Backslide: Reclaiming a Faith and a Nation After the Christian Turn Against Democracy
Sep 2026 · Sold by St. Martin's Essentials
star
2 reviews
Ebook
304
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
“Bracing—Jones presents a vision of America as “fallen into... apostasy.” But he remains hopeful, noting that “backsliding is not irreversible,” as “repentance is possible... with confession” and the “acknowledging of difficult truths.” It’s a potent reckoning."—Publishers Weekly
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy, a clear-eyed reckoning with the moral collapse of white Christianity and a call to protect American democracy.
What happens when the church trades faith for power, and democracy for dominion? In this searing book, Robert P. Jones names our moment for what it is: a great Backslide. White Christianity’s devotion to Donald Trump and Christian nationalism is not only a regression into authoritarian politics but a profound act of apostasy—a betrayal of the best of the Christian tradition.
Through reflections on history, his upbringing in the white evangelical South, and decades of social science research, Jones lays bare the roots of this collapse and the dangers it poses for our future. He takes us inside a faith tradition marked by an impoverished relationship to the Bible, a rejection of a genuine search for truth, and an upside-down world where empathy is considered a vice. Yet amid the wreckage, Jones finds signs of hope in efforts to remake our national holiday rituals and recover a Christianity that remains committed to democracy.
Timely and unflinching, Backslide is essential reading for anyone unwilling to surrender the soul of faith or the promise of democracy. A prophetic summons to moral responsibility, it reminds us that time is short for deciding which Christianity, and which America, will prevail.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy, a clear-eyed reckoning with the moral collapse of white Christianity and a call to protect American democracy.
What happens when the church trades faith for power, and democracy for dominion? In this searing book, Robert P. Jones names our moment for what it is: a great Backslide. White Christianity’s devotion to Donald Trump and Christian nationalism is not only a regression into authoritarian politics but a profound act of apostasy—a betrayal of the best of the Christian tradition.
Through reflections on history, his upbringing in the white evangelical South, and decades of social science research, Jones lays bare the roots of this collapse and the dangers it poses for our future. He takes us inside a faith tradition marked by an impoverished relationship to the Bible, a rejection of a genuine search for truth, and an upside-down world where empathy is considered a vice. Yet amid the wreckage, Jones finds signs of hope in efforts to remake our national holiday rituals and recover a Christianity that remains committed to democracy.
Timely and unflinching, Backslide is essential reading for anyone unwilling to surrender the soul of faith or the promise of democracy. A prophetic summons to moral responsibility, it reminds us that time is short for deciding which Christianity, and which America, will prevail.
“Bracing—Jones presents a vision of America as “fallen into... apostasy.” But he remains hopeful, noting that “backsliding is not irreversible,” as “repentance is possible... with confession” and the “acknowledging of difficult truths.” It’s a potent reckoning."—Publishers Weekly
From the New Yo...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
2 reviews
Lori Zenobia
- Flag inappropriate
September 9, 2026
Aptly named, Backslide is the Robby's most personal book to date. It is a riveting, easily readable book. Written from multiple angles, he speaks from history, social science, religion and more importantly, his growing up as a southern white Christian. It is more than a cautionary tale. Throughout the book in great depth he describes how we got where we are today again woven together with pivotal moments of our own failures as a democracy, as well as times of remarkable unity. Us
About the author
Robert P. Jones is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future; White Too Long; and The End of White Christian America. The president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), Jones has written for TIME, The Atlantic, Religion News Service, and more. Often featured in national media, such as CNN, MS NOW, and NPR, Jones also writes the popular Substack newsletter Redeeming Democracy.
Robert P. Jones is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future; White Too Long; and The End of White Christian America. The president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), Jones has...
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
