Democracy faces threats from an emerging right-wing movement in democratic governments around the world. This may be even more prevalent in the United States because there is an evil that uses rhetorical tropes to undermine the anchor institutions of democracy: press, courts, universities, and Congress. This evil has a personification–former President Donald Trump. All the rhetorical critiques of Trump, that he is a demagogue, an authoritarian, a serial liar, a populist on steroids, fail to take into account the evil that is fomented by his angry and vengeful rhetoric. Pictures of evil in Scripture, philosophy, and rhetoric bear a striking resemblance to Trump. It is not enough to say that he is dangerous to democracy. Kennedy claims that he is the evil seed in democracy that is even now sprouting new versions of the Trump rhetoric as each acolyte attempts to outrage the next. Good and Evil in the Garden of Democracy screams at the evil, fights against the evil, and then attempts to sing the songs of goodness and democracy from poets, prophets, and rhapsodes. For the health of democracy these words have been written.
Dissenting from Donald Trump While Listening to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” Good and Evil in the Garden of Democracy
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Reviews
Rodney Kennedy's Dancing with Metaphors in the Pulpit passionately seeks to persuade preachers to be lifelong readers, and not just of the usual suspect topics: theology, biblical studies, ethics, and homiletics. While firmly rooted in biblical, theological, and historical perspectives, he eloquently nudges us to 'voyage to other planets, ' to visit the kingdoms of novelists, poets, philosophers, and rhetoricians.
Alyce M. McKenzie, professor of preaching and worship, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University
Language and metaphors influence our thinking about people, institutions, and circumstances. Rodney Kennedy's book places the reader in the unique position of having to think about the books and metaphors that influence the most personal aspects of faith, life, and the human condition. A truly thoughtful and engaging addition to the literature on homiletics.
Thomas J. Lasley, professor and dean emeritus of education and health sciences, University of Dayton
As someone who for eight years had the privilege of hearing his sermons, I can authoritatively say that Rodney Kennedy is a preacher extraordinaire. And in this wonderfully instructive and inspiring book he calls on those who preach to engage in the hard work of learning and borrowing from novelists, poets, philosophers, and--most importantly--rhetoricians. More than this, he calls on preachers to have 'the courage to face the powers and the principalities.' Amen!
William Trollinger, professor of history, University of Dayton
