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Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith
A timely and galvanizing work that examines how right-wing evangelical Christians have veered from an admirable faith to a pernicious, destructive ideology.
Today's right-wing Evangelical Christianity stands as the very antithesis of the message of Jesus Christ. In his new book, Christians Against Christianity, best-selling author and religious scholar Obery M. Hendricks Jr. challenges right-wing evangelicals on the terrain of their own religious claims, exposing the falsehoods, contradictions, and misuses of the Bible that are embedded in their rabid homophobia, their poorly veiled racism and demonizing of immigrants and Muslims, and their ungodly alliance with big business against the interests of American workers.
He scathingly indicts the religious leaders who helped facilitate the rise of the notoriously unchristian Donald Trump, likening them to the "court jesters" and hypocritical priestly sycophants of bygone eras who unquestioningly supported their sovereigns' every act, no matter how hateful or destructive to those they were supposed to serve.
In the wake of the deadly insurrectionist attack on the US Capitol, Christians Against Christianity is a clarion call to stand up to the hypocrisy of the evangelical Right, as well as a guide for Christians to return their faith to the life-affirming message that Jesus brought and died for. What Hendricks offers is a provocative diagnosis, an urgent warning that right-wing evangelicals' aspirations for Christian nationalist supremacy are a looming threat, not only to Christian decency but to democracy itself. What they offer to America is anything but good news.
Today's right-wing Evangelical Christianity stands as the very antithesis of the message of Jesus Christ. In his new book, Christians Against Christianity, best-selling author and religious scholar Obery M. Hendricks Jr. challenges right-wing evangelicals on the terrain of their own religious claims, exposing the falsehoods, contradictions, and misuses of the Bible that are embedded in their rabid homophobia, their poorly veiled racism and demonizing of immigrants and Muslims, and their ungodly alliance with big business against the interests of American workers.
He scathingly indicts the religious leaders who helped facilitate the rise of the notoriously unchristian Donald Trump, likening them to the "court jesters" and hypocritical priestly sycophants of bygone eras who unquestioningly supported their sovereigns' every act, no matter how hateful or destructive to those they were supposed to serve.
In the wake of the deadly insurrectionist attack on the US Capitol, Christians Against Christianity is a clarion call to stand up to the hypocrisy of the evangelical Right, as well as a guide for Christians to return their faith to the life-affirming message that Jesus brought and died for. What Hendricks offers is a provocative diagnosis, an urgent warning that right-wing evangelicals' aspirations for Christian nationalist supremacy are a looming threat, not only to Christian decency but to democracy itself. What they offer to America is anything but good news.
204 pages, Hardcover
First published July 6, 2021
150 people are currently reading
2588 people want to read
About the author
Obery M. Hendricks Jr.
5 books50 followersA former Wall Street investment executive, professional musician, and competitive martial artist, Obery Hendricks is the immediate past president of Payne Theological Seminary, the oldest African American seminary in the United States. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Professor of Biblical Studies at New York Theological Seminary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
December 25, 2022
Written by a Christian leader, he uses the Bible against the far-right bigots and self-righteous of today; most notably, the Trump cult. A great read, even for this atheist.
Christians: challenge yourself and read this book. May your eyes be opened to the verses about the fatherless, the foreigner in your land, feeding the poor, sharing your goods, sheltering the homeless, showing mercy, engaging in social justice, and self-sacrifice.
Christians: challenge yourself and read this book. May your eyes be opened to the verses about the fatherless, the foreigner in your land, feeding the poor, sharing your goods, sheltering the homeless, showing mercy, engaging in social justice, and self-sacrifice.
August 20, 2021
So much good here that needed to be said. I do wish I liked the tone. It feels like I've just watched a speech of someone yelling for forty five minutes. But it needed to be said. I fear it won't be the book that makes many right wing evangelicals listen. I would love a civil debate about some of his positions he tried to defend biblically, but on the whole, it needed to be said. What Christians have to finally figure out is that we serve, not a donkey or an elephant, but a lamb.
April 6, 2022
As a follower of Jesus, I am personally finding myself baffled at so many of my Christian friends who seem odd to me, at odds with me, are people I no longer seem to know due to their current beliefs and behaviors. I just did not recognize them any longer! I did not understand why they would not get the Covid vaccines, or wear masks for Covid protection for them as well as my elder-self. I could not wrap my head around why they voted for Trump. And when I wrote a post on my blog about loving the "one anothers" and what that meant (for me) as well as how I saw Jesus teaching this, I was even more struck by the responses to my post by a number of these friends. They did not see eye-to-eye. They disagreed, spoke against that and were rather silent when I asked about Jesus teaching about these other people. Instead, it felt like they were placing a timber inside of my eye. OH! How naive I am!!
So I chose this book (along with a couple of others) in order to try to understand just what was going on. This great book has so much detail and answers to my many WHY and HOW and WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING questions. I learned of deeply embedded, long-time-coming changes to the Christian landscape. There are groups and individuals who so wanted to direct the Christian narrative and they have literally done just that. I became disgusted with people and groups that I listened to because of how they taught and what they said, yet they had underlying agendas that totally went over and under my head! Now I am angry that I fell into their ministries. I have been known to be naive and obviously still am.
If you are questioning your own beliefs in today's Christianity, or about the behavior and words of your friends, please read this. It has given me a base from which to move forward in my own life, as well as to assist in the way I look upon my world. I am still a follower of Jesus yet barely feel I can call myself a "Christian" in the sense that I once knew. So I no longer do! I am not ashamed of the gospel but am ashamed of the way I have fallen into traps of others' makings.
So I chose this book (along with a couple of others) in order to try to understand just what was going on. This great book has so much detail and answers to my many WHY and HOW and WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING questions. I learned of deeply embedded, long-time-coming changes to the Christian landscape. There are groups and individuals who so wanted to direct the Christian narrative and they have literally done just that. I became disgusted with people and groups that I listened to because of how they taught and what they said, yet they had underlying agendas that totally went over and under my head! Now I am angry that I fell into their ministries. I have been known to be naive and obviously still am.
If you are questioning your own beliefs in today's Christianity, or about the behavior and words of your friends, please read this. It has given me a base from which to move forward in my own life, as well as to assist in the way I look upon my world. I am still a follower of Jesus yet barely feel I can call myself a "Christian" in the sense that I once knew. So I no longer do! I am not ashamed of the gospel but am ashamed of the way I have fallen into traps of others' makings.
July 8, 2021
The synopsis alone is riddled with extremist misinformation (e.g. "deadly insurrection at the capitol" which was only deadly for one "insurrectionist"), so I'm confident that the actual book is just as fallacious and fanatical.
And at the end of the day, these kinds of debates are (one of the reasons) why Jesus left us a visible, authoritative Church rather than leaving us to our own interpretations of "the gospel."
