The Great Awakening

The Great Awakening examines how religious faith intersects with social justice and political change in America. Wallis presents a vision for how spirituality and progressive values can work together to address major societal challenges. Through interviews, personal stories, and analysis of social movements, Wallis explores how faith communities are engaging with issues like poverty, climate change, racial justice, and economic inequality. He documents examples of religious leaders and organizations taking action on these fronts while maintaining their spiritual foundations. The book outlines specific ways that religious and secular groups can collaborate on shared goals of social reform and moral progress. Wallis draws on his experience as an evangelical Christian and social activist to bridge traditional divides between religious conservatives and progressives. The Great Awakening makes a case for the ongoing relevance of faith-based activism in American public life, while challenging both religious and non-religious readers to find common ground in pursuit of social transformation. The work examines how moral convictions can translate into concrete social change.

Readers view The Great Awakening as a call for religious progressives to engage in social justice and political reform. The book receives moderate ratings: 3.86/5 on Goodreads and 4.1/5 on Amazon across 40+ reviews. Readers appreciate: - Clear connection between faith and social activism - Concrete examples of religious groups creating change - Focus on poverty and environmental issues - Balanced critique of both conservative and liberal politics Common criticisms: - Too politically partisan for some Christian readers - Repetitive arguments and examples - Length could be condensed - More theoretical than practical solutions "Wallis makes a compelling case for faith-based social justice without falling into partisan traps," notes one Amazon reviewer. Others found it "too focused on government solutions rather than individual action" and "preaching to the choir rather than building bridges." Multiple readers mention the book works better as a series of essays rather than a cohesive argument for social change.

God's Politics by Jim Wallis A progressive Christian perspective on faith-based activism and social justice in American politics.

The Moral Center by David Callahan An examination of how moral values intersect with political discourse and policy-making in contemporary America.

Faith in Action by Richard L. Wood A study of religious organizations' role in community organizing and social change movements.

The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg An exploration of progressive Christianity's core principles and their application to modern social issues.

Common Ground by Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel A conservative and liberal columnist identify areas of potential cooperation between opposing political ideologies through their shared religious values.

🔹 Jim Wallis founded Sojourners magazine in 1971, which became one of the most influential faith-based social justice publications in America. 🔹 The book was published in 2008 during a pivotal time in American politics, between the Bush and Obama administrations, when faith-based activism was gaining significant momentum. 🔹 The term "Great Awakening" refers to several historical periods of religious revival in American history, with the First Great Awakening occurring in the 1730s and 1740s. 🔹 Wallis served as a spiritual advisor to President Obama and has been arrested 22 times for acts of civil disobedience while protesting various social issues. 🔹 The book reached #15 on the New York Times bestseller list and helped spark a national conversation about the intersection of faith and progressive politics.