How Would God Vote?: Why the Bible Commands You to Be a Conservative (Hardcover)

by David Klinghoffer (Author)
Key Phrases: avodah zarah, biblical politics, drug legalization, Hebrew Bible, United States, Supreme Court (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Praise for Shattered Tablets:
“Marvelously lucid ... It weaves theological insight with the author’s reflections on living in a society (ours, alas) that has cast off the Decalogue’s authority.”
—Rod Dreher, Dallas Morning News

Praise for Why the Jews Rejected Jesus:
“Few writers on religion are as fearless as [David] Klinghoffer.”
—Esther Schor, Times Literary Supplement

Praise for The Discovery of God:
“I was simply bowled over by the beauty of David Klinghoffer’s prose and the lucidity of his expression. A fantastic achievement.”
—William F. Buckley Jr.

Praise for The Lord Will Gather Me In:
“An arresting spiritual autobiography … David Klinghoffer has issued a prophetic challenge.”
—Mark Silk, New York Times Book Review --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review
Praise for Shattered Tablets:
“Marvelously lucid ... It weaves theological insight with the author’s reflections on living in a society (ours, alas) that has cast off the Decalogue’s authority.”
—Rod Dreher, Dallas Morning News

Praise for Why the Jews Rejected Jesus:
“Few writers on religion are as fearless as [David] Klinghoffer.”
—Esther Schor, Times Literary Supplement

Praise for The Discovery of God:
“I was simply bowled over by the beauty of David Klinghoffer’s prose and the lucidity of his expression. A fantastic achievement.”
—William F. Buckley Jr.

Praise for The Lord Will Gather Me In:
“An arresting spiritual autobiography … David Klinghoffer has issued a prophetic challenge.”
—Mark Silk, New York Times Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Religion (June 3, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385515421
• ISBN-13: 978-0385515429
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #664,105 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is not a Jewish book, October 8, 2008

By	Larry Yudelson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you're looking for Jewish insights into what God wants for America, you've come to the wrong place.

Klinghoffer writes as an "Orthodox Jew," and he quotes the Talmud and traditional Jewish interpretations of the Bible.

But his worldview is derived from Christian conservatives. Rather than asking, "what does Judaism say," he asks: "What Jewish sources agree with my Christian friends?"

The result could lead well-meaning Christians to the false notions that Judaism and Christianity agree on topics that they actually don't.

He fails to let readers know when he is conveying authentic Jewish wisdom (as he does when he noted that Judaism doesn't consider life to begin until 40 days after conception) and when he is just making stuff up (as when tries to use the Hebrew phrase "Bet Av" to impose St. Paul's notion of an obedient wife (!?) on the Hebrew Bible).

So there's some truth-in-advertising problems here.

Readers prepared to read closely may be disappointed because Klinghoffer indulges in more hand-waving and ad hominem arguments than one might like. In his first three pages, he dismisses eight books at odds with his views, without showing any evidence of having read them, let alone addressing their arguments.

Ultimately, he vacillates arbitrarily between taking the Bible literally and ... not.

He ignores entire books of the Bible that don't fit his politics. (Amos, for starters.)

And his central question -- what does the Bible command? -- is at odds with Orthodox Judaism, which finds definitive interpretation of Scripture in the Talmud and its commentaries.

If you do buy this book, you owe it to yourself to pick up my rejoinder (How Would God REALLY Vote: A Jewish Rebuttal to David Klinghoffer's Conservative Polemic) as well, in which I offer deeper readings of the Torah and Talmud to make the case for voting liberal.

And then you can decide for yourself.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I Couldn't Follow His Point, August 21, 2008

By	Karen N. Brantley "knb3" (St. Louis,) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was anxious to find out what this person had to say, but couldn't really follow what he was attempting to say. I felt he was talking in circles, just like some politicians. Maybe , I just need to spend more time focusing on it.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars God would not vote at all, August 21, 2008

By	Steven Hunt - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While its true conservatives ostensibly have more beliefs that harmonize with biblical teachings than liberals please do not deceive yourself into thinking they are Gods chosen party and that their agenda is His agenda. The politics of this nation is utterly corrupt.. George Bush is not a true Christian and bears none of the fruit of a true Christian, a true Christian is to come out of the world, not to be entangled in the worlds politics. When Jesus was here He and His disciples did not try to theocracize Rome. Jesus did not command His disciples to become involved with worldly politics and try to fix decadent evil Romes problems by legislating morality. He commanded His disciples to live humbly ..not to concern themselves with high things and to come out of the world so they would not be partakers of its sins. The politics of the world is utterly corrupt and vile to God. Those who claim to serve Him in government often times are on the take with big business.. making all kinds of shady deals to undermine the poor, living a life of lying, stealing, lusting, coveting, adultery, murder, extortion, and then at the same time claiming to be conservative "Christians" acting in Gods behalf to defend "Christian values". Be not deceived .. people who live depraved lives like that He will utterly spew out of His mouth and they will have their place with the hypocrites where there is much weeping and gashing of teeth. A true Christians position should be to have nothing to do with the corruption of the world at all, not be involved with politics, not vote .. but to come out of the world all together and serve and obey God in spirit and in truth. We cannot fix this wicked evil world but we do not have to be partakers in its sins. A Christians duty isn't to go around judging others and trying to force worldly people to live by Christian standards.. but to come out of the world.. live as peacefully with other men as possible and to obey and be faithful to God and His commandments themselves. The commission of a true Christian is to warn as many people as possible to repent, be babtized and turn from sin so they can be saved and not be partakers of the Judgments that God is soon to bring upon this nation and the world for the peoples vast iniquities.