American Christianity: How Did We Get Here?
Why is Christianity in the United States so deeply entangled with white Christian nationalism, political extremism, and racism today? As historians often say, “Everything has a history.”
This class traces the story of U.S. Christianity from its colonial beginnings to the present with a focus on how white supremacy and nationalism have been woven into theology, church practice, and public witness. We’ll also explore how the Black Christian tradition has consistently offered a more faithful, justice-centered vision of the gospel.
This class is for those ready to confront hard truths about how race and power shaped Christianity in the United States and how we can come together to imagine a better path forward.
This class includes:
Class recording
Q&A session recording
Downloadable class slides
Cost: $25
Topics we’ll cover:
Slaveholder Religion: The racial foundations of U.S. Christianity
Segregated Saints: How white churches built walls around the sanctuary
The Religious Right: The marriage of a political and religious movement
The MAGA Movement: The present-day bitter fruit of deep and old roots
The Spirit of Justice: Black Christian witness confronting white Christian nationalism
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Jemar Tisby is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the Church’s Complicity in Racism, How to Fight Racism, and How to Fight Racism: Young Reader’s Edition. He is also a Professor of History at Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville. Jemar is the co-host of the “Pass the Mic” podcast. He speaks nationwide on the topics of racial justice, U.S. history and Christianity. Jemar earned his PhD in history and he studies race, religion, and social movements in the 20th century. You can follow his work through his newsletter, Footnotes, and on social media at @JemarTisby.
