Original RBL Reviews
One.Life
Scot McKnight. Zondervan, $14.99 trade paper (204p) ISBN 978-0-310-27766-8
In his latest book, McKnight, a professor of religious studies at North Park University in Chicago and the author of the acclaimed Jesus Creed, argues against the Christianity he was taught in his youth, an interpretation he finds overly fixated on the personal piety of believers rather than their influence in society. He contends instead that Jesus called believers to action and to the establishment of a world of justice, compassion, and peace. This scriptural reading is hardly new, but McKnight’s writing makes it fresh and engaging. His frequent pop culture references serve to draw in younger readers; other stylistic choices, such as unusual punctuation and line breaks, can distract from his message instead of creating a contemporary feel. Dividing the book into chapters addressing different aspects of a believer’s life, such as “church.life” and “sex.life,” McKnight combines knowledgeable scriptural exegesis with anecdotes drawn from his own life and his experiences with college students to provide insight into Jesus’ life and message. This results in a highly readable work that can serve as an excellent introduction to Jesus and his teachings for a new generation. (Jan.)
Fall to Grace: A Revolution of God, Self & Society
Jay Bakker with Martin Edlund. FaithWords, $19.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-446-53950-0
Bakker, son of famous televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye and pastor at Revolution Church in New York, stridently argues for a new emphasis on grace. After spending his teenage years reeling from family scandals and substance abuse, Bakker had almost given up on Christianity altogether until he discovered grace, which he understands as the love and salvation offered by God to all regardless of adherence to religious law. Interlacing anecdotes with exegesis of Paul’s letters (especially Galatians), Bakker shares stories of those who have experienced a three-part revolution of grace. Living with grace transforms God from harsh rule maker to loving abba (daddy), reorients individuals away from self-centeredness, and remakes society. His test for this final revolution is his call for acceptance of homosexuals, a position that he says grace demands. This emphasis might be troubling for more conservative Christians, even with his clear summary of how to read the Bible as condemning not homosexuality itself but forbidding rape, abuse of strangers, and paganism. Bakker’s tone and style are highly readable, even humorous, as he tackles serious theological issues. Overall, the book speaks more to those already convinced of grace, but provides ample reinforcement for that position. (Jan.)
Courage to Stand: An American Story
Tim Pawlenty. Tyndale House, $26.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4143-4572-7
Minnesota’s soon-to-be-former governor might have chosen a Christian publisher for his memoir, but his story is not principally a religious one. Pawlenty, who was one of Sen. John McCain’s finalists for the vice-presidential spot in the failed 2008 Republican campaign, has written a readable political manifesto intended to position him for a future presidential run. It describes his upbringing near the stockyards of South St. Paul as the great-grandson of Polish immigrants. The closing of the stockyards and the death of his mother from ovarian cancer while he was still in high school shaped Pawlenty’s fighting mentality and drew him to Ronald Reagan and Republican politics. His marriage to Mary Anderson, a member of Leith Anderson’s Wooddale Church, led him to leave the Catholic Church and become an evangelical. His rise from city councilman to state legislator to governor was swift in a traditionally blue state, but his “no-new-taxes” and fiscal austerity platforms are familiar to the point of being clichéd. This book will not surprise his ardent admirers or endear him to many Democrats. (Jan.)
From Bible Belt to Sun Belt: Plain-Folk Religion, Grassroots Politics, and the Rise of Evangelical Conservatism
Darren Dochuk. Norton, $29.95 (512p) ISBN 978-0-393-06682-1
Billy Graham reaches out on the cover, but the photo could just as well show George Pepperdine, E.V. Hill, Bill Bright—or any of scores of evangelicals and pentecostals profiled in Dochuk’s well-wrought history of religion and politics. Poor workers from the Deep South immigrated to California in the 1930s for jobs; and, Dochuk argues, the “plain folk, preachers and entrepreneurs” packed their politics with their Bibles, intent on electing one of their own as president. They succeeded in 1980 with favorite son Ronald Reagan. For the cause, they pastored churches, parachurch organizations (Campus Crusade for Christ), businesses, and schools (Pepperdine University); they fought first Communists, then homosexuals; converted from being social justice Democrats to conservative, prosperity-gospel Republicans; diluted their racism; and learned to cooperate with each other’s conventions. Dochuk, a professor at Purdue, conducted interviews and researched diligently through newsletters, newspapers, minutes of church and civic meetings, and the leaders’ own letters, sermons, and memoirs. His convincing conclusions expose the foundations of today’s evangelical conservatism; his writing is admirably clear and objective. (Dec. 13).
