Also see our bibliographies for "Racism & Reconciliation" Bibliography, or "Peacebuidling", or "Recent Books on Ecotheology"
In God's Good Image : how Jesus dignifies, shapes, and confronts our cultural identities by
Cultural identity matters--to us and to Jesus. Culture is all around us. Nothing we think, do, or say exists outside of it. But the story of God is clear: We are all made in God's good image, and God's people are meant to be a diverse community. Looking to the example of Jesus, author J. W. Buck offers practical insights into how cultural identity fits into our walk as Christians. No matter where we come from and no matter how complex our cultural narratives, the Scriptures point to the One who embodied a particular identity--of a Jewish man in first-century Palestine--in order to shape our own. ​ Jesus teaches those formed by majority culture to humbly embrace their identity as they foster space for others. And he empowers those from minority cultures to resist pressure to assimilate in unhealthy ways and instead live into their God-given identity. God dignifies our culture and wants us to shape it to look more like Jesus. We are meant to be like Jesus in our home culture, in our heart language, and throughout our collective journey to understand how our diversity points us to a better expression of God's good image.
Christians and Violence by
This marks the first English translation of renowned peace theologian Jean Lasserre's seminal work on non-violence. With introductory remarks from Frédéric Rognon and the author's daughter, Christiane Lasserre, this book provides English readers a window into a powerful, yet accessible, text on Christian ethics. In this classic essay, Lasserre turns to the problem of physical violence and murder, tackling it with a focus on morality and scripture. Writing in the aftermath of the Second World War and the Algerian War, Lasserre also deftly examines the ethics of military violence and warfare. The Church told men for years that one could be an honourable Christian and a solider; this book delves into the two opposing realities of this sentiment with a powerful case for pacifism.
A View from the Balcony--Opera Through Womanist Eyes : praxis for developing a balcony hermeneutic of restorative resistance by
In this theological work, readers are seated in a metaphorical balcony as a counter melody is composed within America's operatic tradition. By using imaginary opera glasses, readers are invited to critically view American society and history. The most popular folk songs of white Southerners, Western settlers, and Northern elites were composed from chords of colonialism, white supremacy, patriarchy, hegemony, and xenophobia--forms of anthropological poverty. These songs were, and remain, the most discordant melodies heard by indigenous and enslaved persons in America. Indicting the "church" for its complicity in these oppressions, this work offers the reader a historical glimpse at the philosophical and religious underpinnings of systemic racism. A new healing hermeneutic, the balcony hermeneutic, enables the reader to view, critique, assess, correct, and reverse the devastating consequences of anthropological poverty. By taking a "reversed gaze" of traditional Western Eurocentric systems of knowledge production, through theomusicology, this work privileges the voices of indigenous scholars--philosophers, anthropologists, theologians, and performers--to sing a new song as we correct negative narratives and lyrics through resistance operatic performances.
The Christian Origins of Tolerance by
Tolerance is usually regarded as a quintessential liberal value. This position is supported by a standard liberal history that views religious toleration as emerging from the post-Reformation wars of religion as the solution to the problem of religious violence. Requiring the separation of church from state, tolerance was secured by giving the state the sole authority to punish religious violence and to protect the individual freedoms of conscience and religion. Commitment to tolerance is independent of judgements about justice and the common good. This standard liberal history exerts a powerful hold on the modern imagination: it undergirds several important recent accounts of liberal tolerance and virtually every major study of tolerance in the ancient world. Nevertheless, this familiar narrative distorts our understanding of tolerance's premodern origins and impoverishes present-day debates when many members of Christianity and Islam, the two largest global religions, have reservations about liberal tolerance. Setting aside the standard liberal history, The Christian Origins of Tolerance recovers tolerance's beginnings in a forgotten tradition forged by North African Christian thinkers of the first five centuries CE in critical conversation with one another, St. Paul, the rival tradition of Stoicism, and the political and legal thought of the wider Roman world. This North African Christian tradition conceives of tolerance as patience within plurality. This tradition does not require the separation of religion and the secular state as a prerequisite for tolerance and embeds individual rights and the freedoms of conscience and religion within a wider theoretical framework that derives accounts of political judgement and patience from theological reflection on God's roles as a patient father and just judge. By recovering this forgotten tradition, we can better understand and assess the choices made by leading theorists of liberal tolerance, and as a result, think better about how to achieve peaceful coexistence within and beyond liberal democracies in a world in which many Christians and Muslims are sceptical of liberalism.
Up Against a Crooked Gospel: Black women's bodies and the politics of redemption by
Ethics and Intersectionality Series UP AGAINST A CROOKED GOSPEL Black Women's Bodies and the Politics of Redemption Melanie Jones Quarles An essential text for students and scholars of womanist thought, ethics, biblical studies, and Black religion. Drawing upon her grandmother's personal struggles with physical "bendedness" and the narrative of the bent woman in Luke 13:10-17, Melanie Jones Quarles engages Black religious thought and cultural criticism to expose how the Black Church paradoxically nurtures Black women while also sustaining their oppression. Quarles mines the prophetic imaginations of influential womanist thinkers, crafting a liberating vision that resists serving as surrogate "saviors" in society and religion. With insights into politics, Christology, and biblical interpretation, this book boldly calls Black women to unbend their bodies and reclaim their moral agency in the face of crooked systems that attempt to constrain their freedom.
Critical Race Theology : White supremacy, American Christianity, and the ongoing culture wars by
Ethics and Intersectionality Series A clarion call to reclaim the essence of faith and the soul of a nation. In Critical Race Theology Juan Floyd-Thomas examines the entangled roots of white supremacy, white Christian nationalism, and the raging culture wars in America. In this provocative and courageous work Floy-Thomas charts a path for a revitalized social gospel for the 21st century. Drawing insights from critical race theory, Black liberation theology, and prophetic Christianity, Floyd-Thomas proposes "critical race theology" as a framework to confront racism, exclusion, and oppression within American Christianity and society. Challenging the self-righteous distortions of conservatives, he calls on clergy and believers to truly embody the liberating spirit of Jesus's radical ethic of love. For students, scholars and readers of contemporary theology, this timely volume provides a hopeful vision of a future where human dignity, social equality, and spiritual renewal can flourish in a nation reborn.
