Who Speaks for God?

Wallis (The Soul of Politics, 1994), editor of Sojourners magazine, calls upon Americans to forge a ""new spiritual politics beyond the old categories of Left and Right, liberal and conservative."" Although he opens each chapter with quotes from Christian Coalition president Pat Robertson as examples of destructive, ideological religion, Wallis also chastises liberals, Democrats and groups like Act Up for contributing to the ""impoverishment of American politics."" While admonishing us to remember that God, not any self-appointed ideologue, speaks for God, Wallis calls for a spiritually based, not ideologically driven, politics tested by compassion, community and civility. Appendices contain the 1995 ""Call for Renewal,"" written by the Christians for New Political Vision, a group composed of evangelicals, Catholics, mainline Protestants and African American church leaders, which articulates clearly the call for a political vision renewed by spiritual wisdom. Infused with hope, Wallis's book is a refresher course in how religious faith can be brought into accord with citizenship and democracy. (Oct.)