ABSTRACT

The Christian myth is entangled with American politics, with the nation's image of its own manifest destiny. 'Christian Mentality' analyses the myths that have shaped America's collective mentality. Concepts that are taken for granted in the formation of American policy - namely power, violence and fear - are examined. The book argues that America must find an image for itself which more truly reflects its reality as a polycultural nation still struggling for social democracy. 'Christian Mentality' will be invaluable to students and scholars interested in the impact of religion on political thought.

chapter |9 pages

Introduction

part I|33 pages

Mentalities

chapter 1|7 pages

The Christian Nation

chapter 2|8 pages

The Way Myths Work

chapter 3|16 pages

The Christian Myth and Legacy

part II|83 pages

Social Issues

chapter 4|14 pages

Social Issues

chapter 6|14 pages

The Entanglements of Power

chapter 7|19 pages

The Entanglements of Violence

chapter 8|15 pages

The Entanglements of Fear

part III|57 pages

Critiques

chapter 9|15 pages

The Nation-State and Violence

chapter 10|12 pages

Parsing the Entanglements

chapter 11|23 pages

Rethinking Mentalities

chapter |5 pages

Conclusion