The Ballot and the Bible

Starred review from May 1, 2023
Journalist Schiess (The Liturgy of Politics) presents an erudite history of both America’s “proper application” and “deep misuse” of scripture during pivotal events, from the Revolutionary and Civil wars through the Cold War and 9/11. Among other topics, Schiess examines politicians’ invocations of biblical blessings and the idea of America as a nation “uniquely covenanted with God.” Citing 1960s civil rights activists’ references to the exodus from Egypt, she explains that the Black church community recognized itself in “the plights of Israel” and looked to the Bible for “a divine mission for justice,” making for powerful oratory, while segregationists drew on hazy, misapplied “appeals to the unmistakable natural order of God’s creation.” Schiess sets out a new vision for biblical language use: instead of “plucking passages out of their context” and retrofitting them for predetermined political agendas, those combing the Bible for present-day insight should consider “the larger context of God’s redemptive story.” Buttressing her claims with impressive close analysis, Schiess sets out a nuanced look at America’s legacy of scriptural language, and readers will find especially useful her guidelines for responsible biblical interpretation when engaging in political discourse. This is a boon for activists looking to the Bible for inspiration.