Reckoning with History: Settler Colonialism, Slavery, and the Making of American Christianity

by William Yoo

259 pages, Paperback

Published January 28, 2025

Reviews

[Dan Ream · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent exploration of how and why American Christians participated in or tolerated the settler colonialism and slavery that brutalized Native Americans and African Americans over the past several centuries. Abolitionists and those who argued in defense of indigenous people are described here, but the majority of Christians who tolerated these practices-and why they did- are the focus of this excellent American history book.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If we want to understand ourselves today, we need to know what brought us here. That goes for the church as well as our personal development. Sometimes Christians would like to tell a revisionist history of Christianity in America. Yoo contends we must understand settler colonialism (seizing Indigenous lands and displacing Indigenous people) along with slavery were among the greatest forces shaping American Christianity.

Yoo relates the observations of early travelers in the U.S, looks at sermons preached, pamphlets printed, and other documents from history. He explores the merging of Protestant Christianity and American exceptionalism, the latter becoming a form of religion with its own religious documents, symbols and idols.

Yoo writes, “Reckoning with history is not for the faint of heart.” (3516/4685) It may be shocking to some readers how many theologians and preachers were adamant that slavery was God's will. If one wants to develop a more honest opinion of American Christianity, this is a valuable resource. “We cannot understand our present without Knowing our past,” (3599/4685) This book may be a little more academic in style than the layperson is used to but it worth the read.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Tim Schillinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros
- Provides a detailed tracing of white Christian nationalism throughout the European subjugation of North America
- Examines arguments both for and against the subjugation of Native and African populations across different eras of U.S. history
- Accurately dismantles common myths about American Christianity with historical evidence

Cons
- Focuses almost exclusively on Native and African subjugation, with little to no coverage of Asian or Mexican experiences
- Proposes “measures” for healing and setting the record straight. Admirable in optimism, but at times revealing a certain naivety

Favorite part
Exploring the arguments used by authoritarian leaders to justify Christian domination and subjugation of others, narratives that are often whitewashed in myths of Christian conquest.

[Keith Rhoden Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real history detailed, accessible and important.