi rst rank of the many new debates regarding the nexus between ‘religion’ and ‘politics’ in America. Hughes bases his narrative on thorough research, is at home in the biblical and theological literature that informs the debates, and demonstrates a conscience for present-ing an approach that should advance the common good.”—Martin E. Marty, author of The Protestant Voice in American Pluralism

“A powerful call for truth in the muddled world that confuses Christianity and American nationalism.”—Robert N. Bellah, coauthor of Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life

www.press .u i l l ino is .edu • 13 2 5 S o u t h O a k S t r e e t • C h a m p a i g n , I L 6 18 2 0 - 6 9 0 3

www.press .u i l l ino is .edu • 13 2 5 S o u t h O a k S t r e e t • C h a m p a i g n , I L 6 18 2 0 - 6 9 0 3

More advance praise for Richard T. Hughes’s

Christian America and the Kingdom of God

“Hughes’s deep historical learning and his trenchant analysis

of current events demand close attention. Those who think

that the United States is a distinctly Christian nation and

those who are sure it is not will both read this book with great

profi t.”

—Mark A. Noll, author of God and Race in American Politics:

A Short History

“With relevant analysis and restrained passion, Hughes

employs both the Bible and American history to dismantle the

politically dangerous idea of a Christian America. Few have

written on this topic with as much intelligence and authority

as he.”

—Diana Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us

and A People’s History of Christianity

“With passion and compelling evidence, this superb book

shows the clear difference between the kingdom of God and

the kingdom of America.”

—Donald B. Kraybill, author of The Upside-Down Kingdom

“With roots in the Churches of Christ—a tradition that takes

the Bible with great seriousness—Hughes knows his New

Testament and tells those who place fl ags above their Bibles

that the kingdom of God salutes no fl ag.”

—Robert M. Randolph, Chaplain, Massachusetts Institute of

Technology

“Meticulously researched, brilliantly reasoned, and carefully

written, this book is grounded in the prophetic peace-and-

justice values of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.

Timeless in theme and timely in need.”

—Dr. Ronald B. Sobel, Senior Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation

Emanu-El of the City of New York

“This may well be the best book ever written about American

civil religion and our peculiar penchant for fashioning a god in

Uncle Sam’s image.”

—Tony Norman, columnist and associate editor, Pittsburgh

Post-Gazette

“I am one of many who owe Hughes a debt of gratitude for

his effort to restore integrity to our religious and political life in

this important book.”

—Parker J. Palmer, author of The Courage to Teach: Explor-

ing the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life

“A vigorous, penetrating, and compelling analysis of how we

got where we are with a mistaken sense of U.S. identity, this

book will be immensely instructive as we sort out the recent

binge of religious self-indulgence and return to the reality of

life in the world.”

—Walter Brueggemann, author of The Prophetic Imagination

“With peerless research into both biblical and historical

sources, Hughes dispels the myth of America as a ‘Chris-

tian nation.’ Hughes is persuasive and lucid; his arguments

deserve a wide hearing.”

—Randall Balmer, author of Thy Kingdom Come: How the

Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America

“Since many Americans claim we are a Christian nation,

they stand self-indicted, and in this powerful and persuasive

book, Hughes argues that they have indicted their country as

well as themselves.”

—John Dominic Crossan, author of God and Empire: Jesus

Against Rome, Then and Now

“The biblical vision of the kingdom of God is characterized

by peace and justice, not greed, violence, and war. As a

black Christian who has wrestled with these issues for more

than fi fty years, I fi nd this to be an exceptional book.”

—John M. Perkins, President, John M. Perkins Foundation

for Reconciliation and Development, Jackson, Mississippi

“We American Christians desperately need to learn the

difference between America and the Kingdom of God, and

Hughes is a master teacher on this important subject.”

—Richard J. Mouw, President and Professor of Christian

Philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary

“Every student of American religion, American history, and

American politics should read this book.”

—Jack Scott, Chancellor, California Community College

System

“An insightful, unsettling analysis of a fundamental mis-

understanding and misuse of Christian faith. In these dark

times, Hughes sheds a discerning light, reminding us that

the kingdom of God is still at hand.”

—John Neafsey, author of A Sacred Voice is Calling:

Personal Vocation and Social Conscience