The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here

Kaitlyn Schiess

Oct 2023 · Christian Audio · Narrated by Kaitlyn Schiess

About this audiobook

"A nuanced look at America's legacy of scriptural language." -Publishers Weekly (starred review) 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 listeners faithfully read Scripture, talk with others about it, and apply it to contemporary political issues-and to their lives. Rather than prescribing what listeners should think about specific hot-button issues, Schiess outlines core biblical themes around power, allegiance, national identity, and more. Listeners will be encouraged to pursue a biblical basis for their political engagement with compassion and confidence.

About the author

Kaitlyn Schiess is a writer, speaker, and theologian. She is the author of The Liturgy of Politics and is a regular cohost on the Holy Post podcast with Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Christ and Pop Culture, Relevant, and Sojourners.