Most of Robert McElvaine's nine books have focused on the Great Depression. But the historian's latest work delves into what he considers a more recent dark period in American life: contemporary Christianity.
Titled Grand Theft Jesus: The Hijacking of Religion in America (Crown Publishers, $23.95), McElvaine's book argues that televangelists and megachurch leaders have corrupted the Christianity that Jesus represented.
The Clarion-Ledger recently talked with the Millsaps College history department chair about his new book.
Q: You're a historian. Why did you write a book about religion?
A: Over the last two decades I've been increasingly upset at what I've seen being done in the name of Christianity. I consider myself a Christian. But what I've seen being accepting in mainstream media as people who are speaking in the name of Christianity, those people are essentially standing Jesus on his head and really preaching the opposite of what he preached.
Q: What impact do you hope your book will have?
A: We need a sort of new reformation, but we need more than that, a revolution in the literal sense of the word. That is to go full circle back to what Jesus taught and make that the basis of Christianity.
Q: When you were writing the book, Jerry Falwell died and Ted Haggard had his fall from grace. Do you think the influence of some of the old guard evangelicals is waning?
A: I think there's a good deal of truth in that. But on the other hand some of the most powerful people like (Pat) Robertson still have a big following. James Dobson is still one of the old guard and quite often is preaching the opposite of what Jesus did. Then you've got Joel Osteen. He's not for the most part doing the sort of Falwell/Robertson hate-people-who-aren't-like-you kind of thing, but what he is preaching is basically this gospel of prosperity, that if you believe in Jesus it will make you rich. I think Osteen is a perfect example of what I refer to as Christianity Lite. The sort of religion that's the equivalent of a program to lose weight without diet and exercise. Be saved without sacrifice or good works.
Q: What's your faith background?
A: I'm a convert to Catholicism. Though unlike many converts I'm not fanatical about it at all. It would be safe to describe me as a what they call a "cafeteria Catholic" because I reject a number of things that seem to be wrong. Most center around in the Catholic church questions concerning women and sex and so forth.
Q: What's been the reaction so far to your book?
A: Reaction has been very good so far. It's not as widespread as I would like it to be. Part of the reason it has been overwhelming good is in part because it hasn't yet come to the attention of the sort of people I'm criticizing and who won't like it at all.
Q: Are you concerned that some people you are trying to reach will think your book is attacking Christianity?
A: That's a possibility. I say early in the book I don't expect the people whose minds I would hope to change to agree with everything I'm saying. But to at least give it a chance and read the book and compare what I'm saying with the red words in the Bible. See whether what I'm saying matches better with the teaching of Jesus than with the prosperity gospel and Christianity Lite.
To comment on this story, call Jean Gordon at (601) 961-7291.