A Theology of Power and Privilege : an evangelical perspective on race (2024) by
"A Theology of Power and Privilege makes the bold assumption that it is possible to develop an antiracist theology within a constructive evangelical theological method. It examines Black Liberation Theology's claims of embedded racism within White theological systems and then asks both if Reformed North American Evangelicalism evidences racism within its theology, and if so, how might that be addressed biblically and doctrinally while remaining true to the theological essence of evangelicalism. Along the way, the author engages critically with an evangelical tradition represented by John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Hobbs, and Carl F. H. Henry and considers it in the light of the critique of James Cone. Having identified racism within the theological tradition the author then offers a constructive evangelical theology of power and privilege that he accesses as truly antiracist. In pursuit of this theological conclusion, the author explores biblical texts on liberation, subjection, and obedience and applies his conclusions to constructive work on the Doctrine of God. This is done within an evangelical hermeneutical methodology that privileges the biblical text. This book will be of interest to evangelicals who are engaged in debates around race, racism, and social justice either theologically or historically, and theologians generally interested in the application of hermeneutics to theological method. It will also be of interest to anyone regardless of tradition as a guide to how white theologians can take seriously the contributions and value of the Black intellectual tradition to their work."
Get Married : why Americans must defy the elites, forge strong families, and save civilization (2024) by
"Marriage expert Brad Wilcox provides the evidence for why marriage is the most fundamental and worthwhile social institution"-- Provided by publisher."What's the recipe for happiness? If you listen to liberal elites or red pill influencers, you'd say it's making money, living for yourself, and staying single without kids--and you'd be wrong. Nothing predicts happiness better than a good marriage. According to new research by the University of Virginia sociologist Brad Wilcox, our kids and communities--not to mention our civilization as a whole--are much more likely to flourish when the state of our unions is strong. Despite this, record numbers of Americans are not succeeding at getting or staying married. In this hard-hitting book, Wilcox reveals the anti-family messages and policies coming out of Hollywood, Washington, the media, academia, and corporate America that have weakened marriage. Along the way, he knocks down a number of myths they've propagated. He reveals: both men and women who get and stay married accumulate much greater wealth than people who don't marry; married men and women with families report more meaningful lives, compared with their single and childless peers; couples who take a 'we-before-me' approach to married life--by, for instance, sharing joint checking accounts--are happier and less divorce-prone than couples who do not; couples who forge 'family-first' marriages--characterized by frequent date nights, family fun time, and chores done with the kids--enjoy the happiest marriages. Wilcox spotlights four groups--Asian American, conservative, faithful, and strivers--who have built strong, stable marriages by defying the me-first messages of our elites in favor of a family-first way of life. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand why, even as fewer men and women tie the knot, America's most fundamental institution matters for our civilization more than ever. And for men and women looking to establish strong, stable, and happy unions for themselves and their children, 'Get married' reveals the road forward."
Kingdom of Rage : the rise of Christian extremism and the path back to peace (2024) by
A former counterterrorism official explores how modern evangelicalism and right-wing conservatism intermingled to form the combustible ideology that resulted in the January 6 attacks on the Capitol--and which threatens to destroy the American Church from within. In Kingdom of Rage, Neumann explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist, anti-government and other far-right terrorists by co-opting Christian symbols and culture and perverting the faith's teachings. While Neumann offers decades of insights into the role government policies can play to prevent further bloodshed, she believes real change must come from the within the Christian church. She shines a bright light on the responsibility of ordinary Americans - and particularly American Christians - to work within their families and their communities to counteract the narrative of victimization and marginalization within American evangelicalism. Her goal for this book is not only to sound a warning about one of the greatest threats to our security but to rescue the Church from the forces that will, if left unchecked, destroy it - culturally, morally, and ultimately quite literally. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the unholy marriage of right-wing politics and Christian exceptionalism in America and who wants to be a part of reversing the current path towards division, hatred, violence and the ultimate undermining of both evangelical Christianity and American democracy.
American Heretics : religious adversaries of liberal order (2024) by
"A penetrating account of the religious critics of American liberalism, pluralism, and democracy--from the Revolution until today. The conversation about the proper role of religion in American public life often revolves around what kind of polity the Founders of the United States envisioned. Advocates of a "Christian America" claim that the Framers intended a nation whose political values and institutions were shaped by Christianity; secularists argue that they designed an enlightened republic where church and state were kept separate. Both sides appeal to the Founding to justify their beliefs about the kind of nation the United States was meant to be or should become. In this book, Jerome E. Copulsky complicates this ongoing public argument by examining a collection of thinkers who, on religious grounds, considered the nation's political ideas illegitimate, its institutions flawed, and its church-state arrangement defective. Beholden to visions of cosmic order and social hierarchy, rejecting the increasing pluralism and secularism of American society, they predicted the collapse of an unrighteous nation and the emergence of a new Christian commonwealth in its stead. By engaging their challenges and interpreting their visions we can better appreciate the perennial temptations of religious illiberalism-as well as the virtues and fragilities of America's liberal democracy."
LGBTQ+ Educators in Catholic Schools: embracing synodality, inclusivity, and justice (2024) by
Since 2007, a Catholic LGBTQ+ organization called New Ways Ministry has documented over 60 cases of LGBTQ+ educators and allies who have been fired from Catholic schools throughout the US. The firings are met with significant local and national public outcry, resulting in fragmented, polarized, and wounded Catholic school communities throughout the nation. Who are these educators? Why are they fired? And is there a better way to respond to the presence of LGBTQ+ employees (as well as students and families) in Catholic education? Dr. Ish Ruiz responds to this controversy with a new theological framework, based on Pope Francis's vision for a synodal Church, that will aid Catholic schools in an effort to include LGBTQ+ educators while remaining faithful to the Catholic tradition. His framework offers a multifaceted approach to this issue by examining the fields of pastoral ministry, sexual morality, ecclesiology, and Catholic social teaching to craft an inclusive synodal vision for Catholic education. More importantly, Ruiz answers Pope Francis's calls for a Church that listens by lifting up the stories of LGBTQ+ educators and their invaluable contributions to Catholic schools. This book calls upon Catholic school leaders (including bishops, diocesan officials, school administrators, and other stakeholders) to treat LGBTQ+ educators with compassionate justice and to foster a school environment where all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can feel respected, welcomed, and cherished as beings made in the Image of God.
Swimming with the Sharks : leading the full spectrum church in a red-and-blue world by
Building on a string of Haberer family harrowing encounters, Swimming with the Sharks presents a framework for addressing the sharks among us: those on the other side of the divide in American church life. What is characterized as the separation between blue progressives and red conservatives is shown to be a sellout to a political model and a false witness about the facts and faith on the ground. Believers do see things differently but not in simplistic, binary parties--rather in an overlapping set of five understandings of Jesus' heart and passion for God's mission in the world. Each is faithful, each is true, and yet, when huddling in their enclaves of agreement, likeminded folks become stupid, duped by their shared blind spots. All five living together become iron sharpening iron. And while we still may diverge on hot-button controversies, we do converge and, indeed, take flight through the Holy Spirit's filling, empowering, gifting, calling, and commissioning of every believer in a culture, a movement, a full-spectrum revolution of mutual giftedness in mission. Practical implications get spelled out (e.g., less pastor-driven, more member-driven), and then conclude with blunt explications: "Not all church consultants need to be ignored, but many do."And while we still may diverge on hot-button controversies, we do converge and, indeed, take flight through the Holy Spirit's filling, empowering, gifting, calling, and commissioning of every believer in a culture, a movement, a full-spectrum revolution of mutual giftedness in mission.