And at the end of the day, these kinds of debates are (one of the reasons) why Jesus left us a visible, authoritative Church rather than leaving us to our own interpretations of "the gospel."
November 30, 2021
Simply brilliant. I too am a Christian against this type of Christianity. Dr. Hendricks lays out the history of white evangelical Christianity, which is steeped in white supremacy. This is an important book for all Christians, especially those who are tired of having the faith hijacked by those who claim to love others but are so full of hate. Read this book, be challenged by this book, and may we, with God’s help, be better.
October 2, 2025
Phenomenal. I learned so much and many of the concepts in this book I will be thinking about for a long time. While this was written in 2021, it was a timely read for our current moment.
August 25, 2022
Written by Obery Henricks Jr., he gives us a glimpse into how the religious right-wing evangelicals have been misusing, or misinterpreting Christianity into their own cause. When Trump came into office, it seemed like many Evangelical started to worship him as the savior of Christ, and Hendricks aims to deconstruct the image they have projected to the public. Throughout the book, he explains passages that have been taken out of context and others that are misinterpreted by many today. One main passage that he feels many are strongly lacking in many followers is the one about loving thy neighbor as their own. Reading further, it becomes clear that many don't follow that line at all, nor feel like the Bible has any huge influence in their own moral beliefs despite their hypocritical preaches of living and following Christ.
After the author's remarks about many are extremely prejudice of their non-Christian neighbors, he goes into how current Evangelicalism views controversial topics such as immigrants, homosexuality, gun rights, abortion, and corporate control. Many of which, reveals very unflattering look into how twisted the religion has become since the dawn of the 20th century. If anything, it reveals a high cult-like mind everyone has that sounds like it can come from a horror movie. Especially if it's true on the portion about how preachers and members bless their rifles as if they were holding a baptism. It becomes clear that this group is not following God's way, as the author claims, but using the Bible to influence others to go their way of self-interest. Henricks pointed out many fallacies and ill translations of the ancient text, when it came to followers using the Bible's words to spread hate and stripping humanity of non-believers. He also notes the hypocrisy many share when it comes towards immigrants, gun laws, and unflattering views on the issue of children out of wedlocks.
I am not an Evangelical, picking up this book because I believe similarly to how the author feels towards the religious groups in the current state of affairs. He writes straightforwardly, making it easy for even other secular readers to pick this up without too much issue on the religious texts. Yet, at times, the material can be dry, but it's clear is voice in the words are of disappointment and anger at the degradation of the Christian faith. If there's one thing he proves through this, is that religion has become a tool to promote crooked political ideologies now rather than a practice of faith. Hendricks ends with optimism that some will be able to change their ways when re-thinking what the Bible actually says, but that many will remain forever stuck in the cult of the extreme right-wing that will always leave Christianity with a bad taste. This book is a perfect insight into the mind of religious right-wings and how their blind faith in Trump also destroys any meaning of Christ's words.
After the author's remarks about many are extremely prejudice of their non-Christian neighbors, he goes into how current Evangelicalism views controversial topics such as immigrants, homosexuality, gun rights, abortion, and corporate control. Many of which, reveals very unflattering look into how twisted the religion has become since the dawn of the 20th century. If anything, it reveals a high cult-like mind everyone has that sounds like it can come from a horror movie. Especially if it's true on the portion about how preachers and members bless their rifles as if they were holding a baptism. It becomes clear that this group is not following God's way, as the author claims, but using the Bible to influence others to go their way of self-interest. Henricks pointed out many fallacies and ill translations of the ancient text, when it came to followers using the Bible's words to spread hate and stripping humanity of non-believers. He also notes the hypocrisy many share when it comes towards immigrants, gun laws, and unflattering views on the issue of children out of wedlocks.
I am not an Evangelical, picking up this book because I believe similarly to how the author feels towards the religious groups in the current state of affairs. He writes straightforwardly, making it easy for even other secular readers to pick this up without too much issue on the religious texts. Yet, at times, the material can be dry, but it's clear is voice in the words are of disappointment and anger at the degradation of the Christian faith. If there's one thing he proves through this, is that religion has become a tool to promote crooked political ideologies now rather than a practice of faith. Hendricks ends with optimism that some will be able to change their ways when re-thinking what the Bible actually says, but that many will remain forever stuck in the cult of the extreme right-wing that will always leave Christianity with a bad taste. This book is a perfect insight into the mind of religious right-wings and how their blind faith in Trump also destroys any meaning of Christ's words.
August 27, 2022
I grew up evangelical and have been so frustrated by the “leaders” of the movement. This book is a summation of all that is wrong, but I appreciated the glimmer of hope offered by Hendricks at the end, “Yet, although the masses of right wing evangelicals embrace what is terribly wrong, I believe that many among them are sincerely wrong; that is to say that they are sincere about their faith but have been woefully misled in its application.”
December 18, 2021
Evangelical Christianity has become a cancer that is ruining our country. Dr. Hendricks explains how it has lost its way and is nothing like Jesus anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2021
Hendricks is not shy in this scathing evaluation of right-wing evangelical Christianity. Lest we be unclear as to his feelings, he freely expresses his horror at what Christianity in America has become at the hands of the loud right-wing voices. A travesty, he writes. A mockery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (35/2935)
Hendricks writes as a faithful believer in the gospel. He centers his book on the importance of the biblical values he sees at the core of our gospel witness: the command to love your neighbor as yourself and Jesus' parable of the sheep and goats. He reminds us how the teachings of Jesus can be ignored when there is a quest for political dominance. He reminds us of the many commands for social justice in the Old Testament. (Read Jeremiah 22:16, for example.)
Evangelicals will no doubt be offended at Hendricks' call for humane treatment of same sex couples and reminding them of the biblical commands to extend hospitality to immigrants. And his exploration of abortion, specifically his review of Numbers 5:27, may shock some.
This book is certainly worth every evangelical's attention. Hendricks clearly distinguishes biblical Christianity from the right-wing Christianity we see in America today. He reveals the ties to the NRA and big business, and how right-wing evangelicals are promoting their agendas. He exposes their greater concern for protecting wealth than for helping those in need.
This book is eye opening and disturbing. Hendricks suggests there is a spirit of antichrist today that has allowed the ungodly assaults on the peace and well-being of American society. He hopes right-wing evangelicals will admit to and repent of the political and moral carnage they have helped wreak and evidence a return to biblical Christianity.
Christians who have been dismayed by the recent actions of right-wing evangelicals will love this book and all of its well footnoted information. Right-wing evangelicals will, no doubt, ignore Hendricks' prophetic voice.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Hendricks writes as a faithful believer in the gospel. He centers his book on the importance of the biblical values he sees at the core of our gospel witness: the command to love your neighbor as yourself and Jesus' parable of the sheep and goats. He reminds us how the teachings of Jesus can be ignored when there is a quest for political dominance. He reminds us of the many commands for social justice in the Old Testament. (Read Jeremiah 22:16, for example.)
