Secret Faith in the Public Square: An Argument for the Concealment of Christian Identity

by Jonathan Malesic

In this groundbreaking and provocative book, Jonathan Malesic argues that the best way for Christians to be caretakers of their tradition and to love their neighbors selflessly is to conceal their religious identity in American public life. The alternative insisting on Christianity's public visibility in politics, the marketplace, and the workplace risks severely compromising the distinctiveness of Christian identity. Delving deep into the Christian tradition, Malesic explains that keeping Christian identity secret means living fully in the world while maintaining Christian language, prayer, and liturgy in reserve. He shows how major thinkers Cyril of Jerusalem, Søren Kierkegaard, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer sought to protect Christian identity from being compromised by the public sphere. He then shows that Christians' dual responsibilities for the tradition and for the neighbor must be kept secret.

Genres: Theology

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Scott Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The central thesis of this book is, as the title suggests, an argument for Christians in the contemporary context to conceal their religious identity. It reviews some historical precedents and thinking before moving on to situating the discussion in a current social context. The central premise appears to be that the Christian faith is best experienced, not as an enhancement to current culture, but as a secret, internal motivation and guide for living in a world where cultural often runs counter theological understanding. It makes a compelling case in a society where faith and success are sometimes depicted as hand in glove and where faith can be experienced as a pathway to worldly success. This case notwithstanding, the book relies a little too heavily on a limited selection of historical precedents (Cyril, Kirkegaard and Bonhoeffer) which makes it feel perhaps less inclusive of a broader history. In addition, some of the material is very heady and may require an intellectual investment beyond what some readers are seeking. It does however raise some important points for consideration and does invite its readers to reflect on their own public embrace and expression of faith and the concurrent impacts on that experience of faith, on themselves and on society in general.

[Garth Terrelonge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't keep my interest. Wasn't as practical as I had hoped.