Cornerstones : sacred stories of LGBTQ+ employees in Catholic institutions (2024) by
Introduction / Ish Ruiz -- Part 1, Employees fired from Catholic schools. Signum fidei / Kristen Ostendorf ; What is it that I want the church to hear? / Margie Winters ; When home no longer welcomes you home / Shelly Fitzgerald ; Thirty pieces of silver / James Zimmerman -- Part 2, Employees fired from Catholic parishes. A holy union untied (that's not a typo) / Miguel Ochoa ; Real presence / Sandra Worsham ; Sin and the road to restoring justice / Mark Guevarra ; Grace under fire / Terry Gonda -- Part 3, Employees retained by Catholic schools & parishes. Vocalizing in faith and prayer / Breanna Sinclairé ; Braver each day / Alicia Tapia ; Above the waters / Gabriel Stein-Boddenheimer ; Both/And / Michaelangelo Allocca -- Concluding thoughts for further communal discernment / Mark Guevarra -
Attunement: the art and politics of feminist theology by
What is a feminist theologian to do with Christianity's patriarchal inheritance? She can avoid the most patriarchal aspects of the theological tradition and seek resources for constructive work elsewhere. Or she can critique misogynistic texts and artifacts, exposing their strategies of domination to warn against replicating them. Both approaches have merits and yet, without other interpretive strategies, they reaffirm that the theological tradition does not belong to women and others marginalized by gender. They cannot transform the discourse. But within feminist theology are the seeds of another approach, aimed at just such transformation by reworking the theological landscape to become hospitable to all those marginalized by gender. Attunement: The Art and Politics of Feminist Theology identifies trajectories resonant with this alternative approach and from them, describes and develops attunement as a third, generative path for feminist theologians.Attunement is an aesthetically-invested approach to texts and artifacts that self-consciously co-creates as it interprets. Aware of what the text affords the reader, attunement constellates images, texts, and insights to build or augment positive affordances in the text and diminish negative ones. Natalie Carnes describes why this approach is significant for feminist theology, maps its roots in a long history of gender-marginalized individuals claiming authority, describes how it casts interpretation as both an aesthetic and political event, and notes how it might provide a way forward in vexed topics in feminist theology.
Iglesia Mestiza: cinco siglos de justicia social, teología e identidad latina by
Está creciendo el interés, la conciencia y la demanda por el conocimiento de que la justicia social es algo que sale de la fe cristiana. Pero esto no es algo nuevo. Por quinientos años la cultura e identidad latina han sido moldeadas por sus desafíos al statu quo religioso, socioeconómico y político, ya sea en oposición al colonialismo español, las dictaduras latinoamericanas, el imperialismo estadounidense en Centro América, la opresión de los trabajadores de campo o la explotación actual de inmigrantes indocumentados. El cristianismo ha jugado un papel significativo en ese movimiento en cada etapa. Robert Chao Romero, hijo de padre mexicano y madre inmigrante china, explora la historia y la teología de lo que él llama la «iglesia mestiza». Romero considera como este movimiento ha respondido a estas y otras injusticias a lo largo de su historia al apelar a la creencia que la visión de Dios por la redención incluye no solo promesas celestiales sino también la transformación de cada aspecto de nuestras vidas y el mundo. Al recorrer esta historia de activismo y fe, lectores descubrirán que los cristianos latinos tienen un corazón conforme al de Dios.
Queering Reproductive Justice: an invitation by
The futures of reproductive justice and LGBTQIA+ liberation are intimately connected. Both movements were born out of the desire to love and build families of our choosing--when and how we decide. Both movements are rooted in broader social justice liberationist traditions that center the needs of Black and brown communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, gender-nonconforming folks, femmes, poor folks, parents, and all those who have been forced to the margins of society. Taking as its starting point the idea that we all have the human right to bodily autonomy, to sexual health and pleasure, and to exercise these rights with dignity, Queering Reproductive Justice sets out to re-envision the seemingly disparate strands of the reproductive justice and LGBTQIA+ movements and offer an invitation to reimagine these movements as one integrated vision of freedom for the future. Candace Bond-Theriault asserts that for reproductive justice to be truly successful, we must acknowledge that members of the LGBTQIA+ community often face distinct, specific, and interlocking oppressions when it comes to these rights. Family formation, contraception needs, and appropriate support from healthcare services are still poorly understood aspects of the LGBTQIA+ experience, which often challenge mainstream notions of the nuclear family, and the primacy of blood-relatives. Blending advocacy with a legal, rights-based framework, Queering Reproductive Justice offers a unified path for attaining reproductive justice for LGBTQIA+ people. Drawing on U.S. law and legislative history, healthcare policy, human rights, and interviews with academics and activists, Bond-Theriault presents incisive new recommendations for queer reproductive justice theory, organizing, and advocacy. This book offers readers an invitation to join the conversation, and ultimately to join the movement to that is unapologetically queering reproductive justice.
Another Gospel : Christian nationalism and the crisis of evangelical identity (2024) by 
Dialoguing with Critical Race Theory: Constitutional and Christian Links by
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is certainly a hot topic. No longer just the legal theory it was originally designed to be, it has become an icon for determining which side you are on concerning racism. Most of the loudest voices, especially in the debate about CRT in our schools, seem not to have actually studied the theory. This is a book to get you into the heart of CRT's actual analysis and prescriptions. It's a book to get Americans to stop all the shouting and really find out what CRT teaches. It might also contribute to getting more civility into our public discourse. Ellingsen demonstrates how in fact what Critical Race Theory teaches is in line with our Constitutional system's realism about political solutions, suspicions of our selfishness, and the majority's tendency to run roughshod over minorities. He also demonstrates that these commitments are consistent with Christianity's understanding of original sin and the quest for social justice. Consequently, if critics do not want CRT taught in our schools or to be part of our public discourse, we had better stop teaching the Constitution and Christian values in our schools, to rule these commitments as out of order in our search for common values! Get ready for a stimulating, controversial, well-documented read.
Listening As Hosts : liturgically facing colonization and White supremacy by
White supremacy and racialized violence have animated much of society and church in the United States. Many people of goodwill are grasping for what to do in the face of such broad-reaching and painful wounds. From tracing the emergence of the modern concept of race to observing the evolution of Confederate monuments, Listening as Hosts: Liturgically Facing Colonization and White Supremacy crafts a picture of these historical dynamics and seeks to offer forms of liturgical resistance for churches and spiritual communities. Pastors, spiritual leaders, churches, and people of no faith at all will find invitations to listen deeply, to discard oppressive expressions of Christianity, and to search for community with one another and with the earth.
