The Political Teachings of Jesus [Hardcover]

Tod Lindberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 12, 2007

A leading conservative thinker explores the political principles of Christ's life and teachings as revealed in the New Testament - and their implications for the modern American political landscape. Drawing on the words of Jesus, on the stories of his interactions within the society of his times, and upon his parables, Lindberg's account offers a bold yet sophisticated portrait of Jesus as a political leader of unique insight and perception. He illustrates how Christ's principles were fundamental in the formation of the modern democratic ideal. And, most provocatively, he shows how the basic principles of liberalism, as well as conservative thought, can be traced back to the example of Jesus. "The Political Teachings of Jesus" could be the most influential - and most hotly debated-book of this political year, as America looks forward from the Bush Administration to the 2008 election and an electorate increasingly preoccupied with the question What Would Jesus Do?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Jesusian politics dare to propose a world without enemies...This book makes one think again, and more deeply.” (—Michael Novak, author of Washington's God )

“Lindberg offers a clear, careful, and exciting analysis of Jesus’s political teachings.” (E.J. Dionne, author of Why American's Hate Politics )

“You will never read the Bible or hear a sermon the same way after reading The Political Teachings of Jesus.” (--Anne-Marie Slaughter, author of The Idea That Is America )

“Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, independent, or even an agnostic, you will appreciate this book for its fairness and thoughtfulness.” (—Paul Kengor, author of God and Ronald Reagan )

“Tod Lindberg has given us a plausible, this-worldly Jesus...It’s a significant achievement--bold, thoughtful, and beautifully written.” (—Andrew Ferguson, author of Land of Lincoln )

“A fascinating analysis...” (—Norman Podhoretz, author of The Prophets )

From the Back Cover

Since the beginning of the Christian era, people have used the words and ideas of Jesus to justify all manner of political action. Despite these repeated attempts, however, few have been able to move past the rhetoric and understand the true nature of Jesus's political views. Now, in The Political Teachings of Jesus, longtime political analyst and commentator Tod Lindberg goes beyond political punditry to address how Jesus's words and teachings-once a radical set of ideas-have come to define our concept of government and our vision for society. With nuanced prose, Lindberg draws a crucial distinction between Christ's religious and political teachings, presenting a detailed discussion of the world transformation that Jesus sought through his words, stories, and sayings. Guiding readers through the social and political dialogue of the Gospels, Lindberg expertly analyzes how Jesus's principles of universal freedom and equality have combined in our social order to become the unacknowledged bedrock of the modern world. In addition, he offers a provocative look at the role that Jesus's words have played in the formation of the modern democratic ideal, demonstrating how the basic principles of both liberal and conservative thought find common roots in the Christian messiah's words. Through close reading of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus's parables, Lindberg offers a sophisticated portrait of Jesus as a teacher of unique insight and perception, one whose political views have transcended time and become essential to the way everyone lives in our society. In an era when people on both sides of the aisle are prone to using Jesus's beliefs for their own ends, The Political Teachings of Jesus is a refreshingly clear-eyed take on our shared concepts of government and society-and their common roots between the covers of the New Testament. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; 1ST edition (June 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060898631
• ISBN-13: 978-0060898632
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,507,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am not christian...I am not religious...., August 26, 2007

By 

Caslon (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Political Teachings of Jesus (Hardcover)

Before I write this review, I want to say that I am not christian...I am not religious....I do not believe in god, divinity, heaven, life after death...doing good on earth and getting rewarded in heaven. My car is plastered with anti-religious stickers.

I found this book a truly amazing examination of the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. This book examines what Jesus says minus all the divinity stuff. Just focusing on and examining what guide lines he gave for living on earth ...and motivated only by rewards that could be gotten here on earth.

The basis of the message is "Treat others as you would have them treat you." But this book examines what he was saying in the Beatitudes (totally new understanding for me..I have never heard this is Sunday School), how far do you have to go in turning the other cheek, etc.

I highly recommend this book, especially for non-christian, non-religious people like me.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Quest for a Political Jesus?, October 9, 2007

By 

Alex Tang "the reader" (Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Political Teachings of Jesus (Hardcover)

Todd Lindberg is a political analyst and research fellow at the Hover Institution, Stanford University and editor of the prestigious Policy Review. In his new book, Lindberg wants to examine whether it is possible to separate the political teachings of Jesus from his religious teachings. He is upset with the fact that everyone in the USAmerican political scene is quoting Jesus, left, right and centre to support their political views.

Lingberg's thesis is simple: It is possible to separate the political and religious views of Jesus. The basis of the political teachings of Jesus is the Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." He called this the `Jesusian' teachings as opposed to his religious or Christian teachings. The Jesusian teachings are about living with one another. A Jesusian society will be one in which there is freedom (within limits) and all men are equal (with limits). This freedom and equality are governed by the Golden Rule. According to Lingberg, the foundations of many of the varieties of democracy we are living in are the results of the Jesusian teaching.

He examined the political teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, the Four Gospels and in Jesus' parables. This is an interesting approach to Jesus' teaching. However, I wonder whether it is possible delineate so clearly the political teachings of Jesus from his religious teachings. Lingberg struggled in defining the Kingdom of heaven and the need for a king. He also has problems fitting the miracles that Jesus performed into his Jesusian teachings. However, it does bring out the important point that Jesus' teachings is not so much for the hereafter as how we are to live with one another in the here and now.

There is an ongoing Quest for a historical Jesus. I hope this is not the start of a Quest for a Political Jesus.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional!, September 19, 2007

By 

Henry Kadoch "Spacecase" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Political Teachings of Jesus (Hardcover)

In this exceptional book, Lindberg clearly articulates our Judeo-Christian cultural/political heritage; what it means, where it came from, and more importantly, it illustrates where and why this heritage is so very different from others. A more thorough debunking of the PC myth of cultural/political equivalence I cannot imagine.