Can We Be Good Without God?

In this concise and provocative analysis of modern culture, Glenn Tinder challenged conventional wisdom by contending that Christianity required no political program but rather a prophetic stance judging all programs and institutions against the ideal of love of each individual. In doing so, he helped to make clear what a Christian meaning in politics might be and charted a course between the extremes of passive cynicism and revolutionary idealism. Since it was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in 1989, this classic essay has stimulated many Christians and non-Christians alike to rethink the relationship between Christian faith and politics in contemporary culture. Glenn Tinder is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. His books include The Political Meaning of Christianity and Political Thinking.