Jul 14, 2018 it gave me a perfect opportunity to listen to john feas believe me. On the one hand, he dedicates this book to the 19 percentto the segment of white evangelicals who at least according to exit poll data voted against trump in the presidential race. He also manages to help us understand american politics in a much clearer way. Jun 27, 2018 fea, though he has a whole other book on the subject, does give some space in believe me to asking whether or not the us was founded as a christian nation. I should have seen this coming, writes john fea in his new book, believe me. Historian john fea is not surprised, howeverand in these pages he explains how we have arrived at this unprecedented moment in american politics. Finns the woman in the window or the unreliable narrator of paula hawkinss the girl on the train. Fea is an evangelical and chair of the history department at messiah college in pennsylvania, a historian who writes about the intersection of american history, religion, politics, and academic life from his blog, no doubt appropriate preparation for writing a book of this sort. His webpage, the way of improvement leads home, is a tremendous source of some of the latest happenings in christian academic. In john feas new book believe me, he argues that the issues of fear, power, and nostalgia have been present throughout the history of white evangelicals in america and thus have contributed to the rise of donald trump as president. John fea, evangelical historian, on writing about trump youtube.
Believe me may be the most commonly used phrase in donald trumps lex. Fea carefully analyses the background to trumps victory. John fea teaches american history at messiah college. Interview with john fea, author of believe me youtube. The book then is no kneejerk response to a strange event. Jan 31, 2020 in this new episode of schenck talks bonhoeffer, rev.
Jun 19, 2018 last week i teased a forthcoming book from historian john fea believe me, the evangelical road to donald trump. And to the surprise of many, a good 80 percent of white evangelicals have believed trumpat least enough to help propel him into the white house. Jul 04, 2018 in his book, believe me, john fea my colleague at messiah college shows how trump successfully played into what he calls the playbook of the christian right. Fea, though he has a whole other book on the subject, does give some space in believe me to asking whether or not the us was founded as a christian nation. In its struggle to understand how conservative christian. The evangelical road to donald trump by john fea audio book the author, a historian at messiah college and selfidentified evangelical has written an interesting, factbased narrative showing how trumps statements in support of the religious rights historical beliefs and positions garnered him over 80% of evangelical. Library journal produces a bobsled runs worth of twists. Publishers weekly an intense, stylish psychological thriller. He is the author of was america founded as a christian nation. The evangelical road to donald trump, on the evolution of july 9, 2018.
Find out what christian leaders are saying about about john feas book. I am sure we will be among the first to have it by midjune. A historians discerning, critical take on current american politics believe me may be the most commonly used phrase i. An evangelical historians critical take on the 2016 election in believe me, john fea argues that the embrace of donald trump is the logical outcome of a longstanding evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an american past. Believe me may be the most commonly used phrase in donald trumps lexicon. History professor john fea examines the history of evangelism in america and offered his thoughts on why some conservative evangelicals. A history of the american bible society, and more on. I highly recommend this book to all who remain confounded by the. John feas book discusses evangelicals embrace of trump.
If you are part of the 81%, voted for trump and support his slogan, make american great again, please read believe me. As a historian and an evangelical christian, fea is uniquely suited to explain why some 80% of white evangelicals are trump followers. The author confesses in an afterword that she wrote and published this book decades prior to last years bestseller. He is a renowned historian, active evangelical, and the author of a new book that merges politics, religion, and history, believe me.
In believe me, fea explores donald trumps popularity among. But in another sense, fea is also writing to the remaining 81 percent, to those who decided that trump. The evangelical road to donald trump, explores the historical landscape that made the ascendancy of the 45th president possible, it also ventures beyond a. Whatever that future path looks like, believe me will continue to serve as a valuable roadmap for how evangelicals arrived with trump. As one would expect from a professional historian the book is well documented there are over 20 pages of endnotes. This book, fea says, is the story of why so many american evangelicals believe donald trump 10. John fea, evangelical historian, on writing about trump. I recently spoke to john fea about the rise of trump and his power over christian evangelicals and the christian right. The toxic mixture of fear, nostalgia, and desire for power so vividly on display in 2016 was not an aberration, fea tells us. Read believe me the evangelical road to donald trump by john fea available from rakuten kobo. As insightful as it is timely, feas believe me challenges christians to replace fear with hope, the pursuit of power with humility, and nostalgia with history. See all books authored by john fea, including why study history reflecting on the importance of the past, and the bible cause.
Historian john fea is not surprised, howeverand in believe me he explains how we have arrived at this unprecedented moment in american politics. Fea notes some of his discomfort with giving prescriptions for what now. The book is meticulously researched and grounded in historical and. Evangelical scholar and history professor john fea is on the national radar having recently published a book titled believe me. Whether about building a wall or protecting a christian heritage, the refrain has been constant. Jul 06, 2018 these ideas are at the heart of this book, and i believe that they best explain that 81 percent. He examines why trump was chosen by evangelicals over cruz, rubio and walker all had strong christian leanings they perceived trump to be a strong man who would protect them from the cultural. Jun 28, 2018 a historians discerning, critical take on current american politicsbelieve me may be the most commonly used phrase in donald trumps lexicon. Fea, history professor at messiah college in pennsylvania, has been a prolific blogger for many years. Jun 28, 2018 an evangelical historians critical take on the 2016 election in believe me, john fea argues that the embrace of donald trump is the logical outcome of a longstanding evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an american past.