Evangelicals will no doubt be offended at Hendricks' call for humane treatment of same sex couples and reminding them of the biblical commands to extend hospitality to immigrants. And his exploration of abortion, specifically his review of Numbers 5:27, may shock some.
This book is certainly worth every evangelical's attention. Hendricks clearly distinguishes biblical Christianity from the right-wing Christianity we see in America today. He reveals the ties to the NRA and big business, and how right-wing evangelicals are promoting their agendas. He exposes their greater concern for protecting wealth than for helping those in need.
This book is eye opening and disturbing. Hendricks suggests there is a spirit of antichrist today that has allowed the ungodly assaults on the peace and well-being of American society. He hopes right-wing evangelicals will admit to and repent of the political and moral carnage they have helped wreak and evidence a return to biblical Christianity.
Christians who have been dismayed by the recent actions of right-wing evangelicals will love this book and all of its well footnoted information. Right-wing evangelicals will, no doubt, ignore Hendricks' prophetic voice.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
July 5, 2023
I have been searching for a book like this. Evangelical Christianity and its pernicious ideology has all but destroyed my faith in the religion as a whole. This book uses scripture to support a more open and ethical view of some very controversial topics: gay marriage, abortion and women’s rights, universal healthcare and other social programs, unions, immigration, racism and more. It was so uplifting and encouraging. It has not answered all of my questions about faith, but it has helped in its restoration.
January 24, 2023
A Biblical takedown of Trump? Sign me up. I had been saying for years that his policies didn’t like up with my Christian beliefs, so it is validating to see this in it in print. (Side note- he wrote it in December 2020, so I’d love to see what he thought about January 6.) Far right extremists of any religion are all the same- terrorists.
April 22, 2023
Sad to realize just how far we’ve gotten away from the true meaning of Christianity. Very eye opening book.
August 15, 2022
I listened to the Audible Audiobook version.
Evangelical Christians are something of a monolith in American politics. Look at any poll or study, or even your own personal experience, and they basically act as one cohesive unit. Or so I thought, until I read this book. Obery Hendricks Jr. provides an alternative vision for what he believes Evangelical Christianity should be striving for in this country, but he laments the toxic turn that the movement has taken over the last half century and in particular, during the last Presidential administration.
With each chapter, Hendricks picks apart the typical arguments of mainstream Evangelical political thought with the bible itself. He covers the most contentious topics in American politics like gay rights, abortion, firearms ownership, and assistance to the poor and demonstrates how the bible should be able to properly guide people in acceptance of what are considered "left wing" or "liberal" stances on these topics today. In his view, the words of the bible have been twisted and perverted into something that is the antithesis of his entire faith. He even explicitly states that the spirit of anti-Christ is present in the modern day Evangelical Christian movement.
There are several interesting things that I've realized while reading Christians Against Christianity. Firstly, Hendricks is, unfortunately, in a rather tiny minority within his faith. And while his arguments in this book seem to be very well researched and thoroughly constructed (I admit I have not actually read any version of the Christian bible) I find it unfortunate that the politicization of religion in this country decades ago means that the very people that should hear these arguments will toss them aside without a second thought.
Second, I am also one to question the legitimacy of organized religion as a force for any good if its foundational purposes, which Hendricks demonstrates should be extremely altruistic and egalitarian, can be so thoroughly corrupted into nationalism, racism, sexism, and authoritarianism (while at the same time being libertarian for the particularly weird American version of Evangelical Christianity). But then that also raises the question: was this the fault of Christianity? Or of political America? My instinct is the latter, and thus the wisdom of the separation of church and state shows itself to be true once again.
And third, this has somewhat interested me in reading the bible. Perhaps I'll start with reviewing my own Jewish studies first of course but for perhaps the most important book in history, it's quite revealing how I've never really studied it at all. And while Hendricks does a great job in showing the brighter parts of the biblical text, I can't help but feel the passages are cherry picked, just as right wingers cherry pick their favorite texts to support their numerous political ambitions. I'm curious to see what an outsiders view (aka my view) of the book would be, particularly coming from a secular Jewish background in which I view both the Old and New Testament as human works of fiction designed to enforce a particular set of moral rules on European societies that were unused to the modern developments in civil society we have today.
Overall, a recommend from me for those curious about the role of the Evangelical right wing in American politics and how they got to be the force they are. It's quite dense in biblical passages and scholarly analysis of the text, which for secular people may not be super interesting, but it is a necessary piece of the puzzle of redemption that Hendricks is trying to impart on the readers of this book.
Evangelical Christians are something of a monolith in American politics. Look at any poll or study, or even your own personal experience, and they basically act as one cohesive unit. Or so I thought, until I read this book. Obery Hendricks Jr. provides an alternative vision for what he believes Evangelical Christianity should be striving for in this country, but he laments the toxic turn that the movement has taken over the last half century and in particular, during the last Presidential administration.
With each chapter, Hendricks picks apart the typical arguments of mainstream Evangelical political thought with the bible itself. He covers the most contentious topics in American politics like gay rights, abortion, firearms ownership, and assistance to the poor and demonstrates how the bible should be able to properly guide people in acceptance of what are considered "left wing" or "liberal" stances on these topics today. In his view, the words of the bible have been twisted and perverted into something that is the antithesis of his entire faith. He even explicitly states that the spirit of anti-Christ is present in the modern day Evangelical Christian movement.
There are several interesting things that I've realized while reading Christians Against Christianity. Firstly, Hendricks is, unfortunately, in a rather tiny minority within his faith. And while his arguments in this book seem to be very well researched and thoroughly constructed (I admit I have not actually read any version of the Christian bible) I find it unfortunate that the politicization of religion in this country decades ago means that the very people that should hear these arguments will toss them aside without a second thought.
Second, I am also one to question the legitimacy of organized religion as a force for any good if its foundational purposes, which Hendricks demonstrates should be extremely altruistic and egalitarian, can be so thoroughly corrupted into nationalism, racism, sexism, and authoritarianism (while at the same time being libertarian for the particularly weird American version of Evangelical Christianity). But then that also raises the question: was this the fault of Christianity? Or of political America? My instinct is the latter, and thus the wisdom of the separation of church and state shows itself to be true once again.
And third, this has somewhat interested me in reading the bible. Perhaps I'll start with reviewing my own Jewish studies first of course but for perhaps the most important book in history, it's quite revealing how I've never really studied it at all. And while Hendricks does a great job in showing the brighter parts of the biblical text, I can't help but feel the passages are cherry picked, just as right wingers cherry pick their favorite texts to support their numerous political ambitions. I'm curious to see what an outsiders view (aka my view) of the book would be, particularly coming from a secular Jewish background in which I view both the Old and New Testament as human works of fiction designed to enforce a particular set of moral rules on European societies that were unused to the modern developments in civil society we have today.
