Separation of church and hate A sane person's guide to taking back the Bible from fundamentalists, fascists, and flock-fleecing frauds

Comedian Fugelsang assails the right-wing hijacking of Christianity in this potent debut call to recenter Jesus's teachings. Arguing that fundamentalists have contorted scripture to support hyperconservative viewpoints, he contends that Jesus's call for disciples to buy swords in the Gospel of Luke--which might seem to support violence--was very context specific. Elsewhere, he posits that white nationalism is expressly contradicted by Jesus's interactions with Samaritans, prostitutes, and marginalized groups, and that support for the death penalty goes against Jesus's emphasis on compassion and forgiveness. Far more relevant, he asserts, is the biblical refrain of fighting poverty and welcoming strangers--an imperative ignored by conservatives because such "inconvenient" teachings are harder to adhere to and undercut the human desire for "earthly power" that's been supercharged by right-wing politicians. While the author's potshots at Republican lawmakers ("Jesus... rejected earthly materialism, renounced the idea of revenge, and commanded us to welcome the stranger. I know, right? Just like Donald Trump") might alienate some of the readers he claims to want to reach, the author's blend of theology and humor energizes his thought-provoking talking points. Christians looking to push back against fundamentalist teachings will find plenty of ammunition in this acerbic and accessible treatise. (Aug.)

How to argue with Christian nationalists. Actor and comedian Fugelsang presents a grating screed against the Christian right. He attempts to provide liberal, modern Christians and non-Christians with biblical background that can be used in debating fundamentalist arguments, but his distinctly informal and fully subjective approach leaves the reader wincing. Most chapters of the book list various examples of scripture that can be used to counter what the author identifies as right-wing views of Christianity, usually at its most extreme. For instance, a chapter titled "Thou Shalt Not Hate Feminists" discusses various women of the Bible, how they have been negatively portrayed over time, and how they actually exemplify Jesus's teachings on equality. However, Fugelsang's antagonist is always vague. Aside from naming a smattering of Republican politicians, the author fails to identify who the target of his jeremiad really is. He uses terms like "fundamentalists," "evangelicals," "authoritarian Christians," and "Christian nationalists" interchangeably, while explaining in his introduction that, "nice conservative Christians…this book isnot about you." Fugelsang apparently writes about a straw-man "uncle" whom everyone supposedly knows and encounters now and then. Indeed, the vile and ogreish right-wing Christianity that he presents is largely a caricature that few would readily recognize. The author quotes insights from several liberal theologians but fails to pursue the same input from conservative theologians, who might at least add an air of objectivity to this work. Additionally, Fugelsang's unrelenting irreverence, flat-falling witticisms, and peppering of profanity defeat his purpose by coloring him as an unserious author. Readers looking for a measured and sober look inside Christian nationalism would be better served byThe Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta (2023) orThe False White Gospel by Jim Wallis (2024). Unserious approach to a serious subject. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.