Uneasy Citizenship : embracing the tension in faith and politics by
For Christians, it might seem like a confusing time to approach the political world. Polarization and partisanship threaten to divide communities, including the church. At the same time, American politics and government requires participation from its citizens, and Christians are called to be in the world for the sake of God's kingdom. How, exactly, are Christians to respond faithfully to an increasingly toxic political environment?In Uneasy Citizenship, political scientist Daniel Bennett proposes a way forward for the politically engaged and weary alike. Identifying both challenges and opportunities stemming from the contemporary political environment, Bennett argues for a distinctly Christian political engagement that confounds society's notions of what effective politics is. He advises Christians to combat the temptation to idolize political outcomes and focus instead on cultivating faithful political practices at the individual, local, and national levels. Faithful political engagement is not easy, especially during times of crisis and upheaval. Uneasy Citizenship shows how Christians can approach politics confidently and hopefully, taking our earthly citizenship seriously with an eye toward our inevitable citizenship in heaven.
Deep Reading : practices to subvert the vices of our distracted, hostile, and consumeristic age by
This book helps readers develop practices that will result in deep, formative, and faithful reading so they can contribute to the flourishing of their communities and cultivate their own spiritual and intellectual depth. The authors present reading as a remedy for three prevalent cultural vices--distraction, hostility, and consumerism--that impact the possibility of formative reading. Informed by James K. A. Smith's work on "the spiritual power of habit," Deep Reading provides resources for engaging in formative and culturally subversive reading practices that teach readers how to resist vices, love virtue, and desire the good. Rather than emphasizing the spiritual benefits of reading specific texts such as Dante's Divine Comedy or Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the authors focus on the practice of reading itself. They examine practices many teachers, students, and avid readers employ--such as reading lists, reading logs, and discussion--and demonstrate how such practices can be more effectively and intentionally harnessed to result in deep reading. The practices apply to any work that is meant to be read deeply.
Walking with Our Ancestors: contemplation and activism by
Activism can often take a toll on social justice seekers, and it is easy to get burned out and discouraged. Perhaps this is because activism and contemplation are sometimes seen as opposites. However, following the tradition of social justice movements in the past, contemplation is actually a necessary step of activism. In Walking with Our Ancestors, Barbara Holmes reveals that the justice movements in the twentieth century came from consistent contemplation practices of those seeking liberation. Contemplation is necessary in the spiritual lives of Africana people to offset the tension of the desire to eliminate oppression while still experiencing oppression. The hope and healing that come with contemplation ease this tension and keep one committed to community and justice. Holmes highlights key contemplation practices of what she calls public mystics, those who led by example and paved the way, including Fannie Lou Hamer, Martin Luther King Jr., Howard Thurman, and Rosa Parks. Through both contemplation and activism, our ancestors paved the way while showing us how to continue the fight for justice. Walking with Our Ancestorsis an outstanding and relevant chapter from Barbara Holmes's enlightening book Joy Unspeakable, which explores the contemplative practices of the Black church.
Imagine Freedom : transforming pain into political and spiritual power by
A social activist, journalist, public theologian, and international speaker who has become a powerful and brilliant voice of her generation offers a bold path to liberation and healing for people of African descent struggling in the shadows of the American Dream. The United States is at a critical juncture in its history. Not since the 1960s has the nation been so racially divided. White supremacy remains America's Achilles' heel--a moral failure that haunts us and holds us back from being the great nation we profess. For centuries, people of African descent have endured unimaginable hatred and discrimination which has manifested in pain and trauma passed from generation to generation. To break free from this historical cycle of suffering and be truly free at last, Black and brown people must reimagine ourselves, our communities, this country, and our relationship to Africa. Weaving storytelling, socioeconomic analysis, and cultural criticism with the spiritual and political threads of liberation theology and Pan Africanism, Imagine Freedom empowers us to begin the difficult but necessary work of decolonizing our minds and overcoming the lies we have been told about ourselves for centuries. Sobering and inspiring, filled with despair and hope, Rahiel Tesfamariam dares us to see the world through a larger historical and global lens-- to understand how our quests for freedom and healing are intrinsically connected to our past, present, and future. By widening our vision, we discover new ways of imagining self, community, nation, and world, and most importantly, a new way to achieve the freedom that has been too long denied.
Conspiracy theorizing : analysis and scriptural critique by
"Conspiracy Theorizing explore how should individuals with the Christian faith should react to conspiracy theories, their untruths, and their dangers. This book outlines the way that conspiracy theories are the fundamental basis for this stigmatization and scapegoating. It goes further to explain that scapegoating is fostering extreme divisions within in societies and between nations with each side often demonizing the other. This book states how conspiracy theories satisfy people's needs for certainty, security, and a positive self-image in a world they feel is disintegrating. Uncovering deeper, when the comforting securities of cultures crumble, wparanoia makes sense. This book demonstrates that an inability to live with uncertainty and ambiguity draws people to conspiracy theories when they validate their apprehensions. The commentary in this book also validates that since conspiracy theories can never be verified by objective research and truths they are one of the most problematic subjects to expose. This book aims to answer these questions: What are conspiracy theories? Why do they arise, especially in times of cultural upheavals? Are they harmful? What do the Christian Scriptures say about them? Readers that are interested in religion, Christianity and conspiracy theories would enjoy this book."-- Provided by publisher.
Ministers of Propaganda: truth, power, and the ideology of the religious right by
Scott Coley exposes the inner workings of the religious right's propaganda--and how Christians can resist it. Good evangelical Christians are Republican. It seems like it's always been this way. That means the propaganda is working. Scott Coley trains a critical eye on the fusion of evangelicalism and right-wing politics in Ministers of Propaganda. This timely volume unravels rhetoric and biblical prooftexting that support Christo-authoritarianism: an ideology that presses Christian theology into the service of authoritarian politics. Coley's historically informed argument unsettles evangelical orthodoxy on issues like creation science or female leadership--convictions not as unchanging as powerful religious leaders would have us believe. Coley explains that we buy into propaganda because of motivated reasoning, and when we are motivated by perceived self-interest, the Christian message is easily corrupted. But if we recover Jesus's commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, right-wing propaganda will lose its power. Any reader troubled by American evangelicals' embrace of racism, misogyny, and other unchristian views will find answers and hope in these pages.
