Cold Civil War: Overcoming Polarization, Discovering Unity, and Healing the Nation

Written by Jim Belcher

Narrated by Al Kessel

America's political landscape is experiencing dangerous polarization and fragmentation, with the extremes pulling the country apart. Voices on the left and right clash over different worldviews, narratives, definitions of America, and what it means to be an American citizen. The levels of incivility and hostility lead some to invoke the language of a cold civil war or even a looming civil war, one that could split the country in two. Is there any way to step back from this dangerous precipice?

Political philosopher Jim Belcher shows that this is not merely a binary opposition between conservativism on the right and liberalism on the left, but also between conflicting visions of order and freedom on both sides. Through his unique quadrant framework, Belcher traces the people and movements in each position, examines their underlying narratives, and articulates their respective contributions and dangers. This quadrant framework not only reveals how polarization divides us but also shows us how to move beyond the right-left stalemate.

At the core of the competing visions are the seeds of a new vital center, a robust and surprising narrative that has the ability to transcend political tribalism and bring America back together again before it is too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: Mar 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781545919897

Jim Belcher

Jim Belcher (PhD, Georgetown) is President of Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California and former associate professor of practical theology at Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is the founding and former lead pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Newport Beach, California, where he served from 2000-2010 and led a period of steady growth. He is the author of the award-winning book Deep Church.

Reviews for Cold Civil War

[Kevin Johnson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Makes no attempt to point to specific practical action that majority and minority evangelicals can take to reach out to each other and begin to restore the credibility of the church's witness in areas we all agree on. He did a good job, however, in showing that there is a bipartisan oligarchy that has no interest in acting on the concerns of average citizens.