Fake Christians

If you’ve ever looked at the inflamed state of religion and politics and thought, “Jesus Christ, these people are the opposite of Jesus Christ,” bestselling author John Fugelsang presents a deeply irreverent guide to 2000 years of authoritarian Christian power—the world’s most successful rebrand of empire as morality. The Jesus we meet in the Bible denounces power, violence, misogyny, and wealth, and commands his followers to welcome the stranger. But once the empire that killed Jesus took over his operation, their retrofitted form of Christianity started a funny little habit of doing whatever the Hell it wants and ignoring the man who launched the startup. This fresh history reveals how the actual teachings of Jesus have been hijacked and hate-washed ever since Constantine the Great turned the religion of “Turn the other cheek” into a machine for conquest. From the New York Times bestselling author of Separation of Church and Hate, this is a book for believers, nonbelievers, and everyone dealing with the influence of Christian nationalism. From crusaders, conquistadors, colonizers, and confederates to modern Christian nationalists, Fake Christians teaches you to spot the pattern of the oldest con in Christianity: 1. Invoke Jesus’s name to get power. 2. Once in power, do the opposite of what Jesus says. 3. If anyone points out step 2, scream about persecution. Jesus warned that deceivers would come in his name: “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing,” or at least very bad suits. Beware Christians who don’t fight for any of the teachings of Jesus—while fighting for Christian control over society. History, like our headlines, is packed with individuals and institutions who claim to serve Jesus and leave quite a body count in the process. Luckily, history also teaches us how to resist when faith is weaponized for earthly power. Fake Christians introduces us to the chain-breakers, the peacemakers, the abolitionists and dissenters—the true Christ-followers carrying on his message of compassion, service, and love. Naming the hypocrisy is the first step to overcoming it. Because if the frauds aren’t called out, we’re putting MLK in the same basket as the KKK. Wielding facts, scripture, and razor-sharp humor, Fugelsang takes apart the justifications propping up the pursuit of domination in the name of Christianity. Both a guide to the Christian history you never learned and a source of renewed inspiration for the future, Fake Christians is a book about what Christianity started out as, what it became, and why it’s still worth fighting for.

John Fugelsang is the New York Times bestselling author of Separation of Church and Hate. He’s a Drama League–nominated actor, comedian, and broadcaster who’s hosted many TV shows and podcasts, including the acclaimed Tell Me Everything series on SiriusXM Progress. He’s gotten George Harrison to give his final performance on VH1, debated Jerry Falwell and David Duke, and made many appearances on MSNBC, FOX News, and CNN. He has been murdered on CSI and picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church. His epic PBS road trip film on the American Dream, Dream On, directed by Roger Weisberg, was named Best Documentary at the New York Independent Film Festival. Fugelsang lives in New York City with his family. His new book is Fake Christians.