The book "Identifying the Image of God" by Mark Valeri explores the role of radical Christians in shaping the nonviolent power of the antebellum era in the United States. The author argues that these individuals, who were often marginalized and oppressed, found ways to challenge the dominant cultural narratives and assert their own vision of Christianity. Through a close reading of their texts, Valeri shows how these radical Christians developed a personal paradigm for perceiving the technological process of developing modern knowledge, which was based on the belief that humans are created in the image of God. This paradigm allowed them to resist the violence and oppression of their time and instead embrace a vision of human unity and peace. The book begins with an overview of the historical context of the antebellum era, highlighting the tensions between North and South and the growing divide over issues such as slavery and states' rights.

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