Almighty Matters [Hardcover]

Almighty Matters: God's Politics in the Bible explores the underlying politics of the Hebrew and Christian Bibles by uncovering their political-theological connection in a single story line. The politics of the New Testament completes the politics of the Old. Although it has long been recognized that the Hebrew Bible prominently portrays the political development of God's Chosen People, the role of Jesus as a politician, the founder of a movement aimed from its beginning at subverting and capturing the Roman Empire, has not been recognized. Putting the Hebrew and Christian Bibles' political approach foremost shows why so much of it is hidden and why, until recently, Jewish-Christian relations have been contrary to God's design. In Almighty Matters, Dr. Berry, an accomplished political scientist with ecumenical sensibilities and a strong understanding of the Bible, reveals a political-theological strain in the Bible that runs throughout, with Jesus as the divine politician who pulls it all together. Almighty Matters offers Christians a chance to deepen their faith by deepening their understanding of the Biblical narrative. --Christopher Dreisbach, Professor of Moral and Systematic Theology, The Ecumenical Institute of Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University Almighty Matters is a lively, controversial, reading of the Bible as the record of a unified project to institute 'God's politics' on earth, from the failure of ancient Israelites to establish a powerful and enduring kingdom in the Promised Land to the success of Jesus in starting a universal religious movement that eventually replaced the Roman Empire. . . . His experience and expertise in international politics invest his interpretive speculations with insight and authority. --David L. Weddle, Professor Emeritus of Religion, The Colorado College This book evaluates Biblical teachings and history from a strictly political angle. The reader may miss many standard religious comments but will find l3>