Review: Anger, Fear, Domination

Anger, Fear, Domination: Dark Passions and the Power of Political Speech

By William A. Galston (Yale University Press)

Why review a book on political speech for the Baptist Standard? Because the dark passions of anger, hate, humiliation, resentment, fear, and domination affect far more than the government. They also deform Christians and spoil churches. This is why William Galston’s examination of these dark passions is worth considering here.

Pastors and other ministry leaders ought to understand what drives the people in their congregations and communities, especially when it seems politics, commerce, and entertainment have a better grasp of what makes people tick than the church does, as evidenced by how the former three enthrall the masses.

Likewise, pastors and other ministry leaders need to know what passions secular leaders seize upon and make use of, all too often for the secular leader’s own benefit.

Galston’s book is brief, a summary or treetop view, rather than a thorough examination. As such, it is easily digestible by a busy pastor or ministry leader.

Galston views Donald Trump and Christianity negatively. He considers Trump a clear example of someone given to dark passions. More troubling to Baptist Standard readers ought to be Galston’s assertion Christianity is ultimately unhelpful for combating dark passions. Even so, the value of the book is in his assessment of human nature, which he takes to be a realistic view.

As disciple-makers, pastors and ministry leaders are responsible for equipping the church toward maturity in Christ. To be mature in Christ is to not give in to dark passions and to not allow others to use these all-too-human propensities to ungodly ends. Galston’s Anger, Fear, Domination provides a glimpse into the dark passions that can be useful for godly ends.

Eric Black, executive director/publisher/editor
Baptist Standard