The Ballot & the Bible
How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here
"Buttressing her claims with impressive close analysis, Schiess sets out a nuanced look at America’s legacy of scriptural language, and readers will find especially useful her guidelines for responsible biblical interpretation when engaging in political discourse."
How do Bible passages written thousands of years ago apply to politics today? What can we learn from America's history of using the Bible in politics? How can we converse with people whose views differ from our own?
In The Ballot and the Bible, Kaitlyn Schiess explores these questions and more. She unpacks examples of how Americans have connected the Bible to politics in the past, highlighting times it was applied well and times it was egregiously misused.
Schiess combines American political history and biblical interpretation to help readers
● faithfully read Scripture
● talk with others about it
● apply it to contemporary political issues--and to their lives
“Somehow, Kaitlyn serves up rigorous academic research with illuminating insight and theologically rich wisdom, all perfectly peppered with wit. And in these pages, she is operating at the height of her powers. The Ballot and the Bible is brilliant and fascinating and about so much more than politics. This book should be required reading for hermeneutics classes, as well as anyone who teaches the Bible."
Sharon Hodde Miller, author of The Cost of Control: Why We Crave It, the Anxiety it Gives Us, and the Real Power God Promises
“Whether you lean left or lean right, whether you come from a red state, blue state, or a purple one, if you are a Christian who seeks to apply biblical principles to your political thinking, you will find something instructive, challenging, and enlightening in this book."
Karen Swallow Prior, author of The Evangelical Imagination
“The Ballot and the Bible offers keen, level-headed, and perceptive insights into the use of Scripture in our political life that will empower readers without leaving them either complacently cynical or myopically gullible. Spend time with Kaitlyn Schiess by reading this book, and you'll gain confidence in your own ability to navigate political issues.”
Michael Wear, president and CEO, Center for Christianity and Public Life, author of The Spirit of Our Politics
"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. That maxim is certainly on display in Schiess's compelling book about the use--and misuse--of the Bible in the political arena throughout US history. With accessible scholarship and wisdom, she reveals how the use of Scripture in today's polarized political environment echoes its use in previous eras. But Schiess is also careful to highlight and honor the unique contours of each generation's engagement with the Bible. This book is a must-read for every Christian who cares about the role of faith in the public square."
Skye Jethani, author of What if Jesus Was Serious?, cohost of the Holy Post podcast