God and Value Judgments by
Humans continually make judgments that some things have more value than others. Plausibly, it is largely through our value judgments that God intends to guide us in setting priorities and goals. This Element surveys leading accounts of what value judgments are exactly. It then explores the particular values we are apparently sensitive to when making two judgments endemic to human life: about what makes a life good, and about who deserves a good life. Connections are made between differing analyses of human value judgments and views about God's character and the goals God is prompting us to pursue.
The Problem of Divine Action in the World by
The world's major monotheistic religions share the view that God acts in the world. This Element discusses the nature of divine action, with a specific focus on miracles or 'special' divine acts. Miracles are sometimes considered problematic. Some argue that they are theologically untenable or that they violate the laws of nature. Others claim that even if miracles occur, it is never rational to believe in them based on testimony. Still others maintain that miracles are not within the scope of historical investigation. After addressing these objections, the author examines the function of miracles as 'signs' in the New Testament.
Awakening to Justice: faithful voices from the abolitionist past by
"O where are the sympathies of Christians for the slave and where are their exertions for their liberation? . . . It seems as if the church were asleep." David Ingraham, 1839 In 2015, the historian Chris Momany helped discover a manuscript that had been forgotten in a storage closet at Adrian College in Michigan. He identified it as the journal of a nineteenth-century Christian abolitionist and missionary, David Ingraham. As Momany and a fellow historian Doug Strong pored over the diary, they realized that studying this document could open new conversations for twenty-first-century Christians to address the reality of racism today. They invited a multiracial team of fourteen scholars to join in, thus launching the Dialogue on Race and Faith Project. Awakening to Justice presents the groundbreaking work of these scholars. In addition to reflecting on Ingraham's journal, chapters also explore the life and writings of two of Ingraham's Black colleagues, James Bradley and Nancy Prince. Appendixes feature writings by all three abolitionists so readers can engage the primary sources directly. Through considering connections between the revivalist, holiness, and abolitionist movements; the experiences of enslaved and freed people; abolitionists' spiritual practices; various tactics used by abolitionists; and other themes, the authors offer insight and hope for Christians concerned about racial justice. They highlight how Christians associated with Charles Finney's style of revivalism formed intentional, countercultural communities such as Oberlin College to be exemplars of interracial cooperation and equality. Christians have all too often compromised with racism throughout history, but that's not the whole story. Hearing the prophetic witness of revivalist social justice efforts in the nineteenth century can provide a fresh approach to today's conversations about race and faith in the church.
Faith and Justice: Lessons from Ferguson with Rev. F. Willis Johnson- A Pivot Broadcast from Faith+Life (Summer 2024): Explore the intersection of faith and justice with the Rev. F. Willis Johnson, a pastor who led his church through racial tensions in Ferguson, Missouri.
A 60-Day Journey Toward Justice in a Culture of Gun Violence--an ELCA resource.
Meeting the Enemy : the fossil fuel industry and the power of Christian climate resistance (2025) by
The catastrophic effects of climate change can seem overwhelming. What can we do? Who is responsible? In the tradition of Walter Wink, O'Brien reminds us that Christians have the power to name and oppose the enemies of God's good creation. The fossil fuel industry is just such an enemy. We can courageously confront these powers of evil and build a more faithful future. O'Brien paints the structural evils of the fossil fuel industry in sharp relief, helping readers understand that a Christian climate ethic must move beyond individualistic blame and individualistic solutions. While we bear responsibility for our personal actions, O'Brien demonstrates that fossil fuel companies are far more to blame for the contemporary climate crisis. His reframing shows us that the problem is the system. Having fully developed his case for the blame fossil fuel companies bear, O'Brien helps readers consider the options available to us as Christians to bear witness to evil and address the roots of this system of powers that bind us. O'Brien's approachable and engaging analysis makes Meeting the Enemya powerful resource for both the classroom and informal educational settings.
The Politics of Bathroom Access and Exclusion in the United States by
The past twenty years have seen an explosion of state laws focused on bathroom access, including laws that both restrict and expand the ability of people to access basic needs in public. Through an analysis of several distinct state-level policies that regulate bathrooms along the dimensions of gender and gender roles, gender identity, and disability, the author argues that bathroom access is an important aspect of citizenship, signaling both physical and symbolic exclusion and inclusion. Social citizenship requires that individuals and groups be able to fully take part in the public sphere, yet denying toilet access means that individuals can only exist in public for as long as they can 'hold it.' Thus, ensuring equal access to bathrooms - or denying it to targeted groups - becomes a powerful way for society to define who is a full citizen and to indicate who belongs and who doesn't in public spaces.
Christianity and Transforming States : mapping varied Christian experiences and responses by
This volume examines what it means to live as a Christian minority: both in non-Christian societies and in societies where other forms of Christianity are predominant. Many Christians live in states where other religions have historically influenced national identities, or where secularism defines communal expectations. At the same time, some Christian minorities live among other, more prevalent Christian traditions and often experience marginalization as a result. This volume provides insight into the experiences of the many contemporary Christian communities throughout the world and how they are responding to their varied societal circumstances.
One God and Two Religions: Christians and Muslims as neighbors by
Islam is a religion of violence and behind every Muslim there lurks a potential terrorist. Islam is a threat to values of the Christian West. They are like oil and water. Clearly, they don't mix. One God and Two Religions confronts these popular perceptions head-on. With keen insight and gentle understanding, Amir Hussain explores the differences between Christianity and Islam, as well as the many things these two enduring faith traditions hold in common - including, first and foremost, their belief in and desire to be faithful to the one, true God; their shared roots and scripture (from the Jewish faith); and the spiritual values of peace and social justice. Written for Christians by Muslim world-religions scholar, the book is divided into two parts. Part 1, provides an overview of the Islamic faith and of the lives of Muslims in North America today. Chapters focus on the place and identity of Muslims in society, as well as on the importance and role of Muhammad, the Qur'an, and basic beliefs and practices (The Five Pillars of Islam). Part 2, explores key points for dialogue, including issues of violence and jihad, the roles of women and men, and the mystical tradition within Islam. The final two chapters look at interfaith dialogue and the practical aspects of being good "neighbors." In all of this, the book invites the reader to a place of reconciliation, to a place where the truth and value of each of these great faith traditions can be recognized and honored by the other. In the end, the metaphor of oil and water is an interesting one for the reality of conflict and the hope for reconciliation between Islam and Christianity today.
The Gap in God's Country: a longer view on our culture wars by
Laurie M. Johnson argues that America's culture wars may seem to have erupted in the past couple of decades, but they go back centuries. For those who think that Christian nationalism (or right-wing populism) is the problem to be solved, that some people simply need to understand Christianity or politics better and become reasonable, read on. Christian nationalism and other ideological extremes are symptoms of major economic, technological, spiritual, and psychological shifts that have left too many people uprooted, disenchanted, and precarious. There are no easy answers, but Johnson tries to show a path out that enlists not only individuals, but also church and state. Without leadership and structure provided at the levels of the church and state, Christians, and those impacted by them, will remain part of the problem and not the solution. Johnson says to Christians: change is not talk, it's action, and Christian action can only happen with leadership that creates a context where we can work together, rather than wasting our time in culture wars.