The Soul of Leadership: Unlocking Your Potential for Greatness
Deepak Chopra. Harmony, $25 (304p) ISBN 978-0-307-40806-8
For Chopra, whether one owns a company or coaches Little League, good leadership comes from the soul. The author’s prominence as a contemporary spiritual teacher would not be possible without business savvy, making him uniquely qualified to address how the sacred can thrive in the secular realm of commerce and management. With exercises in meditation, soul profiles, and group consciousness building, readers are taught to locate and then lead from the soul. It is leading from the soul that is the mark of a “successful visionary,” Chopra writes, someone who “makes his or her vision manifest in the world.” Chopra’s approach is both calm and challenging, particularly when exploring the seductive nature of power and its potential for misuse. Compassionate managers, the author maintains, must move from the needs of the ego to the needs of the group. This volume teaches that influential world figures don’t have a monopoly on vision, and anyone can improve the lives of others by merging self-awareness and compassion. In the business of making positive contributions, it is possible to “lead and serve at the same time.” (Dec.)
Beyond Happiness: The Zen Way to True Contentment
Ezra Bayda. Shambhala, $21.95 (176p) ISBN 978-1-59030-825-7
This gentle, introspective approach to finding happiness is based on asking three questions when confronted by life’s difficulties: “Am I truly happy right now? If not, what blocks it? Can I surrender to what is?” Bayda (Zen Heart) deconstructs the usual myths about happiness as dependent on external conditions and striving—even spiritual striving—and provides simple practices to encourage contentment in daily life. These practices cultivate awareness of the present moment and opening the heart for individuals who aren’t committed to a specific religion or spirituality. Despite the book’s title—and Bayda’s 15 years as a Zen teacher—the author mentions this tradition rarely, focusing instead on a basic Buddhist orientation to the mind, emotions, and virtues such as generosity, loving-kindness, and forgiveness. Bayda has struggled with an immune system disorder and brings compassion to the problem of finding genuine happiness. While this book would have benefitted from more concrete writing and sharper examples, it is a perceptive guide to an often discussed topic. (Dec. 14)
The Authentic Letters of Paul: A New Reading of Paul’s Rhetoric and Meaning
Trans. by Arthur J. Dewey, Roy W. Hoover, Lane C. McGaughy, Daryl D. Schmidt. Polebridge , $27 trade paper (268p) ISBN 978-1-59815-019-7
Were the 13 letters in the New Testament ascribed to Paul’s hand really written by Paul? Even in the letters that can be considered his, are there interpolations from a later hand that changed them significantly? In this brilliant new translation and introduction to Paul and his writings, the translators—all fellows of the Jesus Seminar of scholars concerned with biblical authenticity—attempt to answer these questions and to provide a dynamic rendering of Paul’s letters that takes account of the mythic register of his language and the rhetorical flourishes of his style. They conclude that the extant authentic Pauline letters are 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Philemon, Philippians, and Romans, and these letters were likely written around the middle of the first century. In addition, the translators point out interpolations from later hands in the authentic letters, such as 1 Corinthians 13 (the famous “love” chapter). The translators arrange the letters in the chronological order in which they were most likely written. Given the exalted status of Paul and his writings, this exceptional new translation is sure to shatter some views of Paul’s letters. (Nov.)
Sneak Peek: Religion Book Reviews Coming in PW, December 13
Christians & Jews—Faith to Faith: Tragic History, Promising Present, Fragile Future
James Rudin. Jewish Lights, $24.99 (271p) ISBN 978-1-58023-432-0
Rudin, who was national interreligious affairs director for the American Jewish Committee for more than three decades, draws on his extensive experience in interfaith meetings for the observations he offers here. He emphasizes Jewish-Christian relationships, but recognizes the necessity of including Muslims in current inter-religious discussions. Most of the book is devoted to the birth of Christianity and the relationship between Jews and Christians in biblical times and in the Middle Ages, a focus that finally shifts when he discusses the distortions and deceptions of Hebrew Christians in missionary activities aimed at Jews. A chapter on the Holocaust emphasizes the role of Christians in murdering Jews and urges consideration of the Holocaust in “every interreligious encounter.” Rudin concludes with a plea for religious pluralism as “a necessary antidote” to “endless ethnic and religious conflicts.” He provides a discussion guide for Jewish-Christian study sessions and an eight-page list of suggested readings that includes four of his eight books. Rudin’s emphasis on history limits the value of this book; today’s issues provide more timely topics for groups wishing to improve inter-religious relationships. (Feb.)
