Over the centuries, Christianity has accomplished much which is deserving of praise. Its institutions have fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, and advocated for the poor. Christian faith has sustained people through crisis and inspired many to work for social justice. Yet although the word "Christian" connotes the epitome of goodness, the actual story is much more complex. Over the last two millennia, ruling elites have used Christian institutions and values to control those less privileged throughout the world. The doctrine of Christianity has been interpreted to justify the killing of millions, and its leaders have used their faith to sanction participation in colonialism, slavery, and genocide. In the Western world, Christian influence has inspired legislators to continue to limit women's reproductive rights and has kept lesbians and gays on the margins of society. As our triple crises of war, financial meltdown, and environmental destruction intensify, it is imperative that we dig beneath the surface of Christianity's benign reputation to examine its contribution to our social problems. Living in the Shadow of the Cross reveals the ongoing, everyday impact of Christian power and privilege on our beliefs, behaviors, and public policy, and emphasizes the potential for people to come together to resist domination and build and sustain communities of justice and peace. Paul Kivel is the award-winning author of Uprooting Racism and the director of the Christian Hegemony Project. He is a social justice activist and educator who has focused on the issues of violence prevention, oppression, and social justice for over forty-five years.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1. What Is Christian Hegemony? 2. Manifestations of Christian Hegemony Language Names Symbols Original Christians The Other Credibility Exotic and Erotic Privilege Christian Holiday Cycle       New Year's Eve       Washington's Birthday/Presidents' Day       St. Valentine's Day       Good Friday/Easter       Mother's Day       Independence Day/The Fourth of July       Columbus Day       Halloween       Thanksgiving       Christmas 3. Key Christian Concepts Dualism       Qualities The Cosmic Battle: Good and Evil Love Within Hierarchy Sinners Need Salvation One Truth, One Way to God Temporal Focus Dominion Over Nature Challenging Dominant Concepts 4. The Way We Think Our Bodies and Feelings Are Sinful Judgment Salvation Purity Christian Narratives       Conversion Narrative       The Jeremiad       Captivity Narrative       We Need a Savior Charity History Apocalypse Fear and Hope Science and Technology The Economy The Criminal Legal System Education The Body, Desire and Disability Doctrine of Discovery How Do These Christian Ideas Manifest in Our Lives? 5. Origins and History The Papal Reformation The Crusades The Inquisitions Witch Hunts The Protestant Reformation Colonization: Crusades in the New World Missionaries Spreading the Word Manifest Destiny Slavery and Its Legacy The Jewish Holocaust 6. Public Policy US Foreign Policy Us and Them Manifest Destiny and War International Influence Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) and Faith-based Funding Christian Zionism US Domestic Policy Political Involvement Worker's Rights Religious Immunity from Prosecution Tax Breaks Faith-based Initiatives Proselytizing Islamophobia as Public Policy Health Care Abstinence vs Harm Reduction The War Against Women Marriage Domestic Violence Parenting Education Environmental Issues Seeing Through and Beyond Christian Frameworks 7. Resistance Christian Resistance Resistance Outside of Christianity Talking About Christian Hegemony Allies, Collaborators and Agents For the Long Haul Appendix: Guidelines for Christian Allies Glossary Endnotes Bibliography Resources on Christian Hegemony and Resistance Index About the Author