A Bowl of Perfect Light: Stories of Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Repairing the World by
All of us face an unknown future sensing we are in over our heads. Where will we find respite and repair for our broken relationships? Our Trauma? We are short on resources, connections, and the energy to cope. We hope for God's presence and abiding justice, forgiveness, and peace that binds us together as the beloved children of our God. In that hope and as we stand facing a difficult, even fearful, future, there are steps and practices for the journey that can help us. And there are stories that show us the way. Through scripture and stories from diverse traditions including the gospel narratives, Jewish midrash, Hassidic tales, Native American oral traditions, and others, theologian Megan McKenna presents insights on-and practices in-forgiveness, reconciliation, restorative justice, healing from trauma, and participation in "repairing the world." Each chapter includes reflections, practices, and questions making A Bowl of Perfect Lighta helpful resource for journaling or group discussion.
Moral Issues : how public opinion on abortion and gay rights affects American religion and politics by
A new perspective on how beliefs about abortion and gay rights reshaped American politics. Many believe that religious and partisan identities undergird American public opinion. However, when it comes to abortion and gay rights, the reverse may be closer to the truth. Drawing on wide-ranging evidence, Paul Goren and Christopher Chapp show that views on abortion and gay rights are just as durable and politically impactful--and often more so--than political and religious identities. Goren and Chapp locate the lasting strength of stances on abortion and gay rights in the automatic, visceral emotions that the media has primed since the late 1980s. Moral Issues examines how attitudes toward these moralized issues affect, and can sometimes even disrupt, religious and partisan identities. Indeed, over the last thirty years, these attitudes have accelerated the rise of the religious "nones," who have no religious affiliation, and promoted moral sorting into the Democratic and Republican parties.
Civility : cultivating public virtues by
Civility offers a thoughtful response to one of the most significant social challenges and public problems that we face in contemporary society, particularly in the Western world. The book identifies and discusses the critical public-social values and virtues that we need to focus upon and actively to promote to counter these problems and, overall, to develop a healthy human society. To achieve an effective, inclusive, and just society we must, first, reframe how we understand 'politics.' What does 'politics' mean and how should it be practiced? 'Politics' in its true sense does not mean something ideological but rather it involves the service of the 'polis'--that is, the human community. We also need to recover a robust sense of public virtues. The book describes some of the critical virtues and suggests how they may be cultivated. The overall argument is that in a healthy society it is vitally important to concentrate more effectively on public virtues and values rather than simply to focus on encouraging material success or on creating efficient social and political systems as the main goals that we seek to develop in our societies. The volume focuses particularly on the public virtues of civility, having a sense of 'place', building community, solidarity and responsibility, respect and compassion, and cultivating discernment (that is, the art of how to choose well). The book concludes by offering reflections on the particular role of education, especially school education, and of public leadership as two central elements in reshaping a healthy society based on clear societal values.
The New Antisemitism : the resurgence of an ancient hatred in the modern world (2024) by
"Generations raised after the Second World War took for granted a world of stability and prosperity, and with it the waning of ancient hatreds. Recent decades have been more sobering. Instability and extremism have returned in force. As Shalom Lappin explains in this worrying book, an upsurge of antisemitism across the political spectrum has accompanied them. Recent events in the Middle East have transformed it into a tidal wave. Lappin explores in particular the disturbing correlation between the expansion of economic globalization and the return of the anti-Jewish ideas that we thought had been consigned to the past. He examines this relationship within the context of the assault on democracy and social cohesion that anti-globalist reactions have launched in different parts of the world. To understand contemporary antisemitism, Lappin argues, it is essential to recognize the way in which its antecedents have become deeply embedded in Western and Middle Eastern cultures over millennia. This allows hostility to Jews to cross political boundaries easily, left and right, in a way that other forms of racism do not. Combatting antisemitism effectively requires a new progressive politics that addresses its root causes. The New Antisemitism is crucial reading for anyone concerned with the social pathologies unleashed by our current economic and political discontents."
The Spirit of Justice: true stories of faith, race, and resistance (2024) by
"From New York Times bestselling author Jemar Tisby, The Spirit of Justice brings to light true and inspirational stories of how people of faith have historically resisted racism and crafted a legacy of hope and perseverance for the present-day"-- Provided by publisher."If you did a historical survey of racism in the United States, the overarching theme would be one of compromise and complicity. These uncomfortable realities of the past have been too often minimized or outright denied, and they must be shared in order to have a full accounting of the truth.But there's more to the story of Christianity than merely the failure of its adherents to confront racism.Just as there were those who created and perpetuated racist ideas and actions, there were those who resisted them. The Spirit of Justice reveals the stories of the people who fought against racism and agitated for justice--all in the name of their faith. Through a historical survey of the nation from its founding to the present day, this book gives real-world examples of people who opposed racism, how they did it, what it cost, and what they gained for themselves and others.The Spirit of Justice is a book about the eternal wellspring of hope that helps a people break the bonds of oppression and inspires a legacy of liberation. It is a book about how we, too, can unleash the spirit of justice"
The Bible and Farm Animal Welfare by
The Bible was composed by and for people who farmed animals and observed them every day. It contains many descriptions of farm animals and farming, images that use farm animals, and prescriptions relating to husbandry practices. Farm animals are viewed as part of God's creation with their own purposes and modes of flourishing. Both the Old and New Testaments take their welfare seriously, prohibiting practices that cause pain or suffering, and endorsing methods that promote welfare. These prohibitions and endorsements are consistent with modern animal welfare science. Examining animal groups, bodies, behavior, and stockpersons, this book shows that a biblical understanding of farm animal welfare is scientifically valid and should motivate both farmers and consumers to take welfare seriously.
The Global Fight Against LGBTI Rights : how transnational conservative networks target sexual and gender minorities by
An in-depth look at the global movement to curtail LGBTI rights--and how the LGBTI movement responds to it In the past three decades, remarkable progress has been made in numerous countries for the rights of individuals marginalized due to their sexual orientation and gender identity. The advancements in LGBTI rights can largely be attributed to the tireless efforts of the transnational LGBTI-rights movement, forward-thinking governments in pioneering nations, and the evolving human rights frameworks of international organizations. However, this journey towards equality has been met with formidable opposition. An increasingly interconnected and globally networked resistance, backed by religious-nationalist elements and conservative governments, has emerged to challenge LGBTI and women's rights, even seeking to reinterpret and co-opt international human rights law. In The Global Fight Against LGBTI Rights, authors Phillip M. Ayoub and Kristina Stoeckl investigate this complex landscape, drawing from over a decade of in-depth fieldwork and over 240 interviews with LGBTI activists, anti-LGBTI proponents, and various state and international organization actors. The authors explore the mechanisms and strategies employed by the conservative transnational movement, seeking to understand its composition and the construction of its agenda. With a wealth of empirical evidence and insightful analysis, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, activists, and anyone interested in understanding the ongoing global battle for LGBTI rights.
