Kirkus Reviews assesses Fractured Christianity as "a sharp, deeply personal reckoning with systemic national flaws."

 

Kirkus review of Fractured Christianity: A Nation in Peril:

An ordained minister and former pastor blends spiritual commentary with a reflection on the impact of racism on America’s history and contemporary politics. 

The book’s opening chapters juxtapose the idealism of the nation’s founders with the country’s shameful history of racism and exploitation. Aveta notes, for example, that part of the brilliance of the U.S. Constitution lies in its desire to form “a more perfect Union,” which implicitly acknowledges its current imperfection, even as it encourages its citizens and elected officials to work toward continual improvement. Alternately, the author emphasizes how the legacy of slavery, racism, and mistreatment of Indigenous Americans reverberates into the present, and that true national unity will only come when the nation genuinely confronts and atones for its past. The author ambitiously blends his historical analysis with memoiristic vignettes that note his family’s Italian roots; as European immigrants to the U.S., he observes, they had access to an American Dream that was denied to Black families who’d lived in the country since its inception. Aveta also explores his personal spiritual journey as a former Catholic who’s held multiple pastoral positions in evangelical and Pentecostal churches, and who had his own awakening regarding the realities of American racism in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. While not disavowing his personal faith, the author underscores the role of Christians in justifying and supporting racist politicians and policies, and his belief that it’s incumbent upon faith communities to help heal divisions that they’ve historically fostered. Indeed, alongside its lucid historical overview of racism in past political eras, this book also offers a damning indictment of the current state of white Christian support for racially divisive policies. The book highlights, for example, Vice President J.D. Vance’s endorsement of “blood and soil nationalism,” and President Donald Trump’s war against diversity, equity, and inclusion, among other instances. This well-researched book is backed by almost 200 footnotes and strikes an effective balance between engaging personal anecdotes and convincing historical narrative and political commentary. 

A sharp, deeply personal reckoning with systemic national flaws.

 Reviewed here: Aveta, Fractured Christianity - Adobe cloud storage


Book description:

Racism and the politicization of Christianity have shaped America since the colonial era, leaving divisions that continue to fracture the nation, its churches, and its communities. In Fractured Christianity: A Republic in Peril, the author draws on a lifetime of service as a federal civil servant, teacher, counselor, and pastor to examine the historical roots of these divisions and their ongoing impact on American life.

More important, he offers a path toward healing grounded in a timeless biblical principle: repentance—the willingness to change one's mind, listen, and seek reconciliation. Rather than arguing over who is right or wrong, readers are challenged to engage in meaningful conversations that bridge differences and restore relationships.
A thought-provoking resource for individuals, study groups, and faith communities seeking understanding, unity, and hope.


Jerry is also the author of the award-winning book, When Liberty Enslaves: The Toxic Blend of Faith and Politics.



Want to know more about Jerry and his books? Click here for more posts.




CONTACT editor@msipress.com FOR A REVIEW COPY


MSI Press, a veteran-owned publishing house based in California, United States
best known for turning new writers into award-winning authors,
has gained mass recognition for releasing highly acclaimed books of varying genres
that are distributed internationally. Check us out on Wikitia.


To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore;

for free shipping, use code ship4free.

(Codes cannot be used together; they are meant to provide a choice of discount.)



Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to pay for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.


VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES AND TO FOLLOW US ON OUR VARIOUS PLATFORMS.


CONTACT INFO@MSIPRESS.COM TO SBUMIT A BOOK PROPOSAL/MAMUSCRIPT OR TO CONTACT ONE OF OUR AUTHORS.



Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter: get inside information before others see it and access to additional book content
(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, links to precerpts/excerpts, author advice, and more)

Check out recent issues.


 

   

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Guest Post from Dr. Dennis Ortman: Words Matter

Image
  WORDS MATTER “If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging symbol.” --I Corinthians 13: 1   My three brothers recently visited from afar. We spent a week together crammed into my small apartment. We exhausted ourselves talking about our lives and our favorite subjects--religion, psychology, and politics. I daily used up my quota of words. Many family and friends avoid talking about these subjects to avoid conflict. But we relish the give-and-take of debate. Coincidentally, the Republican National Convention was televised each night. We watched it diligently and exchanged views. Our convictions ranged across the political spectrum. So our conversations were animated, our disagreements passionate. However, at the end of the week, we learned something from each other and parted friends. Words matter. They have power. Our traditions attest to this fact. For example, God created the world with His word. He be...
Read more

In Memoriam: Carl Don Leaver

Image
  1948-2021 It is with great sadness that MSI Press notes the death of Carl Leaver, CEO of the Press and typesetter and graphic designer par excellence . Many authors have expressed not only condolences but also a sense of legacy from covers he designed that they love.  Here is his obituary: On August 16, 2021, Carl Don Leaver of San Juan Bautista passed into eternal rest. A forester with the US Forest Service in Idaho and Montana, he turned to nature photography while working in the Bitterroot National Forest. His photographs graced national magazine covers and on a weekly basis the local paper of Hamilton, MT, the Ravalli Republican. He later worked on photography projects for the US Army (AFEES) and taught photography at the New York Institute of Technology in Amman, Jordan. His final career change led him to computer graphics and publishing as co-owner of MSI Press LLC; his many typeset books and book covers have helped MSI Press authors win a large number of awards over t...
Read more

Eternal Springs wins Literary Titan book award!

Image
  Congratulations to Bruce Floren, whose book,   Eternal Sprins: Joy Found in the Book of John ,  received a silver award from Literary Titan. Book Description: What if joy isn’t optional in the Christian life—but essential? For many, religion feels heavy, demanding, and joyless. Yet Jesus promised life “to the full.” In Eternal Springs, the author draws from his deeply personal journey of leaving faith behind to pursue happiness, where he ultimately discovered that true joy could only be found by returning to Christ. Rooted in the Gospel of John and shaped by decades of lived experience, this book uncovers a vibrant, Spirit-led understanding of joy—not as shallow emotion, but as the divine energy that fuels love, grace, fruitfulness, and spiritual vitality. This is Christianity rediscovered: Joy that sustains rather than distracts Faith that overflows rather than burdens A life that becomes an attractive aroma to the glory of God Eternal Springs is for seekers, be...
Read more