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9781633884540

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What is happening in our country is not only 'anti-American' but also dangerous. This work challenges us to return to truth-telling integrity and communal civility, but to do so without abandoning our values and love of country. Polarized is a clarion call to seek the redemption of the very soul of America before it is too late. Reading this will challenge and equip you in the struggle to save true American values and vision. --Rev. Dr. Michael S. Piazza, professor, Hartford Seminary

Donehoo and Parsons pull off a remarkable feat--demonstrating that it's possible to be charitable, thoughtful, and truthful, even when your fundamental beliefs are worlds apart. You can disagree with one side or the other--or perhaps even both--and that's okay. In fact, that's healthy. But you'll still walk away from this book with renewed faith in the power of bridge building, both personally and politically, which is something we desperately need. --Nathan Bomey, author of After the Fact: The Erosion of Truth and the Inevitable Rise of Donald Trump In an era when the very definition of 'truth' is in question, and manipulators are working overtime to incite division, we need models of civil discourse that illustrate how those of us with different perspectives can still engage in vigorous debate without losing sight of our commonalities. Polarized is such a model, and it serves as leverage against the forces of sophistry, obfuscation, and caprice that are eroding what holds us together despite our disagreements--our most vital sense of human community. --David DiSalvo, author of What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite What is happening in our country is not only 'anti-American' but also dangerous. This work challenges us to return to truth-telling integrity and communal civility, but to do so without abandoning our values and love of country. Polarized is a clarion call to seek the redemption of the very soul of America before it is too late. Reading this will challenge and equip you in the struggle to save true American values and vision. --Rev. Dr. Michael S. Piazza, professor, Hartford Seminary In this age of partisan politics and demagogic rancor that has torn our nation apart and undermines our democratic foundations, Parsons and Donehoo are a welcome breath of sanity, providing us with a blueprint for how to navigate the dangerous waters we presently find ourselves in. --Dr. Robert E. Bartholomew, coauthor of American Intolerance A fascinating book that blends the worldviews of two unlikely companions, a Protestant minister and an atheist philosophy professor, whose core American ideas and values drive us to challenge the Trump establishment and work toward truthfulness, civility, community, and unity. Donehoo and Parsons exchange substantive dialogue in this debate-shifting book, and anyone interested in the sanctity of American Democracy would benefit from reading it. --William T. Hoston, associate professor of political science, University of Houston-Clear Lake An inspiring compendium of thoughtful perspectives opposing the divisiveness, incivility, and counter-truth atmosphere splintering American society today. I pray readers will not treat this book as 'just another anti-Trump diatribe' but read and benefit from it as a clarion call for unified, civil, and truth-driven actions reclaiming all that is good in and about America, and proclaiming this for the world! --Imam Kareem Irfan, Esq., past president, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago The polarization of public discourse today is bemoaned by many and, if left unchecked, will quite possibly irreparably erode the body politic and the constitutional foundation upon which it is grounded. What is the cause of this current, troubling state of affairs, and what might be done to ameliorate the situation? Fortunately for us, in Polarized, Parsons and Donehoo have taken on these issues and have skillfully mined everything from naturalism to neuroscience, history, the arts, the Bible, and spirituality to give us well-argued responses to these questions. The authors' sober and objective approach to the material shines like a beacon through the partisan 'rabble-rousing' that poisons both public and social media today. This book is especially important given the hyper-tribal actions and rhetoric of President Trump, which threaten to further divide this country at a time when we need a leader for all Americans, one who will protect the freedom and liberty of everyone and not just those with whom he agrees. This is the right book for the right time, an important book that seeks to unite us at a time when those in power seek to do just the opposite. --James T. Houk, professor of anthropology, Franciscan University, and author of The Illusion of Certainty

Donehoo and Parsons pull off a remarkable feat--demonstrating that it's possible to be charitable, thoughtful, and truthful, even when your fundamental beliefs are worlds apart. You can disagree with one side or the other--or perhaps even both--and that's okay. In fact, that's healthy. But you'll still walk away from this book with renewed faith in the power of bridge building, both personally and politically, which is something we desperately need. --Nathan Bomey, author of After the Fact: The Erosion of Truth and the Inevitable Rise of Donald Trump In an era when the very definition of 'truth' is in question, and manipulators are working overtime to incite division, we need models of civil discourse that illustrate how those of us with different perspectives can still engage in vigorous debate without losing sight of our commonalities. Polarized is such a model, and it serves as leverage against the forces of sophistry, obfuscation, and caprice that are eroding what holds us together despite our disagreements--our most vital sense of human community. --David DiSalvo, author of What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite What is happening in our country is not only 'anti-American' but also dangerous. This work challenges us to return to truth-telling integrity and communal civility, but to do so without abandoning our values and love of country. Polarized is a clarion call to seek the redemption of the very soul of America before it is too late. Reading this will challenge and equip you in the struggle to save true American values and vision. --Rev. Dr. Michael S. Piazza, professor, Hartford Seminary In this age of partisan politics and demagogic rancor that has torn our nation apart and undermines our democratic foundations, Parsons and Donehoo are a welcome breath of sanity, providing us with a blueprint for how to navigate the dangerous waters we presently find ourselves in. --Dr. Robert E. Bartholomew, coauthor of American Intolerance A fascinating book that blends the worldviews of two unlikely companions, a Protestant minister and an atheist philosophy professor, whose core American ideas and values drive us to challenge the Trump establishment and work toward truthfulness, civility, community, and unity. Donehoo and Parsons exchange substantive dialogue in this debate-shifting book, and anyone interested in the sanctity of American Democracy would benefit from reading it. --William T. Hoston, associate professor of political science, University of Houston-Clear Lake An inspiring compendium of thoughtful perspectives opposing the divisiveness, incivility, and counter-truth atmosphere splintering American society today. I pray readers will not treat this book as 'just another anti-Trump diatribe' but read and benefit from it as a clarion call for unified, civil, and truth-driven actions reclaiming all that is good in and about America, and proclaiming this for the world! --Imam Kareem Irfan, Esq., past president, Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago The polarization of public discourse today is bemoaned by many and, if left unchecked, will quite possibly irreparably erode the body politic and the constitutional foundation upon which it is grounded. What is the cause of this current, troubling state of affairs, and what might be done to ameliorate the situation? Fortunately for us, in Polarized, Parsons and Donehoo have taken on these issues and have skillfully mined everything from naturalism to neuroscience, history, the arts, the Bible, and spirituality to give us well-argued responses to these questions. The authors' sober and objective approach to the material shines like a beacon through the partisan 'rabble-rousing' that poisons both public and social media today. This book is especially important given the hyper-tribal actions and rhetoric of President Trump, which threaten to further divide this country at a time when we need a leader for all Americans, one who will protect the freedom and liberty of everyone and not just those with whom he agrees. This is the right book for the right time, an important book that seeks to unite us at a time when those in power seek to do just the opposite. --James T. Houk, professor of anthropology, Franciscan University, and author of The Illusion of Certainty

Author Information

Paris Donehoo recently retired as the senior pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elgin, Illinois. He has also served as a chaplain and bereavement coordinator for Hospice of West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois, and as an adjunct professor in the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the author of one previous book and articles in Christian Century, Christian Ministry, and other journals. Keith M. Parsons is a professor of philosophy at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He is the author of nine previous books including It Started with Copernicus, Rational Episodes, and God and the Burden of Proof, as well as articles or chapters in the American Rationalist, Oxford Dialogues in Christian Theism, The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology, and other publications.

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