Description: Most Americans are aware that evangelicals consider themselves to be the most faithful Americans and yet, at the same time, see themselves as victims of persecution. Analysis of these claims has tended to focus on whether the claims are true, on how they shape voting preferences, or on their historical roots. Embattled America takes a different perspective: these claims have grown louder in the decades of democracy's discontents. Jason C. Bivins argues that the claims of Martyrs and Whistleblowers are symptoms of America's larger failings to strengthen the conditions for democratic life, and thus that rather than engaging their claims on the merits, concerned citizens should reassess fundamental democratic norms as part of a broader challenge to embolden American citizenship and institutions.
Review Quotes: "His book offers much to contemplate about the position of Evangelicals in contemporary American politics." -- B. Weston, CHOICE
"Jason Bivins charges into the America's religious wars and finds something precious and unexpected: Shared hopes and expectations about democratic life. Embattled America pushes beyond the grievance and the outrage and reaches, instead, for a richer idea of citizenship. Bivins makes an urgent, thoughtful, creative, eloquent, fascinating appeal for real community in our parlous times." -- James A Morone, author of Hellfire Nation: The Politics of Sin in American History"Through expert attention to the complex interplay of religion, nationalism, and politics, Jason Bivins delivers a compelling and intellectually rich interpretation of the historical and contemporary conundrums of American democracy that have repeatedly challenged scholars. This is surely essential reading for understanding the most urgent issues shaping religion and American culture." -- Sylvester Johnson, Professor and Director of the Center for Humanities, Virginia Tech