On the one hand, he dedicates this book to the 19 percentto the segment of white. That brings me to another major issue with the book as a whole, which i would hope was fixed before arcs were distributed. Eerdmans, 2018, john fea continues to fight the good fight. Instead, its part of a long white evangelical tradition. I highly recommend this book to all who remain confounded by the state of faith and politics today. Fea traces the history of the christian right, as well as the long history of the interaction of christians with politics in our country. The evangelical road to donald trump 2018, featured on eerdmans facebook and twitter feeds. This week i drove to valparaiso, indiana to have lunch with religious historians heath carter and dan silliman and to conduct background interviews for one of the book chapters. John fea is professor of american history and chair of the history department at messiah college in pennsylvania.
Jun 19, 2018 sponsored by byu studiesi recently had the privilege to interview john fea. A historians discerning, critical take on current american politicsbelieve me may be the most commonly used phrase in donald trumps lexicon. The book is insightfully organized around the impulses behind white. In believe me, john fea argues that the embrace of donald trump is the logical outcome of a longstanding evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly power, and a nostalgic longing for an american past. Jun 11, 2018 as insightful as it is timely, feas believe me challenges christians to replace fear with hope, the pursuit of power with humility, and nostalgia with history. Believe me is a very important book and i hope you preorder it today. I had never heard of him, but there was enough present in those short social media posts to intrigue me.
Jun 29, 2018 j ohn fea has two intended audiences for his new book, believe me. Feas book will provide you a thoughtful opportunity to reexamine your political choices in. It contains instances of both factual inaccuracies including basic facts such as who is covered by daca and writing that is so unclear as to create a lack of certainty. A historians discerning, critical take on current american politics believe me may be the most commonly used phrase in donald trumps lexicon. Fea, an evangelical who is openly critical of trump in the book, cites religious and historical hope for a different path. An evangelical christian himself, fea argues that the embrace of trump is the logical outcome of a longstanding evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit of worldly. According to fea, on november 8, 2016, 81 percent of selfdescribed white evangelicals helped vote donald trump into the white house page 5. In believe me john fea takes evangelicalism seriously, treating it with the honest respect it deserves. John fea is a professor for the history department in the messiah college with six videos in the cspan video library. Believe me ebook by john fea 9781467450461 rakuten kobo.
But as he tested the material with students or church groups or lectures, he kept getting a variation of so what does history tell us we should do or so now what. John fea has two intended audiences for his new book, believe me. John fea phd, state university of new york at stony brook is associate professor of american history and chair of the history department at messiah college in mechanicsburg, pennsylvania. Fea intends believe me to be read by a wide audience, as it is relatively free of the. John feas timely and sobering book shows convincingly how legitimate concerns from white evangelical protestants about a rapidly. His illuminating study argues that religion and politics have long influenced each other in this country, and he traces the rise of trump as the logical outcome of a longstanding evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the pursuit. John fea on evangelicals and president trump professor john fea talked about his book, believe me. In his book, believe me, john fea my colleague at messiah college shows how trump successfully played into what he calls the playbook of the christian right. The evangelical road to donald trump eerdmans, by john fea. A selfidentified white evangelical, fea admits to feeling dismay and discouragement about the election of trump, not just because of what it means for the. Believe me, john fea 7 of 52 the stack of books beside. In believe me, john fea argues that the embrace of donald trump is the logical. Believe me 2018 is a book by john fea subtitled the evangelical road to donald trump.
Believe me, john fea 7 of 52 the stack of books beside my bed. The media, he said in a radio interview with john fredericks, who identified himself as a trump campaign operative, just want power, theyre authoritarian, theyre like nothing ive seen since, if you go back in history, to nazi germany. He is a selfdescribed evangelical, a recognized expert on the historical influence of evangelicalism in american culture, and an awardwinning author. A selfidentified white evangelical, fea admits to feeling dismay and discouragement about the election of. John fea author of believe me goodreads share book. Feas book will provide you a thoughtful opportunity to reexamine your political choices in light of your evangelical convictions. And to the surprise of many, a good 80 percent of white evangelicals have believed trumpat least enough to help propel him into the white. Fea tells why it is important to learn from history, and to see why the path that american evangelicals have taken is a dangerous road both for the witness of the. Believe me explores how we arrived at the unprecedented moment in american politics when approximately 81 percent of white evangelicals supported donald trump on his way to the white house. Westminster john knox press, 2016, which explains the way that. Join things not seens host david dault and author john fea for a live podcast recording and discussion of believe me. Jun 19, 2018 i should have seen this coming, writes john fea in his new book, believe me. J ohn fea has two intended audiences for his new book, believe me. Hear john fea speak on the evangelical road to donald trump in person.
It gave me a perfect opportunity to listen to john feas believe me. Fea is a historian who wonders how in the world his fellow white evangelical protestants wound up voting for someone so clearly immoral as donald trump for us president and at record levels. Praise for believe me for readers who enjoyed the paranoia factor in a. Fear, power, nostalgia, and the 81 percent christianity. An evangelical christian himself, fea argues that the embrace of donald trump is the logical outcome of a longstanding evangelical approach to public life defined by the politics of fear, the. And, if you are near central pa, keep an eye open as we hope to host john here at the shop talking about believe me. Sponsored by byu studiesi recently had the privilege to interview john fea. The end of believe me is a bit unusual in a history book. Trump, but also overwhelmingly vote him into office, john feas believe me is an. Jul 02, 2018 the end of believe me is a bit unusual in a history book.
608 614 1177 1624 1436 762 812 452 1618 1416 679 922 627 518 1194 139 1417 776 824 1162 546 96 1409 166 1173 60 205 1001 18 1248 212 1443