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life
Karen Armstrong. Knopf, $22 (248p) ISBN 978-0-307-59559-1
The prolific, well-informed, and passionate Armstrong (The Case for God) writes a somewhat different book this time out, stemming from her winning of a $100,000 prize in 2007 to promote an idea worth spreading. She always has a thesis in her books as she sweeps over the historical development of world religions, but this is a book with an agenda: you ought to be more compassionate, and here’s how. So instead of being her usual somewhat academic teacher of religious history, she is more of a personal spiritual teacher, in the vein of the Dalai Lama. That task, and corresponding tone (“Be patient with yourself during this meditation”), is not her long suit. However, this slightly self-help-y book is deeply grounded in what Armstrong knows and presents well: the core teachings of all religions that can make us better, more compassionate humans. The former nun pulls ideas and references from religions Eastern and Western with aplomb and respect for all sources. This counter to the religion-is-homicidal-and-superstitious school of invective passing for thought is well informed, welcome, and even practical. (Jan.)
A First Look at the Stars: Starred Religion Book Reviews Coming in PW, December 13
Unprotected Texts: The Bible’s Surprising Contradictions about Sex and Desire
Jennifer Wright Knust. HarperOne, $25.99 (352p) ISBN 978-0-06-172558-6
In a refreshingly sensible tone, Knust, assistant professor of religion at Boston University, tackles today's most contentious biblical texts and brings to light some intriguing others in this effort to detail and explain what the Bible says about sex. Although it is academic in its embrace of biblical scholarship and treatment of texts, this is also a personal book. Knust, a lifelong Baptist (and ordained as an American Baptist pastor), begins with an anecdote from her childhood that defends the value of studying and questioning the Bible. Matters of how biblical interpretations bear on real issues for people today are never far from the discussion. As Knust is clear-eyed in showing the Bible’s acceptance of polygamy, slavery, prostitution, and premarital sex, she calls into question facile judgments and absolutist claims about “what the Bible says.” In her able hands, readers will learn and appreciate the variety of ways that the Bible treats and judges sex. She also demands of readers that they then think for themselves about how biblical texts should be interpreted and applied. (Feb.)
Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life and Impact of G.K. Chesterton
Kevin Belmonte. Thomas Nelson, $16.99 trade paper (272p) ISBN 978-1-59555-201-3
Regardless of theological bias, no one can help being charmed by the writings of G.K. Chesterton. His Father Brown mysteries as well as his many works of theology and literary criticism shine with wit and insight. Belmonte approaches his task of biography with the same fondness for his subject as he demonstrated in William Wilberforce: A Hero for Humanity. Reading this is a bit like taking a tour of literary and social England through the eyes of a man who lived and loved the world around him. And even as we read H.L. Mencken’s barbed comments about Chesterton and Chesterton’s assessment of George Bernard Shaw (“three of the more incandescent minds of the era”), we get lost in an earlier time and world taken with Chesterton’s undeniable brilliance. The articulate Belmonte makes his material sing. Chesterton was that rarity of a man: a convert to Catholicism whose life can be celebrated by an evangelical publisher. A wonderful book on all counts. (Jan.)
Hearing the Call: Liturgy, Justice, Church, and World
Nicholas Wolterstorff. Eerdmans, $30 trade paper (450p) ISBN 978-0-8028-6525-0
This thoughtful, passionate collection of essays from seasoned philosopher and theologian Wolterstorff, written over a 50-year period, ranges in topic from worship, liturgy, church architecture, music, lament, and women’s ordination, to the spiritual health of institutions including churches, colleges, businesses, and government. An overarching theme runs through: “God loves justice,” not retributive justice, but that which creates a merciful, holy community where human rights are honored and every member flourishes. Several essays address formative experiences with Christians challenging injustice in South Africa, Honduras, and Palestine; Wolterstorff documents his awakening to oppression and his subsequent call to speak up on behalf of those communities. Through a Reformed Tradition lens, Wolterstorff’s intellectually rigorous reflections encompass church fathers, reformers, and liberation theologians. American Christians who promote the “prosperity gospel” and sanction torture elicit his strong condemnation. Opening and closing biographical essays address the author’s lifelong involvement with academia, including his student and professorial years at Calvin College, Yale, and Harvard, and the loss of his adult son, which inspired profound reflections on lament. An afterword contains two recent interviews that synthesize themes presented in this masterful work. (Jan.)
On the Virtual Shelves: Web Exclusive Religion Book Reviews
My Country: 50 Musicians on God, America & The Songs They Love
by Melanie Dunea (Rodale, Nov.)
by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan, Oct.)
by Jeff Nesbit (Guideposts Books/Summerside, Oct.)
The Church and Abortion: A Catholic Dissent
by George Dennis O’Brien (Rowman & Littlefield, Sept.)
Becoming a Woman of Destiny: Turning Life's Trials into Triumphs!
by Suzan Johnson Cook (Penguin/Tarcher, Sept.)
