Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church: Eyewitness Accounts of How American Churches Are Hijacking Jesus, Bagging the Beatitudes, and Worshipping the

by Becky Garrison

Book Overview

A master of satire with a theological black belt, Becky Garrison shines a bright light on hypocrisy from both sides of the political spectrum, exposing how both red and blue Christians hold hostage the teachings of Jesus in service to their own partisan gain. What's lacking is a true understanding of Christ's mandate to love all of humanity--including our enemies--which, if honored, would open the door to honest dialogue and understanding that transcends...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787983136
• ISBN13: 9780787983130
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 177 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Thought provoking and very, very funny!

Like all memorable satire, Ms. Garrison's book has something to offend everyone and something to make us all take another look at what we thought we believed. In a series of essays that invoke the spirit of Monty Python and George Carlin, she tackles those two subjects your mother told you not to bring up at dinner parties--religion and politics--with fearlessness, insight and, above all, great love and good humor. The fact that this book has stirred up such controversy shows that she has hit more than one nerve in doing so. But those nerves needed to be hit! Read this book. Laugh at it, argue with it, call your friends to debate it. One thing I can promise you, though: you won't be bored by it!

Takes no prisoners, right or left!

Ms. Garrison's thesis is that warring red and blue politics have left the American sense of community black and blue. The Kingdom of Heaven, reflected in that beloved community, escapes the politics of parties, and cries out for individuals of faith to recognize each others' calling. Few writers today have had the wide experience of all sides of American religion as those at the Wittenburg Door, a magazine that has the rare quality of being equally funny to the fundamentalist, evangelical, mainline, or radical who is able to laugh at herself. Avoid this book if you don't have a sense of humor or if you maintain the conviction that you are your own personal savior. For everyone else, read the book with the expectation of enjoyment and rare insight into both sides of American religion.

Wake up christians!

As a moderately conservative Christian, I was expecting this book to be more bashing than insightful. I was wrong - this book should resonate with any true Christian concerned with the politicization of the church. While we may not agree on many subjects, I too have been deeply disturbed by how much hatred has crept into the daily religious experience and think this book does an excellent job walking through numerous, specific examples in a light-hearted and insightful way. Christians take heed - we have lost our way and need leaders that are more spiritual than political. This book is a good step in the right direction.

On target ... and funny, too.

Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church is a wonderful addition to the canon of thoughtful books on the state of the Church in America in 2006. The difference is, it's often very funny. Becky Garrison is an accomplished writer (primarily with the legendary religious humor and satire magazine The Wittenburg Door) and a keen observer of culture. Red and Blue God is well-written, fast-paced and worth the time, regardless of your religious/political views.

Not Just for Christians

Like her work for The Wittenburg Door, Becky Garrison's book is insightful and provocative, told by someone who truly cares about what is happening in institutions she holds dear. What's important, and not necessarily indicated by other reviews here, is that it is also relevant to non-Christians (I'm Jewish) who might think the subject matter doesn't pertain directly to them. In fact, at a time when the Religious Right is dominating the party that holds sway in all three branches of the government and our president claims to be ordained by God, "Red and Blue God" may be even more important for those of us in the minority to know just what's going on. Becky tells it all, in a way that will leave you laughing, no matter how angry you might be at the time.