Overall, a recommend from me for those curious about the role of the Evangelical right wing in American politics and how they got to be the force they are. It's quite dense in biblical passages and scholarly analysis of the text, which for secular people may not be super interesting, but it is a necessary piece of the puzzle of redemption that Hendricks is trying to impart on the readers of this book.
February 20, 2022
Opposite side of the same coin
I thought the author did an exceptional job describing far right Christian Nationalism and how they greatly influence this country. As I’ve noticed, they’ve weaponized their Christian faith to promote a secular agenda that is godless on every level. My issue is with the author’s misrepresentation of certain biblical truths related to sinful behaviors. On several occasions he would argue “nowhere in the Bible does it specifically say…”. What he’s failed to do was to take into context words written centuries ago but rather say that because a specific 21st century word doesn’t appear in the ancient writings it is therefore exempt from biblical judgement. “Pedophilia” isn’t specifically stated in the Bible but we all accept the fact that it would be included in the term “sexual immorality”. The term “gaslighting” is a relatively new term for a behavior that has existed for as long as man has been on this earth but it too is a sin and is a violation of the command to love our neighbor as ourselves. I appreciate the passion he exudes in his writing as he calls out the hypocrisy of the Christian Right, but his disdain towards those who have been deluded and fooled by the radical right is just as reprehensible as those he is judging. He spends quite a few pages in his introduction to highlight his credentials which at first I only thought it odd. But as I read his false interpretations of the Bible on certain topics it made sense to me that he was flashing his biblical badge of authority in order to justify his position which today is seen as Christian modernism. I would still recommend this book for its view on the Christian Right but I would warn against accepting everything in it as truth.
I thought the author did an exceptional job describing far right Christian Nationalism and how they greatly influence this country. As I’ve noticed, they’ve weaponized their Christian faith to promote a secular agenda that is godless on every level. My issue is with the author’s misrepresentation of certain biblical truths related to sinful behaviors. On several occasions he would argue “nowhere in the Bible does it specifically say…”. What he’s failed to do was to take into context words written centuries ago but rather say that because a specific 21st century word doesn’t appear in the ancient writings it is therefore exempt from biblical judgement. “Pedophilia” isn’t specifically stated in the Bible but we all accept the fact that it would be included in the term “sexual immorality”. The term “gaslighting” is a relatively new term for a behavior that has existed for as long as man has been on this earth but it too is a sin and is a violation of the command to love our neighbor as ourselves. I appreciate the passion he exudes in his writing as he calls out the hypocrisy of the Christian Right, but his disdain towards those who have been deluded and fooled by the radical right is just as reprehensible as those he is judging. He spends quite a few pages in his introduction to highlight his credentials which at first I only thought it odd. But as I read his false interpretations of the Bible on certain topics it made sense to me that he was flashing his biblical badge of authority in order to justify his position which today is seen as Christian modernism. I would still recommend this book for its view on the Christian Right but I would warn against accepting everything in it as truth.
March 1, 2023
As someone revisiting their faith, this book was quite the read to see a challenge to how Christianity has twisted and become its current version of itself in modern America.
It was a slow start at first, and I wondered despite my interest in the topic, if I would be able to cling on and keep reading. And I wound up doing exactly that. The author dissects the evolution of the evangelical movement in the year, going way back to set the scene, and how certain issues such as abortion were not previously of priority until it can be used as a tool. Each chapter dedicates itself to the issues the evangelical movement aligns itself today such as abortion, LGBT rights, guns, and big business - as well as its entrenched connection to white supremacy.
Once I got really into the book, I couldn't put it down. What I appreciated most about the book was Hendricks' efforts to clarify the meanings of the Bible passages often cited in these movements of hate - and stressing how translation and cultural context of the time it is written and translated, can affect the meaning. And if someone has an agenda they want to spread, that meaning would be twisted.
The book made me want more as well as to spend more time analyzing the text of the Bible. It was disheartening to read the break down of how people will use this faith to spread hate, but reading the actual Scripture passages and its breakdown restored some hope - that this is a faith of social justice and love.
It was a slow start at first, and I wondered despite my interest in the topic, if I would be able to cling on and keep reading. And I wound up doing exactly that. The author dissects the evolution of the evangelical movement in the year, going way back to set the scene, and how certain issues such as abortion were not previously of priority until it can be used as a tool. Each chapter dedicates itself to the issues the evangelical movement aligns itself today such as abortion, LGBT rights, guns, and big business - as well as its entrenched connection to white supremacy.
Once I got really into the book, I couldn't put it down. What I appreciated most about the book was Hendricks' efforts to clarify the meanings of the Bible passages often cited in these movements of hate - and stressing how translation and cultural context of the time it is written and translated, can affect the meaning. And if someone has an agenda they want to spread, that meaning would be twisted.
The book made me want more as well as to spend more time analyzing the text of the Bible. It was disheartening to read the break down of how people will use this faith to spread hate, but reading the actual Scripture passages and its breakdown restored some hope - that this is a faith of social justice and love.
February 5, 2023
it was okay
Overall there were some salient points about why right-wing evangelicalism is misrepresenting aspects of the faith, and I think that was good to cultivate an understanding of. However, I do think a lot of this book was written with a thesis first; and then a scramble to find supporting scripture afterwords, or at a bare minimum, an attitude of “you can’t interpret that verse *this* way, because I interpret it differently.” A kind of struggle to only interpret translations in supportive ways. I also want to state for the record that both right AND left wing groups do this, so that isn’t unique to this book.
I think it’s worth a read to decide what you think for yourself.
Overall there were some salient points about why right-wing evangelicalism is misrepresenting aspects of the faith, and I think that was good to cultivate an understanding of. However, I do think a lot of this book was written with a thesis first; and then a scramble to find supporting scripture afterwords, or at a bare minimum, an attitude of “you can’t interpret that verse *this* way, because I interpret it differently.” A kind of struggle to only interpret translations in supportive ways. I also want to state for the record that both right AND left wing groups do this, so that isn’t unique to this book.
I think it’s worth a read to decide what you think for yourself.
January 8, 2023
If you're a Christian who is disgusted by the far right's behavior and rhetoric over the past few years, you're not alone. Obery does a great job of pointing out the far right's hypocrisy as he shares the true message of the gospel: love thy neighbor. The most inspiring read of 2022.
December 1, 2024
I finished this book in just two days—not because it was a great read, but because it was like watching a train wreck: so awful, yet impossible to look away. I found myself reading for hours, highlighting passages, cross-referencing them with my Bible app, and searching the internet to examine the original sources the author cited.