The Habits of Race and Faith in a Religiously Diverse World by
Religious diversity, cultural pluralism, and interreligious encounter are widely viewed in modern life as socially--and for many people of faith, spiritually--enriching. One of the most significant but frequently overlooked benefits of interreligious encounter is that it empowers us to see ourselves, and particularly our racialized identities, in new and revealing ways. In The Habits of Race and Faith in a Religiously Diverse World, Mara Brecht places whiteness under particular scrutiny--its tangled and entwined relationship with religious identity, as well as strategic associations with dominance and privilege. The analysis of whiteness gives way to fresh perspectives on Christian ideas about salvation, both in connection to religious faith and racial embodiment.
Theopoetics in Color : embodied approaches in theological discourse by
A collaborative book project centering the liberative theopoetics practiced by a new generation of scholars of color What is theopoetics? Once a field dominated by white liberals in the ivory tower, this embodied form of theology has flourished in the work of a new generation of scholars of color. In this groundbreaking book edited by Oluwatomisin Olayinka Oredein and Lakisha R. Lockhart-Rusch, a diverse team of theologians shows how theopoetics can be practiced "in color." Featuring unconventional and artistic forms of religious reflection, this collection demonstrates how theology can become accessible when it reflects the embodied experiences of marginalized people and communities. These creative contributions defy the limitations of the white, Eurocentric academy, including such works as: * an explanation on the use of experimental theater to express theological theses * a guide to spiritual disciplines for metaphorical cyborgs seeking liberation * a meditation on the theological import of Filipino potlucks * a literary reflection on the meaning of religion to Black boys and men Diverse in scope and radical in perspective, this bold volume reclaims the liberative potential of theopoetics. Scholars and students of theology and the arts will discover inspiring new methodologies and fresh ideas in these pages. Contributors: Brian Bantum, Yara González-Justiniano, James Howard Hill Jr., Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros, Yohana Agra Junker, Peace Pyunghwa Lee, Lakisha R. Lockhart-Rusch, Oluwatomisin Olayinka Oredein, Patrick B. Reyes, Joyce del Rosario, Tiffany U. Trent, Tamisha A. Tyler, Lis Valle-Ruiz
Rebirth of a Nation : reparations and remaking America by
Joel Edward Goza dismantles the deep-seated myths that perpetuate white supremacy--and makes the case that reparations are necessary to heal America's racial wounds and live up to our democratic ideals. Like many well-intentioned white people, Goza once believed that he could support Black America's struggle for equality without supporting reparations. Reparations, he thought, were altogether irrelevant to the real work of racial justice. This is a book about why he was wrong. In fact, any effort to heal our nation's wounds will fail without reparations. In Rebirth of a Nation, Goza exposes lesser-known aspects of racism in American history and how Black people have consistently been depicted as responsible for their own oppression to justify slavery, Jim Crow, mass incarceration and gross inequality. Goza's iconoclastic and incisive account exposes how revered figures like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln embedded white supremacy deep into our nation's consciousness--and how Ronald Reagan manipulated this ideology so that society cheered as he advanced a set of policies that wounded our nation and intensified Black America's suffering. But Rebirth of a Nation is not merely about accountability. It is also about hope. A reparations process is not a utopian dream; Goza offers a practical path toward closing the racial wealth gap. Rebirth of a Nation shows readers how they can join the reparative process, working toward the creation of a more perfect union.
Towards a contextualized conceptualization of social justice for post-apartheid Namibia by 
Sanctuary People : faith-based organizing in Latina/o communities by
Explores ways faith communities offer protection and services for Latina/o communities The New Sanctuary Movement is a network of faith-based organizations committed to offering safe haven to those in danger, often in churches, often outside the law, and often at risk to themselves. The practice of sanctuary, with its capacity to provide safety, shelter, and protection to society's most vulnerable, gained significant prominence after the 2016 presidential election and the ushering in of particularly harsh anti-immigration policies. Since 2017, Ohio has had some of the highest numbers of public sanctuary cases in the nation. Sanctuary People explores these sanctuary practices in Ohio and locates them in broader local and national efforts to provide refuge and care in the face of the challenges facing Latina/o communities in a moment of increased surveillance, migrant detention, displacement, and economic and social marginalization. Pérez argues for a conceptualization of sanctuary that is capacious, placing support of Puerto Ricans displaced in the wake of Hurricane Maria within the broader practices of sanctuary and expanding our understandings of the movement that addresses the precarious conditions of Latinas/os beyond migration status. Based on four years of ethnographic research and interviews at the local, state, and national levels, Sanctuary People offers a compelling exploration of the ways in which faith communities are creating new activist strategies and enacting new forms of solidarity, working within the sometimes conflicting ideological space between religion and activism to answer the call of justice and live their faith.
Night Flyer : Harriet Tubman and the faith dreams of a free people (2024) by 
The Holy Alliance : liberalism and the politics of federation by
A major new account of the post-Napoleonic Holy Alliance and the promise it held for liberals The Holy Alliance is now most familiar as a label for conspiratorial reaction. In this book, Isaac Nakhimovsky reveals the Enlightenment origins of this post-Napoleonic initiative, explaining why it was embraced at first by many contemporary liberals as the birth of a federal Europe and the dawning of a peaceful and prosperous age of global progress. Examining how the Holy Alliance could figure as both an idea of progress and an emblem of reaction, Nakhimovsky offers a novel vantage point on the history of federative alternatives to the nation state. The result is a clearer understanding of the recurring appeal of such alternatives--and the reasons why the politics of federation has also come to be associated with entrenched resistance to liberalism's emancipatory aims. Nakhimovsky connects the history of the Holy Alliance with the better-known transatlantic history of eighteenth-century constitutionalism and nineteenth-century efforts to abolish slavery and war. He also shows how the Holy Alliance was integrated into a variety of liberal narratives of progress. From the League of Nations to the Cold War, historical analogies to the Holy Alliance continued to be drawn throughout the twentieth century, and Nakhimovsky maps how some of the fundamental political problems raised by the Holy Alliance have continued to reappear in new forms under new circumstances. Time will tell whether current assessments of contemporary federal systems seem less implausible to future generations than initial liberal expectations of the Holy Alliance do to us today.
