D. Michael Lindsay is a sociologist at Rice University who specializes in issues surrounding leadership, religion, and culture. The author of several books, scholarly articles, and research reports, Lindsay most recently completed "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite," the nation's largest and most comprehensive study of public leaders who are people of faith.
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Re: description quoted from your website's bio link, i.e. that Lindsay's book is a "comprehensive study of public leaders who are people of faith". I don't know if this is an accurate assessment of Linday's study, until I read it for myself, but who said it? Is this statement by BeliefNet, or by Linsay's publicist, or another reviewer? I want to talk to the source of that comment to ask: Do you really mean to conclude that the faith of all public leaders who are people of faith is Evangelical? There are many kinds of faith, as your website testifies accurately. And public leaders have faith representing a wide range of these types. Not all people of faith in congress are Evangelicals. And if one's faith is not evangelical, does not mean that one is not a person of faith. The influence of evangelical faith in political debate is a fascinating phenenom. But it is not a new influence. Evangelicalism in the American political debate over slavery is a major area of scholarship of in the history of the years leading up to the Civil War.
Quote referred to: "Lindsay most recently completed "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite," the nation's largest and most comprehensive study of public leaders who are people of faith."
Michael's book is an intriguing read. I was amazed at how revealing it was regarding evanglicals in places of power and influence. It never occurred to me how these people thought and conducted their affairs. It would be good if non-evangelicals and even those who are antagonistic toward conservative Christianity read the book. I am so accustomed to being distressed and even embarassed by what many conservatives often say and do that the book was a delightful and refreshing read because most of the interviews revealed men and women of integrity, discernment, maturity and a whole lot of common sense. Throughout the book I was saying, "Thank you, Lord." The interviewees exposed a humility, concern for others, and a desire to help make this a better world due to their faith. They have not been on a quest for power for power's sake. Power itself is not evil. It is how it is used that makes it good or bad. Most of the evangelicals in places of power wanted and used that power for the sake of the Kingdom. Thanks, Michael, for a great work.
The nytimes review is interesting. It sounds like this book is pleasant for evangelicals to read exactly because it is uncritical in its review of them. I'm going to check it out for myself.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/books/review/Wolfe-t.html
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