I knew things were off to a poor start when, in the introduction, the author relied on the logical fallacy of appealing to authority—his own authority, not biblical authority—to assert the correctness of his views.
Over the years, I've read a wide range of theological books, and one thing stands out: most authors humbly acknowledge their fallibility. They emphasize their reliance on Scripture to interpret Scripture and often encourage readers to critically evaluate their work in light of God's authority.
Not this author. Instead of inviting dialogue or reflection, he confidently claims to have all the answers.
It doesn't take long to realize the author's understanding of Scripture is fundamentally flawed. Discussing the parable of the workers in the vineyard, he writes, "…in which desperate landless workers are totally subject to the whims of a rich landowner (Matthew 20:1–16)." This interpretation is completely incorrect. Later, he further reveals his ignorance with this astonishing claim: "Hebrews were not an ethnicity per se. Rather, they were an oppressed class that had little in common but their humanity and the depth of their suffering."
The author's most egregious error, and clear demonstration of theological ignorance, appears in this troubling statement: "Yet the unassailable reality is that, as with Christianity, the vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving worshippers of the same God of Abraham as Christians." This assertion fundamentally misunderstands core Christian doctrine. While both faiths trace their lineage to Abraham, Reformed Christian theology emphatically maintains that Allah and Yahweh are not the same deity. The Christian God is understood through the essential doctrine of the Trinity and Christ's divinity—both explicitly rejected by Islam. Moreover, the very nature and character of God differ dramatically between the faiths, with the Christian understanding of God's unconditional love standing in stark contrast to the Islamic concept of Allah's conditional favor. This theological error undermines the author's credibility and reveals a concerning lack of understanding of fundamental Christian beliefs.
Early in the book, the author reveals his true intentions by launching into an attack on then-former President Trump and his supporters. From that moment, it becomes evident that the book will not be grounded in objective analysis. Instead, it twists Scripture, misinterprets passages, highlights extreme examples of non-Christian behavior while attributing them to Christians, and disregards historical context—all to support a narrative framing Trump as a Nazi and his voters, particularly Christians, as white supremacists. Fortunately, the 2024 election provided a clear demonstration that these fear-mongering tactics were ineffective.
A striking example of the author's bias is his claim that Republican Christians are essentially indistinguishable from the KKK. Conveniently, he neglects to mention that the KKK was founded by Democrats, while Abraham Lincoln—the president who abolished slavery—was a Republican.
While trying to dismiss "right-wing" Christians, the author unwittingly undermines his own argument with what could be called a "self-own" in internet parlance. At one point, he cites a poll from the Barna Group, a respected Christian research organization, stating: "Higher levels of church attendance correlate with stronger levels of Trump support." Yet, anyone thinking critically might conclude that genuine Christians—those who regularly attend church, study Scripture, and meditate on the Lord—are more likely to support Trump. Conversely, pseudo-Christians or nominal Christians, lacking biblical knowledge and a desire to align with God's will, are less likely to do so.
Each chapter overflows with flawed assumptions, logical fallacies, and venomous rhetoric—an irony given the author's insistence that those he critiques are the truly hateful ones. The sheer volume of misinformation and distortion makes it exhausting to keep pace, let alone systematically refute. Brandolini’s law, also known as the bullshit asymmetry principle, aptly applies here: "The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it." With this principle in mind, it’s clear that addressing all the absurdities in this brief review would be an impossible task.
That said, I want to emphasize how poorly this relatively recent book—only three years old—has aged.
In the chapter on homosexuality, the author mocks a woman for claiming that gays were "trying to recruit our children to homosexuality." Fast forward three years, and now we have “drag queen story hours” in children’s libraries, kindergarteners exposed to books with explicit LGBTQ+ themes, and radical policies in states like California. These policies encourage confused minors to believe they were born in the wrong body, hide this information from parents, and even facilitate their “transition” to another sex—as if that were truly possible.
Another chapter is dedicated to criticizing conservatives for what the author calls their “obsession with abortion.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony: in the subsequent election, the Harris/Walz platform leaned heavily on abortion rights, while the eventual winner—Trump—centered his campaign on national security and the economy.
The chapter on the NRA is particularly amusing, albeit for unintended reasons. The author fails to construct a coherent or logical argument, leaving the chapter feeling like a muddled attack. The overarching message seems to be: guns are bad, and only bad people support them. The irony is delicious, considering Kamala Harris herself, in a desperate bid for votes, declared that both she and Tim Walz are gun owners—and even suggested that anyone breaking into her home would be shot. A sentiment the book’s author vehemently condemns. Oh, the irony indeed.
Of course, the cherry on top is the Epilogue, which the author titles “A Spirit of Antichrist”. This section alone could warrant a full book to address the amount of misinformation and inaccuracies presented. It is important to remember that what the author refers to as “right-wing” Christianity is essentially Reformed Protestantism, with its roots in the 16th century. The author’s version of Christianity is “Progressive Christianity”, which emerged in the 20th century. Early pioneers like Harry Emerson Fosdick and Walter Rauschenbusch championed a faith focused on both personal salvation and social justice, addressing issues like poverty, racism, and inequality.
This stands in contrast to the Reformed faith and the Five Solas:
- Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
- Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
- Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
- Solus Christus (Christ Alone)
- Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)
Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.
I pray that God will illuminate the author and grant him repentance and salvation for His glory alone.
I knew things were off to a poor start when, in the introduction, the author relied on the logical fallacy of appealing to authority—his own authority, not biblical authority—to assert the correctness of his views.
Over the years, I've read a wide range of theological books, and one thing stands out: most authors humbly acknowledge their fallibility. They emphasize their reliance on Scripture to interpret Scripture and often encourage readers to critically evaluate their work in light of God's authority.
Not this author. Instead of inviting dialogue or reflection, he confidently claims to have all the answers.
It doesn't take long to realize the author's understanding of Scripture is fundamentally flawed. Discussing the parable of the workers in the vineyard, he writes, "…in which desperate landless workers are totally subject to the whims of a rich landowner (Matthew 20:1–16)." This interpretation is completely incorrect. Later, he further reveals his ignorance with this astonishing claim: "Hebrews were not an ethnicity per se. Rather, they were an oppressed class that had little in common but their humanity and the depth of their suffering."
The author's most egregious error, and clear demonstration of theological ignorance, appears in this troubling statement: "Yet the unassailable reality is that, as with Christianity, the vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving worshippers of the same God of Abraham as Christians." This assertion fundamentally misunderstands core Christian doctrine. While both faiths trace their lineage to Abraham, Reformed Christian theology emphatically maintains that Allah and Yahweh are not the same deity. The Christian God is understood through the essential doctrine of the Trinity and Christ's divinity—both explicitly rejected by Islam. Moreover, the very nature and character of God differ dramatically between the faiths, with the Christian understanding of God's unconditional love standing in stark contrast to the Islamic concept of Allah's conditional favor. This theological error undermines the author's credibility and reveals a concerning lack of understanding of fundamental Christian beliefs.