Who Is a True Christian? : contesting religious identity in American culture by
'No true Christian could vote for Donald Trump.' 'Real Christians are pro-life.' 'You can't be a Christian and support gay marriage.' Assertive statements like these not only reflect growing religious polarization but also express the anxiety over religious identity that pervades modern American Christianity. To address this disquiet, conservative Christians have sought security and stability: whether by retrieving 'historic Christian' doctrines, reconceptualizing their faith as a distinct culture, or reinforcing a political vision of what it means to be a follower of God in a corrupt world. The result is a concerted effort 'Make Christianity Great Again': a religious project predating the corresponding political effort to 'Make America Great Again.' Part intellectual history, part nuanced argument for change, this timely book explores why the question of what defines Christianity has become, over the last century, so damagingly vexatious - and how believers might conceive of it differently in future.
On Helping One's Neighbor: severe poverty and the religious ethics of obligation by
Exploring what he calls 'the moral horror that is severe poverty,' Bharat Ranganathan develops a demanding account of the obligations that affluent people have to assist severely impoverished people. He argues that this is an immediate ethical as much as a social or structural imperative. Noting that developmental economists and moral and political philosophers have focused on wealth inequalities in increasingly sophisticated ways, Ranganathan observes that - within religious ethics - normative issues around severe poverty have nevertheless received insufficient attention. Bringing together general moral, religious, and philosophical principles with particular economic, social, and political realities, and engaging constructively with the writings of John Rawls and Peter Singer, this passionately argued book boldly challenges deleterious trends within ethics by unpacking, in a much more systematic way than hitherto, the pressing dilemmas around acute impoverishment. It will find an eager readership among scholars of religion, ethics, developmental studies, and theology.
The False White Gospel : rejecting Christian nationalism, reclaiming true faith, and refounding democracy by
NOW A NEW YORK TIMES AND A USA TODAY BESTSELLER "Everyone who claims to be 'Christian' or else claims to be upset by 'Christianity' needs to read this book, especially politicians using people's supposed faith for their own ends." --Margaret E. Atwood "Jim Wallis calls the nation to grow up and he calls us all to fight the love battle to save the soul of America." --From the Foreword by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. A major new work by the New York Times bestselling author, arguing that the answer to bad religion is true faith that will help refound democracy It is time says Jim Wallis, to call out genuine faith--specifically the "Christian" in White Christian Nationalism--inviting all who can be persuaded to reject and help dismantle a false gospel that propagates white supremacy and autocracy. We need-to raise up the faith of all of us, and help those who are oblivious, stuck, and captive to the ideology and idolatry of White Christian Nationalism that is leading us to such great danger. Wallis turns our attention to six iconic texts at the heart of what genuine biblical faith means and what Jesus, in the gospels, has called us to do. It is time to ask anew: do we believe these teachings or not? This book isn't only for Christians but for all faith traditions, and even those with no faith at all. When we see a civic promotion of fear, hate, and violence for the trajectory of our politics, we need a civic faith of love, healing, and hope to defeat it. And that must involve all of us-religious or not. Learning to practice a politics of neighbor love will be central to the future of democracy in America. And more than ever, the words of Jesus ring, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
The End of Memory : remembering rightly in a violent world by
Winner of the Christianity Today Book Award in Christianity and Culture How should we remember atrocities? Should we ever forgive abusers? Can we not hope for final reconciliation, even if it means redeemed victims and perpetrators spending eternity together? We live in an age that insists that past wrongs--genocides, terrorist attacks, bald personal injustices--should never be forgotten. But Miroslav Volf here proposes the radical idea that letting go of such memories--after a certain point and under certain conditions--may be a gift of grace we should embrace. Volf's personal stories of persecution and interrogation frame his search for theological resources to make memories a wellspring of healing rather than a source of deepening pain and animosity. Controversial, thoughtful, and incisively reasoned, The End of Memory begins a conversation that we avoid to our great detriment. This second edition includes an appendix on the memories of perpetrators as well as victims, a response to critics, and a James K. A. Smith interview with Volf about the nature and function of memory in the Christian life.
Trans the*logy without apology : using art, narrative and historical-critical exegesis to celebrate transfiguration and trans aesthetic in the Bible by
Trans The*logy Without Apology is a mix of academic and memoire styled writing, inspired by Comstock’s (1993) Gay Theology Without Apology. Megan Rohrer, went on pilgrimage around the globe to find over 130 images of the trans aesthetic from Early Christianity through the Reformation. Sharing hard to find materials in one collection, this book reminds contemporary audiences that trans and gender non-conforming leaders have been integral figures betwixt and between the pages of biblical texts and serving in faithful leadership since the beginning of Christianity.
First, trans themes and metaphors about G*d the creator and characters within the Genesis/Bereshit is explored utilizing trans affirming Rabbinical insights. Then, exploration of the life, death and resurrected body of Jesus is used to uncover veiled metaphors in the transfiguration and wounds of Christ. Next, stories of saints with a trans aesthetic are discussed. The book encourages readers to affirm transness in the image of G*d, their own lives and the full life of the Christian church.
The ethics of care in times of social and moral upheaval : utopia or reality? by
This collection of essays highlights the topic of the ethics of care in times when it is difficult for human beings to ensure survival for themselves. “Taking care” is an expression that could refer to the most varied situations of social life: taking care of one’s loved ones, taking care of oneself, taking care of the environment in which we live, taking care of life itself and every nuance, as well as taking care of those you meet along the way. The emergency scenarios and the frenetic social changes that are before us put a strain on our motivation to take care, and cause us to turn our attention to solving everyday problems. However, do these scenarios and changes have the power to undo the various sensitivities regarding caring for someone or something else? The content of taking care concerns different ways of thinking, such as critical thinking.
Queering Black Churches : dismantling heteronormativity in African American congregations by
Queering Black Churches provides a systematic approach for dismantling heteronormativity within African American congregations. Using the lenses of practical theology, ecclesiology, Queer theology, and gender studies, Brandon Thomas Crowley examines the heteronormative histories, theologies, morals, values, and structures of Black churches and how their longstanding assumptions can be challenged. Drawing on the experiences of several historically Black churches that became open and affirming (ONA), Queering Black Churches explores how historically Black churches have queered their congregations. Crowley examines the similarities and differences in their approaches and synthesizes them into a methodology called Black ecclesial Queering: a theoretical analysis and a practical method of queering that centers on the lived experiences of Black Queer folks seeking to subvert the puritanical ideologies of Black churches. Crowley argues for a systematic approach to dismantling homophobia within African American congregations that moves beyond surface-level allyship toward actual structural renovation. With its groundbreaking documentation of ONA congregations and its practical proposals for change, this book will be a valuable resource for students, scholars, and clergy alike.