You Shall Be as Gods: Pagans, Progressives, and the Rise of the Woke Gnostic Left

by Erick Erickson

Our country doesn’t have a partisan problem, a political problem, a social problem, or an economic problem. We have a spiritual problem.What in the world is happening? To many Americans, it feels as if reality itself has been turned upside down. Speaking truth, or even suggesting such a thing exists, is labeled as oppression and cause for social banning. Judeo-Christian values once taken for granted are not only routinely ignored, but openly attacked. Why is America being fundamentally transformed before our eyes?As Christianity has been pushed aside, the Progressive Left has developed a new pagan religion complete with all the creeds, confessionals, sacraments and mantras, liturgies, shunnings, sacred books, redemptive rituals, and priests and priestesses. But the radical roots of the new secular religion are ancient. We’ve seen it all before. In You Shall Be as Gods, Erick Erickson traces the religion’s roots from Paganism and Gnosticism through the Age of Enlightenment all the way into the Postmodernism of the 21st century. At the heart of the ancient religion is a self-centered culture.The Christian church today has been weakened by compromising with the neo-pagan religion, leaving the faithful confused and ill-prepared to counter the claims of society’s present-day doctrine. Yet there remains a significant remnant, perhaps even a silent majority, in America that refuses to bow to the rising belief system.Just as in Rome and countless societies throughout history, the religions present two opposing stories of reality which necessitates conflict. In an era where the “Christian thing” to do seems to be to go along and get along, Erickson makes clear that the two cultures cannot peacefully coexist and calls the reader to speak the truth in love.

Genres: Book Club

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Mark Youngkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erick Erickson has written another winning book - this one a warning about the dangers of liberalism. But it's more than a scathing polemic against the ideology of the woke Left, although it certainly is that. It is an ultimately hopeful reminder that God's people can successfully navigate the perils of our culture and ultimately show that, in the words of the Veggie Tales videos, that God's way is the best way. Highly recommended.

[Paul Engstrom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy, just reading the subtitle "Pagans, Progressives, and the Rise of the Woke Gnostic Left", I should have know what I was getting into. I could not finish it. Too much twisted religious dogma, so out of touch with a loving God, in an effort to spread hate and intolerance. He has defined his version of Christianity not as a way to know God through Christ but as a political and cultural weapon against those who do not share his far right beliefs.

[John Schmitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erickson is spot on with this analysis of today’s post Christian culture. The rise of this new Gnosticism is a rerun of what has attacked the Christian church for 2000 years. The secular progressive world has its own religion with the rituals of protest and sacraments of wokism, abortion and dei. A true Christian worldview, however, shows us the path to eternity and how to view and deal with a broken world. Erickson points to the real Truth- and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

[Park Frost · Rating 1 out of 5]

the US: literally founded on religious freedom with no official religion
this book: THIS COUNTRY ISN’T BEING RUN AS A CHRISTIAN NATION AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIAN AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND TERRIFYING

this book is BANANAS & anyone reading this drivel and nodding along needs to go to the looney bin to get shock therapy til they can accept that other ppl exist.

[Gay Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gives the reader an in-depth historical background and provides numerous examples of the continuous conflicts between Democrats and Republicans in the USA. He emphasizes the fact that although spiritual warfare is unseen, it's absolutely real.

[J.K. Brandau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erick Erickson astutely and profoundly delivers what the book jacket states. “Our country doesn’t have a partisan problem, a political problem, a social problem, or an economic problem. We have a spiritual problem.”

[Jim Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erickson explores the intersection of politics, culture, and the Christian faith. Erick provided some insight on where the secular left has been and is going, and what we of the Christian faith should (and should not) do about it. Good insights for this chaotic election season. Every Christian should read this book!