Interview with the Author, David P. Gushee

American democracy is in danger from authoritarian reactionary Christianity .  
In this timely work of Christian political ethics, David P. Gushee calls us to preserve democratic norms of civil rights, rule of law, and shared governance. Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies advocates for sane, ethical, and compassionate politics in a world where many Christians are instigating discord and vying for power. Any concerned Christian will leave its pages with eyes clear to the dangers of our current form of political engagement and with insight into what democracy is truly meant to be.
 

An Interview with the Author
David P. Gushee
Describe Defending Democracy in 10 words for those who are unfamiliar with the book.
A book that describes threats to democracy caused specifically by Christians.
How do you define authoritarian reactionary Christianity?
An approach to public life in which deeply conservative and traditionalist Christians, reacting with fierce negativity to contemporary social changes that they dislike, and growing frustrated with their lack of success in reversing these changes by means of normal Christian mission or normal democratic politics, become attracted to politicians and strategies that undermine or set aside democracy in order to achieve their goals.
How is this term distinct from Christian nationalism?
The current use of the term Christian nationalism is specific to the US setting, and it means “a commitment to a vision of American civic life and polity as closely intertwined with an identitarian, politically conservative strain of Christianity” (Whitehead and Perry). I think this phenomenon is real, but that my term authoritarian reactionary Christianity applies to more national settings, highlights the motivational power of a reactionary posture, and emphasizes anti-democratic political strategies.
What path forward is there for Christianity and democracy in the United States?
Christians need a more nuanced and thoughtful response to social change, because not all of them are negative. In embracing a blanket reactionary posture, for example, on race, Christians violate biblical norms. Christians also need to be reminded of why many Christians of the past were fierce defenders of democracy. We need to retrieve the pro-democratic practices and convictions of our own forebears in faith.
Who do you envision reading Defending Democracy and what do you hope readers take away?
I think that my book should be of wide interest to those who see the seduction of many Christians away from democracy, and are wanting to put language to what is going on and to have resources to resist this trend. I have tried to write the book in an accessible way so it is not just for specialists. I also hope the book will be read internationally, as I write about events in several countries, not just the US.
Can you share a couple of book recommendations? Books that are like Defending Democracy, some of your personal favorites, etc?
I suggest that readers take up three other current books — Andrew Whitehead, American Idolatry, Brad Onishi, Preparing for War, and Robert Jones, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy. All explore issues related to what I am dealing with in the democracy book.  
Could you share a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know?
I bet readers don’t know how much I love baseball, and that when I was 12 years old my Vienna, Virginia All-Star team was just a few games away from the Little League World Series!
What books are you currently reading? For work or for fun.
My wife and I run a classic book club, and we just finished a book by Balzac, called Eugenie Grandet. On the non-fiction side, I am reading political philosophy right now and just finished working through Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes.
 


Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies is available for preorder as a hardcover or eBook. Order a copy for yourself from Amazon , Barnes and Noble , Christianbook , Bookshop , and more.