With evangelicals attempting a hold on political power in the name of morality, this book is as relevant today as it was when it was first penned around 100 years ago. Personally, I’m a devout Christian and coordinate a Sunday School class. I’m also a lover of truth and, like Sinclair Lewis, find the evangelical movement’s unwillingness to accept uncomfortable truths troublesome. This book scandalized the American public in 1927, and its study of humans’ religious nature can transform our world today. It needs to be reread and rediscussed.
Elmer Gantry is an up-and-coming pastor amidst the fundamentalist-liberal split in American religion in the early 1900s. He struggles with his call and even works in business for a time. Yet he possesses all the bells and whistles of eloquence and charisma to make himself a success.
All is not well, however. His naked ambition is revolting. He’s less concerned with Christian spirituality than the self-interest of being on top. In his preaching, he uses the whipping boy of vice to curry favor with the masses and rich donors. Further, let’s just say he has troubles keeping his pants zipped with attractive female parishioners. Lewis takes these traits, commonly still seen among the pastoral crowd, and spins off a social commentary as crystal clear and close to the bone as any before seen.
Most admirably, this critique does not contain pure cynicism towards religion. It contains well-constructed observations about liberal Christianity and about true Christianity. As we’d say today, Lewis was not interested in merely fanning the flames of the culture wars; rather, he paints a laudable (and dare I say, historical and Biblical) portrayal of Christianity’s role in maintaining the social fabric, particularly by helping those marginalized.
It doesn’t take a PhD in English literature to make the leap that these forces still operate in American evangelicalism and politics today. Skin-deep religious figures still live hypocritical lives. Self-interested leaders still take advantage of a well-meaning laity’s faith steeped in ignorance. Lewis won Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes in his day because of his words’ power. He deserves to be heard afresh today. True religion and a noble democracy depend on it.
Elmer Gantry
By Sinclair Lewis
Copyright (c) 1927, 2007
Signet
ISBN13 9780451530752
Page Count: 469
Genre: Fiction
www.amazon.com