Journey to the Common Good
Westminster John Knox Press. 2010. 125 pages. by Walter Brueggemann.
Can the simple concept of neighborliness show us the way toward a greater common good? This question animates Brueggemann as he exegetes Exodus, Jeremiah, and Isaiah with his usual incisive theological skill to offer a positive response to the current social paradigm. The author continues to bring forth a counternarrative grounded in Biblical texts to lead the church forward with courageous hope.
Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians
Westminster John Knox Press. 2009. 169 pages. by Stephen R. Haynes and Lori Brandt Hale.
A concise introduction to Bonhoeffer’s theology and life that clearly shows the importance of his witness. Deftly combining history, biography, theological reflection and even humor, the authors bring to life this pastor whose witness and theology beckons the church to faithful witness. The illustrations greatly add to the book.
A Common Word: Muslims and Christians on Loving God and Neighbor
Wm. B. Eerdmanns Publishing Co. 2010. 256 pages. by Miroslav Volf, Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, and Melissa Yarrington.
In 2007 Muslim leaders invited Christian leaders to cooperate in a Common Word grounded in peace and righteousness. Christian leaders issued a response, Loving God and Neighbors. This book contains the original exchange plus essays that deepen the ongoing interfaith dialogue of Muslims and Christians. Given the violence in the world and the widespread estrangement between Islam and Christianity, this book deserves to be seriously studied and discussed.
Reinhold Niebuhr Revisited: Engagement with an American Original
Wm. B. Eerdmanns Publishing Co. 2009 377 pages. by Daniel F. Rice.
A first rate diverse group of veteran scholars bring Niebuhr to life once again at a time when many leaders, including the current president, are turning to him for guidance. The collection contains remembrances by Niebuhr’s friends and colleagues as well as trenchant essays demonstrating his continuing influence in economics, politics, and theology.
If the Church were Christian: Rediscovering the Values of Jesus
Harper Collins Publishers. 2010. 197 pages. by Philip Gulley.
The author is a friendly provocateur and for that reason alone those who care about the fidelity of the Church to Jesus’ way should read and respond to this book. The danger of Jesus only lurks here, yet the clear call to practice following Jesus faithfully should not offend those whose theology is more robustly Trinitarian. It could actually help correct the Church’s failure to bear compelling witness to the One in whom we claim is salvation for the world.
The Dome of Eden: A New Solution to the Problem of Creation and Evolution
Cascade Books. 2010. 366 pages. by Stephen H. Webb
Neither intelligent design advocate nor Christian apologist, Stephen Webb has charted a brilliant new theory to describe the relationship between evolution and creation. The importance of this book lies in its combination of imaginative theology, insightful exegesis, and careful scientific criticism aimed at the colonizing tendencies with all theories including Darwinism. Especially helpful in exploring the moral dimensions of natural evil in relation to Christian faith and biological theories of life.
The Holy Spirit: Classical and Contemporary Readings
Wiley-Blackwell Press. 2009. 340 pages. Eugene F. Rogers, Editor.
A compendium on the Holy Spirit drawing on a wide ecumenical spectrum. Included are ancient and contemporary writings from throughout Christianity’s rich history that should evoke deep reflection on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity.
Roy W. Howard is pastor of Saint Mark Church in Rockville, Md., and Outlook book editor.