Early in the book, the author reveals his true intentions by launching into an attack on then-former President Trump and his supporters. From that moment, it becomes evident that the book will not be grounded in objective analysis. Instead, it twists Scripture, misinterprets passages, highlights extreme examples of non-Christian behavior while attributing them to Christians, and disregards historical context—all to support a narrative framing Trump as a Nazi and his voters, particularly Christians, as white supremacists. Fortunately, the 2024 election provided a clear demonstration that these fear-mongering tactics were ineffective.
A striking example of the author's bias is his claim that Republican Christians are essentially indistinguishable from the KKK. Conveniently, he neglects to mention that the KKK was founded by Democrats, while Abraham Lincoln—the president who abolished slavery—was a Republican.
While trying to dismiss "right-wing" Christians, the author unwittingly undermines his own argument with what could be called a "self-own" in internet parlance. At one point, he cites a poll from the Barna Group, a respected Christian research organization, stating: "Higher levels of church attendance correlate with stronger levels of Trump support." Yet, anyone thinking critically might conclude that genuine Christians—those who regularly attend church, study Scripture, and meditate on the Lord—are more likely to support Trump. Conversely, pseudo-Christians or nominal Christians, lacking biblical knowledge and a desire to align with God's will, are less likely to do so.
Each chapter overflows with flawed assumptions, logical fallacies, and venomous rhetoric—an irony given the author's insistence that those he critiques are the truly hateful ones. The sheer volume of misinformation and distortion makes it exhausting to keep pace, let alone systematically refute. Brandolini’s law, also known as the bullshit asymmetry principle, aptly applies here: "The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it." With this principle in mind, it’s clear that addressing all the absurdities in this brief review would be an impossible task.
That said, I want to emphasize how poorly this relatively recent book—only three years old—has aged.
In the chapter on homosexuality, the author mocks a woman for claiming that gays were "trying to recruit our children to homosexuality." Fast forward three years, and now we have “drag queen story hours” in children’s libraries, kindergarteners exposed to books with explicit LGBTQ+ themes, and radical policies in states like California. These policies encourage confused minors to believe they were born in the wrong body, hide this information from parents, and even facilitate their “transition” to another sex—as if that were truly possible.
Another chapter is dedicated to criticizing conservatives for what the author calls their “obsession with abortion.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony: in the subsequent election, the Harris/Walz platform leaned heavily on abortion rights, while the eventual winner—Trump—centered his campaign on national security and the economy.
The chapter on the NRA is particularly amusing, albeit for unintended reasons. The author fails to construct a coherent or logical argument, leaving the chapter feeling like a muddled attack. The overarching message seems to be: guns are bad, and only bad people support them. The irony is delicious, considering Kamala Harris herself, in a desperate bid for votes, declared that both she and Tim Walz are gun owners—and even suggested that anyone breaking into her home would be shot. A sentiment the book’s author vehemently condemns. Oh, the irony indeed.
Of course, the cherry on top is the Epilogue, which the author titles “A Spirit of Antichrist”. This section alone could warrant a full book to address the amount of misinformation and inaccuracies presented. It is important to remember that what the author refers to as “right-wing” Christianity is essentially Reformed Protestantism, with its roots in the 16th century. The author’s version of Christianity is “Progressive Christianity”, which emerged in the 20th century. Early pioneers like Harry Emerson Fosdick and Walter Rauschenbusch championed a faith focused on both personal salvation and social justice, addressing issues like poverty, racism, and inequality.
This stands in contrast to the Reformed faith and the Five Solas:
- Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
- Sola Fide (Faith Alone)
- Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)
- Solus Christus (Christ Alone)
- Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)
Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone.
I pray that God will illuminate the author and grant him repentance and salvation for His glory alone.
February 28, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I agree with pretty much everything Dr. Hendricks says. He lays out in meticulous detail the myriad ways in which right-wing evangelicals have traded the gospel of Christ for political power. The arguments are compelling and anchored in insightful historical analysis. It’s hard not to feel that the greatest obstacle to the message of Christ is those who claim to represent it. Hendricks makes a powerful argument that that is the case.
On the other hand, I doubt this is going to be the book to convince anyone they’re wrong. As nice as it is to see all of my feelings validated, I’m not sure this will be widely read by anyone who doesn’t already agree with the author. For example, the title of this book is so extreme that it immediately alienates most of the people who might actually benefit from reading it. Throughout the tone is caustic and rather uncharitable.
But I also cannot claim to understand the extent of the authors own experiences and hurt at the hands of the church. As I write this I sort of feel like the byline for this review could read “young white man says old Black man is ‘too mad’ about racism, injustice, and hypocrisy - needs to ‘take it down a notch.’” Probably not the tone I want to convey.
Last, I can’t shake the feeling that rather than an objective analysis, Hendricks formed his opinions before performing his biblical interpretation. Now, that does not mean he’s wrong - I think his interpretations are faithful and (mostly) correct. But I wouldn’t necessarily trust him to inform the reader of interpretations that might run counter to his arguments.
Overall what’s in this book needed to be said , and I’m glad it was- “such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded” - but unfortunately, I think it will fall upon deaf ears.
On the other hand, I doubt this is going to be the book to convince anyone they’re wrong. As nice as it is to see all of my feelings validated, I’m not sure this will be widely read by anyone who doesn’t already agree with the author. For example, the title of this book is so extreme that it immediately alienates most of the people who might actually benefit from reading it. Throughout the tone is caustic and rather uncharitable.
But I also cannot claim to understand the extent of the authors own experiences and hurt at the hands of the church. As I write this I sort of feel like the byline for this review could read “young white man says old Black man is ‘too mad’ about racism, injustice, and hypocrisy - needs to ‘take it down a notch.’” Probably not the tone I want to convey.
Last, I can’t shake the feeling that rather than an objective analysis, Hendricks formed his opinions before performing his biblical interpretation. Now, that does not mean he’s wrong - I think his interpretations are faithful and (mostly) correct. But I wouldn’t necessarily trust him to inform the reader of interpretations that might run counter to his arguments.
Overall what’s in this book needed to be said , and I’m glad it was- “such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded” - but unfortunately, I think it will fall upon deaf ears.
March 31, 2024
I liked it, but then I agree with the book title that right wingers are destroying our nation, or at least making it worse and not very Christ-like.
