Between Two Gileads. Christian Nationalism, Fundamentalism, Romans 13:1-7, and the Future of Political Theology - Henry Walter Spaulding III;Rodney Clapp

In Between Two Gileads, Spaulding explores the complex intersection of Christian nationalism, fundamentalism, and political theology, focusing on the transformative power of Scripture in shaping political ideologies. Through a critical analysis of Romans 13:1–7 and its historical misinterpretations, Spaulding challenges the rise of authoritarian readings of the Bible, which serve to justify domination and division. Drawing on literary theology, he contrasts the dystopian vision of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale with the grace-filled Gilead of Marilynne Robinson’s novels, illuminating two divergent paths for Christian engagement with politics. Through this exploration, Spaulding calls for a theological reimagining of Scripture that resists fundamentalist nationalism, offering a vision of faith that is inclusive, compassionate, and rooted in the redemptive love of God. This book is an urgent call to reclaim the Bible not as a tool of power, but as a wellspring of grace for confronting injustice in our fractured world.