Love's Whipping Boy

Focusing on the aggressors in historical contexts, the author explores the tension between the Christian principle of loving one's neighbor and the realities of U.S. sociopolitical aggression, such as slavery and the treatment of Native Americans. By examining the complex interplay of empathy, violence, and religion in nineteenth-century America, Elizabeth Barnes offers insights into how these paradoxical relationships shaped societal norms and behaviors, challenging readers to rethink the moral implications of such actions.