I was raised Protestant Non-Denominational, then was Pentecostal but didn't feel it was a good fit, wasn't really comfortable. Then I became Non-Denominational again but latched onto the term Evangelical because I thought it meant that I felt it was important to share my faith here and there when reasonable, not to shove it down people's throats, just not to hide the fact I pray and feel God hears my prayers, etc. Now because of Trump, Evangelicals have pretty much come to mean Trump supporters and I don't want to be associated with such a divisive, hateful, cowardly, lying, underhanded, misogynistic person. He's repellant imho. Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I already agreed with the book title more or less and wanted to read more.
According to this book I do have some views similar to that of Trump Evangelicals and I find that disturbing. I think the reminders that Jesus was welcoming, comforting, giving are necessary. There is too much of an Us vs. Them mentality. I have some of that going on and it's something I need to work on because I don't feel it's what Jesus would do or think.
This book is a good one to make you think and to remind you of the meat of the bible, to love God with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Doesn't seem like enough people are doing the latter. Just the opposite.
Worth owning and reading carefully through.
I was raised Protestant Non-Denominational, then was Pentecostal but didn't feel it was a good fit, wasn't really comfortable. Then I became Non-Denominational again but latched onto the term Evangelical because I thought it meant that I felt it was important to share my faith here and there when reasonable, not to shove it down people's throats, just not to hide the fact I pray and feel God hears my prayers, etc. Now because of Trump, Evangelicals have pretty much come to mean Trump supporters and I don't want to be associated with such a divisive, hateful, cowardly, lying, underhanded, misogynistic person. He's repellant imho. Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I already agreed with the book title more or less and wanted to read more.
According to this book I do have some views similar to that of Trump Evangelicals and I find that disturbing. I think the reminders that Jesus was welcoming, comforting, giving are necessary. There is too much of an Us vs. Them mentality. I have some of that going on and it's something I need to work on because I don't feel it's what Jesus would do or think.
This book is a good one to make you think and to remind you of the meat of the bible, to love God with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Doesn't seem like enough people are doing the latter. Just the opposite.
Worth owning and reading carefully through.
November 19, 2023
This book did a great job breaking down common right wing evangelical ideas/talking points and explaining how they aren’t actually biblically based. Reading this was a healing experience as someone who grew up in evangelical circles and is now reckoning with a lot of the theology/ideology. Similar vibes to Jesus and John Wayne.
July 10, 2024
Very strong in parts, disappointing in a few parts. Good exegesis mixed with questionable work in my opinion. Excellent warning call for evangelicals and a rightful indictment of a large number of people who claim Christ.
June 17, 2024
My review echoes that of the 4-5 star reviews already present on this app.
Read
September 24, 2025disheartening to see a faith rooted in love and truth and compassion weaponised to serve the selfish gain of those in power
November 25, 2024
Gave it 1 star because I couldn't give it a lower score. Hendricks is a prime example of someone who has a Very Serious case of TDS (Trump derangement syndrome).
Please pray for him because he wrote this book in 2021. I fear for his mental health now that Trump has been reelected.
In the book he often states that we are to love, then proceeds to vilify those who don't agree with him.
His interpretation of many scriptures is Seriously flawed. It's like he has already arrived at a conclusion, then finds scriptures that can be 'interpreted' to 'support' his conclusion.
Please pray for him because he wrote this book in 2021. I fear for his mental health now that Trump has been reelected.
In the book he often states that we are to love, then proceeds to vilify those who don't agree with him.
His interpretation of many scriptures is Seriously flawed. It's like he has already arrived at a conclusion, then finds scriptures that can be 'interpreted' to 'support' his conclusion.
September 5, 2021
This is a considered and studious presentation of biblical analysis and social commentary outlining why modern-day Evangelicals in America have long-since lost the mission. Hendricks uses scripture and history to show how the tenets of Christianity are have been bastardized and how the scripture itself is being twisted to unchristian ends.
The problem is that no matter how much scholarship and criticism and etymology he uses, his reading of the Bible isn't any more convincing than the evangelicals'. Everybody argues over what the Bible really means and inevitably concludes that it means exactly what they want it to mean. Whether what they want comes from an interest in human happiness and the common good or self-interest and manipulation is immaterial when they don't answer the question of why we should be paying attention to this specific book in the first place.
Take the chapter on homosexuality. Hendricks exhaustively analyzes those particular portions of the Bible that others use to condemn it and concludes that the Bible does not condemn it at all. In fact, by looking at the words in their original language, they're probably not talking about homosexuals at all. That's all great. Remind me again why we need the Bible at all to help us conclude that LGBT people deserve respect and the right to be who they are?
If the Bible literally said "Kill gay people on sight they are so gross, I'm totally serious you guys" would we be having a different conversation? Would Obery Hendricks be saying "Yup, Bible says kill the gays"? I don't think so. I believe he'd be finding a way to read around that or explain it away. Because Obery Hendricks is a good person.
This is a massive oversimplification, but I do not believe that religion makes people good or bad. On the whole, people's nature is defined by their experiences, community, upbringing, biology, etc. I believe religion acts as a conduit for people to channel their nature into a vocabulary they can use to express it. It's also an excellent way to pass values on. Good people will use religion to justify being good, and bad people will use religion as a tool to justify being a dick. So to say "The Bible says this, therefore..." is not the way to change anyone's mind.
If you have accepted that the Bible is the holy book for you, then you will probably find this book excellent. Hendricks really knows his stuff, and he seems like a lovely, brilliant, and amazing man. But if you don't, these parts are merely a curiosity. You already know that right-wing American evangelicals and prosperity preachers are trash, and I don't believe it's religion or "misreading" the Bible that made them that way. Bad ideas, fear, greed, and hatred have infected large portions of our population, but evangelical Christianity isn't the root cause of it -- just a symptom and a vector for transmission.
The problem is that no matter how much scholarship and criticism and etymology he uses, his reading of the Bible isn't any more convincing than the evangelicals'. Everybody argues over what the Bible really means and inevitably concludes that it means exactly what they want it to mean. Whether what they want comes from an interest in human happiness and the common good or self-interest and manipulation is immaterial when they don't answer the question of why we should be paying attention to this specific book in the first place.
Take the chapter on homosexuality. Hendricks exhaustively analyzes those particular portions of the Bible that others use to condemn it and concludes that the Bible does not condemn it at all. In fact, by looking at the words in their original language, they're probably not talking about homosexuals at all. That's all great. Remind me again why we need the Bible at all to help us conclude that LGBT people deserve respect and the right to be who they are?
If the Bible literally said "Kill gay people on sight they are so gross, I'm totally serious you guys" would we be having a different conversation? Would Obery Hendricks be saying "Yup, Bible says kill the gays"? I don't think so. I believe he'd be finding a way to read around that or explain it away. Because Obery Hendricks is a good person.
