It is striking how many global political leaders are Christian believers and how far their faith shapes and is shaped by their politics. This collection documents the Christian background of these leaders, how it has informed their political values and agenda, their priorities, and their rhetoric; and what all this says about Christianity and contemporary political power. Politicians featured include: Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin, and Stephen Harper.

Nick Spencer is director of studies at the UK based public theology think tank Theos. His books include Freedom and Order: History, Politics and the English Bible and Atheists: The Origin of the Species.