Worldview Theory, Whiteness, and the Future of Evangelical Faith

“Worldviews” has served as the central image animating the intellectual life of generations of evangelical thinkers. My sociologically observing the cognitive behavior of real people disabused me long ago of the worldview thinking on which I was raised. But Jake Cook’s story reveals just how profoundly problematic “worldview” discourse really is, unmasking even more the “scandal of the evangelical mind.” Evangelicals are not the only ones incriminated, however. Cook’s analysis suggests just how insidiously social positions of power and sanctimony can deform ideas, identities, and arguments of potentially any group seeking influence. In a world bereft of courage and humility, this book is an important corrective intervention, a gift for those with ears to hear. -- Christian Smith, University of Notre Dame American evangelicalism is in crisis. In this insightful and engaging book, Jacob Cook explains why. He demonstrates how over a century and a half a group of predominantly white, straight, elite men created a “Christian” worldview that sacralized an ethno-nationalist identity politics. In the process they failed to see the diversity of God’s creation and landed on the wrong side of the great social movements of recent generations. Nevertheless, in excavating this troubled history, Cook sees the potential for redemption. -- Matthew Avery Sutton, Washington State University