This is a massive oversimplification, but I do not believe that religion makes people good or bad. On the whole, people's nature is defined by their experiences, community, upbringing, biology, etc. I believe religion acts as a conduit for people to channel their nature into a vocabulary they can use to express it. It's also an excellent way to pass values on. Good people will use religion to justify being good, and bad people will use religion as a tool to justify being a dick. So to say "The Bible says this, therefore..." is not the way to change anyone's mind.
If you have accepted that the Bible is the holy book for you, then you will probably find this book excellent. Hendricks really knows his stuff, and he seems like a lovely, brilliant, and amazing man. But if you don't, these parts are merely a curiosity. You already know that right-wing American evangelicals and prosperity preachers are trash, and I don't believe it's religion or "misreading" the Bible that made them that way. Bad ideas, fear, greed, and hatred have infected large portions of our population, but evangelical Christianity isn't the root cause of it -- just a symptom and a vector for transmission.
January 8, 2022
This book was not written to change right-wing evangelicals' minds. At the end of the day, most of us are going to consume things that already affirm our biases and validate what we think we already know. Hell, that's why I read this book and that's why the Christians who say "hate the sin, love the sinner" act outraged when they're called homophobic.
Christians Against Christianity was written for two audiences. The first is Christians who have at any point since 2015 asked "why the fuck are the people who proclaim to follow The Prince of Peace supporting a candidate that calls for Muslim bans, kids in cages, and pussy grabbing?" The second audience is Christians who are at a point in their spiritual life where they want to truly confront Biblical text and interpretations against political narratives.
If you are part of the latter group, I highly encourage you to read Red State Christians by Angela Denker first. Not only does Denker nail the message, her delivery is a bit more palatable. As soon as you're done with Red State Christians, pick up this book. Hendricks does not mess around. He is very clearly a brilliant scholar with verses and context to spare, but he also is not a fan of right-wing evangelicals and does not pull punches in asserting so. If you are sensitive and view yourself through the lens of political party rather than Christianity, this book will send you right back into your biased comfort zone.
A few of my favorite takeaways:
- "These Christians cry bitter tears for the unjust execution of Jesus two thousand years ago, but have few tears for the injustice visited daily upon those among us for whom Jesus expressed great love: the desperately poor, the sick and vulnerable, the refugees struggling to find a better life for the babies at their breasts." (Reviewer's note: Told you he doesn't pull punches. This is from page 2.)
- "In May 2019, the Pew Research Center reported that support for Trump by evangelicals remained extremely high, with seven out of ten approving of him. How can this be? The answer should be obvious to anyone who has paid attention to current events: it is the result of successful shilling for Trump by a cadre of influential evangelical leaders who seem to have decided that the teachings of Jesus can be ignored when those teachings get in the way of their quest to dominate American society." (Reviewer's note: This is also from page 2. Hendricks did not come to play.)
- All of chapter six. I have struggled with my views on abortion and have never encountered such a Biblically sound approach until now. At the very least, it is thought-provoking.
Christians Against Christianity was written for two audiences. The first is Christians who have at any point since 2015 asked "why the fuck are the people who proclaim to follow The Prince of Peace supporting a candidate that calls for Muslim bans, kids in cages, and pussy grabbing?" The second audience is Christians who are at a point in their spiritual life where they want to truly confront Biblical text and interpretations against political narratives.
If you are part of the latter group, I highly encourage you to read Red State Christians by Angela Denker first. Not only does Denker nail the message, her delivery is a bit more palatable. As soon as you're done with Red State Christians, pick up this book. Hendricks does not mess around. He is very clearly a brilliant scholar with verses and context to spare, but he also is not a fan of right-wing evangelicals and does not pull punches in asserting so. If you are sensitive and view yourself through the lens of political party rather than Christianity, this book will send you right back into your biased comfort zone.
A few of my favorite takeaways:
- "These Christians cry bitter tears for the unjust execution of Jesus two thousand years ago, but have few tears for the injustice visited daily upon those among us for whom Jesus expressed great love: the desperately poor, the sick and vulnerable, the refugees struggling to find a better life for the babies at their breasts." (Reviewer's note: Told you he doesn't pull punches. This is from page 2.)
- "In May 2019, the Pew Research Center reported that support for Trump by evangelicals remained extremely high, with seven out of ten approving of him. How can this be? The answer should be obvious to anyone who has paid attention to current events: it is the result of successful shilling for Trump by a cadre of influential evangelical leaders who seem to have decided that the teachings of Jesus can be ignored when those teachings get in the way of their quest to dominate American society." (Reviewer's note: This is also from page 2. Hendricks did not come to play.)
- All of chapter six. I have struggled with my views on abortion and have never encountered such a Biblically sound approach until now. At the very least, it is thought-provoking.
January 21, 2023
I agree with about 50% of the authors views. I was expecting a more moderate view but this is very left leaning. He often cites the lack of VERY SPECIFIC evidence as evidence to the contrary in the cases of abortion and homosexuality. He also claims at one point that Jesus contradicted himself which in his specific example could not be supported in the loosest of terms.
At one point he claims to not take a particular side but then berates only a singular side and supports the other...
I had the urge to throw this book away multiple times and only my belief that knowing other people's opinions regardless of whether we agree with them kept me from that.
I do respect the authors efforts to ensure the reader knows his opinions as opposed to what the Bible says, but on the other hand i think the author took vast liberties in interpreting the Bible in a self-validating way which is exactly what he correctly accuses the Right-Wing Evangelicals of doing.
At one point he claims to not take a particular side but then berates only a singular side and supports the other...
I had the urge to throw this book away multiple times and only my belief that knowing other people's opinions regardless of whether we agree with them kept me from that.
I do respect the authors efforts to ensure the reader knows his opinions as opposed to what the Bible says, but on the other hand i think the author took vast liberties in interpreting the Bible in a self-validating way which is exactly what he correctly accuses the Right-Wing Evangelicals of doing.
January 5, 2022
He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Mark, Chapter 7, Verse 6-8
Both an amazing and readable work on apologetics and history, Obery Hendricks clearly synthesizes the origins of right-wing evangelicalism, how it used to be a pioneer of social progress, and has been perverted to the point of opposing Christian theology. Many of the points in the book will be ones that many liberation theologists have seen before, but Hendricks backs it up with both historical and biblical sources to refute errant thinking by some evangelicals. Written in the time of Covid and Trump, it is an important read.
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Mark, Chapter 7, Verse 6-8
Both an amazing and readable work on apologetics and history, Obery Hendricks clearly synthesizes the origins of right-wing evangelicalism, how it used to be a pioneer of social progress, and has been perverted to the point of opposing Christian theology. Many of the points in the book will be ones that many liberation theologists have seen before, but Hendricks backs it up with both historical and biblical sources to refute errant thinking by some evangelicals. Written in the time of Covid and Trump, it is an important read.
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