David T Koyzis

How can Christians live as citizens of God's kingdom while also fulfilling their responsibilities as citizens of political communities? David Koyzis, author of Political Visions and Illusions, offers a brief, practical guide on political engagement and citizenship.During numerous conversations with students and readers of his books in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Chile, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere, Koyzis has heard the same questions repeated. Can Christians participate in the public square without buying in to political illusions--ideologies that become idolatrous? Is it better to avoid politics than risk ethical compromise or division among believers? In Citizenship Without Illusions, Koyzis presents a case for political engagement as a way to love our neighbors that doesn't require our full devotion to parties or ideologies. He explores key topics such as: the responsibilities of citizenshow to votemobilizing for political actioncitizenship under less-than-ideal circumstancesthe importance of both local and global engagementthe role of the church in societyUsing examples from various eras and places, Koyzis guides readers to make the best of their own political situations, make thoughtful decisions, and promote societal diversity while respecting those who disagree. With clear understanding and confidence in their ultimate allegiance, Christians can employ their citizenship for the greater good.

LO QUE CREES SOBRE LA POL TICA IMPORTA En las ltimas d cadas se han multiplicado las visiones alternativas de la vida pol tica, desde el nacionalismo tnico hasta el liberalismo individualista, visiones que han irrumpido en los titulares de los peri dicos de innumerables formas.Las ideolog as pol ticas no son una mera cuesti n de eficacia gubernamental, sino que son intr nsecas e ineludiblemente religiosas: cada una de ellas conlleva ciertos supuestos sobre la naturaleza de la realidad, los individuos y la sociedad, as como una visi n particular del bien com n. Estas creencias fundamentales trascienden la esfera pol tica, y el observador cristiano astuto puede discernir las formas -a veces sutiles, a veces no- en que las ideolog as pol ticas est n arraigadas en cosmovisiones id latras.En este exhaustivo estudio, el reconocido polit logo evang lico David Koyzis pasa revista a las principales ideolog as pol ticas de nuestra poca, entre ellas el liberalismo, el conservadurismo, el nacionalismo, la democracia y el socialismo, analizando detenidamente cada una de ellas, y ofreciendo una cr tica erudita e imparcial. El Dr. Koyzis concluye proponiendo modelos alternativos de pol tica que surgen del compromiso hist rico del cristianismo con la esfera p blica por siglos. Caracter sticas principalesExamina las principales ideolog as pol ticas contempor neasAnaliza la pol tica desde una perspectiva evang lica protestante, enraizada en la historia y saturada de las EscriturasExpone dos modelos alternativos de pol tica desde una perspectiva evang lica protestante"Visiones e ilusiones pol ticas es un texto absolutamente indispensable escrito por el te rico pol tico evang lico m s significativo de nuestros d as"Bruce R. Ashford La primera edici n de este excelente libro mostraba, con una prosa viva y erudita, c mo las ideas b blicas sobre la idolatr a iluminan nuestra vida pol tica. Esta edici n ampliada aumenta su alcance y delinea los nuevos desaf os a los que nos enfrentamos. Sin duda es una lectura indispensable.Paul Marshall, Profesor de Libertad Religiosa Jerry y Susie Wilson, Universidad de Baylor DAVID T. KOYZIS (PhD, Universidad de Notre Dame). Ha sido profesor de ciencias pol ticas durante treinta a os. El Dr. Koyzis es autor de varios libros y es considerado el m s importante te rico pol tico evang lico de los tiempos modernos.

What you believe about politics matters. The decades since the Cold War, with new alignments of post–9/11 global politics and the chaos of the late 2010s, are swirling with alternative visions of political life, ranging from ethnic nationalism to individualistic liberalism. Political ideologies are not merely a matter of governmental efficacy, but are intrinsically and inescapably religious: each carries certain assumptions about the nature of reality, individuals and society, as well as a particular vision for the common good. These fundamental beliefs transcend the political sphere, and the astute Christian observer can discern the ways—sometimes subtle, sometimes not—in which ideologies are rooted in idolatrous worldviews. In this freshly updated, comprehensive study, political scientist David Koyzis surveys the key political ideologies of our era, including liberalism, conservatism, nationalism, democracy, and socialism. Koyzis gives each philosophy careful analysis and fair critique, unpacking the worldview issues inherent to each and pointing out essential strengths and weaknesses, as well as revealing the "narrative structure" of each—the stories they tell to make sense of public life and the direction of history. Koyzis concludes by proposing alternative models that flow out of Christianity's historic engagement with the public square, retrieving approaches for both individuals and the global, institutional church that hold promise for the complex political realities of the twenty-first century. Writing with broad international perspective and keen analytical insight, Koyzis is a sane and sensible guide for Christians working in the public square, culture watchers, political pundits, and all students of modern political thought.

Named Best Book (Culture) in the 2004 Word Guild Canadian Writing Awards The end of the Cold War has brought about more than the triumph of some political ideologies and the disappearance of others. In fact, the collapse of communism has created a vacuum quickly being filled by various alternative visions, ranging from ethnic nationalism to individualistic liberalism. But political ideologies are not merely a matter of governmental efficacy. Rather, political ideologies are intrinsically and inescapably religious--each carries certain assumptions about the nature of reality, individuals and society, as well as a particular vision for the common good. These fundamental beliefs transcend the political sphere, and the astute Christian observer should thus discern the subtle ways in which ideologies are rooted in idolatrous worldviews. In this comprehensive study, political scientist David Koyzis surveys the key political ideologies of our era, including liberalism, conservatism, nationalism, democracy and socialism. Each philosophy is given careful analysis and fair critique, unpacking the worldview issues inherent to each and pointing out essential strengths and weaknesses. Koyzis concludes by proposing alternative models that flow out of Christianity's historic engagement with the public square, retrieving approaches that hold promise for the complex political realities of the twenty-first century. Writing with broad, international perspective and keen analytical insight, Koyzis offers a sound guide for Christians working in the public square, culture watchers, political pundits and all students of modern political thought.