Separation of church and hate : a sane person's guide to taking back the Bible from fundamentalists, fascists, and flock-fleecing frauds / John Fugelsang.

By:

Fugelsang, John, 1969- [author.]

Material type: Text

TextPublisher: New York : Avid Reader Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, LLC, 2025Copyright date: 2025Edition: First Avid Reader Press hardcover editionDescription: xii, 288 pages ; 24 cmContent type:

text

Media type:

unmediated

Carrier type:

volume

ISBN:

9781668066898
1668066890

Other title:

Sane person's guide to taking back the Bible from fundamentalists, fascists, and flock-fleecing frauds

Subject(s):

Genre/Form:

Informational works.

Contents:

An inconvenient radical Jew -- Paul, Jesus's PR man, who is not Jesus -- Master-race Christians of the twenty-first century, and how to debate them -- Thou shalt not take all of this too literally -- Thou shalt not hate feminists -- Thou shalt not hate the gays -- Thou shalt not hate people who have abortions -- Thou shalt not hate "illegals" -- Thou shalt not hate on poor people -- Thou shalt let go of thy sex hang-ups -- Thou shalt not kill people who kill people to prove killing people is wrong -- Thou shalt not hate gun control or worship warrior bro-dude Jesus -- Thou shalt not hate Jews, Muslim, or even atheists -- Thou shalt not be, or defend, a white supremacist -- The Christians and the Christ followers.

Summary: "For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies. The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren't actually on the side of Jesus--and historically they never have been. How do we fight back against those acting--literally--in bad faith? Comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang ... offers the answers. In this ... book, [he] takes readers through common fundamentalist arguments on abortion, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and more--exposing their hypocrisy and inaccuracy through scripture, common sense, and deeply inappropriate humor. It offers practical tips on how to debate your loved one, coworker, or neighbor on the issues that divide us using that Bible they claim to follow"-- Provided by publisher.

Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Shelving location	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Adult Book	Phillipsburg Free Public Library	Adult Non-Fiction	New Books	322 FUG	Available		36748002633404

Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In the spirit of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens, the son of a former Catholic nun and a Franciscan brother delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred--a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who'll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist.

For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies. The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren't actually on the side of Jesus--and historically they never have been. How do we fight back against those acting--literally--in bad faith?

Comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang finally offers the answers. In this informative, perspective-shifting book, Fugelsang takes readers through common fundamentalist arguments on abortion, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and more--exposing their hypocrisy and inaccuracy through scripture, common sense, and deeply inappropriate humor. It offers practical tips on how to debate your loved one, coworker, or neighbor on the issues that divide us using that Bible they claim to follow.

But Fugelsang's message is about more than just taking down hypocrites. It's about fighting for the love, mercy, and service that are supposed to make up the heart of Christianity. Told with Fugelsang's trademark blend of radical honesty, comedy, and deep political and religious knowledge, Separation of Church and Hate is the book every American needs today. It's a rallying cry for compassion and clarity for anyone of any faith who's sick of religion being used as a cloaking device for hate.

"For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies. The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren't actually on the side of Jesus--and historically they never have been. How do we fight back against those acting--literally--in bad faith? Comedian and broadcaster John Fugelsang ... offers the answers. In this ... book, [he] takes readers through common fundamentalist arguments on abortion, immigration, LGBTQ rights, and more--exposing their hypocrisy and inaccuracy through scripture, common sense, and deeply inappropriate humor. It offers practical tips on how to debate your loved one, coworker, or neighbor on the issues that divide us using that Bible they claim to follow"-- Provided by publisher.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

An Introduction (1)
1 An Inconvenient Radical Jew (19)
2 Paul, Jesus's Pr Man, Who Is Not Jesus (42)
3 Master-Race Christians Of The Twenty-First Century, And How To Debate Them (53)
4 Thou Shalt Not Take All Of This Too Literally (63)
5 Thou Shalt Not Hate Feminists (83)
6 Thou Shalt Not Hate The Gays (112)
7 Thou Shalt Not Hate People Who Have Abortions (144)
8 Thou Shalt Not Hate "Illegals" (164)
9 Thou Shalt Not Hate On Poor People (177)
10 Thou Shalt Let Go Of Thy Sex Hang-Ups (203)
11 Thou Shalt Not Kill People Who Kill People To Prove Killing People Is Wrong (221)
12 Thou Shalt Not Hate Gun Control Or Worship Warrior Bro-Dude Jesus (234)
13 Even Atheists (248)
14 Thou Shalt Not Be, Or Defend, A White Supremacist (265)
15 The Christians and the Christ Followers (279)
Acknowledgments (285)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Comedian Fugelsang assails the right-wing hijacking of Christianity in this potent debut call to recenter Jesus's teachings. Arguing that fundamentalists have contorted scripture to support hyperconservative viewpoints, he contends that Jesus's call for disciples to buy swords in the Gospel of Luke--which might seem to support violence--was very context specific. Elsewhere, he posits that white nationalism is expressly contradicted by Jesus's interactions with Samaritans, prostitutes, and marginalized groups, and that support for the death penalty goes against Jesus's emphasis on compassion and forgiveness. Far more relevant, he asserts, is the biblical refrain of fighting poverty and welcoming strangers--an imperative ignored by conservatives because such "inconvenient" teachings are harder to adhere to and undercut the human desire for "earthly power" that's been supercharged by right-wing politicians. While the author's potshots at Republican lawmakers ("Jesus... rejected earthly materialism, renounced the idea of revenge, and commanded us to welcome the stranger. I know, right? Just like Donald Trump") might alienate some of the readers he claims to want to reach, the author's blend of theology and humor energizes his thought-provoking talking points. Christians looking to push back against fundamentalist teachings will find plenty of ammunition in this acerbic and accessible treatise. (Aug.)

Kirkus Book Review

How to argue with Christian nationalists. Actor and comedian Fugelsang presents a grating screed against the Christian right. He attempts to provide liberal, modern Christians and non-Christians with biblical background that can be used in debating fundamentalist arguments, but his distinctly informal and fully subjective approach leaves the reader wincing. Most chapters of the book list various examples of scripture that can be used to counter what the author identifies as right-wing views of Christianity, usually at its most extreme. For instance, a chapter titled "Thou Shalt Not Hate Feminists" discusses various women of the Bible, how they have been negatively portrayed over time, and how they actually exemplify Jesus's teachings on equality. However, Fugelsang's antagonist is always vague. Aside from naming a smattering of Republican politicians, the author fails to identify who the target of his jeremiad really is. He uses terms like "fundamentalists," "evangelicals," "authoritarian Christians," and "Christian nationalists" interchangeably, while explaining in his introduction that, "nice conservative Christians…this book isnot about you." Fugelsang apparently writes about a straw-man "uncle" whom everyone supposedly knows and encounters now and then. Indeed, the vile and ogreish right-wing Christianity that he presents is largely a caricature that few would readily recognize. The author quotes insights from several liberal theologians but fails to pursue the same input from conservative theologians, who might at least add an air of objectivity to this work. Additionally, Fugelsang's unrelenting irreverence, flat-falling witticisms, and peppering of profanity defeat his purpose by coloring him as an unserious author. Readers looking for a measured and sober look inside Christian nationalism would be better served byThe Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta (2023) orThe False White Gospel by Jim Wallis (2024). Unserious approach to a serious subject. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.