Dreaming of Eden: American Religion and Politics in a Wired World [Hardcover]

Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 15, 2010

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were tempted to take a bite out of an apple that promised them the “knowledge of good and evil.” Today, a shiny apple with a bite out of it is the symbol of Apple Computers. The age of the Internet has speeded up human knowledge, and it also provides even more temptation to know more than may be good for us. Americans have been right at the forefront of the digital revolution, and we have felt its unsettling effects in both our religions and our politics. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite argues that we long to return to the innocence of the Garden of Eden and not be faced with countless digital choices. But returning to the innocence of Eden is dangerous in this modern age and, instead, we can become wiser about the wired world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Dreaming of Eden is a fascinating story about stories – how elemental religious narratives about human nature and lost innocence shape our politics and culture in a digital age. Rather than relying on ancient texts or church doctrine, Thistlethwaite explains how Americans today are creating a new ‘public theology’ to help find meaning in their lives and make decisions about complex political issues in a world of rapid-fire information and popular culture. Anyone interested in the intersection of religion, politics, and media will find much ‘wired wisdom’ in her new book.”--John D. Podesta, President and CEO of the Center for American Progress

“This book is a powerful and prophetic work of public theology for our idolatrous times.  The myth of American innocence is not only childish – it also is dangerous!”--Cornel West, Princeton University; author of Race Matters and Keeping Faith: Philosophy and Race in America

"The topic of Dreaming of Eden is important, and the author is a well-known theologian who has helped readers think through religio-political issues for some time. . . . The book's solid cultural contribution is the reread of the mythology of Eden through a contemporary media lens and the juxtaposition of political and social events with theological insights and media. . . . Summing up: Recommended." --CHOICE

From the Inside Flap

Cover photography © Candice Wouters / Candinski Photography

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; First Edition (US) First Printing edition (September 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 023010780X
• ISBN-13: 978-0230107809
• Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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