A timely message, though Wallis is preaching to the choir.
A spirited attack on white Christian nationalism.
In an occasionally vitriolic work, Wallis, founder of Sojourners magazine and author of America’s Original Sin and On God’s Side, espouses a politically progressive view of scripture and of the role of the Christian church in society. In the past couple of decades, he argues, the white American church has fallen prey to ill-intentioned conservative political forces, which seek to privatize faith as a relationship between the believer and God. In contrast, the author believes that Christian faith is incomplete without deep civic and social engagement, a belief that many progressive Christians share. Wallis devotes the core of the book to “six basic and iconic biblical texts,” which he uses as springboards for discussions of political and social issues. For instance, scripture stating that humans are formed in the image of God opens a chapter on voting rights, and scripture stating, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God,” opens a chapter about police violence, gun use, and related problems. This is less a work of theology than of politics and current events. Wallis frequently attacks Donald Trump and his followers, arguing that democracy, and especially a multiracial democracy, is at stake in 2024. He is adamant that his writing is a call to action, both political and social, and warns that another Trump presidency will mean fascism. His hope is to awaken a “remnant church” among white Americans, in which “faith and justice will be inseparable”—and which will be “characterized by the pillars of repentance, return, and restoration.” Though Wallis invites others to dialogue concerning these matters, he won’t win many new converts. However, Christians who are devoted to social justice will find important moments of insight.
A timely message, though Wallis is preaching to the choir.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781250291899
Page Count: 304
Publisher: St. Martin's Essentials
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2024
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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