David A. Hollinger Libri

This work traces the rise of evangelicalism and the decline of mainline Protestantism in American religious and cultural life. It explores how American Christianity became closely associated with conservative white evangelicalism. The author, a leading historian, examines the Protestant establishment's adoption of progressive ideas about race, gender, sexuality, and divinity, which led to a liberalization that alienated some while not satisfying others. Following 1960, mainline Protestantism experienced membership losses, with conservatives gravitating toward evangelicalism and progressives leaning toward secular activism. This shift resulted in a Protestant evangelicalism that embraced patriarchy and white supremacy, ultimately becoming the dominant Christian cultural force in the country. The author delves into the origins of what he describes as Protestantism’s “two-party system,” rooted in America’s culture of dissent established by seventeenth-century colonists. The constitutional separation of church and state fostered religious diversity, while waves of immigrants found community in churches. The narrative highlights how the U.S. evolved into an overwhelmingly Protestant nation, influenced by Jewish and non-Christian diversification by the 1960s. However, by engaging with modernity, ecumenical Protestants inadvertently set the stage for the reactionary stance of evangelicals.

Amid the heated discourse on racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia, this work offers a reasoned perspective on these divisive issues. David A. Hollinger, a leading intellectual historian, presents a bold proposal to address America's ethnic divisions. He argues that traditional liberal toleration of established ethnic groups is ineffective, as it fails to challenge the existing power imbalances. Conversely, the multiculturalist approach leads to fragmentation into competing ethnic enclaves focused solely on their own interests. Hollinger advocates for a new cosmopolitanism that embraces multiple identities, emphasizing cross-cultural affiliations based on consent rather than biological determinism. This vision of postethnic America serves as a reminder of the nation's universalist promise as a refuge for diverse peoples. Acknowledging the limitations of older Eurocentric universalism, Hollinger calls for a revitalized nationalism. He contends that a democratic nation-state should bridge the gap between our shared humanity and the diverse ethnic and racial groups in the U.S. We are neither a chosen people nor merely a collection of diasporas; instead, we can aspire to be "a people among peoples" in a postethnic world, fostering a democratic-cosmopolitan society that honors its ethno-racial heritages without being confined by them.

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