Slaying Leviathan: Limited Government and Resistance in the Christian Tradition

(42 reviews)
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Glenn Sunshine

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Christians first expressed these political truths under Caesars, kings, popes, and emperors. We need them in the age of presidents.

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Leviathan is rising again, and the first weapon we must recover is the longstanding Christian tradition of resisting governmental overreach. Our bloated bureaucratic state would have been unrecognizable to the Founders, and our acquiescence to its encroachments on liberty would have infuriated them. But here is the point: our Leviathan would not have surprised them. They were well acquainted with the tendency of governments to turn tyrannical: “Eternal vigilance is the price we pay for liberty.”

In Slaying Leviathan, historian Glenn S. Sunshine surveys some of the stories and key elements of Christian political thought from Augustine to the Declaration of Independence. Specifically, the book introduces theories of limited government that were synthesized into a coherent political philosophy by John Locke. Locke, of course, influenced the American founders and was, like us, fighting against the spirit of Leviathan in his day. But his is only one of the many stories in this book.

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Dr. Glenn S. Sunshine is Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University and a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. An award-winning author, Glenn has published books, articles and book chapters on history, theology, and culture, online and on both sides of the Atlantic. His book Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home (Zondervan, 2009) received the 2006 Acton Institute Book Grant. 

AUTHOR: Glenn S. Sunshine

PAGE COUNT: 186

SIZE: 5.5x8.5"

BINDING: Paperback

ISBN 10: 195241072X

ISBN-13: 9781952410727

PUB. DATE: November 3, 2020

Customer Reviews

Based on 42 reviews
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S
S Lucas
An excellent introduction

I teach the Protestant Reformation and early modern period to high school juniors; we frequently talk about the Christian's engagement with the state. Sunshine's illuminating exploration of the historical precedents is timely and relevant. Excellent, informative, and pithy read!

E
Evan Cooper
A necessary book for modern times.

This book is takes a precise and thorough account of the historical relationship between Christians and secular government. Sunshine takes a more nuanced and thoughtful look into what our obligations as Christians actually are in relation to governments than the mainstream Romans 13 fanatics.

H
Hugh Maness

bought if for a Christmas present. Have not read it myself.

P
Perry Mcchesney
Providence

Excellent. Should be a text book in school

D
Dale Huber
Back fill for WHY!

Filled in the historical gaps as to how we got here and why we should obey Gods word. Shows there has always been a Caesar, Pharaoh, or Nebuchadnezzar that wanted to us to violate our conscience toward God's word.

J
John Hodgson
Good history, no plan

The book gives a solid overview of the side by side development government and organized religion in the west for the last 2500 years.
It fails to live up to the title, however, lacking a clear prescription on how to “Slay Leviathan.”

J
Jose Ruiz
Great Book!

They say that those that forget history tend to repeat it. Well this book gives you the history of political thought of Christians throughout history that we have forgotten or neglected. A very important and needed work for all believers and unbelievers alike.